The Words of the All-Wise (Alvismál)

translated by Auden and Taylor

 

1 ALVIS: Put away the benches: for my bride and me It is time to be turning
homeward. I am eager for this wedding: they are wondering there Why I linger so
long.
2 THOR: Of what race are you, White-Nose? Were you clasped in the night by a
corpse? I think you must be Thurse-begotten: You were never born for a bride.
3 ALVIS: All-Wise I am called: under the ground I dwell in the dark among
stones. From the Lord of Chariots I look for good faith: It is ill to break an
oath.
4 THOR: I never swore one: I was not at home When the gods gave you this pledge.
The bride's father has the best right: Permission is for me to give.
5 ALVIS: Declare your name, who claim to be The father of the fair maid.
Far-wanderer, few know you: Whose arm-rings do you wear?
6 THOR: The lord Ving-Thor, Longbeard's son, Who has traveled wide in the world:
Unless I agree, give my consent, You shall never marry the maid.
7 ALVIS: You will agree, give your consent That I shall marry the maid, The
snow-white woman I desire to have Rather than live alone.
8 THOR: Wise guest, I give you my promise: I will not deny your her hand, If you
know what I wish to know concerning All the worlds there are.
9 Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is earth
called, the outstretched land, In all the worlds there are?
10 ALVIS: Earth by men, The Fold by gods, Vanes call it The Ways, Giants
Ever-green, elves Growing, High gods call it Clay.
11 THOR: What is heaven called, that all know, In all the worlds there are?
12 ALVIS: Heaven by men, The Arch by gods, Wind- Weaver by vanes, By giants
High-Earth, by elves Fair-Roof By dwarves The Dripping Hall.
13 THOR: What is the moon called, that men see, In all the worlds there are?
14 ALVIS: Moon by men, The Ball by gods, The Wiirhng Wheel in Hel, The Speeder
by giants, The Bright One by dwarves, By elves Tally-of- Years.
15 THOR: What is sol called, that is seen by men, In all the worlds there are?
16 ALVIS: Sol by men, Sun by gods, By dwarves, Dvalin's Doll, By giants
Everglow, by elves Fair- Wheel, All-Bright by sons of gods.
17 THOR: What are clouds called, that carry rain, In all the worlds there are?
18 ALVIS: Clouds by men, Hope-of-Showers by gods, Wind-Ships by vanes, By giants
Drizzle-Hope, by elves Weather-Might, In Hel Helmet-of-Darkness.
19 THOR: What is wind called, that widely fares In all the worlds there are?
20 ALVIS: Wind by men, Woe-Father by gods, By holy powers The Neigher, The
Shouter by giants, Traveling-Tumult by elves, Squall-Blast they call it in Hel.
21 THOR: What is calm called, that cannot stir, In all the worlds there are?
22 ALVIS: Calm by men, Stillness by gods, Idle- Wind by vanes, Over-Warmth by
giants, by elves Day-Quiet, And Day-Rest by dwarves.
23 THOR: What is sea called, that is crossed by men, In all the worlds there
are?
24 ALVIS: Sea by men, Still-Main by gods, The vanes call it Wave, Eel-Home by
giants, by elves Water-Charm, The Dark Deep by dwarves.
25 THOR: What is fire called, so fierce to men, In all the worlds there are?
26 ALVIS: Fire by men, Flame by gods, The Flickering One by vanes, The Wolfish
by giants, All-Burner by elves, In Hel The Corpse-Destroyer.
27 THOR: What is forest called, that flourishes for men, In all the worlds there
are?
28 ALVIS: Forest by men, Field's-Mane by gods, By heroes Mountain Sea-Weed,
Fire-Wood by giants, Fair-Bough by elves, By vanes Wand-of-Charms.
29 THOR: What is night called, that Nor fathered, In all the worlds there are?
30 ALVIS: Night by men, The Dark by gods, By holy powers The Hood, Unlight by
giants, by elves Sleep-Pleasure, By dwarves Spinner-of-Dreams.
31 THOR: What is the seed called, that is sown by men, In all the worlds there
are?
32 ALVIS: Brew by men, Barley by gods, Vanes call it The Growth, Oats by giants,
by elves Water-Charm, In Hel they call it The Drooping.
33 THOR: What is ale called, that is quaffed by men, In all the worlds there
are?
34 ALVIS: Ale by men, Beer by gods, The vanes call it Strength, Water-Pure by
giants, Mead in Hel, Feast by Sutting's Sons.
THOR: Never have I met such a master of lore With such a wealth of wisdom. I
talked to trick you, and tricked you I have: Dawn has broken, Dwarf, Stiffen now
to stone.

 

Notes

 

(In several verses we have sacrificed alliteration to retain the names of the
things enumerated.) 1 The 'bride' here mentioned seems to be Thrud (might), the
only one of Thor's daughters whose name is recorded. Her mother was Sif. 2
White-Nose. The dwarves lived out of the sun's light and were therefore pale.
11,13,15, etc. The first line of strophe 9 is repeated at the head of each
query. Again we have deleted the repetitions. 24 and 32 Note that the elves have
the same name for the sea and brew. There has been much discussion of this.
Perhaps the best solution is that the elves thought of all 'water-like' liquids
that did not taste like water as 'charmed water 35 Note how different Thor's and
Odin's tricks are.