Freya said:
1.
"Awake, good maiden,
awake, my friend,
sister Hyndla,
who sleeps in this cave;
it is darkest night,
let us ride
to Valhalla
and the hallowed place.2.
"Let us ask Óthin
our errand to speed:
he gives and grants gold
to his followers.
To Hermóth gave he
helm and byrnie,
To King Sigmund,
the sword of victory.3.
"He gives riches to some,
to some, victory,
word skill to wights,
wisdom to others,
breezes to sailors,
song-craft to skalds,
and manliness
to many a warrior.4.
"I shall worship Thór,
and this ask of him
that he shall not
ever do ill to you,
though he love not
etin women.5.
"Take one of your wolves
from his stable,
and let us ride on our way
with me on my boar."
Hyndla said:
6.
"Slow runs your boar
on the road to Valholl,
and I will not weary
my swarthy steed.7.
"Falsely, Freya,
you try to befriend me now;
your eye seems to say
to me that it was you
who lead your lover
on his last journey,
Óttar the Young,
Innstein's son."
Freya said:
8.
"Your mind dull, Hyndla,
and you dream I think,
to believe this of my lover
on his last journey:
my boar gleameth,
golden-bristled,
Hildisvíni,
by smiths two fashioned
of dwarfish kin,
Dáin and Nabbi.9.
"Why not joust words with me
as we sit on our saddles,
match our lore of lines
of lordly races,
of the kin of kings
who came from gods.10.
"Óttar the Young
and Angantýr
have both wagered
Welsh gold:
I am bound to help
the young hero,
or he will fail to get
his father's share.11.
"A high altar he did make for me,
heaped with stones
- precious as glass
it is with fire -
redden it he did anew
with the fresh blood of oxen;
Óttar truly worships
the ásynjur.12.
"Reckon up now in order,
the oldest sib,
and call to mind
the kin of men:
a Skjoldung who,
a Skilfing who,
an Othling who,
an Ylfing who?
Who a landholder,
who of lordly stock,
Who of most worth are
in the world of men?"
Hyndla said:
13.
"You are, Óttar
from Innstein sprung;
but Innstein was born
to Álf the Old,
and Álf to Úlf,
Úlf to Sćfari;
Sćfari's father
was Svan the Red.14.
"Was your father's mother
a fair-bright maiden;
I think she was called
Hlédis the Priestess;
was Fróthi her father,
Fríaut her mother:
this race was wholly ranked
with the highest.15.
"Of old was Authi
among earth's greatest;
before lived Hálfdan,
highest of Skjoldungs;
many wars in the world
waged the bold one,
to the welkin were wafted
his works abroad.16.
"Befriended by Eymund,
foremost among men,
he slew Siggtrygg
with the sword's edge,
and home led Álmveig,
the most highborn woman -
they issue had
of eighteen sons.17.
"Then the Skjoldungs,
then the Skilfings,
then the Othlings,
then the Ynglings,
the landholders then,
the lord's stock,
who of most worth are
in the world of men:
they sib all these,
silly Óttar!18.
"Her mother, hold I,
was Hildigunn,
the child of Sváva
and of Sćkonung;
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!
You needs must know this---
would you know still more?19.
"Dag married Thóra,
mother-of-heroes;
in that kin were born
the best of men:
Frathmar and Gyrth,
and the Freki brothers,
Ám, Jofurmar,
and Álf the Old;
you needs must know this -
would you know still more?20.
"Was Ketil their kinsman,
Klypp's oldest son,
your own mother's
mother-father;
before Kári,
Fróthi lived,
and Álf the hero
to Hild was born.21.
"Then was Nanna born,
Nokkvi's daughter;
her son did wed
your father's sister;
of forefathers old
still further I tell:
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!22.
"Isolf and Ásolf,
Olmóth's sons these,
and Skúrhild's eke,
Skekkil's daughter,
among them are
with many heroes;
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!23.
"Gunnar Midwall,
Grím the Hardy,
Iron-Shield Thórir,
Úlf the Gaping.24.
"Hervareh, Hjorvareh,
Hrani, Angantýr,
Búi and Brami,
Barri and Reifnir,
Tind and Tyrfing,
and the two Haddings:
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!25.
"In Bolm in Eastland
were born these twelve,
the sons of Arngrím
and Eyfura;
the blare of these berserks,
their baleful deeds,
like wildfire swept
over sea and land:
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!26.
"I knew both of them,
Brodd and Horvir
both heroes were
Hrólf's followers
King Jormunrekk's kinsmen all:
he was Sigurth's sib -
what I say heed you----
the folk-ruler's,
who Fáfnir slew.27.
"Was Svanhild's sire
the son of Volsung
and of Hjordís,
of Hrauthung's kin----
she Eylimi's,
the Othiling's daughter:
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!28.
"Gunnar and Hogni
were Gjúki's sons,
of the same sib
was their sister Guthrún;
but Guthorm was not
of Gjúki's kin,
though a brother
to both his sons:
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!29.
"Harald Wareooth was
to Hrćrek born,
the sower-of-rings:
he the son was of Auth;
Auth the Deep-Minded
was Ívar's daughter;
Ráthbareh was
Randvér's father:
were given to the gods
these goodly men,
your sib all these,
silly Óttar!"
[Völuspá in skamma begins]
30.
There were eleven
Ćsir reckoned,
when Baldr on
the pile was laid;
him Vali showed himself
worthy to avenge,
his own brother:
he the slayer slew.31.
Baldr's father was
son of Bur:
Frey to wife had Gerd,
she was Gymir's daugther,
from Jötuns sprung
and Aurboda;
Thiassi also
was their relation,
that haughty Jötun;
Skadi was his daughter.32.
We tell thee much,
and remember more:
I admonish thee thus much to know.
Wishest thou yet a longer narrative?33.
Haki was not the worst
of Hvedna's sons,
and Hiövard
was Hvedna´s father;
Heid and Hrossthiof were
of Hrimnir's race.34.
All the Valas are
from Vidolf;
all the soothsayers
from Vilmeidr,
all the sorcerers
from Svarthöfdi;
all the Jötuns
come from Ymir.35.
We tell thee much,
and more remember,
I admonish thee thus much to know.
Wishest thou yet a longer narrative?36.
There was one born,
in times of old,
with wondrous might endowed,
of origin divine:
nine Jötun maids
gave birth
to the gracious god,
at the world´s margin.37.
Gialp gave him birth,
Greip gave him birth,
Eistla gave him birth,
and Angeia;
Ulfrun gave him birth,
and Eyrgiafa,
Imd and Atla,
and Jarnsaxa.38.
The boy was nourished
with the strength of earth,
with the ice_cold sea,
and with Son's blood.39.
We tell thee much,
and more remember.
I admonish thee thus much to know.
Wishest thou a yet longer narrative?40.
Loki begat the wolf
with Angrboda,
but Sleipnir he begat
with Svadilfari:
one monster seemed
of all most deadly,
which from Byleist's
brother sprang.41.
Loki, scorched up
in his heart's affections,
had found a half-burnt
woman's heart.
Loki became guileful
from that wicked woman;
thence in the world
are all giantesses come.42.
Ocean towers with storms
to heaven itself,
flows o'er the land;
the air is rent:
thence come snows
and rapid winds;
then it is decreed
that the rain should cease.43.
There was one born
greater than all,
the boy was nourished
with the strength of earth;
he was declared a ruler,
mightiest and richest,
allied by kinship
to all princes.44.
Then shall another come,
yet mightier,
although I dare not
his name declare.
Few may see
further forth
than when Odin
meets the wolf.
[Völuspá in skamma ends]
Freya said:
45.
"To my boar bring you,
that he bear all in mind,
a cup so he can keep
all these words,
and think of them
on the third morning,
when the two shall tell
of their kin."
Hyndla said:
46.
"Go your way now,
I wish to sleep;
but little good
would you get from me,
in the night who runnest---
your noble friend----
in her heat as Heithrún
the he-goats among."
47.
"Were you ever eager
to lie with Óth:
under your apron
still others have crept in the night,
who runnest
- as you noble friend -
in her heat as Heithrún
the he-goats among."
Freya said:
48.
"The evil hag
I now hedge you with fire:
you shall not escape
uninjured from here."
Hyndla said:
49.
"A fire see I burning,
flames from the earth:
she who loves his life
will release me gladly:
in the beaker bear you
the beer to Óttar,
but with venom I brewed it:
may it work your bane!"
Freya said:
50.
"Your wicked wish
shall work no harm though,
etin woman,
nor your evil threat;
for this drink I shall [bless]
as the good clean draught
and may all the gods lend Óttar
help in this!"
Translation of Völuspá in skamma by Benjamin Thorpe; original translation is in the public domain. This edition has been extensively edited and corrected and is Copyright © 2001 JJB, used with permision.