The Gods of the North: an epic poem

As Thor sat silent, and the fight was o’er, Slow from the giants’ blood a smoke arose, And white and thick the vapour spread itself! Trembling with guilt and fear Lok veil’d his...

In serpent’s form Lok fled away into the ocean blue; All the fell monsters of the deep now met him full in view. In order to avoid them, how dexterously he toils! Now in a line...

Hlesey’s an island of renown; But now ’tis small, for time and tide, Batt’ring its base on every side, Into the sea have plough’d it down; But great in times of old its worth; T...

Now at the festive board sat down The chiefs in social converse. Lok Arose, and thus in jesting tone The ever sprightly Asa spoke: “To pass the time, while here we sit, Let us s...

Odin, with Hænir and with Asa-Lok, Assuming human forms, once on a time To view the earth a journey undertook. Odin felt weary of his throne sublime On Hlidskialf, and he fain w...

But when the moon had fled the rock behind, Follow’d by Maanegarm the winged fiend, Who, constant in pursuit, to human eyes Mostly invisible, but in the skies Sometimes in form...

As vanish ’fore the wind the vapours light, Thus sinks each action of the human race Into th’ abyss of sempiternal night; One billow sinks; another mounts apace: Alternate peace...

Now Skirnir, eager his zeal to prove, Down Bifrost urges his course amain, And, speeding through Hertha’s gloomy grove, Soon reaches the Giant’s drear domain. ’Twas like the win...

As Thor now sat with watchful ear, In pensiveness profound, A startling din he chanced to hear, ’Twas like the earthquake’s sound. All nature shook; the billows’ roar By this wa...

Skirnir the open silver portal view’d, And through an archway straight his course pursued: The passage, cut through coal, and polish’d bright, Gave to the traveller sufficient l...

A story wonderful to hear Recorded stands in ancient runes; Now to my golden harp give ear, And ponder well its mystic tunes! The strange events, which yet remain Unravell’d of...

Skirnir the messenger of Frey now running towards them came:[67] Such now is the good news he brings, he well deserves the name. Soon as he saw them, loud he call’d to Frey and...

A spacious chamber met his eyes hewn in the cavern grey; Therein reclining on a couch a beauteous damsel lay: In slumbers light indulged the maid so innocent and meek; The blush...

Thor, though vex’d in mind, his anger Prudently resolv’d to hide; Thus to be the butt of mock’ry To the giants gall’d his pride: Vengeful thoughts his heart corroding Urge him ’...

From Valaskialf to the next hall Odin repairs in state, Where thousands of th’ Einherier their king’s approach await. The folding doors, at Syn the porteress’ touch, wide open f...

What joys Valhalla’s realm pervade! In brilliant nuptial dress array’d, A last farewell bids Gerda now To forest, rock, and vale below. Towards Bifrost bridge ascends the fair;...

Seated in his golden car, Gliding swift as shooting star, Thor, with Loptur by his side, Towards the giant’s dwelling hied. Lok on treason ever bent, Pleased his foes to circumv...

When now from subterranean gloom Emerged, again the hero stood Amidst the plain where flow’rets bloom, With joy the azure sky he view’d: His hammer shed around a light; His armo...

When Utgard now before him lay, The chief seem’d well content: Its site hemm’d in by mountains grey, Its towers, its vast extent Excite his wonder: at the gate A chosen band of...

Ere in days of yore the lofty Asar Schemes of conquest to devise began, Ruling their ancestral mountain region Near the plains of bounteous Ginnistan;[56] Ere they, on proud cou...

Lok sat in his hall and thought on his deed, With his vengeance well content; But Sif, o’er the lake as she bow’d her head, To a flood of tears gave vent:

Girding his belt still closer round His loins, the chief his way pursued: Towards eve a meadow vast he found, Where herds of cattle grazing stood. Still moving on with soul on f...

The story you’re about to hear May well incredible appear: To visit the remotest end Of Utgard’s realm the chiefs pretend: Not easy will this project prove Through wastes of end...

While captive pined Iduna, Valhalla seem’d a grave;[60] A fruitful isle was swallow’d by the remorseless wave; In each nook of the palace, each god, morose, alone, Sat looking s...

With pensive look In Valaskialf sits Asa-Lok: His head hangs down; his spirits fail; To cheer him naught Valhalla’s joys avail: The mead hath lost its wonted zest; Sâhrimner’s f...

Lo! coil’d in folds voluminous and vast, Behind huge beds of coral buried fast, Far in the deepest cavern of the sea, The Midgard serpent Jormundgardur lay! While o’er him free...

When the Asar’s numerous band From the East to Gauthiod’s strand Rode, on coursers arm’d in mail, Sword in hand, o’er mountain, vale, Forest, lake, their march pursuing, The pro...

Like a Guldbrand pine so tall, so strong; (The birds on the trees sing sweet) In his hand he bore an iron pole long, And Skirnir he came to greet.

Pardon the lowly slave of love, Whom thy enchanting form inspires Once more to plead in amorous strain! O that thy heart would deign to prove The fervour that my bosom fires, An...

Of Mimer’s bounteous Banquet bethink thee, When thou to Sifia Sigh’dst forth thy suit! This time again fate Frowns on thy frolic; Vain are thy vows to Vanquish my heart.

O Swain! who sighest sad with cheek so pale, And to the gentle Freya dost complain, Because thy vows and ardour naught avail The love of a proud maiden’s heart to gain: Because...