Hœnir

Where the trees had stood, there were a living man and woman.

But they were stupid, pale, and speechless until Hoenir, the god of light, touched their foreheads and gave them sense and wisdom.

And Loki, the fire god, smoothed their faces, giving them bright color and warm blood and the power to speak and see and hear.

It only remained that they should be named, and they were called Ask and Embla, the names of the trees from which they had been formed.

or they received sudden inspirations during the singing of certain songs appropriate to the purpose without which the sorcery could not perfectly succeed these said women were common over all the north when invited by the master of a family they appeared in a peculiar costume sometimes with a considerable number of followers e g with fifteen young men and fifteen girls for their soothsaying they received money gold rings and other precious things sometimes it was necessary to compel them to prophecy an old description of such a vala who went from guild to guild telling fortunes will give the best idea of these women and their proceedings thorbjorg nicknamed the little vala during the winter attended the guilds at the invitation of those who desired to know their fate or the quality of the coming year everything was prepared in the most sumptuous manner for her reception there was an elevated seat on which lay a cushion stuffed with feathers a man was sent to meet her she came in the evening dressed in a blue mantle fastened with thongs and set with stones down to the lap round her neck she had a necklace of glass beads and on her head a hood of black lambskin lined with white cat skin in her hand a staff the head of which was mounted with brass and ornamented with stones round her body she wore a girdle of agaric from which hung a bag containing her conjuring apparatus on her feet were rough calfskin shoes with long ties and tin buttons on her hands cat skin gloves white and hairy within all bade her welcome with a reverent salutation the master himself conducted her by the hand to her seat she undertook no prophecy on the first day but would first pass a night there in the evening of the following day she ascended her elevated seat caused the women to place themselves around her and desired them to sing certain songs which they did in a strong clear voice she then prophesied of the coming year and afterwards all that would advanced and asked her such questions as they thought proper to which they received plain answers in the following grand and ancient lay dating most probably from the time of heathenism are set forth as the utterances of vala or wandering prophetess as above described the story of the creation of the world from chaos of the origin of the giants the gods the dwarfs and the human race together with other events relating to the mythology of the north and ending with the destruction of the gods and the world and the renewal end of introduction section 2 of the elder eddas of samon sigfusson and the younger eddas of snorri sturluson edited by rasmus b anderson this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox dot org recording by becky cook the voluspa the vala's prophecy for silence i pray all sacred children great and small sons of heimdall they will that i valfather's deeds recount men's ancient saws those that i best remember the jotuns i remember early born those whom we of old have reared i nine worlds remember nine trees the great central tree beneath the earth there was in times of old where ymir dwelt nor sand nor sea nor gelid waves earth existed not nor heaven above twas a chaotic chasm and grass nowhere before bur sons raised up heaven's vault they who the noble mid earth shaped the sun shone from the south over the structure's rocks then was the earth begrown with herbage green the sun from the south the moon's companion her right hand cast about the heavenly horses the sun knew not where she a dwelling had the moon knew not what power he possessed the stars knew not where they had a station then went the powers all to their judgment seats the all holy gods and thereon held counsel to night and to the waning moon gave names morn they named and midday afternoon and eve whereby to reckon years the asur met on idas plain they altars steads and temples high constructed their strength they proved all things tried furnaces established precious things forged formed tongs and fabricated tools at tables played at home joyous they were to them was not the want of gold until there came thurs maidens three all powerful from jotunheim then went all the powers to their judgment seats the all holy gods and thereon held counsel who should of the dwarfs the race create from the sea giant's blood and livid bones then was motsognir created greatest of all the dwarfs and durin second there in man's likeness they created many dwarfs from earth as durin said nii and nidi nodri sudri austri and vestri althjof dvalin narr and nain nipping dane bivor bavor bombur nori on and onor ai mjoth vitnir veg and gandalf vindalf thrain thek and thorin thror vitor and littor nur and nirad ragan and ratsvid now all the dwarfs i have rightly told filli killi fundin nali hepti vili hanor svior billing bruni bild bruri frar hornbori frig and loni aurvang iari ikinskialdi time tis of the dwarfs and dvalin's band to the sons of men to lofor up to reckon those who came forth from the world's rocks earth's foundations to yora's plains there were dropnir and dolgthrasir har hoksbori hilvang gloi skivir thivir skefid ai alf and yingve ikinskialdi fialar and frosti find and gnar hari hokstori hilildoth moin that above all while mortals live the progeny of lofor counted be until there came three mighty and benevolent asur to the world from their assembly they found on earth nearly powerless ask and embla void of destiny Spirit they possessed not, sense they had not, blood nor motive powers, nor goodly color.

Spirit gave Odin, sense gave Honir, blood gave Lodur, and goodly color.

I know an ash standing, Yggdrasil hight, a lofty tree laved with limpid water; thence come the dews into the dales that fall: ever stands it green over Urd's fountain.

Thence come maidens much knowing, three from the hall which under that tree stands: Urd hight the one, the second Verdandi, and on a table they graved, Skuld the third; laws they established, life allotted to the sons of men, destinies pronounced.

Baldr shall come, Hodr and Baldr, the heavenly gods.

Hrop's glorious dwelling shall inhabit.

Understand ye yet or what? Then can Honir choose his lot, and the two brothers' sons inhabit the spacious Vindheim.

Understand ye yet or what? She a hall standing them the sun brighter, with gold bedecked in Gimil.

Spirit they possessed not, sense they had not, blood nor motive powers, nor goodly color.

Spirit gave Odin, sense gave Honir, blood gave Lodur, and goodly color.

I know an ash standing Yggdrasil hight, a lofty tree laved with limpid water.

Thence come the dews into the dales that fall.

Baldur shall come.

Hodur and Baldur, the heavenly gods, Hrapp's glorious dwelling shall inhabit.

Understand ye yet or what? Then can Honir choose his lot and the two brothers' sons inhabit the spacious Findheim.

Understand ye yet or what? She a hall standing then the sun brighter with gold bedecked in Gimmel.

They did not know the secret of Mimer's well, how the hoary old giant was far more wise than anyone who had not quaffed of the magic water.

It is true that in the assemblies of the Veneer, Honir gave excellent counsel, but this was because Mimer whispered in Honir's ear all the wisdom that he had uttered.

Witless Honneir was quite hopeless without his aid, and did not know what to say or what to do.

Whenever Mimer was absent, he would look nervous and frightened, and if folk questioned him, he always answered, Yes, yes, ah

Section fifteen.

How should Honir be paraphrased? By calling him benchmate or companion or friend of Odin, the swift of god, the long-footed, and king of play.

Section sixteen.

How should one paraphrase Loki? Thus, call him son of Farbauti and Laufey, or of Nal, brother of Bjallister and of Helblindi, father of the monster of Van, that is Fenris Wolf, and of the vast monster, that is the Midgard Serpent, and of Hel and Nari and Ali, kinsman and uncle, evil companion and benchmate of Odin and the Aesir, visitor and chest-trapping of Geirrodur, thief of the giants, of the goat, of Brisingamen, and of Idun's apples, kinsman of Sleipnir, husband of Sigyn, foe of the gods, harmer of Sif's hair, forger of evil, the sly god, slanderer and cheat of the gods, contriver of Baldr's death, the bound god, wrangling foe of Heimdallr and of Skadi.

Section fifteen.

How should Honir be paraphrased? By calling him benchmate or companion or friend of Odin, the swift of god, the long-footed, and king of play.

Section sixteen.

How should one paraphrase Loki? Thus, call him son of Farbauti and Laufey, or of Nall, brother of Bialister and of Helblindi, father of the monster of Van, that is Fenris Wolf, and of the vast monster, that is the Midgard Serpent, and of Hel and Nari and Alli, kinsman and uncle, evil companion and benchmate of Odin and the Aesir, visitor and chest-trapping of Geirrödur, thief of the giants, of the goat, of Brisingamen, and of Idun's apples, kinsman of Sleipnir, husband of Sigyn, foe of the gods, harmer of Sif's hair, forger of evil, the sly god, slanderer and cheat of the gods, contriver of Baldr's death, the bound god, wrangling foe of Heimdallr and of Skadi.