_Alvis_.
1. The benches they are decking, now shall the bride[33] with me
bend her way home. That beyond my strength I have hurried will to
every one appear: at home naught shall disturb my quiet.
_Vingthor_.
2. What man is this? Why about the nose art thou so pale? Hast thou
last night with corpses lain? To me thou seemst to bear resemblance to
the Thursar. Thou art not born to carry off a bride.
_Alvis_.
3. Alvis I am named, beneath the earth I dwell, under the rock I own
a place. The lord of chariots I am come to visit. A promise once
confirmed let no one break.[34]
_Vingthor_.
4. I will break it; for o'er the maid I have, as father, greatest
power. I was from home when the promise was given thee. Among the gods
I the sole giver am.
_Alvis_.
5. What man is this, who lays claim to power over that fair, bright
maiden? For far-reaching shafts few will know thee. Who has decked
thee with bracelets?
_Vingthor_.
6. Vingthor I am named, wide I have wandered; I am Sidgrani's son:
with my dissent thou shalt not that young maiden have, nor that union
obtain.
_Alvis_.
7. Thy consent I fain would have, and that union obtain. Rather
would I possess than be without that snow-white maiden.
_Vingthor_.
8. The maiden's love shall not, wise guest! be unto thee denied, if
thou of every world canst tell all I desire to know.
_Alvis_.
9. Vingthor! thou canst try, as thou art desirous the knowledge of
the dwarf to prove. All the nine worlds I have travelled over, and
every being known.
_Vingthor_.
10. Tell me, Alvis!--for all men's concerns I presume thee, dwarf,
to know--how the earth is called, which lies before the sons of men,
in every world.
_Alvis_.
11. Jord among men 'tis called, but with the Æsir fold; the Vanir
call it vega, the Jotuns igroen, the Alfar groandi, the powers supreme
aur.
_Vingthor_.
12. Tell me, Alvis, etc. how the heaven is called, which is
perceptible in every world.
_Alvis_.
13. Himinn 'tis called by men; but hlyrnir with the gods; vindofni
the Vanir call it, uppheimr the Jotuns, the Alfar fagraræfr, the
dwarfs driupansal.
_Vingthor_.
14. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the moon is called, which men see in
every world.
_Alvis_.
15. Mani 'tis called by men, but mylinn with the gods, hverfanda
hvel in Hel[35] they call it, skyndi the Jotuns, but the dwarfs skin;
the Alfar name it artali.
_Vingthor_.
16. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the sun is called, which men's sons
see in every world.
_Alvis_.
17. Sol among men 'tis called, but with the gods sunna, the dwarfs
call it Dvalinn's leika, the Jotuns eyglo, the Alfar fagrahvel, the
Æsir's sons alskir.
_Vingthor_.
18. Tell me, Alvis, etc., how the clouds are called, which with
showers are mingled in every world.
_Alvis_.
19. Sky they are called by men, but skurvan by the gods; the Vanir
call them vindflot, the Jotuns urvan, the Alfar vedrmegin; in Hel they
are called hialm hulids.
_Vingthor_.
20. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the wind is called, which widely
passes over every world.
_Alvis_.
21. Windr 'tis called by men, but vavudr by the gods, the
wide-ruling powers call it gneggiud, the Jotuns oepir, the Alfar
dynfari, in Hel they call it hvidudr.
_Vingthor_.
22. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the calm is called, which has to rest
in every world.
_Alvis_.
23. Logn 'tis called by men, but lægi by the gods, the Vanir call it
vindslot, the Jotuns ofhly, the Alfar dagsevi, the Dwarfs call it dags
vera.
_Vingthor_.
24. Tell me, Alvis! etc., what the sea is called, which men row over
in every world.
_Alvis_.
25. Sær 'tis called by men, but silægia with the gods; the vanir
call it vagr, the Jotuns alheimr, the Alfar lagastafr, the Dwarfs call
it diupan mar.
_Vingthor_.
26. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the fire is called, which burns before
men's sons in every world.
_Alvis_.
27. Eldr 'tis called by men, but by the Æsir funi; the Vanir call it
vagr, the Jotuns frekr, but the Dwarfs forbrennir; in Hel they call it
hrodudr.
_Vingthor_.
28. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the forest is called, which grows for
the sons of men in every world.
_Alvis_.
29. Vidr 'tis called by men, but vallarfax by the gods, Hel's
inmates call it hlidthangr, the Jotuns eldi, the Alfar fagrlimi; the
Vanir call it vondr.
_Vingthor_.
30. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the night is called, that Norvi's
daughter hight, in every world.
_Alvis_.
31. Nott it is called by men, but by the gods niol; the wide-ruling
powers call it grima, the Jotuns olios, the Alfar svefngaman; the
Dwarfs call it draumniorunn.
_Vingthor_.
32. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the seed is called, which the sons of
men sow in every world.
_Alvis_.
33. Bygg it is called by men, but by the gods barr, the Vanir call
it vaxtr, the Jotuns æti, the Alfar lagastafr; in Hel 'tis hnipinn
called.
_Vingthor_.
34. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the beer is called, which the sons of
men drink in every world.
_Alvis_.
35. Ol it is called by men, but by the Æsir biorr, the Vanir call it
veig, hreina logr the Jotuns, but in Hel 'tis called miodr: Suttung's
sons call it sumbl.
_Vingthor_.
36. In one breast I have never found more ancient lore. By great
wiles thou hast, I tell thee, been deluded. Thou art above ground,
dwarf! at dawn; already in the hall the sun is shining!