The Poetic Edda Index

General Introduction
{p. xxvi}
four) unaccented ones; the initial rhyme is as in the Fornyrthislag. The following is an example:
Horsk vas húsfreyja, | hugÞi at mannviti,
lag heyrÞi òrÞa, | hvat á laun máeltu;
Þá vas vant vitri, | vildi Þeim hjalÞa:
skyldu of sáe sigla, | en sjolf né kvamskat.
A poem in Fornyrthislag is normally entitled -kvitha (Thrymskvitha, Guthrunarkvitha, etc.), which for
convenience I have rendered as "lay," while a poem in Ljothahattr is entitled -mol (Grimnismol,
Skirnismol, etc.), which I have rendered as "ballad." It is difficult to find any distinction other than
metrical between the two terms, although it is clear that one originally existed.
Variations frequently appear in all three kinds of verse, and these I have attempted to indicate through the
rhythm of the translation. In order to preserve so far as possible the effect of the Eddic verse, I have
adhered, in making the English version, to certain of the fundamental rules governing the Norse line and
stanza formations. The number of lines to each stanza conforms to what seems the best guess as to the
original, and I have consistently retained the number of accented syllables. in translating from a highly
inflected language into one depending largely on the use of subsidiary words, it has, however, been
necessary to employ considerable freedom as to the number of unaccented syllables in a line. The
initial-rhyme is generally confined to two accented syllables in each line. As in the original, all initial
vowels are allowed to rhyme interchangeably, but I have disregarded the rule which lets certain groups of
consonants rhyme only with themselves
{p. xxvii}
(e.g., I have allowed initial s or st to rhyme with sk or sl). In general, I have sought to preserve the effect
of the original form whenever possible without an undue sacrifice of accuracy. For purposes of
comparison, the translations of the three stanzas just given are here included:
Fornyrthislag:
Ljothahattr:
Malahattr:
Wild was Vingthor | when he awoke,
And when his mighty | hammer he missed;
He shook his beard, | his hair was bristling,
To groping set | the son of Jorth.
He must early go forth | who fain the blood
Or the goods of another would get;
The wolf that lies idle | shall win little meat,
Or the sleeping man success.
Wise was the woman, | she fain would use wisdom,
She saw well what meant | all they said in secret; . .
From her heart it was hid | how help she might render,
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