Gimlé: Gylfaginning

A Translation of the original text by Snorri Sturluson.

King Gylfi was a wise man with some skills in the arts of magic. He was perplexed about the powers of the aesir, seeing that all things were at their beck and call. Those powers, he reasoned, were either derived from something in their nature or from the godly powers they paid their allegiance to.

He headed towards Asgard in secret; in the guise of an old man. But the aesir learned of this and they spotted him on his journey before he arrived to Asgard. They prepared for his arrival with illusions.

When he arrived in the city he sighted a palace so tall that its upper reaches were barely visible. Its roof was tiled with golden shields.

Gylfi saw a man juggling with handaxes, seven at once, in the palace's doorway. The juggler asked for his name. Gylfi called himself Gangleri and claimed to be a lost wanderer looking for a place to sleep for the night. He asked who the palace's owner was.

The juggler answered that it was their king. “I can take you to see him. You can then ask him yourself for his name,” and in speaking those words he turned around and walked into the palace. The door closed shut after Gylfi as he followed.

Inside he saw many rooms and crowds of people, some playing games, some drinking, some fighting with arms. He found many of the things he saw incredible.

He saw three thrones in a row and three men, each sitting in his throne. He then asked for their names.

The juggler who led him in, answers that the man in the lowest throne was their king whose name was Tall, the man in the next throne was Astall, while the man in the highest throne was Third. Tall then asks the newly-arrived Gylfi whether he has any other business here mentioning that he is free to partake in the feast with the other people in Havahöll.

Gylfi first asks whether there is somebody here who is well-read and knowledgable, as he is seeking some information. Tall says that he will not be able to leave the palace safely without finding some answers to his questions, and

“Step forward as you listen
the speaker shall stay seated.”

Gangleri began with the question: "Who is the greatest or oldest of the gods?"

Tall said: “In our language his name is Allfather, but in ancient Asgard he had twelve different names. One is Allfather, second is Herran or Herjan, third is Nikar or Hnikar, fourth is Nikuss or Hnikuður, fifth is Fjölnir, sixth Óski, seventh Ómi, eighth Bifliði or Biflindi, ninth Sviðar, tenth Sviðrir, eleventh Viðrir, twelfth Jálg or Jálkur.”

Gangleri then asked: “Where is that god, what can he, or what has he accomplished?”

Tall said: “He lives for all ages and rules his all his kingdom, and rules all things, large and small.”

Then Astall says: “He built the heaven and earth and the air and all that belongs to them.”

The Third says: “The geatest thing he did was the creation of man and giving man the spirit that shall live and never fade away, though the body rots to dirt or burns to ash. And all people shall live, those who are honorable and just, and be with him in the place named Gimlé or Vingólf, while the bad and dishonest shall go to Hel and from there to Niflhel, down in the ninth world.”

Then Gangleri asks: “What did he do before the creation of heaven and earth?”

Tall answers: “Then, he was with the ice-giants.”

Gangleri asked: “What was the beginning, how did things begin, what was before?”

Tall answers: “As is said in Völuspá:”

Ár var alda það er ekki var, vara sandur né sær né svalar unnir; jörð fannst eigi né upphiminn, gap var Ginnunga, en gras ekki.”

As the ages began what is, was not, no sand nor sea or cooling waves; no earth was found or sky above, emptiness was young, and of grass was none.

Then Astall says: “Earlier, Niflheimur was made. Many ages before the creation of earth, and there in its middle lies a well named Hvergelmir. From there rivers flow so named: Svöl, Gunnþrá, Fjörm, Fimbulþul, Slíður og Hríð, Sylgur og Ylgur, Víð, Leiftur. Gjöll is the one closest to the gates of Hel.”

Then Third says: “First, though, was the world in the south named Múspell. It is bright and hot, burning with fire, impassable to strangers and those not native to the land. Surtur is the one so named who stands on Múspell's border, guarding the land. His sword is flaming and as the world ends he will go out, make war against and triumph over the gods. And he will burn the whole world with fire. So is said in Völuspá:

Surtur fer sunnan með svigalævi, skín af sverði sól valtíva; grjótbjörg gnata, en gífur rata, troða halir helveg, en himinn klofna

Surtur from the south wielding fire The gods' swords shine in the darkness, like stars in the night Mountains collapse into rubble And fiends shall fall Man walks the road to ruin as the sky splits in two