Asatru Folk Assembly - Svipdagsmál, a reading

00:00:00.000 Zvip Dog's Mall, play a Zvip Dog.

00:00:24.460 The two poems, Grågårdl, Gråsperl, and Fjörsvinsmål, The Lay of Fjörsvith, which many editors have very wisely united under the single title as The Dagsmål, are found only in paper manuscripts, none of them antedating the 17th century.

00:00:47.640 Everything points to a relatively late origin for the poems,

00:00:51.200 their extensive use of kennings or political circumlocutions,

00:00:55.440 their romantic spirit, quite foreign to the character of the unquestionably older poems,

00:01:01.460 the absence of any reference to them in the older documents,

00:01:05.080 the frequent errors in mythology,

00:01:07.680 and finally the fact that the poems appear to have been preserved in an unusually good condition.

00:01:12.800 Whether or not a connecting link or a narrative verse joining the two parts have been lost is an open question.

00:01:21.360 On the whole, it seems likely that the story was sufficiently well known so that the reciter of the poem or poems

00:01:27.920 merely filled in the gaps with a brief prose summary and pretty much his own words.

00:01:34.060 The general relationship between dialogue and narrative and naetic poems is discussed in the introductory note to the grimness model

00:01:41.680 in connection with the use of Thro's links.

00:01:46.640 The love story of Zipdog and Mingroth is not referred to elsewhere in the poetic edith,

00:01:53.740 nor does Snorri mention it.

00:01:56.080 However, Groa, who here appears in Zipdog's mother,

00:02:01.260 is spoken of by Snorri as a wise woman, the wife of Urvundil,

00:02:06.240 who helps Thor with her magical charms.

00:02:09.520 On the other hand, the essence of the story, the hero's winning of a bride ringed about

00:02:15.160 by flames, is strongly suggestive of parts of the Sigurd Brynhild traditions.

00:02:22.240 Whether or not it is to be regarded as a nature or solar myth depends entirely on one's view

00:02:28.580 of the whole solar myth school of criticism.

00:02:32.560 Not so highly esteemed today as formerly, such an interpretation is certainly not necessary

00:02:38.300 to explain what it is, under any circumstances, a very charming romance told in the main with

00:02:45.140 dramatic effectiveness. In later years, the story of Zupdag and Mingloth became popular

00:02:52.160 throughout the North and was made the subject of many Danish and Swedish as well as Norwegian

00:02:57.640 ballads. These have greatly assisted in the reconstruction of the outlines of the narratives

00:03:03.300 surrounding the dialogue poems here given.

00:03:33.300 What evil vexes mine only son, what baleful fate hast thou found,

00:03:40.520 that thou call'st thy mother who lies in the mold, and the world of the living hath left? 0.99

00:03:47.360 The false woman whom my father embraced has brought me a baleful gain, 0.97

00:03:55.920 for she bade me go forth where none may fail, and mingloth the maid to seek. 1.00

00:04:01.340 Grower spake, long is the way, long must thou wander, but long is love as well.

00:04:10.800 Thou mayst find, perchance, what thou fain wouldst have, if the fates their favour would give.

00:04:18.220 Zipdog spake, charms full good, then chant to me, mother, and seek thy son to God.

00:04:26.340 For death do I fear, on the way I feel fair, And in years am I young, methinks.

00:04:34.560 Grow a speake. 0.98

00:04:36.840 Then first I will chant thee the charm oft tried, That Rani taught to rhyme. 0.99

00:04:43.260 From the shoulder whate'er methinks thee shake, For helper thyself shalt thou have. 0.91

00:04:50.520 Then next I will chant thee, if needs thou must travel,

00:04:54.880 And wander a purposeless way, The bolts of the earth shall on every side

00:05:00.680 By the guards of the road thou goest.

00:05:04.600 Then third I will chant thee, if threatening streams

00:05:08.060 The danger of death shall bring, Yet to hell shall turn both horn and roof,

00:05:14.760 And before thee the waters shall find.

00:05:18.520 Then forth I will chant thee, if come thy foe, on the gallows' way against thee, and

00:05:25.620 to thine hands shall their hearts be given, and peace shall the warriors wish.

00:05:32.700 Then fifth I will chant thee, if fetters, perchance, shall bind thy bending limbs,

00:05:39.320 o'er thy thighs do I chant a loosening charm, and the lock is burst from the limbs, and

00:05:44.760 the fetters fall from the feet.

00:05:48.180 Then sixth I will chant thee, if storms on the sea Here might have unknowest to man,

00:05:55.640 Yet never shall wind nor wave do harm, And calm is the course of thy boat.

00:06:02.820 The seventh I chant thee, if frost shall seek To kill thee on lofty throgs,

00:06:09.140 The fatal cold shall not grip thy flesh, And whole thy body shall be.

00:06:15.440 An eighth I will chant thee, if ever by night thou shalt wander our murky ways, yet never 0.98

00:06:22.500 the curse of a Christian woman and the dead shall do thee harm.

00:06:28.740 The ninth will I chant thee, if needs thou must thrive, with a warlike giant in words. 0.99

00:06:35.860 The heart good store of wit shall have, and thy mouth of words full wise.

00:06:42.560 Now fare on the way, where danger waits, Let evil is not lessen thy love.

00:06:48.940 I have stood at the door of the earth-fix stones, The while I chanted thee charms.

00:06:55.680 Bear hence, my son, what thy mother hath said, And let it live in thy breast.

00:07:02.540 Thine eathers shall be the best of fortune, So long as my words shall last.

00:07:09.180 Before the house he beheld one coming to the home of the giant's high.

00:07:26.620 Zipdog spake, What giant is here in front of the house, and around him fires are flaming?

00:07:35.180 What seekest thou here, for what is thy search?

00:07:41.240 What friendless one fain wouldst thou know?

00:07:44.580 By the way so wet must thou wander hence, for, weakling, no home hast thou here.

00:07:52.220 What giant is here, in front of the house, to the wayfarer welcome the nine?

00:08:00.180 Fjolzvith spake, greeting, full fair, thou never shalt find, so hence shalt thou get thee home.

00:08:08.800 Fjolzvith am I, and wise am I found, but miserly am I with meat.

00:08:14.540 Thou never shalt enter within the house, go forth like a wolf on the way. 0.97

00:08:21.020 Zvipdog spake, few from the home of their eyes will go forth, on the sight of their loves they seek. 0.98

00:08:28.080 Full bright on the gates of the golden hall 0.78

00:08:31.220 And a home shall I here enjoy

00:08:33.180 Fjolzvith spake

00:08:36.140 Tell me now, fellow

00:08:38.040 What father thou hast in the kindred of whom thou cam'st? 1.00

00:08:43.240 Zipdog spake

00:08:44.300 Then called am I, and thar called son

00:08:48.120 And fjol called his father was

00:08:50.760 Now answer me, Fjolzvith

00:08:53.060 The answer I question 0.98

00:08:54.540 For now the truth would I know

00:08:57.260 Who is it that holds, and has for his own, the rule of the hall so rich? 0.67

00:09:04.760 Fjallzith spake.

00:09:07.960 Mingloth is she, her mother boy her, to the son of Svathrorin.

00:09:13.680 She is it that holds, and has for her own, the rule of the hall so rich. 0.89

00:09:20.140 Zipdog spake. 1.00

00:09:22.440 Now answer me, Fjallzith. 1.00

00:09:23.900 The question I ask, for now the truth would I know. 1.00

00:09:28.440 What call they the gate, for among the gods

00:09:31.080 ne'er saw a man so grim a sight?

00:09:35.380 Fjolzeth spake, 0.97

00:09:37.720 Thrymgyel, they call it, 0.99

00:09:40.000 twas made by the three, the sons of Soblandi, 0.99

00:09:43.740 and fast as a fetter the feather it holds,

00:09:46.380 whoever shall lift the latch.

00:09:51.180 Zipdog spake,

00:09:52.400 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, for now the truth would I know. 0.98

00:09:58.800 What call thee the house, for no man beheaded, amongst the gods so grim a sight?

00:10:04.460 Fjolzvith spake, 0.99

00:10:06.340 Gastropnir is it, of old I make it, from the limbs of Leobrimir. 0.65

00:10:12.820 I brace thee so strongly that fast thee shall stand, so long as the world shall last. 0.80

00:10:18.080 Zvipdog spake, now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, and now the truth would

00:10:25.660 I know. 0.82

00:10:26.660 What call thee the tree that casts abroad its limbs o'er every land?

00:10:32.980 Fjolzvith spake, Mammoth its name, and no man knows what roots beneath it runs, and

00:10:41.520 few can guess what shall fell the tree, for fire nor iron shall fell it.

00:10:47.640 Zipdog spake, Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask.

00:10:53.160 For now the truth would I know.

00:10:55.520 What grows from the seed of the tree so great, that fire nor iron shall fell?

00:11:01.080 Fjolzvith spake, Women sick with child shall seek its root to the flames to bear.

00:11:08.200 Then one shall come, that within was hid, and so it is mighty with men. 0.81

00:11:15.320 Slipdog spake.

00:11:16.320 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, for now the truth would I know. 0.99

00:11:22.000 What cock is he on the highest bough that glitters all with gold? 0.98

00:11:27.460 Fjolzvith spake. 0.99

00:11:29.460 Vithofnir, his name, and now he shines like lightning on Mimimath's limbs, and great is

00:11:36.820 the trouble with which he grieves, but certain Sinemora.

00:11:43.280 Slipdog spake. 0.52

00:11:45.040 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know.

00:11:51.040 What call they the hounds, that before the house so fierce and angry are?

00:11:57.220 Fjolzvith spake, Gif call they one, and Geri the other.

00:12:02.920 For now the truth thou wast know.

00:12:05.540 Great they are, and their might will grow, The gods to death are doomed.

00:12:11.880 Svipdog spake, For now, me Fjolzvith, the question I ask, for now the truth would I

00:12:17.660 know.

00:12:18.660 May no man hope the house to enter, while the hungry hounds are sleeping?

00:12:25.640 Fjolzvith spake, Together they sleep not, for so was it fixed, when the gar to them

00:12:32.040 was given.

00:12:33.600 One sleeps by night, the next by day, so no man may enter ever.

00:12:39.440 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, for now the truth would I know?

00:12:45.520 Is there no meat that men may give them and leap within while they eat?

00:12:50.720 Fjolzvith spake, to wing-joint there be in Vith Ophnir's body, if now the truth thou

00:12:57.320 wist know, that alone is the meat that men may give them and leap within while they eat?

00:13:04.500 dog spake. Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, for now the truth I would know. What

00:13:10.980 weapon can sin Vithofnir to seek the house of hell below? Fjolsvith spake, 0.78

00:13:20.180 Levitan is there that lopped with runes once made by the doors of death. In Legion's chest

00:13:28.980 by Sinmora, lies it, and nine walks fast on its firm.

00:13:35.360 Zipdog spake,

00:13:37.140 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask. 0.99

00:13:39.320 For now the truth would I know.

00:13:41.920 May a man come thence, who thither goes, and tries the sword to take?

00:13:47.780 Fjolzvith spake,

00:13:50.020 Thence may he come, who thither goes, and tries the sword to take. 0.98

00:13:54.400 If with him he carries what few can win

00:13:57.340 To give the goddess of gold

00:13:59.320 Zipdog spake 0.99

00:14:02.320 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask 0.84

00:14:05.660 For now the truth would I know

00:14:07.300 What treasure is there that men may take

00:14:10.560 To rejoice the giantess pale? 0.90

00:14:14.640 Fjolzvith spake

00:14:15.800 The sickle bright in thy wallet bare

00:14:19.320 Mid Vithofnir's feathers found

00:14:21.980 The sin will ra, give it, and then shall she grant that the weapon be thy to win.

00:14:30.440 Snipdog spake, Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask,

00:14:35.600 for now the truth would I know.

00:14:38.160 What call they the hall encompassed here, with flickering magic flames?

00:14:44.420 Fjolzvith spake, Liar is it called, and long it shall,

00:14:49.500 On the tip of spear-point tremble, 0.80

00:14:52.420 On the noble house mankind has heard,

00:14:55.120 But now has it never known. 0.91

00:14:58.580 Zvipdog spake,

00:15:00.380 For answer me, Fjolzlith, the question I ask,

00:15:03.160 For now the truth would I know.

00:15:05.660 What one of the gods is made so great,

00:15:08.260 The hall I behold within?

00:15:11.260 Fjolzlith spake,

00:15:12.940 Ooni and Iri, Bari and Yari, Var and Wegdrasil, 0.84

00:15:19.100 Dori and Orli, Deling and Der, was Loki the fiel of the folk.

00:15:25.380 Slipdog spake, 0.87

00:15:27.580 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask,

00:15:30.440 For now the truth would I know.

00:15:32.860 What call they the mountain on which the maid is lying so lovely to see?

00:15:39.420 Fjolzvith spake,

00:15:40.580 Letheberl gizit, and long shall it be a joy to the sick and the sore,

00:15:47.380 for well shall grow each woman who climbs it, though sick for long she has lain.

00:15:53.720 Zipdog spake, 0.92

00:15:55.580 Now answer me, Fjolzvith, the question I ask, for now the truth I would know. 0.87

00:16:01.000 What maidens are they that Amingloth's knees are sitting so gladly together?

00:16:07.200 Fjolzvith spake, 1.00

00:16:08.320 Hlyph is one named, Hlyphstrasse the another, Throthvara call they the third, Bjort and

00:16:17.920 Bleek, Blith and Flith, Er and Orbotta.

00:16:23.880 Zipdog spake, Now answer me, Fjordsvith, the question I ask,

00:16:28.640 For now the truth would I know, Eh, bring they to all who offerings give,

00:16:33.380 If need be found thereof?

00:16:36.820 Fjolzvith spake, Soon am they all who offerings give,

00:16:42.160 On the holy altars high, and if danger they see, For the sons of men,

00:16:47.140 Then each from ill do they guard.

00:16:50.840 Zvipdog spake, Now answer me, Fjolzvith,

00:16:54.200 The question I ask, for now the truth would I know. 0.98

00:16:58.240 Lives there a man who in Minglos' arms So fair may seek to sleep?

00:17:03.760 Fjolsvith spake, No man there is who in Mingloth's arms so fair may seek to sleep.

00:17:11.180 Save Slipdog alone, for the sun-bright maid is destined his bride to be. 0.82

00:17:18.260 Slipdog spake, Flin back the gates, make the gateway wide. 0.99

00:17:23.760 Here mayst thou, Slipdog, see, Hence get thee to find if gladness soon Mingloth to me will

00:17:30.640 give.

00:17:33.380 Roswith spake, Hearken, Mingloth, a man is come!

00:17:38.260 Go thou the guests to see!

00:17:40.880 The hounds are fawning, the house burst open.

00:17:44.260 Svipdog, methinks, is here!

00:17:48.280 Mingloth spake, On the gallows high

00:17:51.940 Shall hungry ravens soon thy eyes pluck out,

00:17:55.500 If thou liest in saying, That here at last a hero is come to my hall.

00:18:01.660 Thence cam'st thou hinder, how cam'st thou here?

00:18:05.540 What's name do thy kinsmen call thee?

00:18:08.300 Thy race and thy name is a sign must I know,

00:18:11.180 That thy bride I am destined to be.

00:18:15.320 Zipdog spake, Zipdog am I, and Solbjart's son,

00:18:20.220 Thence came I by wind-cold ways.

00:18:23.420 With the words of earth shall no man war,

00:18:26.940 Though unearned her gifts be given.

00:18:30.740 Mingloth spake, Welcome, thou art, thou for love have I waited,

00:18:36.280 The welcoming kiss shalt thou win.

00:18:39.420 For to who love is the long-forward meeting, The greatest gladness of all.

00:18:45.680 Long have I sat on the leaf of the bird here, Awaiting thee day to by day.

00:18:51.680 And now I have what I have ever hoped, For here thou art come to my hall.

00:18:58.420 Like we yearned, for long I for thee,

00:19:02.140 And thou for my love hast longed.

00:19:04.980 But now henceforth, together we know,

00:19:07.920 Our love's to the end we shall live.

00:19:28.420 You

Asatru Folk Assembly - January 09, 2024

Svipdagsmál, a reading

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript