The Prose Edda (9 page)

‘Then All-Father sent the gods to seize the children and bring them to him. When they appeared before him, he threw the serpent into the deep sea that surrounds all lands. But the serpent grew so large that now, out in the middle of the ocean, it lies coiled around all lands, biting its tail. Hel he threw down into Niflheim and made her ruler over nine worlds. She has the power to dole out lodgings and provisions to those who are sent to her, and they are the people who have died of disease or old age. She has there an enormous dwelling, with walls of immense height and huge gates. Her hall is called Eljudnir [Sprayed with Snowstorms], her dish is Hunger, her knife is Famine, her slave is Lazy, and Slothful is her woman servant. The threshold over which people enter is a pitfall called Fallandaforad [Falling to Peril], her bed is named Kor [Sick Bed], and her bed curtains are named Blikjandabol [Gleaming Disaster]. She is half black and half a lighter flesh colour and is easily recognized. Mostly she is gloomy and cruel.

‘The Æsir raised the wolf at home, but only Tyr had the courage to approach it and feed it. But the gods saw how much
the wolf grew every day and knew that all the prophecies foretold that it was destined to harm them. Then the Æsir devised a plan to make an especially strong fetter. They named it Laeding and brought it to the wolf, inviting him to test his strength against it. As it seemed to the wolf that this test would not require much strength, he let them do as they wished. The first time the wolf stretched the muscles in his legs, the fetter broke. Thus he freed himself from Laeding.

‘Next the gods made a second fetter. Twice as strong, it was called Dromi. Again they asked the wolf to test the fetter, telling him that he would become renowned for his strength if such magnificent forging was unable to hold him. The wolf thought to himself that, even though the fetter was very strong, his strength had grown even more since he had broken Laeding. He also recognized that, to become renowned, he would have to place himself in danger, and so he let them put the fetter on him. When the Æsir were ready, the wolf started to twist and beat the fetter against the ground. He struggled with all his might and, using his legs, he snapped the fetter with such force that the pieces flew into the distance. Thus he escaped from Dromi. Since then, there has been an expression, when a task is extremely difficult, that one frees oneself from Laeding or breaks out from Dromi.

‘After this happened, the gods began to fear that they would not succeed in binding the wolf. So All-Father sent Skirnir [Bright One], Frey's messenger, down to Svartalfaheim [World of the Dark Elves], and there he had some dwarves make the fetter called Gleipnir. It was constructed from six elements: the noise of a cat's footsteps, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the spittle of a bird. Though previously you had no knowledge of these matters, you now can quickly see the proof that you were not deluded. You must have noticed that a woman has no beard, a cat's movement makes no loud noise and mountains have no roots. Truly, I say, all you have been told is equally reliable, even though you have no way to test some things.'

Then Gangleri said, ‘I can certainly understand the truth of
what you say. I accept the examples you have used. But what did the fetter look like when it was completed?'

High answered, ‘That I can easily tell you. The fetter was smooth and soft as a silk ribbon, yet it was reliable and strong, as you will now hear. When the fetter was brought to the Æsir, they heartily thanked the messenger for carrying out his errand. Then the gods travelled out on to a lake called Amsvartnir [Pitch Black] and sent for the wolf to accompany them. They went on to an island named Lyngvi, where they showed the wolf the silky band, offering to let him try to break it. They told him that despite its thinness, it was somewhat stronger than it appeared. Passing it among themselves, each tested the band's strength in his hands. No one could pull it apart. Nevertheless, they said that the wolf would be able to break it.

‘Then the wolf answered: “It seems to me that a ribbon like this one, which is so narrow a band, offers no renown even if I break it apart. But if it is made with cunning and treachery, even though it looks unimpressive, then I will not permit this band to be put on my legs.”

‘The Æsir replied that he would quickly snap such a narrow silky band, as he had already broken powerful iron fetters. “But if you are unable to break free from this band, the gods will have no reason to fear you, and then we will free you.”

‘The wolf answered: “If you were to bind me in such a way that I was unable to free myself, then you would betray and abandon me, and it would be a long time before I received any help from you. I am unwilling to allow that band to be put on me. Rather than questioning my courage, why not let one of you place his hand in my mouth as a pledge that there is no treachery in this offer?”

‘The gods now looked at one another, realizing the seriousness of the problem they faced. No one was willing to hold out his hand until Tyr raised his right hand and laid it in the wolf's mouth. But when the wolf strained against the fetter, the band only hardened, and the more he struggled, the stronger the band became. They all laughed, except Tyr; he lost his hand.

‘When the Æsir saw that the wolf was truly bound, they took
the part that hung loose from the fetter. It was called Gelgja, and they threaded the end of it through a huge stone called Gjoll. They fastened the stone deep down in the earth. Then they took an enormous rock called Thviti and drove it even further down into the earth, using it as an anchor post. As the wolf struggled, he opened his mouth. He gaped horribly, trying to bite them, but they slipped a sword into his mouth. The hilt stuck in his lower gums and the blade in the upper gums, wedging his jaw open. As he growled menacingly, saliva drooled from his mouth, forming the river called Van [Hope]. There he remains until Ragnarok.'

Then Gangleri said: ‘What gruesome children Loki sired. All these brothers and sisters are in themselves fearsome, but why didn't the Æsir kill the wolf, since they could expect only destruction from him?'

High answered, ‘The gods hold their sacred places and sanctuaries in such respect that they chose not to defile them with the wolf's blood, even though prophecies foretold that he would be the death of Odin.'

High answered, ‘Frigg is the foremost. She owns the dwelling called Fensalir, and it is splendid in all ways.

‘A second goddess is Saga. She lives at Sokkvabekk, which is a large dwelling.

‘A third is Eir, the best of doctors.

‘A fourth is Gefjun. She is a maiden, and women who die as virgins serve her.

‘A fifth is Fulla. She, too, is a virgin, and she goes about with her hair falling loose and a gold band around her head. She carries Frigg's ashen box, looks after her footwear, and shares secrets with her.

‘Freyja, along with Frigg, is the most noble. She married the man called Od. Their daughter, Hnoss, is so beautiful that from her name comes the word for a treasure that is exceptionally
handsome and valuable. Od went travelling on distant paths while Freyja remained behind, crying tears of red gold. Freyja has many names, because she gave herself different names as she travelled among unknown peoples searching for Od. She is called Mardoll and Horn and Gefn and Syr. Freyja owned Brisingamen
¹
[Necklace of the Brisings]. She is called the goddess of the Vanir.

‘The seventh goddess, Sjofn, is deeply committed to turning the thoughts of both men and women to love. The word for lover,
sjafni
, is derived from her name.

‘The eighth goddess is Lofn [Loving]. She is so gentle and so good to invoke that she has permission from All-Father or Frigg to arrange unions between men and women, even if earlier offers have been refused and unions have been banned. From her name comes the word
lof
, meaning permission as well as high praise.

‘The ninth is Var [Beloved]. She listens to the oaths and private agreements that are made between men and women. For this reason such agreements are called
várar
. She takes vengeance on those who break trust.

‘The tenth, Vor [Careful], is so knowledgeable and inquires so deeply that nothing can be hidden from her. Hence the expression that a woman becomes “aware” [
vor
] of what she learns.

‘The eleventh is Syn [Refusal]. She guards the doors in the hall and locks out those who ought not to enter. She is also appointed to defend cases that she wants to see refuted in the courts. From this situation comes the expression that a denial [
syn
] is advanced when something is refused.

‘The twelfth, Hlin [Protector], is appointed to guard over people whom Frigg wishes to protect from danger. From her name comes the expression that he who escapes finds
hleinir
[peace and quiet].

‘The thirteenth, Snotra, is wise and courtly. From her name comes the custom of calling a clever woman or man
snotr
.

‘The fourteenth is Gna. Frigg sends her to different worlds on errands. She has the horse named Hofvarpnir [Hoof Kicker], which rides through the air and on the sea. Once some
Vanir saw her path as she rode through the air, and one of them said: