Asatru Folk Assembly - Lokasenna, a reading

00:00:00.000 Locasinna

00:00:21.000 Locasinna

00:00:23.000 The Fleeting of Loki

00:00:26.000 The Locasinna is found only in the Regis, where it follows the Himiskvitha.

00:00:33.000 Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a single stanza.

00:00:39.000 The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection,

00:00:45.000 and seems to have been preserved in exceptionally good condition.

00:00:48.000 The exchange or contest of insults was dear to the Norse heart,

00:00:53.000 and the Locasinna consists chiefly of Loki's taunt, to the assembled gods and goddesses,

00:01:00.000 and their largely ineffectual attempts to talk back to him.

00:01:04.000 The author was evidently well versed in mythological foray, and the poem is full of references to incidents not elsewhere recorded.

00:01:13.000 As to its date and origin, there is the usual dispute,

00:01:18.000 but the latter part of the 10th century in Iceland seem to be the best guesses.

00:01:25.140 The prose notes are long and of unusual interest.

00:01:29.720 The introductory one links the poem closely to the Hymyskvitha,

00:01:34.060 much as the Regensmall, Fafnismall, and Sigurdrismfumall are linked together,

00:01:41.980 and the others fill in the narrative gaps in the dialogue, very much like stage directions.

00:01:48.000 and provide a conclusion by relating Locke's punishment,

00:01:52.800 which presumably is here connected with the wrong incidents.

00:01:57.220 It is likely that often when the poem was recited during the two centuries or so before it was committed to writing,

00:02:04.180 the speaker inserted some such explanatory comments,

00:02:08.260 and the compiler of the collection followed this example

00:02:11.640 by adding such explanations as he thought necessary.

00:02:16.020 The Locasinna is certainly much older than the Hemisclitha,

00:02:19.980 the connection between them being purely one of subject matter,

00:02:25.240 and the 12th century compiler evidently knew a good deal less about mythology

00:02:30.180 than the author whose work he was annotating.

00:02:34.900 Locasinna.

00:02:36.800 Aegir, who was also called Gimeir, had prepared ale for the gods

00:02:40.420 after he had got the mighty Kettle, as now has been told.

00:02:43.780 To this feast came Odin and Thryg, his wife.

00:02:48.100 Thor came not, as he was on a journey in the east.

00:02:51.640 Sif, Thor's wife, was there, and Bragi with Idun, his wife.

00:02:57.180 Tyr, who had but one hand, was there.

00:02:59.580 The wolf Finre had bitten off his other when they had bound him.

00:03:03.500 There were Njord and Skadi, his wife, Threyr and Threya, and Vitar, the son of Odin.

00:03:10.360 Loki was there, and Freya's servants, Bigvir and Bela, many were there, the gods and elves.

00:03:19.360 Aegir had two serving-men, Femmaphang and Eldir. Glittering gold they had in the place

00:03:25.960 of firelight. The ale came in of itself, and great was peace. The guests praised much the

00:03:32.680 ability of Aegir's serving-men. Loki might not endure that, and slew Flemmaphang. 0.51

00:03:40.340 Then the gods shook their shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest,

00:03:45.380 and thereafter set to drinking again.

00:03:48.860 Loki turned back, and outside he met Eldir.

00:03:52.620 Loki spoke to him.

00:03:55.860 Speak now, Eldir, for not one step farther shalt thou fare.

00:04:00.640 What ale talk here do they have within, the sons of the glorious gods?

00:04:07.240 Eldir spake.

00:04:08.480 Of their weapons they talk, and their might in war, the sons of the glorious gods. 0.95

00:04:14.820 From the gods and the elves, who are gathered here, no friend in word shalt thou find.

00:04:21.460 Loki spake,

00:04:23.600 In shall I go into Aegir's hall, for the feast I feign would see.

00:04:28.560 Bale and hatred I bring to the gods, and their mead with venom I mix.

00:04:32.680 Eldr spake

00:04:35.400 If then thou goest to Aegir's hall

00:04:38.040 And fang the feast with his sea

00:04:39.920 And with slander and spite

00:04:41.960 Would his sprinkle the gods

00:04:43.260 Think well lest they wipe it on thee

00:04:45.760 Loki spake 1.00

00:04:48.340 Bethink thee Eldr

00:04:50.120 If thou and I shall strive with spiteful speech

00:04:53.140 Richer I grow in ready words

00:04:55.920 If thou speakest too much to me

00:04:57.900 Then Loki went into the hall

00:05:01.780 and when they who were there

00:05:04.040 saw who had entered

00:05:05.340 they were all silent

00:05:06.840 Loki spake

00:05:08.960 thirsty I come into this thine hall

00:05:12.380 I loped

00:05:13.820 from a long journey

00:05:15.380 to ask of the gods

00:05:17.460 that one should give

00:05:18.880 fared me to drink for me

00:05:21.740 why sit

00:05:23.860 he silent swollen with pride

00:05:26.240 ye gods in no answer

00:05:28.120 give

00:05:28.840 At your feast a place and a seat prepare me, or bid me forth the fair.

00:05:36.660 Bragi spake, A place and a seat will the gods prepare, 0.94

00:05:40.820 No more in their midst for thee, For the gods know well what men they wish 0.91

00:05:45.460 To find at their mighty feasts.

00:05:49.020 Loki spake, Remember, Odin, in the olden days,

00:05:53.820 That we both our blood have mixed,

00:05:56.340 then didst thou promise no ale to pour

00:05:59.340 unless it were brought for us both?

00:06:03.280 Odin spake.

00:06:04.960 Stand forth then, Vithar, 0.97

00:06:06.920 and let the wolf's father find a seat at our feast,

00:06:10.840 lest evil should Loki speak aloud

00:06:13.020 here within Agar's hall.

00:06:16.760 Then Vithar arose and poured a drink for Loki,

00:06:20.540 but before he drank he spoke to the gods.

00:06:23.020 Hail to you gods, ye goddesses hail

00:06:27.300 Hail to the holy throng

00:06:29.300 Save for the god who yonder sits 0.59

00:06:32.340 Bragi there on the bench 0.99

00:06:34.520 Bragi spake 0.86

00:06:37.480 A horse and a sword from my horde will I give

00:06:40.860 And a ring gives Bragi to boot

00:06:42.520 That hatred thou makes not among the gods

00:06:45.640 So rouse not the great ones to wrath

00:06:48.320 Loki spake

00:06:51.100 In horses and rings thou shalt never be rich, Bragi, but both shalt thou lack. 0.90

00:06:57.840 Of the gods and elves here together met, least brave in battle art thou, and shyest thou art of the shot.

00:07:06.480 Bragi spake, Now where are I without, as I am within, and here in Agar's hall? 0.88

00:07:12.900 Thine head would I bear, and mine hands away, and bear thee the price of thy lies. 0.92

00:07:17.900 Loki spake

00:07:20.420 In thy seat art thou bold

00:07:23.200 Not so are thy deeds 1.00

00:07:25.080 Bragi, a donor of bitches 1.00

00:07:27.120 Go out and fight 1.00

00:07:29.160 If anger thou feelest

00:07:30.500 No hero such forethought has

00:07:32.720 Idun spake

00:07:35.460 Well, prithee, Bragi

00:07:37.580 His kinship way

00:07:39.280 Since chosen his wish son he was

00:07:41.940 And speak not to Loki

00:07:43.640 Such words of spite

00:07:45.040 Here within Agar's hall

00:07:47.040 Loki spake

00:07:50.820 Be silent, Idun 1.00

00:07:52.680 Thou art, I say, of women most lustful in love 1.00

00:07:56.020 Since thou thou wash bright arms distwined

00:07:59.420 About thy brother's slayer

00:08:01.460 Idun spake

00:08:03.720 To Loki I speak not with spiteful words

00:08:07.800 Here within Agar's hall

00:08:09.340 And Bragi I calm

00:08:11.560 Who is hot with beer

00:08:13.120 For I wish not the fierce they should fight 1.00

00:08:15.720 Githun spake 1.00

00:08:19.160 Why ye gods twain with bitter tongues 1.00

00:08:22.760 Raise hate among us here

00:08:24.520 Loki is famed for his mockery foul

00:08:27.720 And the dwellers in heaven he hates

00:08:29.720 Loki spake

00:08:33.260 Be silent Githun 0.52

00:08:35.540 For now shall I say 1.00

00:08:36.760 Who led thee to evil life

00:08:38.400 The boy so fair

00:08:40.340 Gave a necklace bright

00:08:41.820 And about him thy leg was laid 0.94

00:08:44.020 Odin spake

00:08:46.180 Mad art thou, Loki, and little of wit

00:08:50.240 The wrath of Gefum to rouse

00:08:52.680 For the faith that is set for all she sees 0.99

00:08:57.160 Even as I methinks

00:08:59.280 Loki spake

00:09:01.760 Be silent, Odin

00:09:04.100 Not justly thou settest the fate of the fight among men

00:09:08.000 Off gavest thou to him who deserved not the gift

00:09:11.460 To the baser the battle's prize

00:09:13.580 Odin spake

00:09:16.860 Though I gave to him who deserved not the gift 0.92

00:09:20.660 To the base of the battle's prize

00:09:22.660 Winter's eight was thou under the earth 0.98

00:09:25.600 Milking the cow as the maid 0.99

00:09:27.720 I in babes this thou bear 1.00

00:09:30.640 Unmanly thy soul must seem

00:09:32.880 Loki spake

00:09:35.340 They say that with spells and samsies once

00:09:39.460 Like witches with charms this thou work

00:09:42.000 and in witch's guise among men didst thou go,

00:09:45.800 and manly thy soul must seem.

00:09:49.960 Frigg spake,

00:09:51.620 Of the deeds you two of old have done, 0.57

00:09:55.380 ye should make no speech among men.

00:09:59.700 Whate'er ye have done in days gone by,

00:10:02.620 old tales should ne'er be told.

00:10:06.740 Loki spake,

00:10:08.680 Be silent, Frigg,

00:10:10.440 Thou art Fjörgen's wife, but ever lustful in love.

00:10:17.180 For Vily and Vey, thou wife of Vithyr,

00:10:21.200 Both in thy bosom have lain.

00:10:25.240 Thryg spake, if a son like Baldr were by me now,

00:10:30.980 Here within Aegir's hall,

00:10:33.420 From the sons of the gods thou shouldst go not forth,

00:10:36.900 Till the fierceness in fight were tried.

00:10:40.440 Loki spake, Thou wilt, then, thing, that further I tell of the ill that now I know.

00:10:48.640 Mine is the blame that balder no more thou seest right home to the hall.

00:10:56.120 Freya spake, Mad out there, Loki, that known thou makest the wrong and the shame thou hast wrought.

00:11:03.180 The fate of all does fling no well, though for self she says it not.

00:11:08.900 Njord spake

00:11:11.520 Smile does it work 1.00

00:11:13.560 Though a woman may have 1.00

00:11:14.880 A lord or a lover or both 1.00

00:11:16.640 But a wonder it is 1.00

00:11:18.460 That this womanish god 1.00

00:11:19.900 Comes hither through babes he is born 1.00

00:11:22.100 Loki spake

00:11:24.580 Be silent Njord

00:11:26.600 Thou west eastward sent

00:11:29.560 To the gods is a hostage given 1.00

00:11:32.180 And the daughters of Hymir 1.00

00:11:33.800 Their privy had 0.96

00:11:35.200 When use did they make of thy mouth 0.98

00:11:38.420 Njord spake 0.95

00:11:40.900 Great was my gain, though long was I gone 0.77

00:11:44.560 To the gods as a hostage given

00:11:46.520 The son did I have, whom no man hates

00:11:49.780 And foremost of gods is found

00:11:52.020 Loki spake

00:11:54.880 Give heed now, Njord, no boast too high

00:11:58.360 No longer I hold it hid

00:11:59.900 With thy sister hast thou so fair a son

00:12:03.280 Thus hast thou no worse a hope

00:12:05.660 Tyr spake

00:12:08.440 Of the gods brave is three of the best

00:12:11.780 Here in the home of the gods

00:12:13.440 He harms not maids, nor the wives of men

00:12:16.380 In the bound from their fetters he frees

00:12:18.660 Loki spake

00:12:20.840 Be silent, Tyr

00:12:22.660 For between two men friendship thou netherkest fashion

00:12:26.040 Fain would I tell how Finrear wants

00:12:29.240 Thy right hand rent from thee

00:12:31.420 Tyr spake

00:12:33.600 My hand do I lack

00:12:35.400 But wrath of it near thou

00:12:37.500 And the loss brings longing to both

00:12:40.200 Ill fares the wolf

00:12:42.100 Who shall ever await

00:12:43.300 And fetters the fall of the gods

00:12:45.460 Loki spake

00:12:47.540 Be silent, Tyr

00:12:50.120 For the son with me 0.57

00:12:51.700 Thy wife once chanced to win

00:12:53.560 Not a penny, methinks, 0.98

00:12:55.380 Wast thou paid to the wrong

00:12:56.880 Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch

00:12:59.540 Loki spake

00:13:02.240 Be silent, Heimdall

00:13:03.900 In days long since 0.93

00:13:05.420 Was an evil fate for thee fixed

00:13:08.020 With back held stiff

00:13:10.320 Thou must ever stand

00:13:12.840 As water of heaven

00:13:14.740 To watch

00:13:16.180 Skadi spake

00:13:18.620 Light art thou, Loki

00:13:20.740 But longer thou mayst not

00:13:22.580 In freedom flourish thy tale

00:13:24.620 Of the rocks that gods bind thee

00:13:27.120 With bowels torn forth

00:13:28.700 From thy frost-cold sun

00:13:30.920 Loki spake

00:13:32.960 Though on rocks the gods bind me

00:13:35.880 With bowels torn forth from my frost-cold sun

00:13:39.160 I was first and last

00:13:42.260 At the deadly fight

00:13:43.960 There where Theatze was caught

00:13:46.300 Scadi spake

00:13:48.960 Wart thou first and last at the deadly fight

00:13:52.520 There where Theatze was caught

00:13:54.620 From my dwellings and fields shall ever come forth

00:13:58.140 A council cold for thee

00:14:00.500 Loki spake

00:14:02.500 More lightly thou spakest with Laufey's son

00:14:06.400 With thou bat'st me come to thy bed

00:14:09.860 Such things must be known 0.90

00:14:12.520 If now we too shall seek our sins to tell

00:14:15.860 Then Sif came forward and poured mead for Loki in a crystal cup

00:14:20.760 And said 0.86

00:14:21.400 Hail to thee, Loki

00:14:23.480 And take thou here the crystal cup of old mead

00:14:26.980 For me at last, alone of the gods

00:14:30.380 Blameless thou know'st to be

00:14:33.440 He took the horn and drank therefrom

00:14:38.060 Alone thou wert, if truly thou would'st

00:14:43.400 All men so shyly shun

00:14:45.720 But one do I know, for well methinks 0.98

00:14:49.740 Who had thee from Hilrati's arms

00:14:53.360 Loki the crafty in lies 0.86

00:14:56.620 Bela spake

00:15:01.300 The mountains shake, and surely I thank 0.99

00:15:04.860 From his home comes Lrothi now 0.97

00:15:07.180 He will silence the man who is slandering here 1.00

00:15:10.180 Together, both gods and men

00:15:12.400 Loki spake

00:15:14.740 Be silent, Bela 0.99

00:15:17.140 Thou art Bigview's wife 0.97

00:15:19.800 And deep art thou steeped in sin

00:15:22.760 A greater shame to the gods came near

00:15:26.020 Be foul to art with thy filth.

00:15:29.600 Then came Thor forth and spake,

00:15:33.040 Unmanly one, Caesar, the mighty hammer Mjolnir, shall close thy mouth.

00:15:38.980 Thy shoulder-cliff shall I cleave from thy neck, and so shall thy life be lost. 0.72

00:15:44.660 Loki spake, Lo, in has come the sun of earth.

00:15:49.360 Why threaten so loudly, Thor?

00:15:52.040 Lest fierce thou shalt go

00:15:54.360 To fight with the wolf

00:15:55.700 When he swallows Siegfather up

00:15:58.220 Thor spake

00:16:00.700 Unmanly one, Caesar

00:16:02.420 The mighty hammer 0.87

00:16:03.480 Mjolnir shall close thy mouth 0.99

00:16:05.300 I shall hurl thee up 1.00

00:16:07.020 And out in the east 0.98

00:16:08.040 Where men shall see thee no more

00:16:10.440 Loki spake

00:16:12.960 That thou hast fared

00:16:15.620 On the east road forth

00:16:17.060 To men shalt thou say no more

00:16:19.300 In the thumb of a glove

00:16:21.460 this thou hide, thou great one, and there forgot thou wast Thor. Thor spake, unmanly

00:16:30.520 one cease with a mighty hammer, Mjolnir shall close thy mouth, my right hand shall smite 0.99

00:16:36.520 thee with one good slayer, till all thy bones are broken. Loki spake, a long time still 0.99

00:16:45.300 Do I think to live

00:16:46.640 Thou threatenest thus with thy hammer

00:16:51.380 Rough seem the straps of Scrimir's wallet

00:16:55.580 When thy meat thou mightiest not get

00:16:58.520 And faint from hunger didst feel

00:17:01.240 Thor spake

00:17:04.680 Unmanly one cease with a mighty hammer

00:17:07.820 Mjolnir shall close thy mouth 1.00

00:17:09.740 The slayer of Rungnir shall send thee to hell 1.00

00:17:13.280 And down to the gate of death 0.99

00:17:15.160 Loki spake

00:17:17.960 I have said to the gods

00:17:20.940 And the sons of the gods

00:17:22.460 The things that wet in my thoughts

00:17:24.540 But before thee alone

00:17:26.520 Do I now go forth

00:17:27.940 For thou fightest well I wean

00:17:30.180 Ale hast thou brood

00:17:32.700 But Aegir now

00:17:34.160 Such feast shalt thou make no more

00:17:36.860 Or all

00:17:38.580 That thou hast which is here within

00:17:40.820 Shall play the flickering

00:17:42.780 Flames 0.57

00:17:43.620 And thy back shall be burnt with fire 0.78

00:17:46.860 And after that, Loki hid himself

00:17:50.980 In Thraneng's waterfall

00:17:52.520 In the skies of a salmon

00:17:54.160 And there the gods took him

00:17:56.380 He was bound with the bowels of his son Vali

00:17:58.760 But his son Narfi was changed to a wolf

00:18:01.900 Skadi took a poisoned snake 0.96

00:18:04.840 And fastened it up over Loki's face

00:18:07.040 And the poison dropped thereon 1.00

00:18:09.660 Sigyn, Loki's wife, sat there 0.97

00:18:13.160 and held a shell under the poison.

00:18:15.460 But when the shell was full, 0.89

00:18:17.600 she bore away the poison.

00:18:19.720 And meanwhile, the poison dropped on Loki.

00:18:22.680 Then he struggled so hard

00:18:23.860 that the whole earth shook therewith.

00:18:26.480 And now that is called an earthquake.

00:18:43.160 Thank you.

Asatru Folk Assembly - December 21, 2023

Lokasenna, a reading

Episode Stats

Summary

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