Prose EddaNorse MythologyAncient Myth / ComparativeOld NorseShareProse Edda 17Anderson - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableAndersonLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Prose Edda 1Prose Edda 2Prose Edda 3Prose Edda 4Prose Edda 5Prose Edda 6Prose Edda 7Prose Edda 8Prose Edda 9Prose Edda 10Prose Edda 11Prose Edda 12Prose Edda 13Prose Edda 14Prose Edda 15Prose Edda 16Prose Edda 17Prose Edda 18Prose Edda 19Prose Edda 20Prose Edda 21Prose Edda 22Prose Edda 23Prose Edda 24Prose Edda 25Prose Edda 26Prose Edda 27Prose Edda 28Prose Edda 29Prose Edda 30Prose Edda 31Prose Edda 32Prose Edda 33Prose Edda 34Prose Edda 35›Ragnarok.Prose Edda 17ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter155. Then said Ganglere: What tidings are to be told of Ragnarok? Of this I have never heard before. Har answered: Great things are to be said thereof. First, there is a winter called the Fimbul-winter, when snow drives from all quarters, the frosts are so severe, the winds so keen and piercing, that there is no joy in the sun. There are three such winters in succession, without any intervening summer. But before these there are three other winters, during which great wars rage over all the world. Brothers slay each other for the sake of gain, and no one spares his father or mother in that manslaughter and adultery. Thus says the Vala’s Prophecy: 2Brothers will fight together And become each other’s bane; Sisters’ children Their sib shall spoil.[62] Hard is the world, Sensual sins grow huge. There are ax-ages, sword-ages-- Shields are cleft in twain,-- There are wind-ages, wolf-ages, Ere the world falls dead.[63] 3[Footnote 62: Commit adultery.] 4[Footnote 63: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 48, 49.] 5Then happens what will seem a great miracle, that the wolf[64] devours the sun, and this will seem a great loss. The other wolf will devour the moon, and this too will cause great mischief. The stars shall be Hurled from heaven. Then it shall come to pass that the earth and the mountains will shake so violently that trees will be torn up by the roots, the mountains will topple down, and all bonds and fetters will be broken and snapped. The Fenris-wolf gets loose. The sea rushes over the earth, for the Midgard-serpent writhes in giant rage and seeks to gain the land. The ship that is called Naglfar also becomes loose. It is made of the nails of dead men; wherefore it is worth warning that, when a man dies with unpared nails, he supplies a large amount of materials for the building of this ship, which both gods and men wish may be finished as late as possible. But in this flood Naglfar gets afloat. The giant Hrym is its steersman. The Fenris-wolf advances with wide open mouth; the upper jaw reaches to heaven and the lower jaw is on the earth. He would open it still wider had he room. Fire flashes from his eyes and nostrils. The Midgard-serpent vomits forth venom, defiling all the air and the sea; he is very terrible, and places himself by the side of the wolf. In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, and the sons of Muspel come riding through the opening. Surt rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire. 6He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun. As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated. The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid. Thither repair also the Fenris-wolf and the Midgard-serpent. To this place have also come Loke and Hrym, and with him all the frost-giants. In Loke’s company are all the friends of Hel. The sons of Muspel have there effulgent bands alone by themselves. The plain Vigrid is one hundred miles (rasts) on each side. 756. While these things are happening, Heimdal stands up, blows with all his might in the Gjallar-horn and awakens all the gods, who thereupon hold counsel. Odin rides to Mimer’s well to ask advice of Mimer for himself and his folk. Then quivers the ash Ygdrasil, and all things in heaven and earth fear and tremble. The asas and the einherjes arm themselves and speed forth to the battle-field. Odin rides first; with his golden helmet, resplendent byrnie, and his spear Gungner, he advances against the Fenris-wolf. Thor stands by his side, but can give him no assistance, for he has his hands full in his struggle with the Midgard-serpent. Frey encounters Surt, and heavy blows are exchanged ere Frey falls. The cause of his death is that he has not that good sword which he gave to Skirner. Even the dog Garm, that was bound before the Gnipa-cave, gets loose. He is the greatest plague. He contends with Tyr, and they kill each other. Thor gets great renown by slaying the Midgard-serpent, but retreats only nine paces when he falls to the earth dead, poisoned by the venom that the serpent blows on him. The wolf swallows Odin, and thus causes his death; but Vidar immediately turns and rushes at the wolf, placing one foot on his nether jaw. On this foot he has the shoe for which materials have been gathering through all ages, namely, the strips of leather which men cut off for the toes and heels of shoes; 8wherefore he who wishes to render assistance to the asas must cast these strips away. With one hand Vidar seizes the upper jaw of the wolf, and thus rends asunder his mouth. Thus the wolf perishes. Loke fights with Heimdal, and they kill each other. Thereupon Surt flings fire over the earth and burns up all the world. Thus it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy: 9Loud blows Heimdal His uplifted horn. Odin speaks With Mimer’s head. The straight-standing ash Ygdrasil quivers, The old tree groans, And the giant gets loose. 10How fare the asas? How fare the elves? All Jotunheim roars. The asas hold counsel; Before their stone-doors Groan the dwarfs, The guides of the wedge-rock. Know you now more or not? 11From the east drives Hrym, Bears his shield before him. Jormungand welters In giant rage And smites the waves. The eagle screams, And with pale beak tears corpses, Naglfar gets loose. 12A ship comes from the east, The hosts of Muspel Come o’er the main, And Loke is steersman. All the fell powers Are with the wolf; Along with them Is Byleist’s brother.[65] 13From the south comes Surt With blazing fire-brand,-- The sun of the war-god Shines from his sword. Mountains dash together, Giant maids are frightened, Heroes go the way to Hel, And heaven is rent in twain. 14Then comes to Hlin Another woe, When Odin goes With the wolf to fight, And Bele’s bright slayer[66] To contend with Surt. There will fall Frigg’s beloved. 15Odin’s son goes To fight with the wolf, And Vidar goes on his way To the wild beast.[67] With his hand he thrusts His sword to the heart Of the giant’s child, And avenges his father. 16Then goes the famous Son[68] of Hlodyn To fight with the serpent. Though about to die, He fears not the contest; All men Abandon their homesteads When the warder of Midgard In wrath slays the serpent. 17The sun grows dark, The earth sinks into the sea, The bright stars From heaven vanish; Fire rages, Heat blazes, And high flames play ’Gainst heaven itself.[69] 18[Footnote 67: The Fenris-wolf.] 19[Footnote 69: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 50-52, 54-57, 59, 60, 62, 63.] 20And again it is said as follows: 21Vigrid is the name of the plain Where in fight shall meet Surt and the gentle god. A hundred miles It is every way. This field is marked out for them.[70] 22[Footnote 70: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 18.] ‹Previous chapterProse Edda 16Next chapterProse Edda 18›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