Poetic EddaNorse MythologyAncient Myth / ComparativeOld NorseSharePoetic Edda 15Bellows - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableBellowsLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Poetic Edda 1Poetic Edda 2Poetic Edda 3Poetic Edda 4Poetic Edda 5Poetic Edda 6Poetic Edda 7Poetic Edda 8Poetic Edda 9Poetic Edda 10Poetic Edda 11Poetic Edda 12Poetic Edda 13Poetic Edda 14Poetic Edda 15Poetic Edda 16Poetic Edda 17Poetic Edda 18Poetic Edda 19Poetic Edda 20Poetic Edda 21Poetic Edda 22Poetic Edda 23Poetic Edda 24Poetic Edda 25Poetic Edda 26Poetic Edda 27Poetic Edda 28Poetic Edda 29Poetic Edda 30Poetic Edda 31Poetic Edda 32Poetic Edda 33Poetic Edda 34Poetic Edda 35Poetic Edda 36Poetic Edda 37Poetic Edda 38Poetic Edda 39Poetic Edda 40Poetic Edda 41Poetic Edda 42Poetic Edda 43Poetic Edda 44Poetic Edda 45Poetic Edda 46Poetic Edda 47Poetic Edda 48Poetic Edda 49Poetic Edda 50Poetic Edda 51Poetic Edda 52Poetic Edda 53Poetic Edda 54Poetic Edda 55Poetic Edda 56Poetic Edda 57Poetic Edda 58Poetic Edda 59Poetic Edda 60Poetic Edda 61Poetic Edda 62Poetic Edda 63Poetic Edda 64Poetic Edda 65Poetic Edda 66Poetic Edda 67Poetic Edda 68Poetic Edda 69Poetic Edda 70Poetic Edda 71Poetic Edda 72Poetic Edda 73Poetic Edda 74Poetic Edda 75Poetic Edda 76Poetic Edda 77Poetic Edda 78Poetic Edda 79Poetic Edda 80Poetic Edda 81Poetic Edda 82Poetic Edda 83Poetic Edda 84Poetic Edda 85Poetic Edda 86›Introductory NotePoetic Edda 15ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1The Lokasenna is found only in Regius, where it follows the Hymiskvitha; Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a single stanza. 2The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection, and seems to have been preserved in exceptionally good condition. The exchange or contest of insults was dear to the Norse heart, and the Lokasenna consists chiefly of Loki’s taunts to the assembled gods and goddesses, and their largely ineffectual attempts to talk back to him. The author was evidently well versed in mythological lore, and the poem is full of references to incidents not elsewhere recorded. As to its date and origin there is the usual dispute, but the latter part of the tenth century and Iceland seem the best guesses. 3The prose notes are long and of unusual interest. The introductory one links the poem closely to the Hymiskvitha, much as the Reginsmol, Fafnismol and Sigrdrifumol are linked together; the others fill in the narrative gaps in the dialogue—very like stage directions,—and provide a conclusion by relating Loki’s punishment, which, presumably, is here connected with the wrong incident. It is likely that often when the poem was recited during the two centuries or so before it was committed to writing, the speaker inserted some such explanatory comments, and the compiler of the collection followed this example by adding such explanations as he thought necessary. The Lokasenna is certainly much older than the Hymiskvitha, the connection between them being purely one of subject-matter; and the twelfth-century compiler evidently knew a good deal less about mythology than the author whose work he was annotating. 4Ægir, who was also called Gymir, had prepared ale for the gods, after he had got the mighty kettle, as now has been told. To this feast came Othin and Frigg, his wife. Thor came not, as he was on a journey in the East. Sif, Thor’s wife, was there, and Bragi with Ithun, his wife. Tyr, who had but one hand, was there; the wolf Fenrir had bitten off his other hand when they had bound him. There were Njorth and Skathi his wife, Freyr and Freyja, and Vithar, the son of Othin. Loki was there, and Freyr’s servants Byggvir and Beyla. Many were there of the gods and elves. 5Ægir had two serving-men, Fimafeng and Eldir. Glittering gold they had in place of firelight; the ale came in of itself; and great was the peace. The guests praised much the ability of Ægir’s serving-men. Loki might not endure that, and he slew Fimafeng. Then the gods shook their shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest, and thereafter set to drinking again. Loki turned back, and outside he met Eldir. Loki spoke to him: 61. “Speak now, Eldir, | for not one step Farther shalt thou fare; What ale-talk here | do they have within, The sons of the glorious gods?” 72. “Of their weapons they talk, | and their might in war, The sons of the glorious gods; From the gods and elves | who are gathered here No friend in words shalt thou find.” 83. “In shall I go | into Ægir’s hall, For the feast I fain would see; Bale and hatred | I bring to the gods, And their mead with venom I mix.” 94. “If in thou goest | to Ægir’s hall, And fain the feast wouldst see, And with slander and spite | wouldst sprinkle the gods, Think well lest they wipe it on thee.” 105. “Bethink thee, Eldir, | if thou and I Shall strive with spiteful speech; Richer I grow | in ready words If thou speakest too much to me.” 11Then Loki went into the hall, but when they who were there saw who had entered, they were all silent. 126. “Thirsty I come | into this thine hall, I, Lopt, from a journey long, To ask of the gods | that one should give Fair mead for a drink to me. 137. “Why sit ye silent, | swollen with pride, Ye gods, and no answer give? At your feast a place | and a seat prepare me, Or bid me forth to fare.” 148. “A place and a seat | will the gods prepare No more in their midst for thee; For the gods know well | what men they wish To find at their mighty feasts.” 159. “Remember, Othin, | in olden days That we both our blood have mixed; Then didst thou promise | no ale to pour, Unless it were brought for us both.” 1610. “Stand forth then, Vithar, | and let the wolf’s father Find a seat at our feast; Lest evil should Loki | speak aloud Here within Ægir’s hall.” 17Then Vithar arose and poured drink for Loki; but before he drank he spoke to the gods: 1811. “Hail to you, gods! | ye goddesses, hail! Hail to the holy throng! Save for the god | who yonder sits, Bragi there on the bench.” 1912. “A horse and a sword | from my hoard will I give, And a ring gives Bragi to boot, That hatred thou makst not | among the gods; So rouse not the great ones to wrath.” 2013. “In horses and rings | thou shalt never be rich, Bragi, but both shalt thou lack; Of the gods and elves | here together met Least brave in battle art thou, (And shyest thou art of the shot.)” 2114. “Now were I without | as I am within, And here in Ægir’s hall, Thine head would I bear | in mine hands away, And pay thee the price of thy lies.” 2215. “In thy seat art thou bold, | not so are thy deeds, Bragi, adorner of benches! Go out and fight | if angered thou feelest, No hero such forethought has.” 2316. “Well, prithee, Bragi, | his kinship weigh, Since chosen as wish-son he was; And speak not to Loki | such words of spite Here within Ægir’s hall.” 2417. “Be silent, Ithun! | thou art, I say, Of women most lustful in love, Since thou thy washed-bright | arms didst wind About thy brother’s slayer.” 2518. “To Loki I speak not | with spiteful words Here within Ægir’s hall; And Bragi I calm, | who is hot with beer, For I wish not that fierce they should fight.” 2619. “Why, ye gods twain, | with bitter tongues Raise hate among us here? Loki is famed | for his mockery foul, And the dwellers in heaven he hates.” 2720. “Be silent, Gefjun! | for now shall I say Who led thee to evil life; The boy so fair | gave a necklace bright, And about him thy leg was laid.” 2821. “Mad art thou, Loki, | and little of wit, The wrath of Gefjun to rouse; For the fate that is set | for all she sees, Even as I, methinks.” 2922. “Be silent, Othin! | not justly thou settest The fate of the fight among men; Oft gavst thou to him | who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle’s prize.” 3023. “Though I gave to him | who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle’s prize; Winters eight | wast thou under the earth, Milking the cows as a maid, (Ay, and babes didst thou bear; Unmanly thy soul must seem.)” 3124. “They say that with spells | in Samsey once Like witches with charms didst thou work; And in witch’s guise | among men didst thou go; Unmanly thy soul must seem.” 3225. “Of the deeds ye two | of old have done Ye should make no speech among men; Whate’er ye have done | in days gone by, Old tales should ne’er be told.” 3326. “Be silent, Frigg! | thou art Fjorgyn’s wife, But ever lustful in love; For Vili and Ve, | thou wife of Vithrir, Both in thy bosom have lain.” 3427. “If a son like Baldr | were by me now, Here within Ægir’s hall, From the sons of the gods | thou shouldst go not forth Till thy fierceness in fight were tried.” 3528. “Thou wilt then, Frigg, | that further I tell Of the ill that now I know; Mine is the blame | that Baldr no more Thou seest ride home to the hall.” 3629. “Mad art thou, Loki, | that known thou makest The wrong and shame thou hast wrought; The fate of all | does Frigg know well, Though herself she says it not.” 3730. “Be silent, Freyja! | for fully I know thee, Sinless thou art not thyself; Of the gods and elves | who are gathered here, Each one as thy lover has lain.” 3831. “False is thy tongue, | and soon shalt thou find That it sings thee an evil song; The gods are wroth, | and the goddesses all, And in grief shalt thou homeward go.” 3932. “Be silent, Freyja! | thou foulest witch, And steeped full sore in sin; In the arms of thy brother | the bright gods caught thee When Freyja her wind set free.” 4033. “Small ill does it work | though a woman may have A lord or a lover or both; But a wonder it is | that this womanish god Comes hither, though babes he has borne.” 4134. “Be silent, Njorth; | thou wast eastward sent, To the gods as a hostage given; And the daughters of Hymir | their privy had When use did they make of thy mouth.” 4235. “Great was my gain, | though long was I gone, To the gods as a hostage given; The son did I have | whom no man hates, And foremost of gods is found.” 4336. “Give heed now, Njorth, | nor boast too high, No longer I hold it hid; With thy sister hadst thou | so fair a son, Thus hadst thou no worse a hope.” 4437. “Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best Here in the home of the gods; He harms not maids | nor the wives of men, And the bound from their fetters he frees.” 4538. “Be silent, Tyr! | for between two men Friendship thou ne’er couldst fashion; Fain would I tell | how Fenrir once Thy right hand rent from thee.” 4639. “My hand do I lack, | but Hrothvitnir thou, And the loss brings longing to both; Ill fares the wolf | who shall ever await In fetters the fall of the gods.” 4740. “Be silent, Tyr! | for a son with me Thy wife once chanced to win; Not a penny, methinks, | wast thou paid for the wrong, Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch.” 4841. “By the mouth of the river | the wolf remains Till the gods to destruction go; Thou too shalt soon, | if thy tongue is not stilled, Be fettered, thou forger of ill.” 4942. “The daughter of Gymir | with gold didst thou buy, And sold thy sword to boot; But when Muspell’s sons | through Myrkwood ride, Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch.” 5043. “Had I birth so famous | as Ingunar-Freyr, And sat in so lofty a seat, I would crush to marrow | this croaker of ill, And beat all his body to bits.” 5144. “What little creature | goes crawling there, Snuffling and snapping about? At Freyr’s ears ever | wilt thou be found, Or muttering hard at the mill.” 5245. “Byggvir my name, | and nimble am I, As gods and men do grant; And here am I proud | that the children of Hropt Together all drink ale.” 5346. “Be silent, Byggvir! | thou never couldst set Their shares of the meat for men; Hid in straw on the floor, | they found thee not When heroes were fain to fight.” 5447. “Drunk art thou, Loki, | and mad are thy deeds, Why, Loki, leavst thou this not? For drink beyond measure | will lead all men No thought of their tongues to take.” 5548. “Be silent, Heimdall! | in days long since Was an evil fate for thee fixed; With back held stiff | must thou ever stand, As warder of heaven to watch.” 5649. “Light art thou, Loki, | but longer thou mayst not In freedom flourish thy tail; On the rocks the gods bind thee | with bowels torn Forth from thy frost-cold son.” 5750. “Though on rocks the gods bind me | with bowels torn Forth from my frost-cold son, I was first and last | at the deadly fight There where Thjazi we caught.” 5851. “Wert thou first and last | at the deadly fight There where Thjazi was caught, From my dwellings and fields | shall ever come forth A counsel cold for thee.” 5952. “More lightly thou spakest | with Laufey’s son, When thou badst me come to thy bed; Such things must be known | if now we two Shall seek our sins to tell.” 60Then Sif came forward and poured mead for Loki in a crystal cup, and said: 6153. “Hail to thee, Loki, | and take thou here The crystal cup of old mead; For me at least, | alone of the gods, Blameless thou knowest to be.” 62He took the horn, and drank therefrom: 6354. “Alone thou wert | if truly thou wouldst All men so shyly shun; But one do I know | full well, methinks, Who had thee from Hlorrithi’s arms,— (Loki the crafty in lies.)” 6455. “The mountains shake, | and surely I think From his home comes Hlorrithi now; He will silence the man | who is slandering here Together both gods and men.” 6556. “Be silent, Beyla! | thou art Byggvir’s wife, And deep art thou steeped in sin; A greater shame | to the gods came ne’er, Befouled thou art with thy filth.” 66Then came Thor forth, and spake: 6757. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; Thy shoulder-cliff | shall I cleave from thy neck, And so shall thy life be lost.” 6858. “Lo, in has come | the son of Earth: Why threaten so loudly, Thor? Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf When he swallows Sigfather up.” 6959. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; I shall hurl thee up | and out in the East, Where men shall see thee no more.” 7060. “That thou hast fared | on the East-road forth To men shouldst thou say no more; In the thumb of a glove | didst thou hide, thou great one, And there forgot thou wast Thor.” 7161. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; My right hand shall smite thee | with Hrungnir’s slayer, Till all thy bones are broken.” 7262. “A long time still | do I think to live, Though thou threatenest thus with thy hammer; Rough seemed the straps | of Skrymir’s wallet, When thy meat thou mightest not get, (And faint from hunger didst feel.)” 7363. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; The slayer of Hrungnir | shall send thee to hell, And down to the gate of death.” 7464. “I have said to the gods | and the sons of the gods The things that whetted my thoughts; But before thee alone | do I now go forth, For thou fightest well, I ween. 7565. “Ale hast thou brewed, | but, Ægir, now Such feasts shalt thou make no more; O’er all that thou hast | which is here within Shall play the flickering flames, (And thy back shall be burnt with fire.)” 76And after that Loki hid himself in Franang’s waterfall in the guise of a salmon, and there the gods took him. He was bound with the bowels of his son Vali, but his son Narfi was changed to a wolf. Skathi took a poison-snake and fastened it up over Loki’s face, and the poison dropped thereon. Sigyn, Loki’s wife, sat there and held a shell under the poison, but when the shell was full she bore away the poison, and meanwhile the poison dropped on Loki. Then he struggled so hard that the whole earth shook therewith; and now that is called an earthquake. ‹Previous chapterPoetic Edda 14Next chapterPoetic Edda 16›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg