VOeLUSPA.  THE VALA’S PROPHECY.

1.  For silence I pray all sacred children, great and small, sons of Heimdall,[5] they will that I Valfather’s deeds recount, men’s ancient saws, those that I best remember.

2.  The Joetuns I remember early born, those who me of old have reared.  I nine worlds remember, nine trees, the great central tree, beneath the earth.

3.  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.

4.  Before Bur’s 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.

5.  The sun from the south, the moon’s companion, her right hand cast about the heavenly horses.  The sun knew not where she[6] a dwelling had, the moon knew not what power he possessed, the stars knew not where they had a station.

6.  Then went the powers all to their judgment-seats, the all-holy gods, and thereon held council:  to night and to the waning moon gave names; morn they named, and mid-day, afternoon and eve, whereby to reckon years.

7.  The AEsir met on Ida’s plain; they altar-steads and temples high constructed; their strength they proved, all things tried, furnaces established, precious things forged, formed tongs, and fabricated tools;

8.  At tables played at home; joyous they were; to them was naught the want of gold, until there came Thurs-maidens three, all powerful, from Joetunheim.

9.  Then went all the powers to their judgment-seats, the all-holy gods, and thereon held council, who should of the dwarfs the race create, from the sea-giant’s blood and livid bones.

10.  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.

11.  Nyi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri, Austri and Vestri, Althiof, Dvalin Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain, Bivoer, Bavoer, Boembur, Nori, An and Anar, Ai, Miodvitnir,

12.  Veig and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thrain, Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vitr, and Litr, Nur and Nyrad, Regin and Radsvid.  Now of the dwarfs I have rightly told.

13.  Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali, Hepti, Vili, Hanar, Svior, Billing, Bruni, Bild, Buri, Frar, Hornbori, Fraeg and Loni, Aurvang, Iari, Eikinskialdi.

14.  Time ’tis of the dwarfs in Dvalin’s band, to the sons of men, to Lofar up to reckon, those who came forth from the world’s rock, earth’s foundation, to Iora’s plains.

15.  There were Draupnir, and Dolgthrasir, Har, Haugspori, Hlaevang, Gloi, Skirvir, Virvir, Skafid, Ai, Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskialdi,

16.  Fialar and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar, Heri, Hoeggstari, Hliodolf, Moin:  that above shall, while mortals live, the progeny of Lofar, accounted be.

17.  Until there came three mighty and benevolent AEsir to the world from their assembly.  They found on earth, nearly powerless, Ask and Embla, void of destiny.