They took a trough full of meat and set it on the floor, whereupon Loke seated himself at one end and Loge at the other. It is so large that all the asas, with their weapons and war-gear, can find room on board it, and as soon as the sails are hoisted it has fair wind, no matter whither it is going. Wanting to obtain some of the powers of the sir, Gylfi set out for Asgard, and asked the three enthroned men he met to tell him about their gods. Gylfi was left in an empty room. Thus they are named in Grimners Lay: Gymer hight a man whose wife was Orboda, of the race of mountain giants. Snorri was a great poet as well as a great writer, and he preferred an old-fashioned kind of poetry that made much use of the pre-Christian Scandinavian mythological material. She was swarthy and dark like the race she belonged to. At dawn he sends them out to fly over the whole world, and they come back at breakfast time. When he had put on the ox-head for bait, he cast it overboard and it sank to the bottom. Norfe, or Narfe, hight a giant, who dwelt in Jotunheim. King Gylfi ruled over the land which is now called Svithiod (Sweden). Nörfi or Narfi was the name of a giant who lived in Giantland4. Frey encounters Surt, and heavy blows are exchanged ere Frey falls. But has not Thor avenged himself for this? I will again defend my burg with similar or other delusions, so that you will get no power over me. Back to Text, 15 The poem Vlusp describes the destruction of the world when the sun and moon are devoured by these wolves. He went in, and saw there sitting on the foremost seat his brother Balder. When he told these dreams to the asas they took counsel together, and it was decided that they should seek peace for Balder against all kinds of harm. A she-goat, by name Heidrun, stands up in Valhal and bites the leaves off the branches of that famous tree called Lerad. Even the dog Garm, that was bound before the Gnipa-cave, gets loose. Then they went under another oak. Its called the delusion of Gylfi because Snorri accepted the Old Norse sagas as nothing more than myths. King Gylfe ruled the lands that are now called Svithjod (Sweden). Third giggled, and Just-as-High thumped him in the chest. High-One cleared his throat and said, "Well she licked the ice, see?". The builder hurried after them with all his might, and wanted to catch the steed, but these horses kept running all night, and thus the time was lost, and at dawn the work had not made the usual progress. Thus he gets information about many things, and hence he is called Rafnagud (raven-god). Thor stands by his side, but can give him no assistance, for he has his hands full in his struggle with the Midgard-serpent. Snorri Sturluson was a Christian poet who respected Norse mythology but didnt believe in it. He asked what the names of these chiefs were. She has thrown to the ground men who have seemed to me no less strong than Thor. And it is my belief that this Odin and his brothers are the rulers of heaven and earth. There are yet more norns, namely those who come to every man when he is born, to shape his life, and these are known to be of the race of gods; others, on the other hand, are of the race of elves, and yet others are of the race of dwarfs. In "The Deluding of Gylfi," Snorri Sturluson presents six different creation stories without much logical connection. When the flesh was boiled, Thor and his companion sat down to supper. Frey is the most famous of the asas. I have heard that you have been whispering among yourselves that I am not small of stature, but you will see greater men when you come to Utgard. About midnight there was a great earthquake; the ground trembled beneath them, and the house shook. Thor finding himself unable to open it, and being anxious to get within the burg, they crept between the bars and so came in. The Swedish people trusted their king and expected him to know answers to all questions. Of this you may hear what the Lay of Grimner says: Then said Ganglere: A mighty band of men there is in Valhal, and, forsooth, I know that Odin is a very great chief, since he commands so mighty a host. But Gylfi soon found that the questions his people asked of him were becoming too diificult for him to answer himself. "Yuck," said Gylfi, and promised he would never walk barefoot in the morning grass ever again. Then there sprang forth on the floor a gray cat, and it was rather large. He was very large, lay sleeping, and snored loudly. Thus the wolf perishes. He arose and went out. High-One raised an eyebrow and grinned, saying, "You are still confused. This water is so holy that all things that are put into the fountain become as white as the film of an egg-shell. 5 Ntt. He dwells in Noatun, which is in heaven. Below he talks about the Sun and Moon.]. Snorri writes that the sir were trying to trick Gylfi/Gangleri into believing these stories--in this way he can write all about the old heathen myths without getting into trouble with the Christian Church. From him the gods have much help in all hard tasks. She rides upon a horse called Hofvarpner, that runs through the air and over the sea. If you have not known this before, you can easily find out that it is true and that there is no lie about it, since you must have observed that a woman has no beard, that a cats footfall cannot be heard, and that mountains have no roots; and I know, forsooth, that what I have told you is perfectly true, although there are some things that you do not understand. Then said Ganglere: This I must surely understand to be true. There are two wolves, and the one which is after her is named Skll. He found the door and headed back home to his people with all of the new information he had found. But what is the pastime of the einherjes when they do not drink? But when his breath gave out, and he looked into the horn to see how it had gone with his drinking, it seemed to him difficult to determine whether there was less in it than before. Just-as-High sighed deeply. It is related of him that he once gave a wayfaring woman, as a recompense for her having diverted him, as much land in his realm as she could plough with four oxen in a day and a night. But the asas were wiser, for they see into the future, and, forseeing his journey before he came, they received him with an eye-deceit. The eleventh is Syn, who guards the door of the hall, and closes it against those who are not to enter. She is wedded to the man whose name is Oder; their daughters name is Hnos, and she is so fair that all things fair and precious are called, from her name, Hnos. There he saw many rooms and a large number of people, of whom some were playing, others were drinking, and some were fighting with weapons. When he came to Frey and asked him why he was so sad that he would not talk, Frey answered that he had seen a beautiful woman, and for her sake he had become so filled with grief, that he could not live any longer if he could not get her. Then said Utgard-Loke: How now, Thor! As is here said: Then said Ganglere: Great tidings you are able to tell of the heavens. There was an excellent race-course along the flat plain. The Swedish people trusted their king and expected him to know answers to all questions. Gylfaginning Explained. Answered Har: The next thing was that when the rime melted into drops, there was made thereof a cow, which hight Audhumbla. He also took into consideration that it was necessary to expose ones self to some danger if he desired to become famous; so he let them put the fetter on him. His glowing mane sheds light over the air and Earth." He is the best, and all praise him. Skirner said that he would go, though he was loth to do so, as it was probable that he would get evil words in reply. 14 Old Norse sarnkol. As is here said: Then said Ganglere: Of great importance these asas seem to me to be, and it is not wonderful that you have great power, since you have such excellent knowledge of the gods, and know to which of them to address you prayers on each occasion. Back to Text, 16 A possible meaning of the name Vindlni. Har answered: Yes, indeed, there are tidings to be told that seemed of far greater importance to the asas. His father is the giant Farbaute, but his mothers name is Laufey, or Nal. A certain man who was called Mundilfari had two children. In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, and the sons of Muspel come riding through the opening. And now you must go he added, and ask her hand for me and bring her home to me, whether it be with or without the consent of her father. From her teats runs so much mead that she fills every day a vessel in the hall from which the horns are filled, and which is so large that all the einherjes get all the drink they want out of it. Night rides first on the horse which is called Hrimfaxe, and every morning he bedews the earth with the foam from his bit. What game will you now offer me? Now, as he was sitting in his house, he took flax and yarn and worked them into meshes, in the manner that nets have since been made; but a fire was burning before him. There is also an excellent hall which stands on the Nida mountains. The owner of the well hight Mimer. "We greet you, Gangleri. He answered: I am to ride to Hel to find Balder. He is the originator of deceit, and the disgrace of all gods and men. When the asas at length, tried to speak, the wailing so choked their voices that one could not describe to the other his sorrow. Call hither that old woman, Elle, my foster-mother, and let Thor wrestle with her if he wants to. Har answered: There is yet an asa, whose name is Tyr. Him Thor kicked with his foot and dashed him into the fire, and he, too, was burned. Back to Text, 14 Old Norse sarnkol. The ship that is called Naglfar also becomes loose. No one can stay with us here, unless he is skilled in some craft or accomplishment beyond the most of men. But at least he had decided to seek answers, and he would have lots to tell his people when next they asked. Then said Utgard-Loke: That is well drunk, still it is not very much. What is it that you need from us?" The whole of this narrative is metaphysical since the sir, who according to Snorri, have foreknowledge, trick him into a belief in the arcane complexities of the Norse pantheon, ultimately leaving him standing on empty ground. Back to Text, 9 The sir are one of the families of the Scandinavian gods. Made answer Har: It is not unknown, though no wise men tell thereof, how Thor made amends for the journey that has now been spoken of. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. Before his feet ran a dwarf, whose name is Lit. The wolf was fostered by the asas at home, and Tyr was the only one who had the courage to go to him and give him food. He trekked on with his new name, practicing all of the questions he would ask the Aesir.
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