FORMÁL I.

FORMÁLI.

Hlióðs bið ec

Allar kindar,

Meiri oc minni,

Mavgo Heimdallar.

Vildo it ec Valfavðvr

Vél fyr telia,

Fornspiöll fíra

Pau er fremst um man.

-Völuspá, st.i.

THE banished Bragi saw his power decline,

And hung his harp upon a mountain pine:

A hundred winters through its strings had breathed, A hundred summers round it verdure wreathed,

When from Hræsvelgur's wings a blast was flung 5 Against the aged limb on which it hung,

That bent and broke, and with it fell below,

The harp which sunk deep into Noreg's snow.
A sable Alf saw where the treasure dropped,
And ages after, when the wind had lopped
Off every tree, and laid the mountain bare,
Came to the spot and dug up what was there—
The harp untouched by time; its sound as clear
As when it rang on Bragi's heedful ear.
The Álf abhorred the Sviar from his heart,

And would not to that race the lyre impart :

He gave it-better had its strings been mute-
In spite he gave it to Zavarr the Jute,

And made him swear to sing of songs but three,
Then cast it into an unfathomed sea,

10.

15

20

Where buried 'neath the wealth of Rán's rich grot,

Its voice

may die.

Conceive ye this or not?

END OF FORMÁLI.

PART FIRST.

ARI OK DÛFA.