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Alvísmál The Lay of All-wise  Introduction Lee M. Hollander's translation of Alvísmál, from which the following is taken in its entirety. from the Poetic Edda. Purchase this book. Back to Thor Texts Index |
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Alvís said: 1. "To put bolster on bench shall my bride now with me make haste homeward; a hasty match this to many will seem: they'll not rob me my rest at home." 2. "What wight is this? Why so wan about thy nose? Didst dwell with the dead last night? Like to thurses methinks thou art, nor born to have this bride." 3. "Alvis am I, dwell the earth beneath, there standeth my house under stones; (for the weapon's worth) to Valhalla I came: Let none his bounden faith break!" 4. "I shall break it; for the bridegroom's choosing falls as father on me; in Valhalla I was not when was wedded to thee among Gods whom but I can offer." 5. "What man is this, of the winsome maid who feigns he is father? Thee feckless fellow but few will know: what bitch bore thee, pray?" 6. "I am hight Vingthor - I have wandered far - Sithgrani's son I am; by my leave never shalt the maiden take, and have her as wedded wife." 7. "Thy leave full soon thou wilt let me have, to win her as wedded wife; to marry I mean, nor to remain without, the slender, snow-white maiden." 8. "The maiden's love I shall let thee have, thou wise guest, as thou wishest, if of every world thou canst tell me all that I list to learn. I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest - how the earth is hight, before all outspread, in all the worlds so wide?" 10. "'Tis hight 'Earth' among men, among Aesir, 'Land'; call the Vanir it 'Ways,' 'All-Green,' the Etins, the Alfs, 'Burgeoning,' the mighty Gods, 'Mud.'" 11. "Tell me, Alvis - for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest - how the heaven is hight, that to Hronn was born, in all the worlds so wide?" 12. "'Tis hight 'Heaven' among men, 'High-Arched' among Gods; call the Vanir it 'Wind-Weaver,' the Etins, 'Upper-World,' the Alfs, 'Fair Roof,' the Dwarves, 'Dripping Hall.'" 13. "Tell me, Alvis - for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest - how the moon is hight, which men do see, in all the worlds so wide?" 14. "'Tis hight 'moon' among men, 'Mild Light' among Gods; call the wights in Hel it 'Wheel,' the Etins, 'Speeder,' the Dwarves, 'Splendor,' the Alfs, 'Teller-of-Time.'" 15. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the sun is hight, which is seen by men, in all the worlds so wide?" 16. "'Tis hight 'Sun' among men, but 'Sunlight' among Gods; call the Dwarves it 'Dvalin's Doom,' the Etins, 'Everglow,' the Alfs, 'Fair Wheel,' 'All Bright,' the Asa-Sons." 17. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the clouds are hight, that carry showers, in all the worlds so wide?" 18. "'Tis hight 'Clouds' among men, 'Rain-Carriers' among Gods; call the Vanir them 'Windblown,' the Etins, 'Rain-Hope,' the Alfs, 'Weather-Might,' the Hel-Dwellers, 'Hiding Helm.'" 19. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the wind is hight, which widest fares, in all the worlds so wide?" 20. "'Tis hight 'Wind' among men, but 'Wafter' among Gods; call the most high it 'Whinnier,' the Etins, 'Roarer,' the Alfs, 'Din Farer,' the Hel-Dwellers, 'Whistler.'" 21. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the calm is hight, which quietly lies, in all the worlds so wide?" 22. "'Tis hight 'Calm' among men, 'Sea-Quiet' among Gods; call the Vanir it 'Wind-Lull,' the Etins, 'Sultry,' the Alfs, 'Day-Balm,' the Dwarves, 'the Day's Haven.'" 23. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the sea is hight, which sailed by men, in all the worlds so wide?" 24. "'Tis hight 'Sea' among men, 'Main' among Gods; call the Vanir it 'Wave,' the Etins, 'Eel Home,' the Alfs, 'Water,' the Dwarves, 'the Deep.'" 25. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the fire is hight, which flames among men, in all the worlds so wide?" 26. "'Tis hight 'Fire' among men, but 'Flame' among Gods; call the Vanir it 'Warmth,' the Etins, 'Greedy,' 'All-Devourer,' the dwarves, the Hel-Wights, 'Fast Welmer.'" 27. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the wood is hight, in men's world that grows, in all the worlds so wide?" 28. "'Tis hight 'Wood' among men, 'Earth's Mane' among Gods; call the Hel-Wights it, 'Seaweed-of-Slopes.'" the Etins, 'Firewood,' the Alfs, 'Fair Bough,' call the Vanir it 'Wand,' 29. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the night is hight, which to Nor was born, in all the worlds so wide?" 30. "'Tis hight 'Night' among men, but 'Murk' among Gods; call the mighty powers it 'Mask,' the Etins, 'Lightless,' the Alfs, 'Sleep's Ease,' the Dwarves, 'Weaver-of-Dreams.'" 31. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the seed is hight, which is sowed by men, in all the worlds so wide?" 32. "'Tis hight 'Barley' among men, but 'Breadstuff' among Gods; call the Vanir it 'Well-Grown,' the Etins, 'Eating,' the Alf-Kin, 'Grain,' the wights of Hel, 'Hanging.'" 33. "Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest-- how the beer is hight, which is brewed by men, in all the worlds so wide?" 34. "'Tis hight 'Ale' among men, among Aesir 'Beer'; call the Vanir it 'Wassail-Brew,' 'Clear-Must,' the Etins, 'Mead,' the Hel-Wights, the sons of Suttung, 'Feast Draught.'" 35. "I never learned like lore to dwell in the breast of any wight born; with wiley words outwitted thou art: above ground finds thee, dwarf, the day; now the sun is seen in thy hall." The Poetic Edda Translated by Lee M Hollander © 1962 ISBN 0-292-76499-5 LCCCN 61-10045 Fifth paperback printing 1994 University of Texas Press Box 7819, Austin, Texas, 78713-7819 Purchase this book. ______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction adapted from Hollander's Mostly a collection of Skaldic lore regarding heiti (synonyms for things and beings) in all Nine Worlds. It was necessary for skalds to memorise this poetic vocabulary. The early 13th Century the heitatol (versified lists) of the Icelandic renaissance come closest in character to this Lay. Alvísmál can most probably be dated to this period. The strange attirbutes of Thor --cunning and eagerness for knowledge-- that do not agree with his establish character ,seem to indicate that the poem is not of ancient origin and rather an invention of the Poet. _______________________________________________________________________________ Notes Alvís: "The All-Wise" Sithgrani: "Long Beard" (Óðinn) Sons of Suttung: "jötnar, giants" _____________________________________________________________________ Back to Top Back to Thor Texts Index | Back to Thundrune Home |