22. Heith they named her | who sought their home, The wide-seeing witch, | in magic wise; Minds she bewitched | that were moved by her magic, To evil women | a joy she was.

23. On the host his spear | did Othin hurl, Then in the world | did war first come; The wall that girdled | the gods was broken, And the field by the warlike | Wanes was trodden.

24. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held, Whether the gods | should tribute give, Or to all alike | should worship belong.

25. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats, The holy ones, | and council held, To find who with venom | the air had filled, Or had given Oth’s bride | to the giants’ brood.

26. In swelling rage | then rose up Thor,— Seldom he sits | when he such things hears,— And the oaths were broken, | the words and bonds, The mighty pledges | between them made.

27. I know of the horn | of Heimdall, hidden Under the high-reaching | holy tree; On it there pours | from Valfather’s pledge A mighty stream: | would you know yet more?

28. Alone I sat | when the Old One sought me, The terror of gods, | and gazed in mine eyes: “What hast thou to ask? | why comest thou hither? Othin, I know | where thine eye is hidden.”

29. I know where Othin’s | eye is hidden, Deep in the wide-famed | well of Mimir; Mead from the pledge | of Othin each morn Does Mimir drink: | would you know yet more?

30. Necklaces had I | and rings from Heerfather, Wise was my speech | and my magic wisdom; . . . . . . . . . . Widely I saw | over all the worlds.

32. I saw for Baldr, | the bleeding god, The son of Othin, | his destiny set: Famous and fair | in the lofty fields, Full grown in strength | the mistletoe stood.

33. From the branch which seemed | so slender and fair Came a harmful shaft | that Hoth should hurl; But the brother of Baldr | was born ere long, And one night old | fought Othin’s son.

34. His hands he washed not, | his hair he combed not, Till he bore to the bale-blaze | Baldr’s foe. But in Fensalir | did Frigg weep sore For Valhall’s need: | would you know yet more?

35. One did I see | in the wet woods bound, A lover of ill, | and to Loki like; By his side does Sigyn | sit, nor is glad To see her mate: | would you know yet more?

36. From the east there pours | through poisoned vales With swords and daggers | the river Slith. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

37. Northward a hall | in Nithavellir Of gold there rose | for Sindri’s race; And in Okolnir | another stood, Where the giant Brimir | his beer-hall had.

38. A hall I saw, | far from the sun, On Nastrond it stands, | and the doors face north; Venom drops | through the smoke-vent down, For around the walls | do serpents wind.

40. The giantess old | in Ironwood sat, In the east, and bore | the brood of Fenrir; Among these one | in monster’s guise Was soon to steal | the sun from the sky.

41. There feeds he full | on the flesh of the dead, And the home of the gods | he reddens with gore; Dark grows the sun, | and in summer soon Come mighty storms: | would you know yet more?

42. On a hill there sat, | and smote on his harp, Eggther the joyous, | the giants’ warder; Above him the cock | in the bird-wood crowed, Fair and red | did Fjalar stand.

43. Then to the gods | crowed Gollinkambi, He wakes the heroes | in Othin’s hall; And beneath the earth | does another crow, The rust-red bird | at the bars of Hel.

44. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

46. Fast move the sons | of Mim, and fate Is heard in the note | of the Gjallarhorn; Loud blows Heimdall, | the horn is aloft, In fear quake all | who on Hel-roads are.

47. Yggdrasil shakes, | and shiver on high The ancient limbs, | and the giant is loose; To the head of Mim | does Othin give heed, But the kinsman of Surt | shall slay him soon.

48. How fare the gods? | how fare the elves? All Jotunheim groans, | the gods are at council; Loud roar the dwarfs | by the doors of stone, The masters of the rocks: | would you know yet more?

49. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

50. From the east comes Hrym | with shield held high; In giant-wrath | does the serpent writhe; O’er the waves he twists, | and the tawny eagle Gnaws corpses screaming; | Naglfar is loose.

51. O’er the sea from the north | there sails a ship With the people of Hel, | at the helm stands Loki; After the wolf | do wild men follow, And with them the brother | of Byleist goes.

52. Surt fares from the south | with the scourge of branches, The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword; The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink, The dead throng Hel-way, | and heaven is cloven.

53. Now comes to Hlin | yet another hurt, When Othin fares | to fight with the wolf, And Beli’s fair slayer | seeks out Surt, For there must fall | the joy of Frigg.

54. Then comes Sigfather’s | mighty son, Vithar, to fight | with the foaming wolf; In the giant’s son | does he thrust his sword Full to the heart: | his father is avenged.

55. Hither there comes | the son of Hlothyn, The bright snake gapes | to heaven above; . . . . . . . . . . Against the serpent | goes Othin’s son.

56. In anger smites | the warder of earth,— Forth from their homes | must all men flee;— Nine paces fares | the son of Fjorgyn, And, slain by the serpent, | fearless he sinks.

57. The sun turns black, | earth sinks in the sea, The hot stars down | from heaven are whirled; Fierce grows the steam | and the life-feeding flame, Till fire leaps high | about heaven itself.

58. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

59. Now do I see | the earth anew Rise all green | from the waves again; The cataracts fall, | and the eagle flies, And fish he catches | beneath the cliffs.

60. The gods in Ithavoll | meet together, Of the terrible girdler | of earth they talk, And the mighty past | they call to mind, And the ancient runes | of the Ruler of Gods.

61. In wondrous beauty | once again Shall the golden tables | stand mid the grass, Which the gods had owned | in the days of old, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

62. Then fields unsowed | bear ripened fruit, All ills grow better, | and Baldr comes back; Baldr and Hoth dwell | in Hropt’s battle-hall, And the mighty gods: | would you know yet more?

63. Then Hönir wins | the prophetic wand, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . And the sons of the brothers | of Tveggi abide In Vindheim now: | would you know yet more?

64. More fair than the sun, | a hall I see, Roofed with gold, | on Gimle it stands; There shall the righteous | rulers dwell, And happiness ever | there shall they have.

65. There comes on high, | all power to hold, A mighty lord, | all lands he rules. . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . .

66. From below the dragon | dark comes forth, Nithhogg flying | from Nithafjoll; The bodies of men | on his wings he bears, The serpent bright: | but now must I sink.