Asatru Folk Assembly - Völundarkviða, a reading

00:00:00.000 Wollandar Gwether, the Lay of Wolland, between the Thrymsk Gwether and the Alves Mall and the

00:00:29.760 Codex Regis than the Bolendorf Vita. It is also included in the Ramanian Codex, but

00:00:36.440 unluckily it begins at the end of the fragment that has been reserved, and thus only a few

00:00:42.580 lines of the opening prose remain. This is doubly regrettable, because the text in the

00:00:47.740 Regis is unquestionably in very bad shape, and the other manuscript would doubtless have

00:00:53.520 been of great assistance in the reconstruction of the poem.

00:00:57.980 There has been a vast amount written regarding the Weyland tradition as a whole, discussing

00:01:02.880 particularly the relations between the Voluntark Vita and the Weyland passage in Deoders and

00:01:08.600 Lament.

00:01:09.600 There can be little question that the story came to the north from the Saxon regions,

00:01:14.320 along with many of the other early hero tales.

00:01:18.320 In stanza 16, the line is specifically mentioned as the home of treasure, and the presence

00:01:24.500 of the story in Anglo-Saxon poetry, probably as early as the first part of the 8th century,

00:01:31.340 proves beyond a doubt that the legend cannot have been a native product of Scandinavia.

00:01:37.620 In one form or another, however, the legend of the smith persists for centuries throughout

00:01:42.280 all the Teutonic lands, and the name Wayland Smith is familiar to all readers of Walter

00:01:48.200 or Scots, and even the religious keeplings of tales of England.

00:01:53.960 In what form the story reached the North is uncertain.

00:01:57.900 Sundry striking parallels between the diction of the Volundärkvitha and that of the wedding

00:02:02.960 passage of Dörr's Lament make distinctly probable that a Saxon song on this subject

00:02:08.780 has been found its way into Scandinavia or Iceland.

00:02:13.480 But the prose introduction to the poem mentions the old sagas in which Volund was celebrated,

00:02:19.820 and in the Tithric saga we have definite evidence of the existence of such prose narrative in

00:02:25.240 the form of Veiland's saga , which gives a long story

00:02:36.600 for which the Volenskiffa can have been supplied relatively little, if any, of the material.

00:02:43.780 It is probable, then, that the Wellen stories were current in both prose and perverse in

00:02:51.420 Scandinavia as early as the later part of the 9th century.

00:02:56.440 Once let a figure become popular in the oral tradition, the number and variety of the incidents

00:03:02.060 connected with his name will increase very rapidly.

00:03:06.000 Doubtless, there were scores of Woland stories currently in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries,

00:03:12.400 many of them with very little of any traditional authority.

00:03:16.280 The main one, however, is the story of the laming of the smith by King Nethuth, or by

00:03:21.740 some other enemy, and of Woland's terrible revenge, forms the basis of the Wolandark

00:03:27.360 smitha.

00:03:28.360 To this, by way of introduction, has been added the story of Wolland and the Wayne Maiden,

00:03:36.120 who, to make things even more complex, is likewise a to-be-of-Valkyrie.

00:03:44.140 Some critics maintain that the two sections were originally two distinct poems, merely

00:03:48.080 strung together by the compiler with the help of narrative prose links, but the poem as

00:03:53.680 as a whole has a kind of dramatic unity which suggests rather that an early poet, for linguistically

00:03:59.280 the poem belongs among the oldest of the Edda Collectia, used two distinct legends, whether

00:04:05.800 in prose or verse, as the basis of the composition of a new and homogeneous poem.

00:04:11.860 The swan maiden story appears, of course, in many places, quite distinct from the Weyland

00:04:16.260 tradition, and in another form became one of the most popular German folk tales. Like

00:04:22.080 Like the story of Weyland, however, it is a German rather than Scandinavian origin,

00:04:27.560 and the identification of the swan maidens as Valkyries which may have taken place before

00:04:31.660 the legend reached the North may, on the other hand, have been simply an attempt to connect

00:04:38.140 Southern tradition with figures well known in Northern mythology.

00:04:42.280 The Weyland-Arcsvitha is full of prose narrative links, including an introduction.

00:04:46.640 The nature of such prose links has already been discussed in an introductory note to

00:04:50.840 of the Grimnesmorg, and the Wollendarkswethe is a striking illustration of the way in

00:04:58.020 which the function of the earlier etic verse was limited chiefly to dialogue or description,

00:05:03.920 the narrative outline being provided, if at all, in prose. This prose was put in by each

00:05:10.100 reciter according to his fancy and knowledge, and his estimate of his hearer's need for such

00:05:16.340 explanations. Some of it, as in this instance, eventually found its way into a written record.

00:05:22.580 The manuscript of the Volendarksvita is in such bad shape, and the conjunctual intimations have

00:05:29.140 been so numerous that in the notes I have attempted to record only the most important of them.

00:05:36.980 Volendarksvita

00:05:38.660 There was a king in Sweden named Nithuth.

00:05:44.000 He had two sons and one daughter.

00:05:46.260 Her name was Bothvild.

00:05:48.280 There were three brothers, sons of a king of the Fens.

00:05:52.340 One was called Slagvith, another Egil, and a third Volund.

00:05:58.340 They went on snowshoes and hunted wild beasts.

00:06:01.320 They came into Uftalivir, and there they built themselves a house.

00:06:06.060 There was a lake there, which is called Ufsjahr. 0.98

00:06:10.760 Early one morning they found on the shore of the lake three women, who were spitting 0.99

00:06:14.300 flax. 0.96

00:06:16.500 Near them were their swan garments, for they were Valkyries.

00:06:21.760 Two of them were daughters of King Lothver, Hlauguth, the swan wight, and Herver the All-Wise,

00:06:29.720 and the third was Orm, daughter of Kiar from Valand.

00:06:35.940 did they bring home to their hall with them.

00:06:38.840 Egil took Orym, Slagfith, Swannwight, and Volund, Alwais.

00:06:47.500 There they dwelt seven winters, but then they flew away to find battles and came back no

00:06:53.760 more.

00:06:54.760 Then Egil set forth on his snowshoes to follow Orym, and Slagfith followed Swannwight.

00:07:02.580 But Volund stayed in Ulftalir.

00:07:05.740 He was a most skillful man, as men know from old tales.

00:07:10.780 King Nithuth had been taken by force, as the poem here tells.

00:07:19.420 Maids from the south through mirkwood flew, Fair and young were hveit to follow.

00:07:25.620 On the shore of the sea to the rest them they sat,

00:07:28.860 The maids of the south in flax they spun.

00:07:31.980 Hraguth and Helver, her authors of children, and Orun the wise, Kjar's daughter was.

00:07:41.020 One in her arms took Egil then, to her bosom white, the woman fair.

00:07:46.380 Swan white second, swan feathers she wore, and her arms the third of the sisters through,

00:07:51.700 the necks round Vorun's necks so white.

00:07:56.860 Where did they sit for seven winters, And the eighth at last came their longing again,

00:08:02.320 And the ninth did need to divide them?

00:08:05.300 The maiden jurned from the murky wood, The fair young maids their fate to follow.

00:08:12.620 Wurland home from his haunting came, From a weary way the weather was bombing,

00:08:19.780 Schlagfeith and Egil the howl found empty. Out and in went they everywhere seeking.

00:08:28.020 East fared Egil after Olun, and Schlagfeith south to seek their swan white.

00:08:35.220 Wolund along in Ulftalir lay. Red gold he fashioned with fairest gems,

00:08:42.740 and rings he strung on ropes of bast. So for his wife he waited long.

00:08:48.500 home, if the fair one home might come to him.

00:08:54.140 This Nehuth learned the lord of the Nyarls, that Wurund alone in Uftalir lay. 0.94

00:09:01.880 By night with his men their mail-coats were studded, their shields in the waning moonlight 0.96

00:09:07.480 shone.

00:09:09.580 From their saddles the gable wall they sought, and in they went at the end of the hall.

00:09:16.060 Things they saw there on ropes of bast, Seven hundred the hero had.

00:09:22.740 Off they took them, but all they left, Save one alone, which they bore away.

00:09:28.820 Vorland home from his hunting came, From a wary way the weather-wise bowman,

00:09:35.560 A brown bear's flesh would he roast with fire, Soon the wood so dry was burning well,

00:09:42.840 The wind-dried wood that Vorlin's was.

00:09:46.700 On the bear-skin he rested, and counted the rings,

00:09:50.640 The master of elves, but one he missed. 0.97

00:09:54.660 That Hrothver's daughter had it, he thought, 0.53

00:09:58.600 And the all-wise maid had come once more. 0.99

00:10:03.000 So long he sat that he fell asleep, His waking empty of gladness was.

00:10:08.180 Heavy chains he saw in his hands, And fetters bound, his feet together.

00:10:12.340 Voron spake, What mere are they, who thus have laid, ropes of Baas, to bind me now?

00:10:22.920 Then Nithoth called the lord of Nyarls, How gotest thou Voron, greatest of Elbs, these

00:10:30.040 treasures of Ars, in Uftalil?

00:10:33.780 Voron spake, The gold was not on Grani's way,

00:10:37.960 Far in me thinks is our realm from the hills of Zorain.

00:10:41.980 I mind me that treasures, more we had, when happy together at home we were.

00:10:49.100 With out stood the wife of Nithuthwise, and in she came from the end of the hall.

00:10:55.160 On the floor she stood and softly spoke, 0.96

00:10:58.280 Not kind as he look, who comes from the wood.

00:11:02.720 King Nithuthus gave to his daughter, Bothville, 0.96

00:11:05.100 the gold ring that he had taken from the bachelor up in Volunt's house,

00:11:09.480 and he himself wore the sword that Volunt had had.

00:11:13.220 The queen spake, 0.59

00:11:15.080 The glow of his eyes is like gleaming snakes,

00:11:19.060 his teeth he gnashes if now as shown.

00:11:22.080 The sword, or both fields ring, he sees.

00:11:26.680 Let them straightway cut his sinews of strength,

00:11:29.940 and set him then in Severstath.

00:11:35.100 So was it done. The sinews in his knee joints were cut, and he was set in an island, which was near the mainland, and was called Severstadt.

00:11:46.040 There he smithied for the king all kinds of precious things.

00:11:50.960 No man dared to go to him, save only the king himself.

00:11:55.380 Vorlin spake,

00:11:56.720 At Nithus's girdle

00:12:00.160 Gleams the sword that I sharpen keen

00:12:03.040 With cunningest craft

00:12:05.200 And harden the steel with highest skill

00:12:08.380 The brightest blade far forever is born

00:12:12.520 Nor black shall I see it born to my smithy

00:12:16.820 Now Botfield gets the golden ring 0.94

00:12:19.640 That was once my bride's 1.00

00:12:23.020 Ne'er well it ever shall be 1.00

00:12:25.280 He sat nor slept, and smote with his hammer, Fast for Nithu's wonders he fashioned. 0.87

00:12:36.540 Two boys did go, and his door to gaze Nithu's sons into Severstadt. 0.92

00:12:42.840 They came to the chest, and they craved the keys.

00:12:46.320 The evil was opened, when in they looked, To the boys it seemed that gleams and gems

00:12:53.080 they saw gold and plenty and precious stones volun spake come ye alone the night day come

00:13:05.800 gold to you both shall then be given tell not the maids or the men of the hall

00:13:11.320 to no one say that me you have sought

00:13:14.040 Early, did brother to brother call, Swift let us go, the rings to see.

00:13:25.480 They came to the chest and they craved the keys, the evil was open when in they looked.

00:13:30.500 He smote off their heads, and their feet he hid under the sooty straps of the bellows,

00:13:36.640 their skulls once hid by the hair he took. 0.87

00:13:40.480 them in silver, and sent them to Nithu's gems full fair, that their eyes he fashioned,

00:13:45.880 to Nithu's wife so wise he gave them.

00:13:49.560 And from the teeth of the twain he wrought, a brooch for the breast to Botfield he sent. 0.65

00:13:55.060 Botfield then of a ring did boast, The ring I have broken, I dare not say it, save to 0.58

00:14:01.060 thee.

00:14:03.060 Volin spake, I shall weld the break, in the gold so well, the fairer than ever, that thy

00:14:10.100 thy father shall find it, and better much thy mother shall think it, and thou know worse

00:14:15.180 than ever it was.

00:14:18.220 Beer he brought, he was better and cunning, until in her seat, full soon she slept.

00:14:26.100 Volund spake, Now vengeance I have for all my hurts, save one alone on the evil woman. 0.89

00:14:33.480 Volund, would that dwell where the sinews maimed in my feet by Nithust's men. 0.91

00:14:42.360 Laughing Volund rose aloft, weeping Boltfeld went from the isle, from her lover's flight

00:14:48.160 and her father's wrath.

00:14:51.220 With out stood the wife of Nithust wise, and in she came from the end of the hall. 0.63

00:14:57.840 And he by the wall, and where he is sat, Wakest thou, Nithith, lord of the n'yars? 0.90

00:15:05.300 Nithith spake, Always I wake, and ever joyless, 0.98

00:15:11.340 Little I sleep, since my sons were slain.

00:15:15.500 Cold is my head, cold was thy counsel. 1.00

00:15:19.100 One thing with Volunt I speak, I wish. 0.98

00:15:25.560 Answer me, Volunt, greatest of elves! 0.81

00:15:29.020 What happened with my boys that hail once were?

00:15:33.900 Volunt spake, First shalt thou all the oaths now swear,

00:15:41.380 By the rail of the ship and the rim of the shield,

00:15:44.260 By the shoulder of the steed and the edge of the sword,

00:15:47.560 That to Volunt's wife thou wilt work no ill, 0.99

00:15:51.800 For yet my bride to her death wilt bring, Though a wife I should have that well thou 0.95

00:15:58.560 knowest, And a child I should have within thy hall.

00:16:04.200 Seek the smithy that thou didst set, Thou shalt find the bellows sprinkled with blood.

00:16:10.840 I smote off their heads of both thy sons, And their feet neath the sooty straps I hid.

00:16:19.140 Their skulls, once hid by their hair, I took. 0.99

00:16:23.600 Set them in silver and sent them to Nythus. 0.60

00:16:26.960 Gems full fair, from their eyes I fashioned, to Nythus' wife so wise I gave them.

00:16:34.600 From the teeth of the twain I wrought a brooch for the breast, to Bothfield I gave it.

00:16:40.180 Now being with child does Bothfield go, the only daughter you two have ever had.

00:16:47.320 If it spake, never spakest thou word, the worst could hurt me,

00:16:56.440 nor that made me voland, more bitter for vengeance.

00:17:01.540 There is no man so high from thy horse to take thee, 0.74

00:17:07.140 or so daughty an archer as down to shoot thee,

00:17:11.940 while high in the clouds thy course thou takest.

00:17:14.260 Laughing, Volan rose aloft, but left in sadness Nithithith that, then spake Nithithith, Lord

00:17:26.020 of the Niarth, Rise up, Thrakroth, best of my thralls, bid Bothfield come, the brightest

00:17:33.780 brow made, but deck so fair with her father to speak.

00:17:41.420 Is it true, Bothfield, that which was told me, Once in the isle with Volun wert thou?

00:17:49.860 Bothfield spake, True it is, Nithus, that which was told thee,

00:17:56.000 Once in the isle with Volun was I. 0.90

00:17:58.880 An hour of lust a lastest should be, Nought was my might with such a man, 1.00

00:18:04.460 Nor from his strength could I save myself.

00:18:11.420 Thank you.

Asatru Folk Assembly - December 26, 2023

Völundarkviða, a reading

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