The Poetic Edda on Mengloth

The > Volume I > The Lay Of Fjolsvith

• relationship: Mengloth is identified as the offspring of Svafrthorin.

  "24. "Mengloth is she, | her mother bore her To the son of Svafrthorin; She is it that holds | and has for her own The rule of the hall so rich."

Svipdag spake:"

• attestation: Mengloth is characterized by age in the verse.

  "24. "Mengloth is she, | her mother bore her To the son of Svafrthorin; She is it that holds | and has for her own The rule of the hall so rich."

Svipdag spake:"

• attestation: Mengloth is characterized by gladness in the verse.

  "53. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, | the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What maidens are they | that at Mengloth's knees Are sitting so gladly together?"

Fjolsvith spake:"

• attestation: Mengloth is characterized by beauty in the verse.

  "57. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, | the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: Lives there the man | who in Mengloth's arms So fair may seek to sleep?"

Fjolsvith spake:"

• attribution: Mengloth delivers a speech in the verse.

  "60. "Hearken, Mengloth, | a man is come; Go thou the guest to see! The hounds are fawning, | the house bursts open,— Svipdag, methinks, is there."

Mengloth spake:"

The > Volume I > Notes

• attestation: Mengloth's name suggests she may be Frigg (possessor of the Brisings' necklace) or Freyja

  "This name has suggested that Mengloth is really Frigg, possessor of the famous Brisings' necklace, or else Freyja"

• attestation: A circle of impossibilities protects Mengloth: the dogs need the cock's wing-joints, the cock can only be killed by Sinmora's sword, and Sinmora will only trade for the cock's tail feather

  "With this the circle of impossibilities is completed. To get past the dogs, they must be fed with the wing-joints of the cock Vithofnir; the cock can be killed only with the sword in Sinmora's possession, and Sinmora will give up the sword only in return for the tail feather of the cock"

• attestation: Mengloth's handmaidens' names translate approximately as Helper, Help-Breather, Folk-Guardian, Shining, White, Blithe, Peaceful, Kindly, and Gold-Giver

  "They may be approximately rendered thus: Helper, Help-Breather, Folk-Guardian, Shining, White, Blithe, Peaceful, Kindly (?), and Gold-Giver"

The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Pronouncing Index

• relationship: Mengloth is the beloved of Svipdag

  "Men′-gloth, beloved of Svipdag"