The Poetic Edda on Vafthruthnir

The > Volume I > Introductory Note

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by wisdom in the verse.

  "1. "Counsel me, Frigg, | for I long to fare, And Vafthruthnir fain would find; In wisdom old | with the giant wise Myself would I seek to match."

Frigg spake:"

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

  "1. "Counsel me, Frigg, | for I long to fare, And Vafthruthnir fain would find; In wisdom old | with the giant wise Myself would I seek to match."

Frigg spake:"

• attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Vafthruthnir.

  "3. "Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got from the gods; And fain would I know | how Vafthruthnir now Lives in his lofty hall."

Frigg spake:"

• attribution: Vafthruthnir delivers a speech in the verse.

  "6. "Vafthruthnir, hail! | to thy hall am I come, For thyself I fain would see; And first would I ask | if wise thou art, Or, giant, all wisdom hast won."

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attribution: Vafthruthnir delivers a speech in the verse.

  "10. "If a poor man reaches | the home of the rich, Let him wisely speak or be still; For to him who speaks | with the hard of heart Will chattering ever work ill."

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Vafthruthnir.

  "10. "If a poor man reaches | the home of the rich, Let him wisely speak or be still; For to him who speaks | with the hard of heart Will chattering ever work ill."

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: The stanza describes binding or imprisonment involving Vafthruthnir.

  "18. "Vigrith is the field | where in fight shall meet Surt and the gracious gods; A hundred miles | each way does it measure, And so are its boundaries set."

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by wisdom in the verse.

  "24. "Third answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence came the day, | o'er mankind that fares, Or night with the narrowing moon?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Vafthruthnir.

  "26. "Fourth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence did winter come, | or the summer warm, First with the gracious gods?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attribution: Vafthruthnir delivers a speech in the verse.

  "26. "Fourth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence did winter come, | or the summer warm, First with the gracious gods?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by wisdom in the verse.

  "26. "Fourth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence did winter come, | or the summer warm, First with the gracious gods?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Vafthruthnir.

  "28. "Fifth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: What giant first | was fashioned of old, And the eldest of Ymir's kin?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

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

  "28. "Fifth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: What giant first | was fashioned of old, And the eldest of Ymir's kin?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by grimness in the verse.

  "32. "Seventh answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: How begat he children, | the giant grim, Who never a giantess knew?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attribution: Vafthruthnir delivers a speech in the verse.

  "42. "Twelfth answer me now | how all thou knowest Of the fate that is fixed for the gods; Of the runes of the gods | and the giants' race The truth indeed dost thou tell, (And wide is thy wisdom, giant!)"

"

• attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Vafthruthnir.

  "44. "Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What shall live of mankind | when at last there comes The mighty winter to men?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by power in the verse.

  "44. "Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What shall live of mankind | when at last there comes The mighty winter to men?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• attestation: Vafthruthnir is characterized by wisdom in the verse.

  "48. "Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What maidens are they, | so wise of mind, That forth o'er the sea shall fare?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

The > Volume I > Notes

• attestation: Vafthruthnir means 'the Mighty in Riddles' and nothing is known of this giant beyond what the poem tells.

  "Vafthruthnir ("the Mighty in Riddles"): nothing is known of this giant beyond what is told in this poem."

• attestation: Vafthruthnir wagered his head against Othin's in the wisdom contest, so his defeat meant his death.

  "in stanza 19 Vafthruthnir was rash enough to wager his head against his guest's on the outcome of the contest of wisdom, so he knows that his defeat means his death."