It must be admitted that Thor now beguiled the Midgard-serpent not a whit less than Utgard-Loke mocked him when he was to lift the serpent with his hand. Then they took a large stone, which is called Tvite, and drove it still deeper into the ground, and used this stone for a fastening-pin. She was first married to a man who hight Naglfare. Snorri, however, was very learned in Biblical and classical (Greek and Roman) studies and this knowledge may have affect the way he rebuilt the myths. GEFJON's PLOUGHING. He remembered his other questions. But just then Skrymer awoke and asked: What is that? She came riding on a wolf, and had twisted serpents for reins. So is it said in old poems that from this were the days and the year-count reckoned, as it says in Vlusp:3 But if it is made with craft and guile, then, little though it may look, that band will never come on my feet. Thus it is said in the Valas Prophecy: Then asked Ganglere: What happens when heaven and earth and all the worlds are consumed in flames, and when all the gods and all the einherjes and all men are dead? Isn't it sad that Gylfi should feel this way? Then said Jafnhar: All that part of Ginungagap that turns toward the north was filled with thick and heavy ice and rime, and everywhere within were drizzling rains and gusts. Then Thor stood up and called his companions. She asked him for his name, and of what kin he was, saying that the day before there rode five fylkes (kingdoms, bands) of dead men over the bridge; but she added, it does not shake less under you alone, and you do not have the hue of dead men. For what feats are you and your companions prepared? The first book of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the Gylfaginning ( Tricking of Gylfi ), contains a question-and-answer game in which Gylfi's questions reveal the nature of the Norse cosmos. Then said Ganglere: Very bad are these children of Loke, but they are strong and mighty. Third fell off of his seat laughing and excused himself. Then said Hymer that they had come to the place where he was wont to sit and catch flat-fish, but Thor said he would like to row much farther out, and so they made another swift pull. It is said that when he slept he fell into a sweat, and then there grew under his left arm a man and a woman, and one of his feet begat with the other a son. He dwells in a place called Himinbjorg, near Bifrost. But if you alone have come so lacking in knowledge that you have never ever heard this, then I think it is better that you ask just this once than forever not know this.". Thereupon Surt flings fire over the earth and burns up all the world. Back to Text The sea rushes over the earth, for the Midgard-serpent writhes in giant rage and seeks to gain the land. Be the first to contribute! Jord hight their daughter. What game will you now offer me? Back to Text Thor grasped after him and caught him, but he slipped in his hand so that Thor did not get a firm hold before he got to the tail, and this is the reason why the salmon has so slim a tail. Because of this, we need to keep in mind, when reading his material, that the myths we are reading may not be exactly the same as the myths told by pre-Christian Scandinavians. Some have a long, others a short life. These are called so: Austri, Vestri, Nordri, Sudri. Then the man turned and led the way into the hall. 12 Hrmfaxi, literally "Rime-Mane". Ganglere asked: How could these keep peace with Ymer, or who was the stronger? That is their play. Utgard-Loke said there would be no objection to this. When they had proceeded a short distance, there stood before them a great wood, through which they kept going the whole day until dark. The beginning of this tale is, that Balder dreamed dreams great and dangerous to his life. He trekked on with his new name, practicing all of the questions he would ask the Aesir. King Gylfi ruled over the land which is now called Svithiod (Sweden). In a place called Hodmimers-hold are concealed two persons during Surts fire, called Lif and Lifthraser. [Gangleri/Gylfi goes on to ask High One, Just-as-High, and Third many things about the nature of the universe and the gods and heroes of Scandinavian mythology. So, one night, Gylfi secretly left his home in his kingdom and went on a long journey. It is related of him that he once gave a wayfaring woman, as a recompense for her having diverted him, as much land in his realm as she could plough with four oxen in a day and a night. Explanatory notes are included to explain the material more fully. One end of the horn stood in the sea, but that you did not see. Thor stood by and hallowed the pile with Mjolner. Then Thor saw that the glove was the hall in which he had spent the night, and that the adjoining room was the thumb of the glove. What mighty works has he accomplished? Still they said the wolf would be able to snap it. Thus it was before these things were made. Gylfaginning: The Deluding of King Gylfi (2017) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Is there no ship equally good, or equally great? 18 A name for the Sun. Then added Thride: Still there was before a world to the south which hight Muspelheim. He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor. He arose and went over to him, clutched the hammer tight and hard, and gave him a blow in the middle of the crown, so that he knew that the head of the hammer sank deep into his head. With her he begat three children. [The episode involving the death of Balder is in Sections 49-53.]. All their household wares were of gold. Utgard-Loke now asked Thor what feats there were that he would be willing to exhibit before them, corresponding to the tales that men tell of his great works. There was a large number of frost-giants and mountain-giants. Call hither that old woman, Elle, my foster-mother, and let Thor wrestle with her if he wants to. The gods High One, Just-as-High, and Third (Odin in disguise) answer all of the Scandinavian kings questions. But the gods were angered by that arrogance and took the siblings and set them up in the sky, they made Sun drive that horse who drew the sun's chariot which the gods had shaped to light the world from an ember which flew from Muspell's World. It was smooth and soft as a silken string. So he ran away and hid himself in a rock. Gylfi asked. Four stags leap about in the branches of the ash and bit the leaves. Now, as he was sitting in his house, he took flax and yarn and worked them into meshes, in the manner that nets have since been made; but a fire was burning before him. The twelfth is Hlin, who guards those men whom Frigg wants to protect from any danger. The Deluding of Gylfi. Thride added: They took his skull and made thereof the sky, and raised it over the earth with four sides. He found the door and headed back home to his people with all of the new information he had found. Some experts think that "iron-coal" may be a mistake in the original text of the story for "iron-cold". Said Jafnhar: We have heard tell of adventure that seem to us incredible, but here sits one near who is able to tell true tidings thereof, and you may believe that he will not lie for the first time now, who never told a lie before: Then said Ganglere: I will stand here and listen, to see if any answer is to be had to this question. Gylfi was so very nervous. Back to Text, 14 Old Norse sarnkol. Hence is the saying that syn is set against it, when anyone tries to deny ought. This woman was, however, of the race of the . Although Fenrir is prophesied to swallow Odin during Ragnarok, the gods refuse to kill the wolf in advance and instead bind him with the magical fetter Gleipnir (Deluding of Gylfi 57-69). He established peace between the gods and vans. She was borne to the funeral-pile and cast on the fire. He went in, and saw there sitting on the foremost seat his brother Balder. And now use it as you can. He arose and went out. Kevin Crossley-Holland's The Norse Myths World Mythology, Volume 1: Gods and Creation by Jared Aragona is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. First, there is a winter called the Fimbul-winter, when snow drives from all quarters, the frosts are so severe, the winds so keen and piercing, that there is no joy in the sun. He went secretly, having assumed the likeness of an old man, and striving thus to disguise himself. Loke went and pulled up the mistletoe and proceeded to the meeting. Do not brag too much of yourselves, for Utgard-Lokes thanes will not brook the boasting of such insignificant little fellows as you are; otherwise turn back, and that is, in fact, the best thing for you to do. Answered Thor: I should like to try other games, but I should be surprised if such a drink at home among the asas would be called small. Her fascination with mythology began as a child; spending afternoons at her grandmas house going through the library in search of history and mythological books. If all things, said she, both quick and dead, will weep for him, then he shall go back to the asas, but if anything refuses to shed tears, then he shall remain with Hel. In the evening Thor took his goats and killed them both, whereupon he had them flayed and borne into a kettle. They gave them clothes and names; the man they called Ask, and the woman Embla. Thus it is said: Her hall is Sesrymner, and it is large and beautiful. His wife hight Sygin, and their sone, Nare, or Narfe. When the asas came to the house, he entered first who was wisest of them all, and whose name was Kvaser; and when he saw in the fire the ashes of the net that had been burned, he understood that this must be a contrivance for catching fish, and this he told to the asas. Then they went under another oak. As is here said: Then said Ganglere: Great tidings you are able to tell of the heavens. The Deluding of Gylfi. Would you like to try other games? In old songs it is said that from that time days and years were reckoned. Har answered: So great respect have the gods for their holiness and peace-stead, that they would not stain them with the blood of the wolf, though prophecies foretell that he must become the bane of Odin. First is the tale of King Gylfi of Sweden, and how he lost land that became Zealand to a beggar-woman, a disguised woman of the sir. Utgard-Loke went with them out of the burg, but at parting he spoke to Thor and asked him how he thought his journey had turned out, or whether he ever met a mightier man than himself. Hence such vows are called vars, and she takes vengeance on those who break their promises. Then remarked Jafnhar: He made heaven and earth, the air and all things in them. Gylfi was a king of Sweden, and he lived among his people there happily for many years. Ganglere asked: Does Odin have the same kind of food as the einherjes? As might be expected, the bonde and all his household cried aloud and sued for peace, offering him as an atonement all that they possessed. And it is my belief that this Odin and his brothers are the rulers of heaven and earth. Of this you may hear what the Lay of Grimner says: Then said Ganglere: A mighty band of men there is in Valhal, and, forsooth, I know that Odin is a very great chief, since he commands so mighty a host. Thus in the Prophecy of the Vala: Then said Ganglere: Much had been done, it seemed to me, when heaven and earth were made, when sun and moon were set in their places, and when days were marked out; but whence came the people who inhabit the world? They will help me to be a better king." He saw neither hall nor burg. But this funeral-pile was attended by many kinds of folk. Then quoth he: He saw three high-seats, one above the other, and in each sat a man. In setting up the deluding of Gyfi, he tells the reader that the sagas told within its pages are tall tales. Thus says Brage, the old skald: King Gylfe was a wise man and skilled in the black art. The gods took three rocks and set them up on edge, and bored a hole through each rock. The frost-giants and the mountain-giants would go up to heaven if Bifrost were passable for all who desired to go there. He had a daughter whose name was Night, and she was also very lovely and dark. Old Norse Mythology by Dr. Mathias Nordvig, The Delusion of Gylfi. Gylfi felt very very stupid, but he had to know, "Who is it that makes her this trouble?". And in the Malar Lake the bays correspond to the capes in Seeland. Afterward she was married to Annar. Frey is the most famous of the asas. One day when Frey had gone into Hlidskjalf, and was looking out upon all the worlds, he saw toward the north a hamlet wherein was a large and beautiful house. Thor said that he might row as far from the shore as he pleased, for all that, and it was yet to be seen who would be the first to ask to row back to land. They had a son called Audr. In Snorri's account Gylfi is supposedly deluded by the sir into accepting their religion; hence the name "Gylfaginning," most often interpreted as the "deluding of Gylfi", although '-ginning' is regarded the same as what we recognise in "beginning", thus "the origin of Gylfi" is also possible. Toward breakfast-time they ride home to Valhal and sit down to drink. Made answer to him Har: Thus is it said in the Valas Prophecy: Said Ganglere: What took place before the races came into existence, and men increased and multiplied? Har answered: Frigg is the first; she possesses the right lordly dwelling which is called Fensaler. They took a trough full of meat and set it on the floor, whereupon Loke seated himself at one end and Loge at the other. Hermod mounted him and galloped away. But however great may be the throng in Valhal, they will get plenty of flesh of the boar Sahrimner. The dwarfs had first been created and had quickened in Ymers flesh, and were then maggots; but now, by the decision of the gods, they got the understanding and likeness of men, but still had to dwell in the earth and in rocks. Thor gets great renown by slaying the Midgard-serpent, but retreats only nine paces when he falls to the earth dead, poisoned by the venom that the serpent blows on him. Oder went far away. Go, Gangleri, and use this as you can.". Why just the other dayhe began to think to himself, but Just-as-High went on, "The grandchildren of these people were three boys named Odinn, Vili, and Ve. "Yuck," said Gylfi, and promised he would never walk barefoot in the morning grass ever again. It is related of him that he once gave a wayfaring woman, as a recompense for her having diverted him, as much land in his realm as she could plough with four oxen in a day and a night. The main part of this work, called "The Deluding of Gylfi," is structured as a contest, and the stories Snorri tells often contain games and contests of various sorts, as well. A great loss it was to him when he fought with Bele; and this I know, forsooth, that he must have repented of that gift. He left and returned the things he learned to the people of Iceland. Or do you believe him to be a god of whom you now spake? Do you suppose that Alfather invites kings, jarls, or other great men, and gives them water to drink? We will tell you all about the different gods and goddesses, as well as the heroes and heroines. When she goes abroad, she drives in a car drawn by two cats. "Ahem, Gangleri, everyone knows that there are two wolves surrounding her. Although it describes Scandinavian myths, many scholars believe its material was influenced by Christianity. Whenever the dish becomes full, she goes and pours away the venom, and meanwhile the venom drops onto Lokes face. It's called the delusion of Gylfi because Snorri accepted the Old Norse sagas as nothing more than myths. This scene is from the Deluding of Gylfi in Gylfaginning in Snorri 's Edda. In Old Norse texts, such as Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Jarnsaxa is described as a goddess of the sea, Thor's lover, and the mother of Magni and Modi. Har answered: Yes, indeed, there are tidings to be told that seemed of far greater importance to the asas. Thereupon asked Ganglere: On what did the cow subsist? He is boiled every day and is whole again in the evening. She keeps in a box those apples of which the gods eat when they grow old, and then they become young again, and so it will be until Ragnarok (the twilight of the gods). What was before? Then said Ganglere: It is a great wonder that such a lord as Frey would give away his sword, when he did not have another as good. Har answered: That is by the ash Ygdrasil. Har answered as follows: As Bors sons went along the sea-strand, they found two trees. ThePoetic Eddais dense, scattered, and sometimes hard to follow. Still, however strong it is, it will break when the sons of Muspel come to ride over it, and then they will have to swim their horses over great rivers in order to get on. Of him it is said that he gave to a wayfaring woman, as a reward for the entertainment she had afforded him by her story-telling, a plow-land in his realm, as large as four oxen could plow it in a day and a night. Then said Utgard-Loke: How now, Thor! But as soon as he spurned against it the fetter burst asunder, and he was free from Lading. The second is Saga, who dwells in Sokvabek, and this is a large dwelling. Then came Utgard-Loke and had the table spread for them, and there was no lack of feasting both in food and in drink. Answered Jafnhar: This ash is the best and greatest of all trees; its branches spread over all the world, and reach up above heaven. You have traveled far to see us. "Oh," Glyfi said, thinking that was a rather rude thing to do to the giant who spent all of his life lying in the cold snow and having only milk for food. and with him all the frost-giants. Then said Loke: Do like the others and show honor to Balder; I will show you where he stands; shoot at him with this wand. Then said Frigg: Neither weapon nor tree can hurt Balder, I have taken an oath from them all. When he came to Frey and asked him why he was so sad that he would not talk, Frey answered that he had seen a beautiful woman, and for her sake he had become so filled with grief, that he could not live any longer if he could not get her. Then asked Ganglere: Who causes her this toil? And again, in Heimdals Song, he says himself: From Gnas name it is said that anything that fares high in the air gnas. Gylfi looked up to see the three great Aesir staring at him expectedly. From these come the races that are called frost-giants. Partially because of this, the kind of poetry Snorri liked was becoming unpopular and was being replaced by new styles of poetry. When they had breakfasted, they immediately departed from the burg. Back to Text As is here said: The dew which falls on the earth from this tree men call honey-fall, and it is the food of bees. Report Copyright Violation Also available in package deal (1) Scandinavian Studies On one of the boughs of the ash sits an eagle, who knows many things. Made answer Har: By no means do we believe him to be god; evil was he and all his offspring, them we call frost-giants. Snorri Sturluson is the author of one of the most prolific historical records of Norse mythology, the Prose Edda. Now I will give you wholesome advice. They also took his brains and cast them into the air, and made therefrom the clouds, as is here said: And these, says the Vala, are the names of the dwarfs: But the following are also dwarfs and dwell in the rocks, while the above-named dwell in the mould: But the following come from Svarins How to Aurvang on Joruvold, and from them is sprung Lovar.
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