The Lay of Fjolsvith
Fjolsvinnsmal
1. (a)From afar he saw rise the high-timbered hall of the etins (b)
(Svipdag said:)
"What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who stands, about the flickering fire hovering?" (c)
a. As to the abrupt beginning, see the Introduction. I follow Bugge in the ordering of the first four helmings as well as in the attribution to the speakers.
b. Possibly a kenning for "mountain". The entire first pare of the stanza is controversial.
c. The "flickering flame" surrounds Mengloth's castle like Brynhild's wall of fire; "Sigrdrifumal, " Introductory Prose.
(Fjolsvith said:)
2. "What are you searching for, wayfarer(a), what do you want? On wet roads (b) turn straight around, theres no fire for the homeless here!"
a. "The Very Wise", which is also an epithet of Othin ("Grimnismal," St. 48).
b. Over the high mountains.
(Svipdag said:)
3. "What foul fiend is it in this forecourt who doesn't welcome the wayfarer?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
"A good name, I think, you never had, so run along home!
4. "I am called Fjolsvith, famed for my lore, but do not give of my food freely: (a) I've never seen you within this court before: be off now, outlaw, away!"
a. That is, not hospitable to strangers.
(Svipdag said:)
5. "This place is a feast for the eyes, such a lovely thing to behold; the gates gleam about its golden hall: I would love to warm up here."
(Fjolsvith said:)
6. "To whom where you born, and of what blood, youthl; from what house do you hail?" (a)
(Svipdag said:) "Vindkald (b) my name, Varkald my father, Fjolkald his father was.
a. See "Fafnismal," St. 2, where, too, the hero attempts to conceal his identity. Not acknowledging himself as the chosen hero, Svipdag must inquire into the conditions---impossible of fulfillment---through which access to the castle may be gained.
b. Vindkald, "Wind-Cold"; Varkald, "Spring-Cold"; Fjolkald, "Very Cold." Gering suggests that, by giving these fictitious names, Svipdag wishes to make Fjolsvith believe that he, too, is of giant kin.
7. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; please answer: who owns this seemly hall, so richly wrought with gold?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
8. "She is called Mengloth (a), whom her mother bore to Svafrthorin's son: 'it is she who owns this seemly hall, so richly wrought with gold."
a. See "Grogaldr" St. 3. The name and status of her kin remain unexplained.
(Svipdag said:)
9. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the little gate called which 'mong the gods is feared like no other?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
10. "Thrymgjoll (a) is the gates name which three sons of Solblindi (b) made; with strong fetters the wayfarer it wold stop from taking it off its hinges." (c)
a. "The Loud-Grating."
b. "Sun-Blinded," dwarfs whose abode is in the darkness.
c. Like the gate described in "Sigurtharkvidha hin skamma," St. 68. The Old Norse door raised up. See "Rigsthula," St. 26.
(Svipdag said:)
11. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the wall called which 'mong the gods is feared like no other?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
12. " It is called Gastropnir (a), which I built well out of Leirbrimir, (b) the etin's, limbs; 'it is so stanchly built that it will stand as long as men do live."
a. "Strangling the Intruder" (?).
b. "Clay-Giant" (?); is it built of bricks?
(Svipdag said:)
13. (a) "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what the ash is called which spreads its limbs over the whole land?"
a. In the original, Sts. 13 to 18, dealing with the tree Yggdrasil (see "Voluspa," [Icelandic] St. 19), come after St. 24. They are probably interpolated, having nothing to do with the subject in hand.
(Fjolsvith said:)
14. " 'It is called Mimameith, (a) but no man knows from what roots it does rise; no one knows how to fell such a tree: neither fire nor iron will cut it down." (b)
a. "Mimir's Tree." His well is under Yggdrasil ("Voluspa," [Icelandic] St. 28).
b. See "Grimnismal," St. 36
(Svipdag said:)
15. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: of the fruit (a) can it be eaten, since not fire nor iron will fell it?"
a. Conjectural. The word in the original is unexplained.
(Fjolsvith said:)
16. "Of its berries you can roast, (a) for ailing women to eat: then out will come the vitality held within - such strength is bestowed on that tree."
a. Possibly it's roasted fruit, which, in some trees, has an emmenagogic effect; but the interpretation is conjectural.
(Svipdag said:)
17. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the cock called, in the high tree, which sits gleaming all golden?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
18. "He is Vithofnir called and watchful (a) he stands on the branches of Mimameith: with dreadful fear his sound fills the hearers of Surt (b) and Sinmara."
a. The word in the original is not well understood.
b. The fire giant (see "Voluspa," [Icelandic] St. 51). His wife (?) Sinmara is unknown elsewhere. According to "Voluspa," [Icelandic] St. 41 ff, the crowing of the cock gives warning of the approach of the destroying elements.
(Svipdag said:)
19. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what are the hounds on high, which prowl about the hall?" (a)
a. This line is supplied conjecturally.
(Fjolsvith said:)
20. "Gifr is one called, Geri (a) the other, if you want to know: strong (b) watchdogs they are, and they keep their watch until the night when the doom of the gods draws near."
a. Both names signify "Greedy." Geri is also the name of one of Othin's wolves in "Grimnismal," St. 19.
b. Strangely, the manuscripts here have "eleven".
(Svipdag said:)
21. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: whether any man might come within when the hungry hounds do sleep?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
22. "They have never both slept at the same time, since the beginning of their watch: one sleeps one night and the other sleeps at noon, so no outsider may enter."
(Svipdag said:)
23. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer me as I ask: is there any food that men might throw them and slip in the while they eat."
(Fjolsvith said:)
24. "'Underbeeth Vithofnir's limbs lie two wing-bits (a), if you want to know: that meat alone may men throw them, and slip in the while they eat."
a. The exact meaning of the word in the original is not clear.
(Svipdag said:)
25. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer please as I ask: what weapon exists which might Vithofnir may send him to the halls of Hel?" (a)
a. That is, slay him.
(Fjolsvith said:)
26. " 'There is one called Laevatein (a), which Lopt (b) did forge, found underneath Niflhel; in an iron kettle Sinmara(c) keeps it safe with nine hard locks."
a. "Wand-of-Destruction," a kenning for "sword".
b. Loki; see "Lokasenna," St. 6.
c. Surtr's wife?
(Svipdag said:)
27. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: may any wight return who goes and seeks to win that sword?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
28. The ghost who seeks to win that sword could return home if he fetches that which few do own, to give to that goddess-of-gold."(a)
a. Conjectural. If correct, it is a kenning for "woman": Sinmara.
(Svipdag said:)
29. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: who owns anything of such worth, that would it would make that fallow (a) ogress want to [give up that fine sword]?"
a. She is pale yellow because she dwells in a cave. See "Alvismal," St. 2.
(Fjolsvith said:)
30. "You must pluck the shining feather from in front of Vithofnir's gaze and steal it, only then will that sullen Sinmara sell you the weapon able to lay [Vithofnir] low." (a)
a. The interpretation of these lines is doubtful. However, the circle of impossibilities is closed: no one may enter the castle.
(Svipdag said:)
31. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the hall called which is hedged about by a wall of flickering flame?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
32. "Lyr it is called, and long will it hover over this high sword's pointed mountain; (a) only from hearsay have men ever heared of this place."
a. Following Bugge's interpretation. In other words it is inaccessible.
(Svipdag said:)
33. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: of the gods, who made (the golden floor), (a) within the hall so high?"
a. Following Grundtvig's emendation. The half-stanza is difficult. Both this and the following seven stanzas are irrelevant and, possibly, interpolated.
(Fjolsvith said:)
34. (a)"Uni and Iri, Ori and Bari, Var and Vegdrasil, Darri and Uri and Delling were there, (at the time Hlithskjalf was locked)." (b)
a. Most of the following names (of dwarfs) remain unexplained. Several occur also in "The Song of the Sybil." The holy number nine plays a considerable role in both poems.
b. Conjectural. If this reading is adopted the castle bears the same name as Othin's seat in Valholl.
(Svipdag said:)
35. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the mountain is called which the maiden does dwell on, aloft and alone?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
36. "It is called Lyfja Mount (a), and long has it been there for the help of the sick: for one becomes completely healyour when hopeless she does seem, the woman who wins it is called."
a. "Mountain of Healing."
(Svipdag said:)
37. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what are the maids called that sit before Mengloth's knees in sisterly wise?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
38. "Hlif one is called, Hlifthrasa another, a third, Thjothvara; eke Bjort and Bleik, Blith and Frith, Eir and Aurbotha." (a)
a. The nine maidens bear names appropriate to their salutiferous activities.
(Svipdag said:)
39. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: do they give help to their worshippers, if they are in need?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
40. "[Yes, they do give help] (a) to their worshippers who stand loyal with holy [gifts]; (b) there is never a man that remains in need, but they are lent a helping hand."
a. A lacuna in the manuscript is supplied here following Bugge.
b. To offer up sacrifice.
(Svipdag said:)
41. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: if to any man Mengloth will grant in her soft arms to sleep?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
42. "No man lives to whom Mengloth will grant in her soft arms to sleep; only Svipdag the sunbright maiden for whom wedded wife was she given."
(Svipdag said:)
43. "Open then the gates, and give a wide berth! Behold it is Svipdag you are seeing. Now go into the hall to tell Mengloth my love [I am here]."
(Fjolsvith said:)
44. "Mengloth, do you hear me? A man has arrived; come and greet the guest! The hounds bid welcome, the house has opened: it looks like Svipdag has returned."
(Mengloth said:)
45. "May greedy ravens gouge out your eyes and may you hang high on gallows if you lie and that from long ways afar the hero has come to my hall.
46. "Where did you come from, and what is your kin called at home? Tell me your father's name, that I may have a token to prove I am to be your bride."
(Svipdag said:)
47. "I am called Svipdag, Solbjare (a) [was] my father; here wandered I wind-cold(b) ways; 'gainst Urth's decree 'it is idle to strive, though loath be your lot."(c)
a. "Sun-Bright."
b. It may be unrelated, but Wind-Cold was Winter's father.
c. difficult to translate.
(Mengloth said:)
48. "My wish have I won: welcome be you; with kiss I clasp you now; the loved one's sight is sweet to her who has lived in longing for him.
49. "Full long sat I on Lyfja Mount, bided you day after day: now has happened what I hoped for so long, that, hero, has come to my hall.
50. "Heartsick was I; to have you I yearned, whilst you did long for my love. Of a truth I know: we two shall live our life and lot together."