The Poetic Edda
Icelandic Poems Translated by F.G. Bergmann - 1938
French Translation by William P. Reaves - French Transcription by Yves Kodratoff

Voluspa - Visons De Vala by F.G. Bergmann
Translated by Yves Kodratoff, Katia Puryear, William P. Reaves
Vafprudnismal - Discours De Vafthrudnir by F.G. Bergmann
Translated by Yves Kodratoff, Katia Puryear & William P. Reaves
Lokasenna - Les Sarcasmes De Loki by F.G. Bergmann
Translated from French by Katia Puryear
Grimnismal - Dits De Grimmir by F.G. Bergmann
Translated from French by William P. Reaves

Frdric Guillaume Bergmann, also Frederich Wilhelm Bergmann (1812-1887)
Frederich Wilhem Bergmann died in Strassburg in 1877, at age 75
Friedrich Wilhelm Bergmann, was a linguist, born in Strassburg on February 9th, 1812. He attended the academy there, where he earned his degree, "Bachelor of Theology", in 1834. He later studied Sanskrit and Old Arabic in Gttingen and Berlin. In 1836, he moved to Paris, where he studied Arabic, Ethiopian, and Zend under Silvestre de Sacy and Eugene Burnouf for two years. At Burnouf's request, he devoted himself to the study of Nordic languages and literature, in which field he would develop a very extensive bibliography, making Bergmann one of the earliest scholars in the field. Well-respected, Bergmann's works would be cited in most all of the important works on the Eddas published in the next 100 years.
In 1838, he published Pomes Islandais (Icelandic Poems), including one of the first complete and exact translations of Vlusp, Vfrnisml, and Lokasenna, in any modern European language. In 1839 he became "Doctor of Letters? and in 1840, a professor in foreign literature with "la Facult des Lettres" (College of Letters) in Strassburg, where he lectured on Nordic literature. A prolific author, Bergmann published many works in the following years, including: 
Les aventures de Thor dans l'enceinte-exterieure, racontees par Snorri, fils de Sturla, 1853. (The adventures of Thor in the outer enclosure, told by Snorri Sturlusson) 
Les chants de sol (Solarljod), 1858. 
La fascination de Gulfi (Gylfaginning), 1861. 
Le Message de Skirnir et les Dits de Grimnir (Skirnismal and Grimnismal), 1871. 
In 1871, as a concession after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1), France ceded Alsace to the Germans and the region became known as the Reichsland Elsass-Lothringen or the Alsace-Lorraine. Strassburg thus fell under German rule, continuing until World War I (1914-1918), after which, Alsace was returned to France. Thus, after 1871, Bergmann's works were published in German. Among these are: 
Das Graubartslied, Lokis Spottreden auf Thor. Norr?nisches Gedicht der Saemunds Edda, 1872. (Harbardsljod, Loki's mockery of Thor). 
Vielgewandts Spruche und Groa's Zaubersang Zwei norranische Gedichte der Saemunds-Edda. 1874. (Fjolsvinnsmal and Grougaldr, Two Nordic Poems from Saemund's Edda). 
Weggewohnts Lied der Odins raben orakelsang und der Seherin Voraussicht. Drei eschatologische Gedichte der Saemunds-Edda, 1875. (Vegtamskvida, Hrafnagaldr Odins, and Voluspa. Three Eschatological Poems from Saemund's Edda). 
Rig's Spruche und das Hyndla-Lied Zwei social-ethische Gedichte der Saemunds-Edda. Strassburg, 1876. (Rigspula and Hyndluljod. Two Socio-ethic Poems from Saemund's Edda.). 
Des Hehren Spruche und altnordische Spruche, Priameln und Runenlehren. Ethische und magische Gedichte aus der Saemunds-Edda, 1877. (Havamal and Old Norse Sayings, Saws, and Runic Teachings. Ethical and Magical Poems from Saemund's Edda.). 
Allweise's Spruche, Thryms-Sagelied, Hymis-Sagelied und Loki's Wortstreit. Vier eddische Gedichte des Thor-Cyclus, 1878. (Alvissmal, Thrymskvida, Hymiskvida, and Lokasenna, Four Eddic Poems from the Thor-Cycle). 
Die Edda-Gedichte der nordischen Heldensage, 1879. (The Eddic Poems of the Nordic Hero-saga.).


Voluspa - Visions de Vala by F.G. Bergmann
Translated by Yves Kodratoff, Katia Puryear, and William P. Reaves
French Transcription by Yves Kodratoff

1. A l'attention j'invite toutes les saintes gnrations,
Les fils de Heimdall, grands et petits;
Je voudrais du Pre des lus proclamer les mystres,
Les traditions antiques des hros qu'autrefois j'ai apprises.

To pay attention, I invite each holy generation,
Heimdall's sons, great and small;
I will proclaim the mysteries of the Father of the Chosen,
Ancient traditions of the heroes that I learned in the past.

2. Je me souviens des Iotes ns au commencement;
Eux, jadis, ils m'ont enseigne:
Je me souviens des neuf mondes, des neuf forts,
Du grand Arbre du milieu, sur la terre ici-bas.

I remember the Iotes (Jtuns) born in the beginning;
Long ago, they taught me:
I remember the nine worlds, the nine forests,
The great tree in the middle, on the earth here below.

3. Ce fut le commencement des sicles quand Ymir s'tablit;
Il n'y avait ni rivage, ni mer, ni ondes fraches;
On ne trouvait ni terre ni ciel lev;
Il y avait le Gouffre bant, mais de l'herbe nulle part

It was the beginning of centuries, when Ymir lived.
There was no shore, no sea, no fresh waters;
No earth, nor sky above could be found;
There was the gaping Abyss, but grass nowhere.

4. Alors les fils de Bur levrent les firmaments,
Eux, ils formrent la grande Enceinte du milieu;
Sl claira, de sud, les roches de la Demeure;
La terre aussitt verdit d'une verdure touffue.

Then the sons of Bur raised the firmament,
Then they formed the great middle enclosure (Midgard);
From the south, Sol shone on the rocks of the residence;
The earth immediately became green with dense foilage.


5. Sl rpand de sud, ses faveurs sur Mni,
A la droite la porte du Coursier cleste.
Sl ne le savait pas o elle avait ses demeures,
Les toiles ne le savaient o elles avaient leurs places,
Mni ne le savait pas quel tait son pouvoir.

From the south, Sol spreads her favors on Mani,
To the right the door of the celestial steed.
Sol did not know where she had her residence,
The stars did not know where their places were,
Mani did not know what his powers were.

6. Alors les Grandeurs allrent toutes aux siges levs,
Les Dieux trs-saints sur cela dlibrrent;
A la nuit,  la nouvelle lune ils donnrent des noms;
Ils dsignrent l'aube et le milieu du jour;
Le crpuscule et le soir, pour indiquer le temps.

Then the Great Ones all went to their high seats,
The very-holy Gods deliberated over this;
To the night, to the new moon, they gave names;
They designated dawn and midday;
Dusk and evening, to indicate the time.

7. Les Ases rencontrrent dans la Plaine d'Idi
Ils btirent bien haut un sanctuaire et une cour;
Ils posrent des fourneaux, faonnrent des joyaux,
Forgrent des tenailles et fabriqurent des ustensiles.

The Aesir met on the Ida plains.
High above, they built a sanctuary and a court;
They established furnaces, shaped jewels,
Forged pincers and made tools.

8. Ils jouaient aux tables dans l'enceinte; ils taient joyeux,
Rien ne leur manquait et tout tait en or.
Alors trois Ases de cette bande,
Pleins de puissance et du bont, descendirent vers la mer;
Ils trouvrent dans la contre des tres chtifs,
Ask et Embla, manquant de destine.





They played at tables in the enclosure; they were happy.
They lacked nothing and everything was made of gold.
Then three Aesir from this group,
Full of power and kindness, descended toward the sea;
In the region, they found powerless beings,
Ask and Embla, lacking destiny.

9. Ils n'avaient point d'me, ils n' avaient point d'intelligence,
Ni sang, ni langage, ni bon extrieur:
Odin donna l'me, Hnir donna l'intelligence,
Lodur donna le sang et le bon extrieur.

They had no soul; they had no intelligence,
No blood, no language, nor good exterior:
Odin gave the soul, Hoenir gave the intelligence,
Lodur gave the blood and the good exterior.

10. Alors arrivrent trois Vierges Thurses
Trs-puissantes du monde des Iotes.
Je connais un frne, on le nomme Yggdrasill,
Arbre chevelu, humect par un nuage brillant,
D'o nat la rose qui tombe dans les vallons;
Il s'lve, toujours vert, au-dessus de la fontaine d'Urd.

Then three Thurs maidens arrived
Very powerful from the world of the Iotes (Jtuns).
I know an Ash named Yggdrasill,
Hairy tree, moistened by a brilliant cloud,
From which springs the dew that falls in the valleys;
It raises, ever green, above Urd's fountain.

11. De l sortirent les trois Vierges de beaucoup de science,
De ce lac qui est au-dessous de l'arbre:
Urd se nommait l'une, l'autre Verdandi;
Elles gravrent sur les planchettes; Skuld tait la troisime:
Elles consultrent les lois, elles interrogrent le sort,
Et proclamrent la destine aux enfants des hommes.

Out from there came three Virgins of much knowledge,
From this lake that is under the tree:
One was named Urd, another Verdandi;
They carved on tablets; Skuld was the third:
They consulted the laws, they inquired of the fate,
And proclaimed the destiny for the children of men.

12. Alors les Grandeurs allrent toutes aux siges levs,
Les Dieux trs-saints sur cela dlibrrent:
"Qui formerait le chef des Dvergues,
"Du sang de Brimir, des cuisses du gant livide."

Then the Great ones all went to their high seats,
The very-holy Gods deliberated over this:
"Who would form the chief of the Dvergs (Dwarves),
Of Brimir's blood, from the thighs of the pallid giant."

13. Alors Modsognir est devenu le premier
De tous les Dvergues, mais Durinn, le second;
Eux, ils formrent de terre la foule des Dvergues
A la figure humaine, comme Durinn le proposa:

Then Modsognir became the first
Of all the Dvergs, but Durinn, the second:
They formed from earth the crowd of Dvergs
Of human figure, as Durinn proposed:

14. Ny et Nidi, Nordi et Sudri,
Austri et Vestri, Althiofr, Dvalinn,
Nr et Ninn, Nipingr, Dinn,
Bifurr et Bafurr, Bumburr, Nori.

Ny and Nidi, Nordi and Sudri,
Austri and Vestri, Althiofr, Dvalinn,
Nr and Ninn, Nipingr, Dinn,
Bifurr and Bafurr, Bumburr, Nori.

15. Anarr et Onarr, A, Miodvitnir
Veigr, Gandlfr, Vindlfr, Thorinn,
Fili et Kili, Fundinn, Nali
Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviorr.

Anarr and Onarr, A, Miodvitnir
Veigr, Gandlfr, Vindlfr, Thorinn,
Fili and Kili, Fundinn, Nali
Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviorr.






16. Frr, Fornbogi, Frgr, Lni,
Thrr et Thrinn, Thrr, Vitr, Litr,
Nyr et Nyradr, --Voil que j'ai numr au juste
Les Dvergues puissants et intelligents.

Frr, Fornbogi, Frgr, Lni,
Thrr and Thrinn, Thrr, Vitr, Litr,
Nyr and Nyradr; Here I have correctly enumerated
The powerful and intelligent Dvergs (Dwarves).

17. Il est temps d'numrer au genre humain
Les Dvergues de la bande de Dvalinn, jusqu' Lofar;
Ceux-ci ont cherch, loin du rocher de la Demeure,
Des habitations  Aurvangar, jusque vers Ioruvellir.

It is now time to enumerate for the human race
The Dvergs of Dvalin's band, up to Lofar;
Far from the rock of the dwelling, they looked for
places to live in Aurvangar, even towards Ioruvellir.

18. L tait Draupnir et Dolgthrasir
Hr, Haugspori, Hlvangr, Glonn,
Skirvir et Virvir, Skafidr, A,
Alfr et Yngvi, Eikinskialdi

There was Draupnir and Dolgthrasir.
Hr, Haugspori, Hlvangr, Glonn,
Skirvir and Virvir, Skafidr, A,
Alfr and Yngvi, Eikinskialdi,

19. Fialarr et Frosti, Finnr, et Ginnarr,
Heri, Hugstari, Hliodlfr, Monn:--
On exaltera toujours, tant qu'il y aura des hommes,
Le grand nombre des descendants de Lofar.

Fialarr and Frosti, Finnr, and Ginnarr,
Heri, Hugstari, Hliodlfr, Monn:--
Forever will be extolled, as long as men exist,
The great number of Lofar's descendants.






20. Elle sait que le cor de Heimdall est cach
Sous l'arbre majestueux et sacr:
Elle voit qu'on boit  traits prcipits
Dans le gage du Pre des lus-Le savez-vous? -Mais quoi?

She knows that Heimdall's horn is hidden
Under the majestic and sacred tree:
She sees that fast gulps are drunk
From the pledge of the Father of the Chosen.
Do you know? But what?

21. Elle tait assise dehors, solitaire, lorqu'il vint, le vieux,
Le plus circonspect des Ases, et lui regarda dans les yeux:--
"Pourquoi me sonder? pourquoi me mettre  l'preuve?--
"Je sais tout. Odin , je sais o tu as cach ton il,--
"Dans cette grande, fontaine de Mimir;
"Chaque matin Mimir boit le doux breuvage
"Dans le gage du Pre des lus." Le savez-vous? Mais quoi?

She was sitting outside alone when he arrived, the old one,
The most circumspect of the Aesir, and looked her in the eye:-- 
"Why probe me? Why put me to the test?
"I know everything, Odin, where you hid your eye,-- 
In this great spring of Mimir;
Every morning Mimir drinks the sweet beverage
From the pledge of the Father of the Chosen." Do you know? But what?

22. Le Pre des Combattants choisit pour elle des bagues et
des joyaux,
Le riche don de la sagesse, et les charmes de la vision: --
Alors elle vit loin, bien loin, dans tous les mondes.

For her, the Father of the Warriors chose rings and jewels
The rich gift of wisdom, and the charms of the vision:--
Then she could see far, very far, into all the worlds.

23. Elle vit les Valkyries accourir de loin,
Empresses  se rendre auprs de la race des Dieux;
Skuld tenait le bouclier, Skogul la suivait,
Ainsi que Gunnr, Hildur, Gondul, Geirskogul:
Voil numres les servantes du Combattant,
Les Valkyries presses de voler dans la campagne.



She saw the Valkyries rushing from afar.
Eager to go to the race of the gods;
Skuld held the shield, Skogul followed her,
As did Gunnr, Hildur, Gondul, Geirskogul:
Here are enumerated the maidservants of the Warrior.
The Valkyries hurrying to fly into the campaign (or countryside).

24. Elle se rappelle cette premire guerre dans le monde,
Lorsqu'ils avaient plac Gullveig sur des piques,
Et l'avaient brle dans la demeure du Trs-Haut;
Trois fois ils l'avaient brle ; elle renaquit trois fois;
Brle souvent, frquemment, elle vit pourtant encore.

She remembers this first war in the world,
When they placed Gullveig on pikes,
And burned her in the residence of the Very-High one;
Thrice they burned her; she was burned thrice again;
Burned often, frequently, however she still lives.

25. On l'appelait Heidur dans les maisons o elle entrait;
Elle mprisait le charme des visions de Vala:
Elle savait la magie, elle abusait de la magie;
Elle tait toujours les dlices de la race mchante.

She was called Heidur in the houses she entered;
She scorned the charm of the vision of the Vala:
She knew magic, she misused magic;
She always delighted the malicious race.

26. Alors les Grandeurs allrent toutes aux siges levs;
Les Dieux trs-saints sur ceci dlibrrent:
"Les Ases devront-ils expier leur imprudence,
"Ou bien tous les dieux auront-ils de l'autorit?"

Then all the Great ones went to their high seats;
The very-holy gods deliberated over this:
"Should the Aesir atone for their carelessness,
Or will all the gods have authority?"

27. Le mur extrieur de la forteresse des Ases fut renvers;
Les Vanes ont su, par ruse de guerre, fouler les remparts;
Mais Odin lana son trait, et tira sur l'ennemi...
Telle fut la premire guerre dans le monde.-


The exterior wall of the Aesir's fortress was knocked down:
The Vans knew how, by ruse of war, to trample the ramparts;
But Odin threw his missile, and shot at the enemy....
Such was the first war in the world

28. Alors les Grandeurs allrent toutes aux siges levs;
Les Dieux trs-saints sur ceci dlibrrent:
"Qui avait rempli de dsatre les plaines de l'espace,
"Et livr la fiance d'Odur  la race des Iotes?"

Then all the Great ones went to their high seats;
The very-holy gods deliberated over this:
"Who filled the plains of space with disaster,
And delivered Odur's fiance to the race of the Iotes (Jtuns)?"

29. Thr se leva seul, enfl de colre;
Rarement il reste assis quand il apprend chose pareille:--
Les serments furent viols, les promesses et les assurances,
Tous les traits valides qu'on avait passs de part et d'autre.

Thor alone rose, swollen with anger;
Seldom does he stay sitting, when he hears such things:--
The oaths were broken, the promises and the assurances,
All the valid treaties passed by both sides.

30. Je prvis pour Baldur, pour cette victime ensanglante,
Pour ce fils d'Odin, la destine  lui rserve:
Il s'levait dans une valle charmante
Un gui tendre et bien gentil.
De cette tige qui paraissait si tendre, provint
Le fatal trait d'amertume que Hoder se prit  lancer.

I foresaw for Baldur, for this blood-soaked victim,
For this son of Odin, the destiny reserved for him:
In a charming valley rose
A mistletoe, tender and quite gentle.
From this twig that seemed so tender, came
The bitter fatal missile that Hodur prepared to throw.

31. Le frre de Baldur venait seulement de natre,
Ag d'une nuit, il se prit  combattre contre le fils d'Odin.
Il ne lavait plus ses mains, ni ne peignait sa chevelure,
Avant qu'il portt au bcher le meurtrier de Baldur;
Mais Frigg pleura dans Fensalir
Les malheurs de Valhall. - Le savez-vous? - Mais quoi?

Baldur's brother had just been born,
One night old, he prepared to oppose the son of Odin in combat.
He neither washed his hands, nor combed his hair,
Until he brought the murderer of Baldur to the pyre,
But Frigg bemoaned in Fensalir
The misfortunes of Valhalla - Do you know? But what?

32. Elle vit couche prs de Hveralund
Une crature mchante, l'ingrat Loki;
Il a beau remuer les liens funestes de Vali;
Elles sont trop roides ces cordes de boyaux.
L est assise Sigyne, qui du sort de son mari
N'est pas fort rjouie. - Le savez-vous?- Mais quoi?

She saw lying near Hveralund
A wicked creature, the ingrate Loki;
It spite of shaking the disastrous bonds of Vali;
They are too stiff these cords of gut.
There sits Sigyn, who from her husband's fate
Is not very joyous. Do you know? But what?

33. Vers le nord,  Nidafill, s'levait
La salle d'or de la race de Sindri;
Mais une autre s'levait  Okolnir,
La salle  boire de l'Iote qui est nomm Brimir.

Facing North, on Nidafjll, rose
The golden hall of Sindri's race;
But another rose on Okolnir,
The drinking hall of this Iote (Jotun) who is named Brimir.

34. Elle vit une salle situe loin du soleil,
A Nastrendr, les portes en sont tournes au nord :
Des gouttes de venin y tombent par les fentres,
La salle est un tissu de dos de serpents.

She saw a hall situated far from the sun,
At Nastrendr, the doors face towards the north:
Drops of venom fall through the windows,
The hall is a tissue of the backs of serpents.




35. Un fleuve se jette  l'orient dans les valles venimeuses,
Un fleuve de limon et de bourbe; il est nomm Slidur :
Vala y vit se traner dans les eaux fangeuses,
Les hommes parjures, les exils pour meurtre,
Et celui qui sduit la compagne d'autrui
L, Nidhoggr suait les corps des trpasss,
Le Loup dchirait les hommes. - Le savez-vous ?- Mais quoi?

A river runs toward the east through venomous valleys,
A river of silt and mire; it is named Slidur:
Vala saw wallowing there in the muddy waters
Perjurious men, those exiled for murder,
And ones who seduce the companions of others
Nidhoggr sucks the corpses of the departed,
The wolf tears the men. Do you know? But what?

36. A l'orient elle tait assise, cette vieille, dans Iarnvid,
Et y nourrissait la postrit de Fenrir :
Il sera le plus redoutable de tous, celui
Qui, sous la forme d'un monstre, engloutira la lune.

In the east she was sitting, the old one in the Ironwood,
And there nourished the posterity of Fenrir:
It will be the most fearsome one of all, the one
That, in the form of a monster, will swallow the moon.

37. II se gorge de la vie des hommes lches,
Il rougit de gouttes rouges la demeure des Grandeurs;
Les rayons du soleil s'clipsent dans l't suivant,
Tous les vents seront des ouragans. - Le savez-vous? - Mais quoi ?

He gorges himself on the lives of cowardly men,
He reddens the dwellings of the Great ones with red drops;
The rays of the sun are eclipsed the following summer,
All winds become hurricanes. Do you know? But what?

38. Assis tout prs sur une hauteur, il faisait vibrer sa harpe
Le gardien de Gygur, le joyeux Egdir :
Non loin de lui, dans Gagalvid, chantait
Le beau coq pourpr qui est nomm Fialar.

Sitting close by on a mound, sounding his harp,
The guardian of Gygur, the joyous Egdir:
Not far from him, in Gagalvid, crowed
The beautiful crimson cock whose name is Fjalar.

39. Auprs des Ases chantait Gullinkambi,
II rveille les hros chez le Pre des Combattants;
Mais un autre coq chantait au-dessous de la terre,
Un coq d'un rouge noir, dans la demeure de Hel.

Near the Aesir crowed Gullinkambi,
He awakens the heroes at the Father of the Fighters';
But another cock crowed below the earth,
A red black rooster in the residence of Hel.

40. Garmur hurle affreusement devant Gnypahall. -
Les chanes vont se briser; Freki s'chappera : -
Elle prvoit beaucoup, la prophtesse : Je vois de loin
Le crpuscule des Grandeurs, la lutte des Dieux Combattants.

Garmur howls dreadfully in front of Gnypahall.
The chains will burst; Freki will escape:
She foresees much, the prophetess: I see from afar
The twilight of the Great Ones, the battle of the Warrior Gods.

41. Les frres vont se combattre entre eux, et devenir fratricides;
Les parents vont rompre leurs alliances;
La cruaut rgne dans le monde, et une grande luxure :
L'ge des haches, l'ge des lances, o les bouliers sont fendus,
L'ge des aquilons, l'ge des btes froces se succdent avant que le monde s'croule;
Pas un ne songe  pargner son prochain.

Brothers will fight one another and commit fratricide;
Parents will cut all ties;
Cruelty reigns in the world, and a great lust:
An age of axes, an age of spears, where shields are split,
An age of north winds, an age of ferocious beasts succeed one another before
the world collapses;
No one thinks to spare another.

42. Les fils de Mimir tressaillent, l'arbre du milieu s'embrase.
Aux sons clatants du Cor bruyant :
Heimdall, le cor en l'air, sonne fortement l'alarme;
Odin consulte la tte de Mimir.

The Sons of Mimir quiver, the tree in the middle ignites.
At the brilliant sounds of the noisy horn:
Heimdall, horn in the air, loudly sounds the alarm;
Odin consults the head of Mimir.

43. Alors tremble le frne lev d'Yggdrasil,
Ce vieil arbre frissonne : - l'Iote brise ses chanes :
Les ombres frmissent sur les routes de l'enfer,
Jusqu' ce que l'ardeur de Surtur ait consum l'arbre.

Then the high ash tree of Yggdrasil trembles,
This old tree shudders : The Iote breaks his chains :
The shades shiver on the roads of hell,
Until Surtur's ardor consumes the tree.

44. Hrymr s'avance de l'orient, un bouclier le couvre;
Iormungand se roule dans sa rage de gant;
Le serpent soulve les flots, l'Aigle bat de ses ailes,
Le Bec-jaune dchire les cadavres : - Naglfar est lanc.

Hrymr advances from the east, a shield covers him;
Iormungand undulates in his giant rage;
The serpent raises the flood, the eagle flaps its wings,
Yellow-beak tears the cadavers: Naglfar is launched.

45. Le navire vogue de l'orient, l'arme de Muspill
Approche sur mer, Logi tient le gouvernail :
Les fils de l'Iote naviguent tous avec Freki,
Le frre de Bileist est  bord avec eux.

The ship sails from the east, the army of Muspel
Approaches by sea, Logi holds the rudder:
All the sons of the Iote sail with Freki,
Bileist's brother is on board with them.

46. Surtur s'lance du midi avec les pes dsastreuses;
Le soleil resplendit sur les glaives des Dieux-hros :
Les montagnes de roche s'branlent, les gantes tremblent,
Les ombres foulent le chemin de l'enfer. - Le ciel s'entr'ouvre.

Surtur thrusts forward from the south with the disastrous swords;
The suns gleams on the swords of the heroic gods:
The rocky mountains quake, the giants tremble,
The shades walk the ways of hell. The sky splits open.

47. Que font les Ases? que font les Alfes?
Tout Iotunheim mugit; les Ases sont en assemble;
A la porte des cavernes gmissent les Dvergues,
Les sages des montagnes sacres. -Le savez-vous ?- Mais quoi?

What's up with the Aesir? What's up with the Elves?
All Iotunheim howls; The Aesir are assembled;
At the door of their caverns the Dvergs groan,
The sages of the sacred mountains. Do you know? But what?

48. Alors l'affliction de Hlne se renouvelle
Quand Odin part pour combattre le Loup;
Tandis que le glorieux meurtrier de Beli va s'opposer  Surtur: -
Bientt le hros chri de Frigg succombera.

Then the affliction of Hlne is renewed
When Odin goes to fight the Wolf;
While the glorious murderer of Beli himself opposes Surtur:
Soon Frigg's cherished hero succumbs.

49. Mais il vient le vaillant fils du Pre des Combats,
Vidarr, pour lutter contre le monstre terrible :
Il laisse dans la gueule du rejeton de Hvdrung,
L'acier plong jusqu'au cur. -Ainsi le pre est veng.

But he comes, the valiant son of the Father of Wars,
Vidarr, to fight against the terrible monster:
He leaves in the mouth of the whelp of Hvedrung,
The steel plunged into his heart - Thus the father is avenged.

50. Voici que vient l'illustre fils de Hldune,
Il va, le descendant d'Odin, combattre le Serpent;
Le dfenseur de Midgard le frappe dans sa colre. -
Les hros vont tous ensanglanter la colonne du monde.-
Il recule de neuf pas, le fils de Fiorgune,
Mordu par la Couleuvre intrpide de rage . . .

Here comes the illustrious son of Hldune,
He goes, the descendent of Odin, to fight the Serpent;
Midgard's defender, in his anger, strikes it.
All the heroes will bloody the column of the world.
He takes nine steps backward, the son of Fiorgune,
Bitten by the snake made fearless with rage...

51. Voici venir le noir Dragon-volant,
La couleuvre, s'levant au-dessus de Nidafioll.:
Nidhogr tend ses ailes, il vole au-dessus de la plaine,
Au-dessus des cadavres. - Maintenant elle va s'abmer.

Here comes the black, flying Dragon,
The snake, raising above Nidafioll.
Nidhoggr spreads its wings, it flies above the plain,
Above the corpses. Now she will founder.

52. Le soleil commence  se noircir; le continent s'affaisse dans l'Ocan ;
Elles disparaissent du ciel, les toiles brillantes;
La fume tourbillonne autour du feu destructeur du monde;
La flamme gigantesque joue contre le ciel mme.

The sun begins darkening; the continent sinks into the Ocean;
They disappear from the sky, the brilliant stars;
Smoke billows around the fire that destroys the world;
The gigantic flame plays against the sky itself.

53. Elle voit surgir de nouveau,
Dans l'Ocan, une terre d'une verdure touffue.
Des cascades y tombent; l'aigle plane au-dessus d'elle,
Et du haut de l'cueil, il pie les poissons.

She sees surging up again,
In the ocean, an earth with dense foliage.
A Waterfall drops there, the eagle soars above it
And, from the top of the reef, spies the fish.

54. Les Ases se retrouvent dans la Plaine d'Idi,
Sous l'arbre du monde, ils sigent en juges puissants : 
Ils se rappellent les jugements des Dieux,
Et les mystres antiques de Fimbultyr.

The Aesir meet again on the Plain of Idi,
Under the tree of the world, they sit as powerful judges.
They remembered the judgments of the Gods,
And the ancient mysteries of Fimbultyr.

55. Alors les Ases retrouvrent sur l'herbe
Les merveilleuses tables d'or,
Qu'avaient, au commencement des jours, les gnrations,
Le chef des dieux et la postrit de Filnir.

Then the Aesir found on the grass
The marvelous tables of gold,
That had [belonged to] the generations at the beginning of days,
The chief of the gods and the posterity of Filnir.

56. Les champs produiront sans tre ensemencs:
Tout mal disparatra : Baldur reviendra
Pour habiter avec Hodur les enclos de Hroptr,
Les demeures sacres des Dieux-hros.-Le savez-vous ?- Mais quoi?

The fields will produce without being sown:
All evil will disappear: Baldur will return
To live with Hodur in the enclosure of Hroptr,
The sacred dwellings of the heroic gods. Do you know? But what?

57. Alors Honir pourra choisir sa part,
Et les fils des deux frres habiteront
Le vaste Sjour du vent. -Le savez-vous?-Mais quoi?

Then Honir will be able to choose his part,
And the sons of the two brothers will live in
The vast Abode of the wind - Do you know? But what?

58. Elle voit une salle plus brillante que le soleil,
S'lever, couverte d'or, dans le magnifique Gimlir:
C'est l qu'habiteront les peuples fidles,
Et qu'ils jouiront d'une flicit ternelle.

She sees a hall more brilliant than the sun,
Rise, covered in gold, in the magnificent Gimlir:
This is where they will live, the faithful people,
And they will benefit from one eternal bliss.

59. Alors, il vient d'en haut prsider aux jugements des Grandeurs,
Le souverain puissant qui gouverne l'univers :
ll tempre les arrts, il calme les dissensions,
Et donne les lois sacres inviolables  jamais.

Then, he comes from above to preside over the judgments of the Great-ones,
The powerful sovereign who governs the universe:
He tempers the judgments, he calms dissent,
And gives sacred inviolable laws forever.









Vafrdnisml - Discours de Vafthrudnir (The Speech of Vafthrudnir) by F.G. Bergmann
Translated by Yves Kodratoff, Katia Puryear, and William P. Reaves
French Transcription by Yves Kodratoff

ODIN:

1. Que me conseilles-tu, Frigg? il me tarde de partir
Pour aller voir Vafthrdnir ;
J'ai , je l'avoue, une grande curiosit de parler sur les antiquits
Avec ce Iote qui sait tout.

What do you advise, Frigg? I am delayed in leaving
to see Vafthrudnir; 
I confess, I am very curious to speak of antiquity
With this Iote (Jtun) who knows everything. 

FRIGG:

2. Pre des Combattants, je voudrais te retenir chez toi , 
Dans les palais des dieux :
Car aucun Iote, je pense, n'est gal en force
A ce Vafthrdnir.

Father of Warriors (Herjafr), I would keep you home,
In the palaces of the gods:
Since no Iote (Jtun), I think, is equal in strength
To this Vafthrudnir. 

ODIN:

3. J'ai voyag beaucoup. j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures, 
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances :
Je veux donc aussi savoir comment Vafthrdnir
Tient son mnage.

I have traveled much, I have been on many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test :
Therefore, I also want to know how Vafthrudnir
Keeps his house.


FRIGG:

4. Que ton voyage soit heureux! que ton retour soit heureux ! 
Que tu reviennes heureux auprs des Asynies!
Puisse ta sagesse t'aider.  notre Pre de l'Univers, quand il te faudra 
Disputer avec ce Iote.

May your voyage be happy! May your return be happy!
May you return happy to the Asynjes!
May your wisdom aid you, O Father of the Universe (Alldafr), when you must 
Debate with this Iote. 

5. Odin partit donc pour prouver la sagesse
De ce Iote qui sait tout ;
Il arriva  la demeure qu'habitait le pre d'Imr;
Le Circonspect y entra aussitt.

Odin therefore went to test the wisdom 
Of this all-knowing Iote;
He reached the dwelling, the abode of Imr's father;
The Circumspect (Yggr) entered forthwith. 

ODIN:

6. Je te salue Vafthrduir. je suis entr dans la demeure-.
Pour voir ta personne :
Je voudrais surtout savoir si tu es savant
Et vers en tout, Iote!

I salute you Vafthrudnir. I entered your abode
To see your person:
I especially want to know if you are learned 
And versed in everything, Iote! 

VAFTHRDNIR:

7. Quel est cet homme qui, dans ma salle,
Me provoque si brusquement?
Tu ne sortiras pas de ma demeure
Si tu n'es pas plus savant que moi.

Who is this man who, in my hall, 
provokes me so brusquely?
You will not leave my abode
If you are not more learned than me.


ODIN:

8. Je me nomme Gangrade. -Je viens de quitter la route, 
Altr que je suis, pour entrer dans ta demeure:
J'ai fait un long voyage, j'ai besoin de ton hospitalit
Et de ton accueil,  Iote!

My name is Gangrade.  I just left the road,
Thirsty I am, to enter your abode : 
I had a long voyage, I need your hospitality
And your welcome, O Iote!

VAFTHRDNIR:

9. Pourquoi, Gangrade, parles-tu l, debout dans le vestibule? 
Viens prendre place dans la salle :
Alors nous prouverons lequel est le plus savant,
De l'tranger ou de ce vieillard parleur. 

Why, Gangrade, do you speak standing in the entryway?
Come and take a place in the hall:
Then we will prove who is the most learned,
The stranger or this old talker.

GANGRADE:

10. Le pauvre qui entre chez le riche
Doit parler avec discrtion ou se taire :
La loquacit, je pense , porte malheur
A quiconque se trouve avec un homme svre. 

The pauper who enters with the rich
Must speak with discretion or stay silent:
Loquaciousness, I think, brings misfortune
To whoever deals with a harsh man.

VAFTHRDNIR:

11. Dis-moi, Gangrade : -puisque debout dans le vestibule ,
Tu veux prouver ta supriorit. 
Quel est le nom du cheval qui amne chaque fois
Le jour au genre humain?



Tell me, Gangrade - since, standing in the entryway,
You would prove your superiority 
What is the name of the horse that always brings
The day to the human race? 

GANGRADE:

12. Il se nomme Skinfaxi; c'est lui qui apporte le jour 
Lumineux au genre humain :
Il est rput pour le meilleur de tous les chevaux ;
La crinire du coursier brille continuellement.

He is named Skinfaxi; he is the one that brings
Luminous day to the human race:
He is reputed to be the best of all horses; 
This courser's mane continually shines.

VAFTHRDNIR:

13. Dis-moi, Gangrade: - puisque debout dans le vestibule, 
Tu veux prouver ta supriorit. -
Quel est le nom, du cheval qui amne, de l'orient,
La nuit aux Grandeurs bnignes?

Tell me, Gangrade - since, standing in the entryway,
You would prove your superiority. 
What is the name of the horse that from the east brings
The night to the benign Great ones? 

GANGRADE:

14. Hrimfaxi est le nom du cheval qui apporte chaqne fois
La nuit aux Grandeurs bnignes :
Chaque matin il laisse tomber l'cume de son mors
D'o provient la rose dans les valles. 

Hrimfaxi is the name of the horse that always brings
The night to the benign Great ones:
Every morning froth falls from its bit
Which provides the dew in the valleys.





VAFTHRDNIR:

15. Dis-moi, Gangrade : - puisque debout dans le vestibule.
Tu veux prouver ta supriorit.-
Quel est le nom du fleuve qui partage la terre
Entre les fils des Iotes et les dieux?

Tell me, Gangrade - since, standing in the entryway,
You would prove your superiority. 
What is the name of the river that divides the earth 
Between the sons of the Iotes and the gods? 

GANGRADE:

16. Ilfing est le nom du fleuve qui partage la terre
Entre les fils des Iotes et les dieux :
Sans jamais geler, il coulera ternellement;
Jamais il ne sera couvert de glace.

Ilfing is the name of the river that divides the earth 
Between the sons of the Iotes and the gods: 
Without ever freezing, it will flow eternally; 
Never will it be covered with ice.

VAFTHRDNIR:

17. Dis ceci, Gangrade: - puisque debout dans le vestibule, 
Tu veux prouver ta supriorit. -
Quel est le nom de cette plaine o se rencontreront au combat 
Surtur et les dieux paisibles?

Tell me this, Gangrade - since, standing in the entryway,
You would prove your superiority. 
What is the name of the plain where
Surtur and the peaceful gods will meet in combat?

GANGRADE:

18. Vigride est le nom de la plaine o se rencontreront au combat
Surtur et les dieux paisibles:
Elle a cent journes de chemin en longueur et en largeur; 
Voil le champ de bataille qui leur est assign.



Vigrid is the name of the plain where
Surtur and the peaceful gods will meet in combat; 
It is a hundred days' walk in length and in width;
This is the battlefield assigned to them.

VAFTHRDNIR:

19. Je vois, tranger, que tu es savant; viens t'asseoir sur mon banc,
Et discutons ensemble tant assis. 
tranger! gageons nos ttes ici dans la salle, - 
C'est  qui aura le plus de savoir.

I see, stranger, that you are learned; come sit on my bench 
And let us talk while seated.
Stranger! Let us wager our heads here in the hall, - 
Which of us will have more knowledge.

GANGRADE:

20. Si ton esprit est assez fort et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir ,  cette premire question :
D'o sont venus, au commencement, la terre et le ciel? 
Dis cela, savant Iote!

If your spirit is strong enough and you possess the knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this first question:
From where, in the beginning, did the earth and sky come?
Tell me that, learned Iote!

VAFTHRDNIR:

21. La terre a t cre de la chair d'Ymir ,
Les montagnes ont t formes de ses os,
Le ciel a t fait du crne de ce Iote glac,
Et la mer a t produite par son sang.

The earth was created from the flesh of Ymir.
The mountains were formed from his bones. 
The sky was made from the skull of this frozen Iote, 
And the sea was produced from his blood. 





GANGRADE:

22. Si ton esprit est assez fort et que tu possdes la science,
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette seconde question:
D'o est venu Mni qui passe par dessus les hommes;
D'o est venue encore Sl?

If your spirit is strong enough and you possess the knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this second question:
From where did Mani, who passes above man, come;
And again, from where came Sol? 

VAFTHRDNIR:

23. Mundilfri est le nom de celui qui est le pre de Mni
Et de Sl galement; 
Chaque jour ils feront tous les deux le tour du ciel
Pour compter aux mortels la dure de l'anne. 

Mundilfori is the name of the one who is the father of Mani
And Sol as well: 
Every day the two will do the tour of the sky 
To compute for mortals the duration of the year. 

GANGRADE:

24. Puisqu'on te dit si instruit et que tu possdes la science. 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette troisime question :
D'o sont venus le Jour qui passe pardessus les peuples,
Et la Nuit avec la nouvelle lune?

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this third question: 
From where came Day that passes over nations,
And Night with the new moon?

VAFTHRDNIR:

25. Delling est le nom de celui qui est le pre du Jour;
Mais la Nuit est la fille de Norvi :
Les Grandeurs bnignes ont cr la nouvelle lune et le premier quartier
Pour compter aux mortels la dure de l'anne. 



Delling is the name of the one who is the father of Day; 
But Night is the daughter of Norvi:
The benign Great ones have created the new moon and its first quarter.
To compute for mortals the duration of the year.

GANGRADE:

26. Puisqu'on te dit si savant et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds , Vafthrdnir ,  cette quatrime question :
D'o sont venus au commencement l'Hiver et l't chaleureux 
Parmi les Grandeurs intelligentes? 

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this fourth question: 
From where, in the beginning, came Winter and ardent Summer
Among the intelligent Great ones?

VAFTHRDNIR:

27. Vindsvale est le nom de celui qui est le pre de l'Hiver ,
Mais Svasuder est le pre de l'Et:
L'Hiver et l't alterneront toujours dans l'anne .
Jusqu' ce que les Grandeurs prissent.

Vindsvale is the name of the one who is the father of Winter, 
But Svasuder is the father of Summer;
Winter and Summer will always alternate within the year,
Until the Great Ones perish.

GANGRADE:

28. Puisqu'on te dit si savant et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette cinquime question: 
Qui a t, au commencement des sicles, le premier des Ases,
Et le premier des enfants d'Ymir?

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this fifth question: 
Who, at the beginning of the centuries, was the first of the Aesir,
And the first of Ymir's children?





VAFTHRDNIR:

29. Dans la rigueur des hivers, avant que la terre ft cre , 
Bergelmir naquit;
Thrudgelmir tait son pre, 
Et Orgelmir son aeul.

In the rigor of winters, before the earth was created,
Bergelmir was born; 
Thrudgelmir was his father,
And Orgelmir his grandfather. 

GANGRADE:

30. Puisqu'on te dit si instruit et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette sixime question :
D'o est venu, au commencement, Orgelmir parmi les fils des Iotes?
Dis cela, savant Iote! 

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this sixth question: 
From where, in the beginning, came Orgelmir among the sons of Iotes?
Say that, learned Iote!

VAFTHRDNIR:

31. Des gouttes de venin, jaillissant des fleuves Elivgar,
Se congelrent jusqu' ce qu'il en naqut un Iote:
A lui remontent toutes nos familles;
C'est pourquoi toute cette race est si robuste. 

	Alternate lines 3-4:
		Mais il lana des tincelles de Sudheim;
		La chaleur donna la vie  la glace.

Drops of venom, gushing out from the Elivogar rivers
Congealed until from them was born an Iote:
From him descend all of our families. 
This is why this race is so robust. 

	Alternate lines 3-4:
		But sparks shot from Sudheim;
		The heat gave life to the ice.


GANGRADE:

32. Puisqu'on te dit si instruit et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds , Vafthrdnir ,  cette septime question :
Comment engendra-t-il des enfants, ce gant robuste,
N'ayant point la jouissance d'une gante? 

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this seventh question: 
How would this robust giant engender children 
Without having the pleasure of a giantess?

VAFTHRDNIR:

33. Sous le bras, dit-on, de ce Thurse se formrent ensemble
Un garon et une fille:
Un pied de ce Iote intelligent engendra avec l'autre
Un fils qui avait une tte  soi.

	Alternate line 4: 
		Un fils qui a six ttes.

Under the arm of this Thurs, it is said, were formed together
A boy and a girl:
A foot of this intelligent Iote engendered with the other
A son who had his own head. 

	Alternate line 4: 
		A son with six heads.

GANGRADE:

34. Puisqu'on te dit si savant et que tu possdes la science, 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette huitime question:
Quel est ton plus ancien souvenir? 
Jusqu'o remonte ta science?
Rponds, toi, Iote qui sais tout! 

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this eighth question: 
What is your oldest memory?
Back to when goes your knowledge?
Respond, you Iote who knows all!


VAFTHRDNIR:

35. Dans la rigueur des hivers, avant que la terre ft cre, 
Bergelmir naquit :
Mon plus ancien souvenir, c'est que ce Iote intelligent
S'est mis dans une barque.

In the rigor of winters, before the earth was created,
Bergelmir was born:
My oldest memory, is that this intelligent Iote
Was put in a boat.

GANGRADE:

36. Puisqu'on te dit si instruit et que tu possdes la science,
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette neuvime question:
D'o vient le vent qui passe par-dessus les flots,
Et qui est toujours invisible aux hommes? 

Because it is said that you are learned and that you possess knowledge,
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this ninth question: 
From where comes the wind which passes over the waves,
And which is always invisible to men?

VAFTHRDNIR:

37. Hrsvelg est le nom de celui qui est assis  l'extrmit du ciel,
C'est un Iote sous un plumage d'aigle: 
De ses ailes provient, dit-on, le vent
Qui souffle par-dessus le genre humain.

Hraevelg is the name of the one that sits at the end of the sky.
It is an Iote under the plumage of an eagle:
From his wings, it is said, comes the wind
That blows over the race of men.

GANGRADE:

38. Puisque tu connais l'origine de toutes les divinits,
Rponds, Vafthrdnir ,  cette dixime question: 
D'o venait Niordur chez les fils des Ases?
Il prside  quantit d'enceintes et de sanctuaires,
Et pourtant il ne descend point des Ases.


Since you know the origin of all the divinities, 
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this tenth question :
From where came Njordur to the sons of the Aesir? 
He presides over many enclosures and sanctuaries,
Nevertheless he does not descend from the Aesir.

VAFTHRDNIR:

39. Les Grandeurs intelligentes l'ont fait natre dans Vanaheim,
Et ils l'ont envoy comme tage aux dieux: 
A la fin du monde, il s'en retournera
Chez les Vanes intelligents.

The intelligent Great ones gave birth to him in Vanaheim,
And they sent him as a hostage to the gods:
At the end of the world, he will return 
To the intelligent Vanir.

GANGRADE:

40. Puisque tu connais l'origine de toutes les divinits,
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette onzime question:
Que font les Monomaques chez le Pre des Combattants,
Jusqu' ce que les Grandeurs prissent?

Since you know the origin of all the divinities, 
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this eleventh question:
What do the Monomaques (Einherjar) do at the Father of Warriors (Herjafrs),
Until the Great ones perish?

VAFTHRDNIR:

41. Tous les Monomaques dans les enclos d'Odin,
Se livrent combat chaque jour;
Ils choisissent leur victime, reviennent  cheval du combat,
Et s'assoient ensemble cordialement  table.

All the Monomaques in the enclosure of Odin,
Themselves hold combat every day;
They choose their victim, return on horseback from the fight,
And sit together cordially at the table. 




GANGRADE:

42. Comment as-tu pu connatre l'origine de toutes les divinits? 
Rponds, Vafthrdnir,  cette douzime question :
Sur les mystres des Iotes et de tous les dieux,
Tu viens de parler parfaitement bien,
Toi, Iote qui es vers en tout!

How can you know the origin of all the divinities?
Respond, Vafthrudnir, to this twelfth question: 
Of the mysteries of the Iotes and of all the gods, 
You have spoken perfectly well,
You, Iote, who is versed in everything! 

VAFTHRDNIR:

43. Je puis parler des mystres des Iotes, et de tous les dieux;
Car j'ai parcouru chaque monde,
J'ai visit les neuf mondes, mme Niflhel en bas,
O descendent les ombres venant de Hel.

I can speak of the mysteries of the Iotes, And of all the gods; 
For I have traversed every world. 
I have visited the nine worlds, even Niflhel below, 
Where the shades coming from Hel descend.

GANGRADE:

44. Moi aussi, j'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: -
Quels sont les hommes qui vivront, quand ce grand
Et terrible hiver passera sur la terre?

I too have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test: -
Who are the men that will survive, when this great
And terrible winter passes over the earth?

VAFTHRDNIR:

45. Ce sera Lif et Lifthrasir; ils seront ensevelis
Dans la colline de Hoddmimir;
Ils auront pour nourriture la rose du matin:
C'est d'eux que natront les hommes.

It will be Lif and Lifthrasir; they will be buried
In the hill of Hoddmimir; 
They will have for food the morning dew:
It is from them that men will be born. 

GANGRADE:

46. J'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: - 
Comment Sl pourra-t-elle revenir dans le ciel dsert
Quand Fenrir l'aura saisie?

I have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test: -
How will Sol be able to return to the deserted sky
Once being seized by Fenrir? 

VAFTHRDNIR:

47. Alfrodull mettra au monde une fille
Avant d'tre prise par Fenrir:
Quand les Grandeurs auront pri, la vierge parcourra
Les routes de sa mre.

Alfrodull will bring a daughter into the world
Before being taken by Fenrir: 
Once the Great ones perish, the virgin will traverse
The roads of her mother. 

GANGRADE:

48. J'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures ,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: - 
Quelles sont ces vierges qui au-dessus de la mer des peuples
Volent doues d'un esprit de sagesse?

I have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test: -
Who are these virgins that above the sea of nations
Fly, gifted with a spirit of wisdom? 





VAFTHRDNIR:

49. Au-dessus des hameaux volent trois compagnies
De filles de Mogthrasir :
Toutes gnies tutlaires de ceux.qui habitent le monde.
Bien qu'elles soient leves parmi les Iotes.

Above the hamlets fly three companies
Of the daughters of Mogthrasir:
All tutelary geniuses of those who inhabit the world.
Even though they have been raised among the Iotes. 

GANGRADE:

50. J'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: - 
Quels sont les Ases qui prsideront aux possessions des dieux
Quand la flamme de Surti sera teinte?

I have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test: -
Who are the Aesir that will preside over the possessions of the gods
When the flame of Surt will be extinguished? 

VAFTHRDNIR:

51. Vidar et Vali habiteront les palais sacrs des dieux, 
Quand la flamme de Surti sera teinte :
Modi et Magni auront le Marteau,
Et mettront fin au combat.

Vidar and Vali will inhabit the sacred palaces of the gods, 
When the flame of Surt will be extinguished: 
Modi and Magni will have the Hammer, 
And will put an end to the fight.

GANGRADE:

52. J'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures ,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: - 
Quel sera le sort d'Odin  la fin des sicles,
Quand les Grandeurs priront?



I have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test: -
What will be Odin's fate at the end of the centuries, 
When the Great ones shall perish? 

VAFTHRDNIR:

53. Le Loup engloutira le Pre du Monde
Qui sera veng par Vidar :
Luttant avec Vitnir, Vidar lui fendra
Sa gueule pernicieuse.

The Wolf will swallow the Father of the World (Aldafur)
Who will be avenged by Vidar:
Fighting with Vitnir, Vidar will split 
His pernicious maw. 

ODIN:

54. J'ai beaucoup voyag, j'ai eu beaucoup d'aventures,
J'ai mis  l'preuve beaucoup de puissances: -
Qu'a dit Odin  l'oreille de son fils
Avant de le monter sur le bcher?

I have traveled much, I have had many adventures,
I have put many a power to the test :
What did Odin say into the ear of his son 
Before placing him on the pyre?

VAFTHRDNIR:

55. Personne ne sait ce qu'au commencement des sicles
Tu as dit  l'oreille de ton fils.
J'ai prononc mon arrt de mort en parlant de ma science du pass
Et de l'origine des Grandeurs; 
Car j'ai os rivaliser de sagesse avec Odin. -
Toi, tu es toujours le plus sage des hommes. 

Nobody knows what, in the beginning of the centuries, 
You said in your son's ear.
I pronounced my death warrant by speaking of my knowledge of the past 
And of the origin of the Great ones; 
For I dared to compete in wisdom with Odin - 
You, you are the wisest of the men.














Lokasenna - Les Sarcasmes de Loki (The Sarcasm of Loki) by F.G. Bergmann
Translated by Katia Puryear
French Transcription by Yves Kodratoff

Aegir, qui portait aussi le nom de Gymir, donna un banquet aux Ases aprs qu'il eut reu le grand chaudron, comme il a t racont. A ce festin vint Odin avec sa femme Frigg. Thr ne vint point parce qu'il tait en orient; Sif, la femme de Thr, y tait, ainsi que Bragi et sa femme Idunn ; Tyr y tait; il tait manchot; le loup Fenrir lui avait mang la main lorsqu'il s'tait vu enchan. taient encore prsents Niordur et sa femme Skadi, Frey et Freyia, Vidar, fils d'Odin, Loki et les domestiques de Frey, Beyggvir et Beyla, et un grand nombre d'Ases et d'Alfes.

Oegir, who also carried the name of Gymir, gave a banquet to the Aesir after he received the great cauldron, so it has been said. At this feast was Odin and his wife Frigga. Thor did not attend because he was in Orient: Sif, Thor's wife, was there as well as Brago and his wife Idunn: Tyr was there, he was one-armed; the wolf Fenrir ate his hand when he saw himself chained up. Still present Niordur and his wife Skadi. Frey and Freya, Vidar - Odin's son, Loki and Frey's domestics, Beyggvir and Beyla, and a great number of Aesir and Alfes

gir avait deux serviteurs, Fimafing et Eldir. L'clat de l'or clairait le palais au lieu de la lumire du feu; la bire se versait d'elle-mme dans les coupes; c'tait l un endroit sacr. On louait beaucoup les serviteurs d'gir ; Loki ne voulut point entendre ces louanges, et tua Fimafing. Alors les Ases secourent leurs boucliers, poussrent des cris contre Loki, et le poursuivirent jusqu' lentre d'un bois. Puis ils revinrent  boire. Loki retourna aussi; et ayant rencontr Eldir devant la porte , il lui dit :

Oegir had two servants, Fimafing and Eldir. The splendor of the gold lit up the palace instead of light from fire; the beer spilled itself from the glasses; it was a sacred idea. Many servants were lent from Oegir; Loki didn't want to hear the praises, so he killed Fimafing. So the Aesir shook their shields, threw screams towards Loki, and chased him into the woods. And they returned to drink. Loki returned as well; and having met Eldir in front of the door, told her:

1. Dis donc, Eldir. sans que tu fasses un seul Pas de plus en avant, De quoi parlent-ils l-dedans, dans leur discours de table, Les fils des Dieux Combattants ?
Tell me, Eldir, before you take another step forward, what are they speaking of at their roundtable discussions, the sons of the Warrior Gods?





ELDIR dit :
2. Ils devisent sur leurs armes et sur leur valeur guerrire ,
Les fils des Dieux Combattants.
De tous les Ases et Alfes qui sont l-dedans .
Pas un ne parle de toi en ami.

Eldir said: 
They devise concerning their arms and their war values
the sons of the Warrior Gods
Of all the Aesir and Alfes that are in there
None speaks one friendly word of you.


LOKI dit:
3. Il faut entrer dans les salles d'gir ,
Pour voir ce banquet. 
Chez les fils des Ases je vais porter le tapage et le scandale,
Et mler ainsi le fiel avec lhydromel.

Loki said:
We must enter Oegir's Halls
To see this banquet
To the sons of the Ases I will bring noise and scandal
And mix gall with hydromel.

ELDIR dit :
4. Songe. bien que si tu entres dans les salles d'gir
Pour voir ce banquet,
Et si tu verses l'opprobre et l'injure sur les Grandeurs bnignes,
Elles sauront s'essuyer  toi; 

Eldir said: 
Consider well that if you enter Oegir's halls
To see this banquet,
And if you defile and insult the blessed grand Ones
They will know the clean themselves of you

LOKI dit :
5. Songe bien, Eldir, que si nous escrimons l'un contre l'autre
En termes injurieux ,
Je saurai tre inpuisable en rpliques-
Si tu dis un mot de trop. 



Loki said:
Know well, Eldir, that if we speak to each other in hurtful ways
I know how to be endless in replies -
If one says a word too much

Ensuite Loki entra dans la salle; mais ceux qui s'y trouvaient, voyant qui tait entr, se turent tous  la fois.

Then Loki entered the Hall: those there, seeing him enter, became silent all at once.

LOKI dit:
6. Altr de soif, je suis arriv dans cette demeure
Aprs une longue marche;
Lopte prie les Ases de lui donner seulement 
Un coup d'hydromel pur. 

Loki said:
Thirsty, I have arrived at this residence after a long walk
One prays to the Ases to give him only one shot of pure hydromel (mead).

7. Pourquoi gardez-vous le silence ? Dieux si bouffis de morgue
Que vous ne pouvez parler!-
Dsignez-moi un sige et une place  ce banquet,
Ou renvoyez-moi d'ici.

Why do you keep silence?
Gods so baffled by their pride that they cannot speak! -
Assign me a chair and a place at this banquet, or send me away.

BRAGI dit:
8. Dsigner un sige et une place  notre banquet! 
Jamais les Ases ne le feront; 
Car les Ases savent bien  qui ils doivent
Faire partager leur banquet joyeux.

Bragi said:
Give you a seat and a place at our banquet! -
Never will the Ases do this
For the Ases know well with whom they have a duty
to share their joyous banquet with





LOKI dit :
9. Ten souviens-tu, Odin; lorsque nous deux, autrefois,
Nous mlmes notre sang ensemble ;
Jamais, disais-tu, jamais tu ne goterais de l'aile, 
A moins qu'elle ne ft offerte  nous deux ensemble.

Loki said: 
Do you remember, Odin, when we, in the past
We mixed our blood together
Never, you said, never would you taste ale,
Unless it was offered to the both of us.

ODIN dit :
10. Lve-toi. Vidar, et laisse le pre du Loup
Prendre place au banquet,
Afin que Loki ne nous parle pas en termes injurieux
Dans la demeure d'gir. 

Odin said: 
Stand up, Vidar, and let the father of the wolf
take a place at the banquet
So Loki does not speak hurtful words
In Oegir's domain.

Vidar se leva, et versa  boire  Loki qui, avant de boire salua les Ases.

Vidar rose, and poured a drink for Loki who, before drinking, saluted the Ases:

11. Ases !  votre sant;  votre sant, Asynies !
A la sant de vous tous, Dieux trs-saints !
Except ce seul Ase , ce Bragi qui est assis
Au fond, sur son banc.

Loki said: 
Ases! To your health, to your health, Asynies!
To the health of all of you, very holy Gods!

Except for one Ase, Bragi who is seated in the back on his bench.

BRAGI dit:
12. Je te donne un cheval et une pe de ma proprit;
Bragi te fait ainsi rparation avec l'cu,
Afin que tu ne portes pas rancune aux Ases.- N'irrite point les dieux contre toi !


Bragi said: 
I give you a horse and a sword of my property;
Bragi will make reparation with you with his shield,
So you do not bring spite to the Ases - Do not irritate the gods towards you!

LOKI dit :
13. Un cheval et un cu! jamais tu n'auras que faire
De l'un ou de l'autre,  Bragi! 
Toi, d'entre les Ases et les Alfes qui sont ici prsents, Le plus prcautionn contre le combat!
Le plus effarouch  la vue d'une lance!

Loki said: 
A horse and a shield! 
Never will you know what to do with one or the other, o Bragi!
You, among the Ases and the Alfes present here, the most frightened of combat!
the most scared at the sight of a spear!

BRAGI dit :
14. Certes! si pour me battre et non pour assister au banquet 
J'tais venu dans la demeure d'gir ,
Je porterais ta tte dans ma main, -
Je te payerais ainsi de ton mensonge.

Bragi said: 
Of course! if to fight you and not to assist this banquet,
I came to the home of Oegir,
I would carry your head in my hand -
I would make you pay for your lie.

LOKI dit :
15. Tu es imptueux dans ton fauteuil ! -il ne faut pas en user ainsi, 
Magnifique Bragi, qui es trop sdentaire!
Va donc te battre pendant que tu es encore courrouc ; 
Car, homme en colre ne craint pas le diable.

Loki said: 
You are impetuous in your chair!
you must not be this way,
wonderful Bragi, who is too sedentary!
Why don't you go fight while you're still angry;
For "an angry man does not even fear the devil."



IDUNN dit :
16. Je t'en prie, Bragi ! au nom de nos enfants,
De tous les fils qui sont encore dans nos vux : 
N'irrite point Loki par des injures .
Dans la demeure d'gir .

Idunn said: 
I beg you, Bragi! In the name of our children,
For all the sons whom we still wish for:
Do not irritate Loki with insults
In Oegir's domain

LOKI dit :
17. Tais-toi, Idunn ! -Je te dclare de toutes les femmes
La plus lascive .
Depuis que tu as serr dans tes bras par trop lavs
Le meurtrier de ton frre.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Idunn! - I delcare you of all women the most lascivious
Since you held in your bright arms your brother's slayer.

IDUNN dit :
18. Je ne rpondrai point par des injures  Loki ,
Dans la demeure d'gir .
J'apaiserai Bragi excit par la bire;
Je ne veux pas que vous vous battiez ainsi irrits. 

Idunn said: 
I will not respond to Loki's insults
In Oegir's home
I will calm down Bragi who is hot with beer;
I don't want this fierce they should fight.

GFION dit :
19. Comment ! deux Ases se quereller ici dans la salle ,
Et se dire des injures!- .
Lopte ne s'aperoit pas qu'il est trop enjou
Et que sa ptulance remporte.

Gefion said: 
How is this! Two Ases are arguing here in the hall
and insulting each other! -
Each other do not realise you are too cheerful
And that you're carried away in exuberance.
LOKI dit :
20. Tais-toi, Gfion, ou je vais raconter .
Comment t'a blouie
Ce brillant jeune homme qui t'a fait prsent d'un collier, 
Et que tu as fait passer sur tes cuisses.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Gefion, or I will tell
how you dazzled this nice young man
who gave you a necklace as a present
And how you passed him over your thighs

ODIN dit :
21. Tu es un fou, Loki , et un insens ,
De porter Gfion  la rancune contre toi ;
Car elle connat , je pense, en entier la destine de chacun , 
Aussi parfaitement que moi-mme.

Odin said: 
You are mad, Loki, and without reason
To make Gefion spiteful towards you;
For she knows, I believe, everyone's destiny in entirety,
As perfectly as I do.

LOKI dit :
22. Tais-toi, Odin; tu n'as jamais su
Bien dcider du sort des combats entre les hommes. 
Souvent tu as donn  qui tu ne devais pas la donner ,
La victoire au moins courageux.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Odin, you have never known
how to well decide to end of battles between men
Often you have given to those you shouldn't have given,
Victory to the less courageous.

ODIN dit :
23. Sais-tu que j'aie donn  qui je ne devais pas la donner. 
La victoire au moins courageux ? -
Mais toi, pendant huit hivers. tu as t l-bas , sur la terre , 
Une vache  lait et une femme ,
Et tu y as accouch plusieurs fois ;
Et cela est, ce me semble , le propre d'un lche.


Odin said: 
Do you know that I have given to whom I shouldn't have given,
Victory to the less courageous?
But you, for eight winters, you were below, on Earth,
A milking cow and a woman,
And you gave life many times
And this is, it seems, actions of a coward.

LOKI dit :
24. Tu as pratiqu,  ce qu'on dit, la magie noire  Samsey, 
Et tu as frapp aux portes comme les Valas :
Sous la figure d'un sorcier, tu volas par-dessus le peuple-des-hommes ,
Et cela est, ce me semble, le propre d'un lche. 

Loki said: 
You have practiced, it is said, black magic at Samsey
And you have knocked on doors like the Valas:
Under the form of a sorcerer, you flew above the tribes of men
And this it, it seems, actions of a coward.

FRIGG dit :
25. De vos aventures, vous ne devriez jamais parler 
En prsence des hros;
Ni de ce que vous avez fait au commencement des sicles. -
Les hommes ne se reprochent point d'anciennes  fautes . 

Frigg said:
Of your adventures, you should never speak
In the presence of heroes:
Nor what you have done at the beginning of centuries
"Men do not blame themselves for ancient mistakes."

LOKI dit: 
26. Tais-toi, Frigg; tu es la fille de Fiorgyne,
Et tu as toujours t lascive :
Car toi, la femme de Vidrir, tu as tenu Ve et Vili
Embrasss sur ton sein.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Frigg, you are the daughter of Fiorgyne,
And you have always been lustful
For you, wife of Vidrir, you have held Ve and Vili
Embraced upon your breast.


FRIGG dit:
27. Sais-tu que si j'avais ici, dans la demeure d'gir,
Un autre fils comme Baldur,
Tu ne sortirais pas de chez les fils des Ases?
On brandirait l'pe sur toi, insolent!

Frigg:
Do you know that if I had here, in the dwelling of Oegir,
Another son like Balder
You would not walk away from the sons of the Ases?
You would be speared with the sword, insolent!

LOKI dit :
28. Veux-tu donc, Frigg, que je confesse encore d'autres
De mes pchs ?-
C'est par mes soins que tu ne verras plus Baldur
Rentrer  cheval chez lui.

Loki said: 
Want you then, Frigg, for me to confess more of my sins? -
It's of my doing that you will never see Balder
come home on horseback.

FREYIA dit :
29. Tu es un insens, Loki , de proclamer ainsi 
Tes infmes mchancets :
La destine immuable, Frigg la connat en entier, je pense, 
Bien qu'elle ne le dise pas elle-mme.

Freyia:
You are mad, Loki, to proclaim this
Your despicable viciousness:
Immutable destiny, Frigg knows it whole, I believe,
Even though she won't admit it herself.

LOKI dit :
30. Tais-toi, Freyia; je ne te connais que trop bien ,
Tu n'es pas pure de souillure ;
Les Ases et les Alfes, qui sont ici prsents,
Ont t tous tes galants.





Loki said: 
Be silent, Freyia, I know you all too well
You are not free of taint:
The Ases and the Alfes, that are all present here,
Have all been your gentlemen.

FREYIA dit :
31. Ta langue est menteuse, mais je crois que bientt
Elle fera un cri de douleur;
Les Ases et les Asynies sont irrits contre toi :
Tu ne rentreras pas joyeux  la maison.

Freyia:
Your tongues says lies, but I believe soon
It will scream in pain:
The Ases and the Asynies are irritated with you:
You will not go home contented.

LOKI. dit :
32. Tais-toi, Freyia ; tu es noircie de forfaits
Et toute ptrie de mchancet, 
Depuis que tu enchantes ton frre et les Grandeurs bnignes. - 
Et aprs cela, Freyia , tu oses encore brailler ! 

Loki said: 
Be silent Freyia, for you are free of taint
and stain of wickedness
Considering you enchant your brother and the holy Gods,
and after that, Freyia, you dare still weep!


NIORDUR dit :
33. Cela est peu tonnant, si les dames choisissent
Pour galant un tel ou un tel :
Mais ce qui est merveilleux, c'est qu'un Ase lche soit entr ici
Et qu'il soit accouch plusieurs fois. 

Niordur said:
It is hardly surprising, if women pick for gentlemen one of the other:
But what is incredible, is that a cowardly Ase has entered here,
And that he's given birth many times




LOKI dit:
34. Tais-toi, Niordur; on t'a envoy d'ici en Orient
Comme tage aux dieux ;
Les filles d'Hymir t'ont pris pour un baquet  urine,
Et t'ont piss dans la bouche.

Loki said:
Be silent, Niordur, you were sent from here to the Orient
As hostage for the gods.
The daughters of Hymir took you for a urinal,
and they pissed in your mouth.

NIORDUR dit :
35. Ce qui me console d'avoir t envoy loin d'ici 
Comme tage aux dieux ,
C'est que l, j'ai engendr un fils qui est aim de tout le monde,
Et qui passe pour le chef des Ases. 

Niordur said:
What consoles me about being sent far from here
As hostage for the gods
Is that there, I fathered a son who is loved in all the world
And who passes as chief of the Ases.

LOKI dit :
36. C'est assez, Niordur; ne dpasse pas la mesure ,
Sans cela je ne pourrai plus longtemps cacher 
Que c'est avec ta sur que tu as engendr ce fils ,
Ce qui, pourtant, n'est pas le pire de ce qu'on attendait de toi.

Loki said: 
That's enough, Niordur, don't go past the limit
Or else I won't be able to keep hiding that
it was with your sister that you fathered this son
which is, however, not the worst of what was expected from you.

TYR dit: 
37. Frey est le meilleur de tous les preux chevaliers,
Dans les enclos des Ases :
Jamais il n'a fait pleurer une fille ni une femme marie, 
Et il affranchit chacun de la servitude.




Tyr said:
Frey is the greatest of all proven knights,
In the enclosures of the Ases:
Never has he made weep a girl nor married woman,
And he receives from each servitude.

LOKI dit :
38. Tais-toi, Tyr; tu n'a jamais su
Rconcilier deux adversaires :
Parlerai-je de ta main droite
Que t'a enleve Fenrir! 

Loki said: 
Be silent, Tyr, you've never known how to 
reconcile two adversaries:
Should I mention your right hand
That Fenrir took off!

TYR dit:
39. Je regrette ma main, et toi tu regrettes Hrodurs-vitnir ;
Notre perte est douloureuse  l'un et  l'autre :
Le Loup n'est pas bien non plus dans ses fers ,
Il attendra jusqu'au crpuscule des Grandeurs.

Tyr said:
I regret what happened to my hand, as you regret Vitnir Hrodur's
Our loss is painful to one and the other
The wolf is not well either in his irons
He will wait until the twilight of the Great ones

LOKI dit :
40. Tais-toi, Tyr! il est arriv  ta femme .
D'avoir un enfant avec moi :
Tu n'as pas reu un chiffon, pas un denier
Pour ddommagement, pauvre homme !

Loki said: 
Be silent, Tyr! It happens that your wife
had a child with me:
You have not received a rag, nor a dime
As compensation, poor man!




FREY dit:
41. Je vois le loup qui,  l'embouchure du fleuve, reste enchan -
Jusqu' ce que les Grandeurs succombent.
Si tu ne te tais, tu seras attach
Auprs de lui, auteur du mal !

Frey:
I see the wolf that, at the mouth of the river, stays chained
Until the Great Ones succumb
If you do not become quiet you will be attached
to him, author of evil!

LOKI dit :
42. Tu as fait acheter avec de l'or la fille de Gymir ,
Et abandonn ainsi ton pe :
Mais quand les fils de Muspil traverseront la fort Noire, 
Alors tu ne sauras pas, pauvre homme comment combattre.

Loki said: 
You made purchase with gold Gymir's daughter
And then abandoned your sword:
But when Muspil's sons will cross the Black Forest,
Then you won't know poor man! How to battle!

BEYGGVIR dit: 
43. Sais-tu que, si j'tais de grande condition comme Ingunnar Frey,
Et si j'avais un sige aussi magnifique,
Je te broyerais plus mou que la molle, malheureuse corneille
Et je te romprais tous les membres? 

Beyggvir:
Do you know that, if I was of great stature as Igunnar-Frey
And if I held as high a seat
I would crush you softer than your marrow, miserable crow
And I would rip off all your limbs?

LOKI dit :
44. Quelle est donc cette petite crature que je vois blottie l-bas,
Et qui ouvre son bec parasite?,
Il veut toujours tre pendu aux oreilles de Frey,
Et grommeler entre ses dents.




Loki said: 
What is then this small creature that I see curled up over there
that opens its parasite beak?
He always wants to be hanging from Frey's ears
and muttering between his teeth.

BEYGGVIR dit :
45. Je me nomme Beyggvir , et ma promptitude est loue 
Par les dieux et les hommes :
Ce qui me ravit, c'est de voir tous les fils de Hropte
Runis au banquet.

Beyggvir:
My name is Beyggvir, and my swiftness is lent from
the gods and men:
What delights me, is to see all the sons of Hropte
Brought together at the banquet.

LOKI dit :
46. Tais-toi, Beyggvir tu n'as jamais su
Rpartir les vivres entre les hommes :
Et cach dans la paille de ta couchette, tu n'as pas pu tre trouv
Lorsque les hros allaient au combat. 

Loki said: 
Be silent, Beyggvir! 
You've never know how to distribute provisions amongst men:
and hidden in the straw of your floor,
you were not able to be found
When the heroes went to battle.

HEIMDALLE dit :
47. Loki ! tu es ivre, de sorte que tu as perdu la raison.
Pourquoi ne cesses-tu pas de boire, Loki ?
Car l'ivresse produit dans chacun cet effet ,
Qu'on ne s'aperoit pas de son bavardage.

Heimdall said:
Loki! You are drunk, so much you have lost reason
Why don't you stop drinking, Loki?
For drunkenness produces in everyone this effect
One doesn't notice their own words



LOKI dit :
48. Tais-toi, Heimdalle ! au commencement des sicles ,
On t'a dparti un maudit emploi :
Comme gardien des dieux, tu es condamn  les rveiller,
Et  exposer ton dos  lhumidit de la nuit.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Heimdall!
At the beginning of the centuries,
you were appointed a damned task:
As guardian to the Gods, you were condemned to awake them
and to expose your back to the humidity of the night.

SKADI dit :
49. Tu es en bonne humeur, Loki ; mais tu ne pourras plus longtemps 
Agiter librement la queue,
Car les dieux vont te lier au rocher, avec les boyaux
de ton monstre de fils.

Skadi said: 
You are in good spirits, Loki said: but soon you'll no longer
be capable of freely wagging your tail
For the gods will tie you to a rock, along with the guts of your monster son

LOKI dit :
50. Tu crois que les dieux vont me lier au rocher avec les boyaux
De mon monstre de fils !
Sache que j'ai t le premier et le plus terrible au combat
Lorsque nous attaqumes Thiassi.

Loki said: 
You believe that the gods will tie me to a rock with the guts of my monster son!
Know that I was the first and the most terrific in battle when we attacked Thiassi.

SKADI dit :
51. Si tu as t le premier et le plus terrible au combat ,
Lorsque vous avez attaqu Thiassi, 
Attends-toi  voir sortir de mes palais et enclos
De pernicieux complots contre toi.

Skadi said: 
If you were he first and the most terrific in battle,
When Thiassi was attacked
Expect to see coming out of my palaces and enclosures
deadly plots against you.
LOKI dit: 
52. Tu tais plus aimable dans ton langage avec le fils de Laufey, 
Quand tu le sollicitas  partager ta couche.-
Il faut nous rappeler cette aventure si nous devons entirement 
Confesser nos pchs. 

Loki said: 
You were friendlier in your words with Laufey's son
When you were soliciting for him to share your bed -
We must remember this event if we must entirely confess our sins.

Cependant, Beyla s'avana et versa  Loki de l'hydromel dans une coupe de glace, en disant :

Meanwhile, Beyla came forth and poured Loki some hydromel in a cup made of glass, saying:

53. A ta sant, maintenant,Loki! accepte cette coupe de glace 
Remplie d'hydromel vineux:
A condition que tu laisseras au moins Sif en honneur .
Et irrprochable parmi les Ases. 

To your health now, Loki! Accept this glass cup
filled with ripe hydromel:
With the condition that you at least leave Sif with honor
and irreproachable amongst the Ases.

Loki prit la coupe, et aprs l'avoir vide, il dit :

Loki took the cup, and after it was empty, said:

54. Sif! tu serais unique parmi les femmes si tu tais si rserve 
Et si cruelle  l'gard des hommes: 
Mais je connais au moins un - et je crois le connatre parfaitement -
Un galant de la femme de Hlrridi , 
Et ce galant, c'tait moi, le malicieux Loki. 

Sif! you would be unique among women if you were this reserved
And this cruel in regards to men:
But I know at least one - and I believe to know him perfectly - 
A gentleman of the woman of Hlorridi
And this gentleman, it was me, the malicious Loki



BEYLA dit :
55. Les montagnes tremblent. -Hlrridi est, sans doute en chemin
Pour rentrer chez lui: 
Il imposera silence  ce mchant qui insulte ici
Les dieux et les hommes.

Beyla:
The mountains are trembling - Hlorridi, is, without doubt on his way
To enter his home;
He will impose silence to this vicious one that insults here
the gods and men

LOKI dit :
56. Tais-toi .Beyla; tu es la femme de Beyggvir ,
Et bien ptrie de mchancet :
Jamais plus grande laideron n'est venue parmi les Ases ; 
Tu es une gueuse. une salope.

Loki said: 
Be silent, Beyla, you are Beyggvir's wife
and hardly free of any viciousness
Never such an ugly woman has been among the Ases
You are a beggar, and a whore

Cependant Thr survint et dit :

Then Thor appeared and said:

57. Tais-toi, lche crature, ou mon puissant marteau
Milnir t'tera la parole: 
J'abattrai de dessus tes paules ce rocher qui branle sur ton cou,
Et ce sera fait de ta vie.

Be quiet, cowardly creature, 
or my mighty hammer Miolnir will take away your speech:
I will beat upon your shoulders this boulder that shakes your neck
And your life will be made

LOKI dit :
58. Fils de Iord, qui ne fais que d'entrer,
Pourquoi fais-tu dj le brutal?-
Tu ne seras pas si audacieux quand tu devras combattre 
Le loup qui engloutira en entier le Pre des Victoires.


Loki said: 
Son of Iord, who but just entered -
Why are you already so brutal?
You will not be so audacious when you must battle the Wolf
who will swallow whole the Father of Victories.

THOR dit :
59. Tais-toi. lche crature, ou mon puissant marteau
Milnir t'tera la parole :
Je texpdierai en lair, jusque dans les rgions de lOrient, -
Et personne ne tapercevra plus.

Thor:
Be quiet, cowardly creature, 
or my mighty hammer Miolnir will take away your speech:
I'll dispatch you into the air, into the regions of the Orient -
and no one will see you anymore.

LOKI dit :
60. De tes expditions en Orient, tu ne devrais jamais parler 
Devant des hros,
Depuis quon ta vu, toi le monomaque (Einheri), blotti dans le pouce du gant,
O toi-mme tu ne pensais plus tre Thr.

Loki said: 
Of your expeditions in Orient, you must never speak of before heroes
Since you've been seen, you the monomaque, crouched in the thumb of a mitten
Where you yourself didn't seem as Thor

THOR dit:
61. Tais-toi, lche crature, ou mon puissant marteau 
Milnir t'tera la parole :
De ma main droite, je te frapperai avec le Meurtrier de Hrungnir
De sorte que chacun de tes os sera broy. 

Thor:
Be quiet, cowardly creature, 
or my mighty hammer Miolnir will take away your speech:
With my right hand, I will strike you with the slayer of Hrungnir
In a way that each one of your bones will be crushed





LOKI dit :
62. Je me promets de vivre encore longtemps ,
Bien que tu me menaces de ton marteau.-
Les nuds de Skrymnir t'ont paru trop serrs;
Tu n'as pas pu arriver jusqu' la provende;
Tu te mourais de faim en pleine sant.

Loki said: 
I promised myself to live much longer yet,
though you threaten me with your hammer -
Skrymnir's strings seem for you too tight
You couldn't have gotten back
You would have died of hunger in good health.

THOR dit:
63. Tais-toi , lche crature, ou mon puissant marteau
Milnir t'tera la parole,
Le Meurtrier de Hrungnir te prcipitera dans l'empire de Hel,
En bas , devant la Grille des morts. 

Thor said:
Be quiet, cowardly creature, 
or my mighty hammer Miolnir will take away your speech:
Hrungnir's slayer will hurl you into Hel's realm
Below, to the gate of the dead.

LOKI dit :
64. J'ai dit devant les Ases, j'ai dit devant les Asynies
Ce que l'esprit m'a pouss  dire :
Devant toi seul je me retirerai ,
Parce que je sais que tu te bats.

Loki said: 
I've said before the Ases, I've said before the Asynies
What the mind has urged me to say
Before you alone I will pull away
Because I know that you beat myself.

65. Tu as fait un festin, gir! dornavant
Tu ne feras plus de banquet :
Que tout ton avoir, qui est ici dans cette salle , 
Soit envahi par la flamme ,
Et. englouti derrire toi!


You have held a feast, Oegir
From now on you will no longer have banquets
May all you have, that is here in this hall,
be invaded with flames
And be engulfed behind you

Aprs cela, Loki, prenant la forme d'un saumon (1), se tint cach sous la cataracte de Frnangur (2) ; c'est l qu'il fut pris par les Ases. On le lia avec les boyaux de son fils Nri (3), mais son autre fils fut chang en bte froce. Skadi prit un serpent venimeux, et le suspendit au-dessus du visage de Loki; le venin en tomba goutte  goutte. Sigyne (4), la femme de Loki, tait assise auprs, et reut les gouttes de venin dans un bassin. Lorsque le bassin fut rempli, elle sortit avec le venin. Durant cet intervalle, les gouttes tombrent sur Loki; il en eut de si fortes commotions, que toute la terre en fut branle; c'est ce qu'on appelle aujourd'hui tremblements de terre.

Following this, Loki, in the form of a salmon, remained hidden from the sight of Franangur; it is there that he was captured by the Ases. He was wrapped in the entrails of his son Nari, but his other son was turned into a ferocious beast. Skadi grabbed hold of a venomous serpent, and suspended it over Loki's face; the venom falling onto him drop by drop. Sigyne, the wife of Loki, was sitting next to him, and received the drops of venom in a basin. Once the basin was full, she left with the venom. During this interval, the drops fell onto Loki; he received such intense shock, all of the earth shook; this is what we today call earthquakes.



Grimnisumal - Le Dits de Grimnir by F.G. Bergmann
Translated from French by William P. Reaves


Hraudung le roi avait deux fils, nomms lun Agnarr, et lautre Geirrdr.
Agnarr avait dix hivers, et Geirrdr huit hivers, lorsquils ramrent tous deux en bateau, avec leurs lignes, pour la petite pche. Le vent les poussa sur la haute mer. Ils chourent, dans lobscurit de la nuit, prs dune terre, et y montrent. Ils trouvrent un manant de chaumine, seul. L, ils restrent pendant cet hiver. Agnarr fut le nourrisson de la vieille, et Geirrdr celui du vieux; et celui-ci lui apprit des expdients.


Hraudung the king had two sons; he named one Agnarr, and the other Geirrdr. Agnarr was ten winters old, and Geirrdr eight winters, when they both rowed a boat with their lines out for small fish. The wind drove them onto the high sea. They ran aground in the obscurity of the night, near a country, and went up there. They found a churl [couple] in a cottage, alone. They remained there through the winter. Agnarr was the foster son of the old woman, and Geirrdr that of the old man from whom he learned to be expedient. 


Au printemps, le vieux leur procura un bateau; puis, lui et la vieille les accompagnrent jusquau rivage. L, le vieux eut un entretien priv avec Geirrdr. Ils obtinrent un vent favorable, et vinrent prs du manoir de leur pre. Geirrdr tait  lavant dans le bateau; il sauta sur la plage, puis repoussa de terre le bateau, et scria: Va maintenant o la Serpente te tiendra! Le bateau fut rejet sur la haute mer. Puis Geirrdr remonta jusquau manoir. L, il fut bien accueilli. Son pre tait alors dcd. Geirrdr fut ds lors pris pour roi, et devint un homme considr.


In the spring, the old man procured a boat for them; then he and the old woman accompanied them to the shore. There, the old man held a private discussion with Geirrdr. They obtained a favorable wind, and came close to the manor of their father. Geirrdr was at the prow of the boat; he sprung onto the beach, then pushed the boat out, and cried: Go now where Serpents will take you! The boat was driven out onto the high sea, but Geirrdr returned to the manor. There, he was well received. His father had died. Geirrdr was then taken for king, and became a respected man. 





Odinn et Frigg taient assis dans la Chaumine-aux-portes, et regardrent sur tous les sjours. Odinn dit: Vois-tu Agnarr, ton nourrisson, o il procre des enfants avec la Gante, dans cet antre? tandis que Geirrdr, mon nourisson, est roi, et preside maintenant  son pays. Frigg dit: Il est tellement chiche de traitement quil tourmente ses htes, sils lui semblant venir trop nombreux. Odinn dit que cest l le plus grand mensonge. Tous deux gagent sur ce dire.


Odin and Frigg were seated in the Cottage-of-doors (Hildskjalf), and looked on all the worlds. Odin said: Do you see Agnarr, your foster son, how he sires children with a giantess in that den? While Geirrdr, my foster son, is king and now presides over countries. Frigg said: He is so inhospitable that he torments his guests, if they seem to him to be too numerous. Odin said that that was the biggest lie. The two wagered on this matter. 


Frigg envoya sa garde-crin, Fulla, auprs de Geirrdr. Elle invita le roi  prmunir, pour quil ne lui ft fait de malfice, par un homme trs-magicien qui tait alors venu dans le pays; et elle indiqua comme enseigne quaucun chien, si enrage ft-il, noserait lui courir sus. Ctait l un mensonge des plus habiles, pour que le roi Geirrdr ne ft pas liberal en mets, et quil ft pourtant mettre la main sur cet homme auquel les chiens nosaient sattaquer. Celui-ci tait en pelisse noire; et se donnait le nom de Grimnir; et nen dit pas davantage sur sa personne, bien quil ft questionn l-dessus. Le roi le fit torturer pour ces rfrences, et placer au milieu de deux feux; et l, il resta assis pendant huit nuits. Le roi Geirrdr avait, alors, un fils g de dix hivers, et dont le nom tait Agnarr, daprs le frre de celui-l. Agnarr sapprocha de Grimnir et lui prsenta une corne toute pleine  boire, disant que le roi agissait mal en le faisant ainsi torturer, malgr son innocence. Grimnir but  sec. Le feu tait alors venu si prs que la pelisse brla sur Grimnir. Celui-ci pronona ceci:


Frigg sent her casket-guardian, Fulla, with Geirrdr. She bid the king be cautious, lest he be harmed by a man, a great wizard, who had entered the country; and, as a sign, she indicated that no dog, no matter how fierce, would dare to attack him. This was a lie of the most skillful kind, that king Geirrdr was not liberal with food, but nevertheless he secured the man that the dogs did not dare attack. This man wore a black cloak; and gave himself the name Grimnir; and would not say more concerning himself, eventhough he was questioned. The king ordered him tortured to make him respond, and placed him in the middle of two fires, where he remained sitting for eight nights. King Geirrdr had a son ten winters old, whose name was Agnarr, the same as his brother. Agnarr himself approached Grimnir and presented him a horn, full to drink, saying that the king acted poorly having him tortured, despite his innocence. Grimnir took a drink. The fire had then come so near that the cloak burned on Grimnir. He said this:

1. Tu es brlant!  Frtillant! et mme trop intense!
Sparons-nous  distance,  Brasier!
Le pan est flamb, bien que je le tienne en lair;
La pelisse brle sur moi.

You are red-hot! O Flickerer! and much too intense!
Lets put some distance between us, O Inferno!
The hem is singed, even though I hold it in the air; 
The cloak burns on me. 

2. [ tta ntr sat ek milli elda hr,
sv at mr manngi mat n bau,
nema einn Agnarr, er einn skal ra,
Geirrar sonr, Gotna landi]

Sur lauthenticit de cette strophe, voir p. 240.

On the authenticity of this strophe, see the commentary.


3. Heureux tu sois! Agnarr! puisquil te bnit
Le Prince des Protecteurs (Veratr);
Pour un coup  boire, tu ne pourras jamais
Obtenir de meilleure rcompense!

Blessed you are! Agnarr! because you are blessed by 
The Prince of Protectors (Veratr); 
For serving a drink, you shall never 
Obtain a better reward! 

II.

4.Sacr est le pays, que je vois situ
Prs des Ases et des Alfes!
Et dans Sjour-dnergie, Thr habitera,
Jusqu ce que les Grandeurs prissent!

Sacred is the country that I see situated
Near the Aesir and the Elves!
And in Home-of-Energy (Thrdheim), Thor will dwell,
Until the Great ones (Regin) perish! 

5. Vaux-de-l-Arc se nomme lendroit o Ullur
Sest arrang ses salles;
Sjour-Luisant fut donn  Frey, dans laurore des jours,
Par les Clestes, comme prsent de dentition.

The Valleys-of-the-Bow (Ydalir) is the name of the place where Ullr
Has arranged his rooms;
Shiny-Home (Alfheim) was given to Frey at the dawn of days
By the Celestial ones (Tvar), as a tooth-gift.

6. Un troisime manoir il y a, dont les Grandeurs-bnignes
Ont couvert dargent les salles;
Il est nomm Chaumine-de-Vali, que sest choisi
Cet ase,  laurore des jours.

There is a third manor, where the benign Great ones (Regin)
Thatched the rooms with silver; 
It is named Cottage-of-Vali (Valaskilf), as it was chosen 
By this s at the dawn of days. 

7. Banc-de-Submerg est nomm le quatrime, et l les ondes fraches
Peuvent bruire au-dessus;
L, tous les jours, Odinn et Saga boivent, ensemble,
Joyeux, dans des vases dor.

Submerged-Bench (Skkvabekkr) is named the fourth one,
And there the fresh waves can murmur above; 
There every day, Odin and Saga drink together,
Joyous, from golden vases. 


8. Gai-Sjour est nomm le cinquime, o, brillante dor,
La Halle-des-Occis domine spacieuse;
Et l Invoqu choisit, chaque jour,
Les hros morts par les armes.

Cheerful-Home (Gladsheim) is named the fifth one, where, brilliant with gold,
The Hall-of-the-Slain (Valhall) stands spacious; 
And there Invoked (Hropt) chooses every day, 
The heroes killed by weapons. 

9. Ils la reconnaissent bien ceux qui vont chez Odinn,
Voir son intrieur;
De hampes le plafond est charpent; de boucliers
la salle est couverte;
Des cuirasses sont disposes sur les bancs. 

They recognize it well, those that go to Odin, 
When they see its interior; 
With spears, the rafters are crafted; with shields, 
The hall is thatched;
Breastplates are arranged on the benches. 

10. Ils la reconnaissent bien ceux qui vont chez Odinn,
Voir son intrieur;
Le Loup est suspendu devant la porte doccident,
Et lAigle se penche den haut.

They recognize it well, those that go to Odin, 
When they see its interior; 
The Wolf is suspended above the western door,
And the eagle is leaning above it.

11. Bruyant-Sjour est nomm le sixime, quhabitait Thiassi,
Ce trs-puissant Iotne;
Mais maintenant Skadi, la brillante fiance des dieux, habite
Les anciens enclos de son pre.

Noisy-Home (Thyrmheim), the sixth one is named, where Thiassi lived, 
That very powerful Iote (Jtun);
But now Skadi, the bright fiance of the gods, inhabits 
The former enclosure of her father. 

12. Larges-clats cest le septime; et l Baldur sest
Arrang ses salles,
Dans cette contre o je sais quil se trouve
Le moins de choses nuisibles.

Broad-Brightness (Breidablik) is the seventh one; and there Baldur has
Arranged his rooms, 
In that country where I know are located 
The fewest harmful things. 


13. Ferts-clestes sont le huitime; et l Heimdall
Prside, dit-on, aux sanctuaires;
L le Gardien des dieux, sur lagrable plate-forme, boit,
Joyeux, lexcellent hydromel.

Celestial-Fortress (Himinbirg) is the eighth; and there Heimdall
Presides, it is said, over the sanctuaries; 
There the Guardian of the gods, on the pleasant platform, drinks, 
Joyously, the excellent mead. 

14. Pr-aux-Gens est le neuvime, et l Freyia prside
Aux distributions des siges dans la salle;
La moiti des Occis, Elle la choisit chaque jour;
Lautre moiti est  Odinn.

Meadow-of-People (Folkvngr) is the ninth one, and there Freyia presides
Over the distribution of the seats in the room; 
Half of the Slain, she chooses every day; 
The other half is Odins. 

15. tincelant est le dixime; il est tay sur de lor,
Et, de mme, couvert dargent;
Cest l que Proposant rside, la plupart des jours,
Et assoupit toutes dissensions.

Sparkling (Glitnir) is the tenth one; it is buttressed with gold,
And entirely thatched with silver; 
It is there that Proposing (Forseti) resides, most of the time, 
And quells all dissent. 

16. Enclos-de-Nocher sont le onzime; et l Nirdur
Sest arrang ses salles.
Ce chief des hommes, pur de toute fraude,
Prside au Sanctuaire de haute charpente.

Captains Enclosure (Noatun) is the eleventh one; and there Nird
Has arranged his rooms. 
This chief of men, free of all fraud, 
Presides over the high-built sanctuary. 

17. De broussailles et dherbe haute est couvert
Le Pays-tendu de Vidar;
Cest l que descend du dos de son cheval ce jouvenceau
Hardi  venger son pre.

Brush and high grass cover
The Extensive-Country (Landvi) of Vidar;
It is there he will descend from horseback, this bold 
Stripling, to avenge his father.


III.

18. Verrat-de-Souffle fait, dans Verrat-de-Feu,
Cuire Verrat-de-Mer,
La meilleure des viandes. Mais peu le savent
De quoi les Troupiers-uniques se nourrissent.

Boar-of- breath (And-Hrmnir), in Boar-of-Fire (Eld-Hrmnir), 
Cooks Boar-of-Sea (S-Hrmnir), 
The best of meats. But few know 
With what the Unique-Troopers (Einherjar) nourish themselves.

19. Avide et Effront sont rassasis par Habitu-aux-Combats,
Le glorieux Pre des Troupiers;
Mais uniquement avec du vin le trs-arm
Odinn continuellement se soutient.

Greedy (Geri) and Insolent (Freki) are well-fed by Accustomed-to-Combat (Gunntamir), 
The glorious Father of the Troops (Heriafr); 
But with wine alone the well-armed 
Odin continually supports himself. 

20. Penser et Souvenir volent, chaque jour,
Par-dessus la Plaine-du-Soleil;
Je crains, pour Penser, quil ne revienne plus;
Je my attends, cependant, davantage pour Souvenir.

Think (Hugin) and Remember (Munin) fly, every day,
Over the Plain-of the-Sun (Irmungrund); 
I fear for Thought (Hugin), that he will not return
Yet, I expect it more of Memory (Munin). 

21. Il hurle contre lEffil; dans le flot de Signal-universel
Le Poisson se rjouit;
Le Courant du fleuve parat trop fort
A la foule des Trpasss, pour le traverser.

It roars against the Sharpened (Thrun); in the flood of Universal-Signal (Thivitnir) The Fish rejoices; 
The current of the river seems
Too strong for the crowd of the Deceased to traverse.

22. La nomme Grille-des-Occis slve, dans la Plaine,
Sacre devant les portes sacres.
Elle est ancienne cette grille; mais peu savent ceci
Comment elle est ferme par un lien.

The named Gate-of the-Slain (Valgrind) rises, on the Plain (Velli), 
Holy before the holy doors. 
It is old, this gate; but few know 
How it is closed with a bond. 

23. Cinq centaines de portes, et, environ, quatre dizaines,
Sont, je pense,  la Halle-des-Occis;
Huit centaines de Troupiers-uniques sortent, ensemble, par chaque porte,
Lorsquils vont combattre le Signal.

Five hundred doors and about forty,
Are, I think, in the Hall-of the-Slain (Valhll); 
Eight hundred Unique-Troopers (Einherjar) emerge together, through every door,
When they will fight Signal (Vitni, i.e. the Fenris Wolf).

24. Cinq centaines de couloirs, plus, environ, quatre dizaines,
Sont, je pense,  dans claireur-instantan, avec des recoins;
De tous les couverts, que je crois plafonns,
Je sais celui de mon fils tre le plus grand.

Five hundred corridors, plus about forty,
Are, I think, in Instantaneous-Flash (Bilskirnir), with its recesses;
Of all the homes that I believe are roofed,
I know my sons to be the biggest. 

25. Aime-Srnit est nomme la chvre, qui se tient contre la halle du Pre des Troupiers,
Et broute aux branches dIllumin;
Toujours elle remplira le vase  anse de ce pur hydromel;
Ce fortifiant ne saurait spuiser.

Likes-Serenity (Heidrn) is the name of the goat that braces itself against the hall of the Father of the Troops (Heriafr),
And grazes on the branches of the Enlightened (Lr); 
Always will she fill the handled vase with this pure mead;
This Fortifying-drink could not possibly exhaust itself. 

26. Bois-en-chne est nomm le cerf qui se tient contre la halle du Pre des Troupiers,
Et broute aux branches dIllumin,
Et de ses bois cela dgoutte dans le Bassin-bruyant,
Do toutes les eaux prennent leur cours.

Antlers-in-oak (Eikyrnir) is the name of the hart that braces itself against the hall of the Father of the Troops, 
And grazes on the branches of the Enlightened (Lr).
And from its horns fall drops into Noisy-Pool (Hvergelmir), 
From which all waters take their course. 

27. Longue, et Large, Pntrante, et Attaquante,
Frache, et Dsireuse-de-Lutte,
Terne, et Terriblement-Bavarde,
Claire, et Coulante, Librale, et Gnreuse, Vieille, et Brandit-la-Lance;
Celles-l entourent les Trsors des Dieux.

Long (S), and Wide (V), Penetrating (Skin), and Attacking (Eikin), 
Fresh (Svl), and Desirous-of-Fights (Gunnr),
Dull (Firm), and Terrible-Chatterbox (Fimbulul),
Clear (Rn), and Flowing (Rennandi), Liberal (Gipul), and Generous (Gpul), Old (Gmul), and Brandishes-missiles (Geirvimul);
Those surround the Treasures of the Gods (hodd Goa). 

28. Dvine, et Vienne, Folle, et Vhmente,
Avide, et Ose--lutter;
Stridente est nomme lune, lautre Sachant-son-chemin,
La troisime Connaissant-les-peuples.

[Nyt ok Nt, Nnn ok Hrnn,
Sld ok Hr, Sylgr ok Ylgr,
Vd ok Vd, Vnd ok Strnd]

Retentissante, et Reluisante; celles-l coulent plus prs des hommes,
Et, de l, se jettent dans Hel.

Dvine (yn) and Comes (Vin), Crazier (ll), and Vehement (Bll)
Greedy (Grd), and Dared-to-fight (Gunnorin); 
Strident (Vna) is named the one, the other Knowing-his-way (Vegsvinn), 
The third one Knowing-the-peoples (idnuma). 

...Ringing (Gill), and Gleaming (Leiptr); those flow closest to men,
And from there flow into Hel. 

29. chauffe, et Chauffe, et les deux Bains-de-bassin
Thr les a  guer
Chaque jour quil va siger
Auprs du Frne dYggdrasil;
Car le Pont des Ases en entier brle en flammes;
Et les Eaux sacres bouillonnent.

Overheated (Krmt), and Heated (rmt), and the two Baths-of-the-Basin (Kerlaugar) 
Thor has to ford them 
Every day that he would sit
By the Ash Yggdrasil; 
For the Bridge of the Aesir burns totally with flames; 
And sacred Waters boil. 

30. Joyeux, et Dor, Clair, et Frmit--courir,
Crins-dargent, et Saign-au-jarret,
Fouet, et Sabot-blme, Crins-dor, et Pied-lger,
Ces chevaux, les Ases les montent
Chaque jour quils vont siger
Auprs du Frne dYggdrasil.

Joyous (Glar), and Gilded (Gyllir), Clear (Gler), and Shudders-to-run (Skeibrimir), 
Mane-of-Silver (Silfrintoppr) and Bled-to the-knuckle (Sinir),
Whip (Gsl), and Pale-Hoof (Falhfnir), Mane-of-Gold (Gulltoppr) 
and Light Foot (Lttfeti),
These horses, the Aesir mount every day that they would sit
By the Ash Yggdrasil. 

31. Trois racines stendent, en trois directions,
Au-dessous du Frne dYggdrasil :
Hel habite en de de lune, en de de lautre,
les Raides-de-givre,
En de de la troisime, les hommes de race humaine.

Three roots spread themselves, in three directions,
Under the Ash of Yggdrasil: 
Hel lives below one; below the other,
The Stiff ones-of-frost (Hrimursar), 
Below the third one, men of the human race.

32. Compagnon-de-Perceur est nomm lcureuil qui toujours court
Sur le Frne dYggdrasil.
Les paroles le lAigle il les porte, toujours, den haut,
Et les dit  Ignoble-Frappeur en bas.

Companion-of-the-Driller (Ratatoskr) is named the squirrel that always runs
On the Ash Yggdrasil.
It always carries the words of the eagle at the top, 
And repeats them to Ignoble-Striker (Ndhgg), down below. 

33. Il y a aussi quatre cerfs, qui, aux branches extrmes,
Broutent, avec leur cou de cygne;
Assoupi est nomm lun, lautre Dfaillant,
Apaise-Bruit, et Somnolent.

There are also four harts, who on the uppermost branches,
Graze, with their necks curved (lit. with swan-necks); 
Made-drowsy (Dinn) is named the one, the other Fainting (Dvalinn),
Quiets-Noise (Duneyr), and Drowsy (Durarr).

34. Des serpents gisent, sous le Frne dYggdrasil, plus nombreux
Que ne le pense quelque singe ignorant.
Terreux, et Argileux, qui sont les fils de Prsage-de-tombeau,
Dos-gris, et Peau-grise,
Flambant, et Assoupissant, toujours, je pense, ils
Rongent les racines de lArbre.

Snakes lie under the Ash Yggdrasil, more numerous 
Than some stupid monkey would think. 
Of-Earth (Ginn), and Of-Clay (Minn), who are the sons of
Presages-of-the-tomb (Grafvitnir), 
Gray-Back (Grbakr), and Gray-Skin (Grfillur). 
Blazing (Ofnir), and Making-drowsy (Svafnir), always, I think, they 
Gnaw the roots of the Tree.

35. Le Frne dYggdrasil supporte une souffrance
Plus grande que ne le savent les hommes;
Le Cerf le boute den haut, et il pourrit dun ct;
Ignoble-Frappeur lentame den bas.

The Ash Yggdrasil bears more suffering 
Than men can know;
The Hart bites it from above, and one of its sides is rotting;
Ignoble-Striker (Ndhgg) starts slicing it below. 

V.

36. Secousse, et Brume, je Veux quelles me portent la corne;
Manie-la-Hache, et Hrisse-de-lances,
Chane, et Lien-darme, Occision, et Force,
Tumulte, et Ivresse-de-lances,
Fureur-de-boucliers, et Fureur-rsolue, et Divinement-Glorieuse,
Celles- l prsentent laile aux Troupiers-uniques.

Quake (Hrist) and Mist (Mist), I want them to bear me the horn; 
Handles-the-Axe (Skeggld), and Barbed-with-spears (Skgul),
Chain (Hlkk), and Fetters-of-Armies (Herfitur), Killing (Hilldi), and Force (rud),
Tumult (Gll) and Intoxicated-with-the-spear (Geirlul), 
Fury-of-shields (Randgr), and Determined-Fury (Rdgr), 
and Divinely-glorious (Reginleif),
These bear ale to the Unique-Troopers (Einherjar).

37. Matinal, et Tout-Alerte, dici en haut,
Pleins dagrment, tranent toujours Sl;
Et sous leurs paules les Grandeurs-bnignes, les Ases,
Ont cach le Fer-rfrigerant.

Early-Morning (Arvakr), and All-Alarm (Alsvir), from here on high,
Full of charm , always lead Sol; 
And under their shoulders the benign Great ones (Regin), the Aesir, 
Concealed the Iron-refrigerant (Isarnkol). 

38. Rafrachissant est nomm ce qui est plac devant Sl
Comme bouclier contre la Desse tincelante.
Montagnes et Ocan, je le sais, seront consums
Quand il tombe de l. 

Refreshing (Svalin) is named that which is placed in front of Sol
As a shield against the gleaming Goddess.
Mountains and Ocean, I know, will be consumed 
When it falls from there. 

39. Ricaneur est nomm le loup, que poursuit cette Desse  la face clatante,
Jusqu la Fort-de-Dfense,
Et lautre Haineux; il est le fils de Signal-fameux;
Il court toujours devant la brillante Vierge du ciel.

Sniggering (Skll) is named the wolf that pursues this Goddess with the radiant-face,
To the Forest-of-Defense (Varna viar), 
And the other Hate-filled (Hati); he is the son of Signal-Famous (Hrovitnir); 
He always runs in front of the brilliant Virgin of the sky.

VI.

40. De la chair dYmir, la terre fut forme,
Et de son sang, la mer;
De ses os, les montagnes, de ses cheveux, les arbres,
Et de son crne, le ciel.

Of the flesh of Ymir, the earth was formed, 
And of his blood, the sea; 
Of his bones, the mountains, of his hair, the trees, 
And of his skull, the sky. 

41. Et de ses sourcils, les Grandeurs-bnignes firent
LEnclos-mitoyen, pour les fils des hommes,
Et de sa cervelle, ces nuages dun caractre
Sombre furent tous crs.

And of his eyebrows, the benign Great ones (Regin) created
The Middle-enclosure (Midgard) for the sons of the men, 
And of his brains, those clouds of 
A dark character all were created. 

42. Celui a la faveur dUllur, et de tous les Dieux,
Qui, le premier, place le chaudron sur le feu;
Car les Mondes, autour des Fils des Ases, seraient accessibles
Quand on descendrait les chaudrons.

That one has the favor of Ullur and of all the Gods, 
Who first places the cauldron on the fire; 
For the worlds, around the Sons of the Aesir, would be accessible
When one would lower the cauldrons. 

43. Les fils dIvald,  laurore des jours, se mirent
A construire Bche-feuille,
Le meilleur des navires, pour lillustre Frey,
Le secourable fils de Nird.

The sons of Ivaldi, in the dawn of days, saw fit 
To construct Layered-log (Skbladnir), 
The best of vessels, for the illustrious Frey, 
The benevolent son of Nird.

44. Frne dYggdrasil, il est le meilleur des arbres,
Et Bche-feuille, des navires,
Odinn, des Ases, et Glissant, des chevaux,
Route-tremblotante, des ponts,
Hautebraie, des faucons, et Froce, des chiens.

The Ash Yggdrasil, it is the best of the trees, 
And Layered-log (Skbladnir), the vessels,
Odin, the Aesir, and Slipping (Sleipnir), the horses, 
Trembling Road (Bifrst), the bridges,
High-breeches (Hbrk), the hawks, and Ferocious (Garmr), the dogs. 

VII.

45. Dguis, jai, en un instant, enlev, pour les Fils des Clestes-Vainqeurs,
Ce  quoi Garde-Joie (Vilbirg) aura  veiller;
Cela fera toujours venir tous les Ases
Aux bancs dgir,
Au festin dgir.

Disguised, I have, in an instant, removed, for the Sons of the Celestial-victors (Sgtiva sonar), 
That which Joy-Guard will have to look after;
This will always keep the Aesir coming 
To the benches of gir, 
To feast of gir. 

46. On ma nomm Masqu, on ma nomm Pitonneur,
Aime-Troupe, et Porte-Casque,
Agrable, et Troisime, Corneur, et Ventant,
Tnbreux-comme-Hel, et Sublime;

One called me Masked (Grmr) one called me Pedestrian (Gangrar),
Likes-Troops (Herian), and Carries-Helmet (Hilmberi), 
Pleasant (ekkr), and Third (ri), Trumpeteer (ur) and Blowing (Ur),
Dark-as-Hel (Helblindi), and Sublime (Hr);

47. Vritable, et Volage, et Devinant-juste,
Joyeux-de-troupe, et Grand-Hennisseur,
il-instantan, il-de-bcher, Malfaisant et Trs-Vers,
Dguis, et Vers-en-tromperies;

True (Sar), and Fickle (Svipall), and Just-Guessing (Sanngetall),
Joy-of-the-Troop (Herteitr), and Grand-Neigher (Hnikarr), 
Instantaneous-eye (Bileygr), Eye-of- fire (Bleygr), Harmful (Blverkr) and Well-versed (Filnir),
Disguised (Glapsvir), and Versed-in-Deception (Filsvir);

48. Chapeau-rabattu, Barbe-pendante, Pre-de-victoire, Vent-hennissant,
Pre-universel, et Excite-au-combat:
Dun seul nom je nai jamais t appel
Depuis que je voyage chez les peuples.

Hat folded back (Shttr), Hanging-Beard (Sskeggr), Father-of-victory (Sigfr), Whinnying-Wind (Hnikur),
Universal-Father (Alfr), and Excites-to-fight (Atridr);
By one name I have never been called
Since I travel among the peoples. 

49. On ma nomm Dguis, chez Geirrdur,
Et lan, chez Asmund,
Et Tire-Traneau, quand jai tran le traneau,
Et Obstin, dans les recontres,
[Viur at vgum]
A-Souhait, et Murmurant, qui-Sublime et Doucement-Agit,
Grand-Lutteur, et Barbe-velue, auprs des Dieux.

One called me Disguised (Grimi) with Geirrdur, 
And Momentum (Ilk) with Asmund,
And Pulls-sleigh (Kialar) when I lead the sleigh, 
And Persevered (rr) in the meeting,
[Viur at vgum]
Has-Wish (Oski), and Murmuring (Omi), Equally-sublime (Iafnhr), and Gently-Agitated (Biflindi),
Large-Wrestler (Gndlir), and Hairy-Beard (Harbarr) by the Gods. 

50. Sanglant, et Ensanglantant, ainsi je mappelai chez Enfonc-Ruisselant,
Et je me suis cach  vieil Iotne
Quand, de cet illustre fils de Signalant-le-Miel, je fus
Devenu lhomicide, en duel.

Bloody (Sviur), and Bloodying (Svirir), thus I called myself with Sunk-Streaming (Skkmimir), 
And I hid myself from old Iotne (Jtun) 
When, of the illustrious son of Signaling-the-Honey (Mivitnis), 
I became the killer in a duel. 

VIII.

51. Tu es ivre, Geirrdur! tu as trop bu;
Tu es aveugl par lhydromel copieux;
Tu es dchu de beaucoup, puisque tu les de mon assistance,
Des Troupiers-uniques, et de la faveur dOdinn.

You are drunk, Geirrdur! You drank too much; 
You are blinded by the copious mead;
You are quite dethroned, because you are with my assistance,
The Unique-Troopers (Einherjar), and the favor of Odin.

52. Beaucoup je tavais dit, mais peu tu as retenu; 
Tes amis se jouent de toi; 
Je vois gisant lpe de mon ami,
Toute trempe de sang.

Much I told you, but little you retained; 
Your friends decieve you;  
I see lying the sword of my friend,
All soaked in blood. 

53. Maintenant, Prcautionn va voir un occis affaiss de chagrin. 
Ta vie, je la sais passe. 
Les Sages, sont farouches; --tu ne peux voir Odinn que maintenant; 
Approche-toi de moi, si tu peux.

Now, Cautious (Yggr) shall see one slain, ridden with sorrow  
Your life, I know is passed.  
The Wise ones (Dsir) are shy; --you cannot see Odin now; 
Approach me, if you can. 

54. Maintenant je mappelle Odinn; tout  lheure je mappelais Prcautionn;
Avant cela, je mappelai Tonnant,
Vigilant, Glaive, Vent-agit, Dieu-des-vocifrations,
Intelligent, et lan, auprs des Dieux;
Ouvrant, et Assoupissant: noms qui, je pense, se sont forms
Tous de moi unique.

Now I am called Odin; until this hour I was called Cautious (Yggr); 
Before that, I called myself Thundering (unr),
Vigilant (Vakr), Glaive (Skilfingr), Restless Wind (Vafur), God-of-Vociferations (Hropta-tyr),
Intelligent (Gautr), and Momentum (Ialkr) with the Gods; 
Opening (Ofnir), and Makes drowsy (Svafnir): names that I think belong 
All to me alone. 

Geirrdr le roi tait assis, et avait lpe sur les genoux, et  moiti tire. Quand il entendit qu Odinn tait venu ici, il se leva, et il veut retirer Odinn dentre les feux. Lpe lui glissa de sa main, et la poigne se dirigea en bas. Le roi heurta son pied, et tomba en avant; et, lpe se trouvant dirige contre lui, il trouva la mort. 
Odinn disparut alors; et Agnarr fut roi en cette contre, depuis lors, pendant longtemps. 

Geirrdr the king was seated, and had his sword on his knees, and half unsheathed. When it was understood that Odin had come here, he himself rose, wanting to withdraw Odin from between the fires. The sword slipped from his hand, with the hilt downward. The king knocked his foot, and stumbled forward; and the sword pierced him, causing his death. 
Afterwards, Odin disappeared and Agnarr was king in this region for a long time thereafter. 


COMMENTAIRE
Selected Commentary

Verse 1:

Hripudr (souffl rapide) est un des noms potiques du feu. Il se compose de lancien mot ur (vent), derive dune forme plus ancienne vatus, qui dsigne, galement, le souffl ou lagitation du feu et de lair. Hrip exprime la rapidit de lagitation ou du souffl du feu.

Hripudr (quick breath) is one of the poetic names for fire. It is composed of the old word ur (wind), derived from an older form vatus, which equally designates the breath or the restlessness of the fire and of the air. Hrip expresss the rapidity of the restlessness or breath of the fire. 

Verse 2:

Cette strophe ne saurait tre authentique. Car 1 elle est compose la versification du fornyrdalag, tandis que tout le pom est compos dans le lidahattr (voy. p. 59); 2 cette strophe nonce quOdinn a dj pass huit nuits entre les feux; de sorte que, daprs elle, le rcit du pome commencerait seulement la huitime nuit, tandis que, videmment, le pome doit tre considr comme commenant  la premire nuit ou soire aprs larrive dOdinn; 3 dans cette strophe, non authentique, il est question du mets (matr) offert par Agnarr  Grimnir; elle appartient, par consquent,  un autre pome, o il tait question de nourriture offerte  Odinn, tandis que le pome de Grimnisml dit positivement que Agnarr a prsent  lhte non  manger, mais  boire (voy. p. 247). Cette strophe, non authentique, appartient originairement  un ancien sguliodh (voy. p. 52); elle a t insre, postrieurement ici dans notre pome, soit par un skalde, qui confondait et mlait, dans sa mmoire, le Grimnisml avec sguliodh, soit par un copiste, qui a mis dans le texte du Grimnisml cette strophe, qui tait tire du sguliodh, et qui avait t mise en marge dans le manuscript du Grimnisml quil copiat.

This strophe cannot possibly be authentic. For one reason, it is composed in the fornyrdalag versification, while the rest of poem is composed in lidahattr; 2nd, this strophe states that Odin has already spent eight nights between the fires, so that the narrative of the poem should begin after the eighth night, while, it is evident that the poem must be considered as beginning on the first night or evening after Odins arrival; 3rd, in this inauthentic strophe, there is a question of a dish (matr) offered to Grimnir by Agnarr; Thus, it must belong to a poem where there is a question of food offered to Odin, while the poem Grimnisml positively states that Agnarr presented the host, not with something to eat, but to drink (see. p. 247). It was subsequently inserted here into our poem by a skald who in his memory confused and mixed Grimnisml with a saga-song, or by a copyist, who placed within the text of Grimnisml itself, a strophe that was taken from a saga-song and perhaps written in the margin of the manuscript of Grimnisml. 

Verse 5:

Les gnies clestes, personifications des astres, des constellations, et des phnomnes mtorlogiques du ciel, portent le nom gnrique de Alfes (Aubes, Lumineux: cf. lat. albus). Les Alfes habitent, au ciel, les regions nommes Sjour dAlfe (norr. Alfheim), et se montrent brilliants le jour et la nuit.

The celestial geniuses, personifications of the stars, constellations, and meteorlogical phenomena of the sky, carry the generic name of elves (Dawns, Luminous: cp. Latin albus). In the sky, the elves inhabit, the regions named Home of Elves (Old Norse Alfheim), and brilliantly show themselves by day and by night. 



Verse 21:

Odinn tant, dans lorigine, le dieu des vents et des temptes, sa demeure ou la Halle-de-Occis tait une immense rotunde, qui avait, dans lintrieur, des alles (glf) se terminant,  lextrieur, par des portes, dans toutes les directions de la rose des vents. Les mythologies anciennes maintiennent gnralement, en ce qui concerne les vents ou leurs directions, la division septenaire. Cest pourquoi la mythologie scandinave, pour exprimer lide dun grand nombre, en fait de directions ou de vents, a employ le nombre 7 x 77, cest--dire 539. La Halle-de-Occis a donc 539 alles et portes; ce que Grimnir nonce, dune manire un peu nigmatique, en disant qu-elle a cinq centaines de portes, plus environ (ou presque) quatre dizaines.
Lorsque, au Crpuscule des Grandeurs, Odinn et ses compagnons darmes vont combattre le Loup de Fenrir, appel le Signal (Vitnir) ou le Signal-universal (Thid-Vitnir), huit centaines de Troupiers-uniques sortent,  la fois de front, par chacune des 539 portes de la Halle-des-Occis; de sorte que 431,200 hommes passeront, au mme instant, les 539 seuils de cette demeure cleste. La mythologie abandonne,  limagination de chacun, le soin de dterminer la profondeur de ces 539 colonnes continues, la dure de leur dfil, et enfin, le nombre total des combattants dans cette journe terrible (voy. La Fascination, p. 312).

Being the god of the winds and storms in origin, Odins abode or The Hall-of-the-Slain was an immense rotunda, with corridors (glf) in the interior that terminate on the exterior in doors, open in all the directions of the compass of the winds. The old mythologies generally maintain, in regards to the winds or their directions, the division seven. This is the reason the Scandinavian mythology, to express the idea of a large number, by way of the directions or the winds, has employed the number 7 x 77, that is to say 539. The Hall-of-the-Slain therefore has 539 corridors and doors; this that Grimnir enunciates, in a slightly enigmatic manner, while saying qu-elle she has five hundreds doors, moreless (or almost) four tens. 
When, during the Twilight of the Great ones (Ragnark), Odin and his armed companions go to fight the Fenris Wolf, called the Signal (Vitnir) or the Universal-Signal (Thid-vitnir), eight hundred Unique-Troopers (Einherjar) emerge at once abreast, from each of the 539 doors of the Hall-of-the-Slain; so that 431,200 men will pass, in the same instant, through the 539 thresholds of this celestial abode. The mythology leaves to the imagination of each, the responsibility to determine the depth of these 539 continuous columns, the duration of their march, and finally, the total number of the fighters on this terrible day. 

Verse 25:

Les feuilles de larbre merveilleux (voy. p. 268), qui slve au milieu et au-dessus de la rotonde de la Halle-des-Occis, et dont les branches retombent sur le dme de cette demeure, sont broutes par la Chvre merveilleuse, dont les Troupiers-uniques boivent, journellement, le lait salutaire, fortifiant, prcieux, et inpuisable. Cette chvre, pour atteindre les feuilles quelle broute, se dresse, sur ses jambes de derrire, contre les murs de la Halle-des-Occis. Les chvres aiment, gnralement, la lumire, la chaleur, et les hauteurs; de l le nom de Aime-Srnit (Heid-run), Compagnonne de Srnit). Les Scandinaves aimaient surtout, comme boisson, une espce dhydromel (norr. mid, russ. kvass), quils estimaient au point dappeler de ce nom toute douce et excellente. Aussi la mythologie donne-t-elle le nom dhydromel, au lait de la vache Audhumla, et  celui de la chvre Heidrne (voy. Fascination, p. 310). 

The leaves of the marvelous tree that rises through the middle and spreads above the rotunda of the Hall-of the-Slain, and of whose branches fall again on the dome of this abode, are grazed on by a wonderful Goat, from which every day the Unique-Troopers drink the beneficial milk, fortifying, precious, and inexhaustible. This goat, to attain the leaves that she eats, stands up on her hind legs, and leans against the walls of the Hall-of the-Slain. Goats generally like the light, the heat, and the heights; thus, the name Likes-Serenity (Heid-rn, Companion of Serenity). The Scandinavians especially liked to drink a type of mead (Norse, mid, Russ. kvass), that they esteemed to the point of calling any other drink that was sweet and excellent by the same name. Thus mythology also gives the name of the mead to the milk of the cow Audhumla, and it does likewise for that of the goat Heidrne (see Fascination, p. 310). 



Verse 28:

Les noms Dvine et de Vienne sont devenus des noms gegraphiques de fleuvres: les noms de Sachant-son-chemin, et de Connaissant-les-peuples indiquent que ces fleuves ont un trs-long cours; de sorte quils voient beucop de peuples, et doivent connatre leur chemin pour ne pas sgarer, dans leur long voyage.

The names Dvine and of Veinne became geographic names of rivers: the name Knowing-his-way, and Knowing-the-peoples indicate that these rivers have a very long course; so that they see a lot of peoples, and must know their way in order to not be misled on their long course.

Verse 30:

Tous les Ases,  l'exception de Thor qui,  cause de sa grosse taille, marche  pied, auprs du Frne d' Yggdrasill. Les ases tant au nombre de douze, les noms cits dans la strophe sont les noms des chavaux des dix Ases, outre Odinn et Thor. Odinn a un cheval exceptionnellement bon; il est nomm Glissant (Sleipnir; voy. Fascination, p. 224, 314). Thor na pas de cheval; con char est tran par des boucs. 

All the Aesir, with the exception of Thor because of his large size, walk on foot to the Ash Yggdrasill. The Aesir are twelve in number. The names cited in the strophe are the names of the horses of ten Aesir, besides Odin and Thor. Odin has an exceptionally good horse; its name is Slipping (Sleipnir). Thor does not use a horse; his chariot is pulled by a pair of goats. 

Verse 31:

Comme la Vie universelle pntre le Monde entier, la mythologie nonce que le Frne dYggdrasill tend ses branches dans les trois rgions suprieures, savoir le Sjour des Alfes, le Sjour des Ases, et le Sjour des Vanes, et quil plonge ses racines dans les trois rgions infrieures, savoir: le Sjour des Iotnes ou Thurses-givreux,  lorient de la terre; le Sjour de Hel en bas et au nord de la terre; et le Sjour mitoyen habit par les hommes. Cest ce que Grimnir nonce dans la 31 strophe.

As universal life penetrates the entire world, the mythology states that the Ash of Yggdrasill spreads its branches in the three superior regions, known as the Home of the Elves, the Home of the Aesir, and the Home of the Vanes, and that it extends its roots in the three inferior regions, known as the Home of the Iotnes (Jtuns) or Rime-Thurses, to the east of the earth; the Home of Hel down below and to the north of the earth; and the Middle-Home inhabited by the men. It is this that Grimnir states in the 31st strophe.
