Ljóðatal — Rune Charms

Better no prayer than too big an offering, By thy getting measure thy gift; Better is none than too big a sacrifice, . . . . . . . . . . So Thund of old wrote ere man's race began, Where he rose on high when home he came. * * *

The songs I know that king's wives know not, Nor men that are sons of men; The first is called help, and help it can bring thee In sorrow and pain and sickness.

A second I know, that men shall need Who leechcraft long to use; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [146. This stanza as translated here follows the manuscript reading, except in assuming a gap between lines 3 and 5. In Vigfusson and Powell's Corpus Poeticum Boreale the first three lines have somehow been expanded into eight. The last two lines are almost certainly misplaced; Bugge suggests that they belong at the end of stanza 144. Thund: another name for Othin. When home he came: presumably after obtaining the runes as described in stanzas 139 and 140.

A third I know, if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe; Blunt do I make mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff.

A fourth I know, if men shall fasten Bonds on my bended legs; So great is the charm that forth I may go, The fetters spring from my feet, Broken the bonds from my hands.

A fifth I know, if I see from afar An arrow fly 'gainst the folk; It flies not so swift that I stop it not, If ever my eyes behold it. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/sacred-texts/neu/poe/poe04.htm (23 of 26) [4/8/2002 10:06:48 PM] Hovamol

A seventh I know, if I see in flames The hall o'er my comrades' heads; It burns not so wide that I will not quench it, I know that song to sing. [148. Second, etc., appear in the manuscript as Roman numerals. The manuscript indicates no gap after line 2.

An eighth I know, that is to all Of greatest good to learn; When hatred grows among heroes' sons, I soon can set it right.

A ninth I know, if need there comes To shelter my ship on the flood; The wind I calm upon the waves, And the sea I put to sleep.

A tenth I know, what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their own homes.

An eleventh I know, if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home.

A twelfth I know, if high on a tree I see a hanged man swing; [156. House-riders: witches, who ride by night on the roofs of houses, generally in the form of wild beasts. Possibly one of the last two lines is spurious.

A thirteenth I know, if a thane full young With water I sprinkle well; He shall not fall, though he fares mid the host, Nor sink beneath the swords.

A fourteenth I know, if fain I would name To men the mighty gods; All know I well of the gods and elves, Few be the fools know this.

A fifteenth I know, that before the doors Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf; Might he sang for the gods, and glory for elves, And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise.

A sixteenth I know, if I seek delight To win from a maiden wise; The mind I turn of the white-armed maid, And thus change all her thoughts. [159. The sprinkling of a child with water was an established custom long before Christianity brought its conception of baptism.

A seventeenth I know, so that seldom shall go A maiden young from me; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Long these songs thou shalt, Loddfafnir, Seek in vain to sing; Yet good it were if thou mightest get them, Well, if thou wouldst them learn, Help, if thou hadst them.