Historic Rune Magic

Hávamál

Nine power-spells I learned from the noted son
Of Bestla's father, Bolthorn: And a drink I took
Of the precious mead poured out of Othrerir.

Then I became fruitful; to grow and thrive.
Word sought word after word in me:
Spell sought spell after spell in me.

Runes you will find, and skilful characters;
Very great characters, very strong characters:
That a mighty thule painted, and great gods made,
Carved by the prophet of the gods.

Odin among Ćsir, but Dain for elves
And Dvalin for dwarves,
Asviđr for giants:
Some I carved myself.

Do you know how to carve them?
Do you know how to read them?
Do you know how to paint them?
Do you know how to prove them?
Do you know how to pray with them?
Do you know how to sacrifice with them?
Do you know how to send with them?
Do you know how to offer with them?

It is better not to pray at all than to sacrifice too much:
a gift always demands a repayment.
It is better not to send al all than to offer too much:
Thus Thundr carved before the birth of nations
At that point he began when he came back.

I know those spells which no lord's wife knows,
Nor any man's son.

One is called Help, and it will help you
Against sorrows and ordeals and every grief there is.

I know the second, which those sons of men need
Who wish to live as healers.

I know the third:
If my need grows dire
For binding my deadly enemies, I dull the blades
Of my foe - neither weapon nor deception will bite for them.

I know this, the fourth:
If warriors tie up
My arms, I call this,
And I can go free: the shackes break from my feet,
And the handcuffs from my hands.

I know this, the fifth:
If I seen an arrow shot in combat,
Shot deadly straight,
None flies so hard that I cannot stop it
If I catch sight of it.

I know this, the sixth;
If a lord curses me by the roots of a fresh young tree,
The man who calls down curses on me
Misfortunes will destroy him, rather than me.

I know this, the seventh:
If I see a high hill on fire around my comrades,
None burns so fiercely that I cannot rescue them;
I know the spell to chant.

I know this, the eighth:
Which is useful for everyone to learn,
Whose hatred grows for a war-king's sons:
I can soon alter that.

I know this, the ninth:
If I need to keep my ship afloat,
I can calm the wind, smooth the waves,
And lull the sea to sleep

I know this, the tenth:
If I see the hedge-riders magically flying high,
I can make it so they go astray
Of their own skins, and of their own souls.

I know this, the eleventh:
If I must lead old friends to battle,
I call under their shields, and they go empowered,
Safe to war, safe from war, safe wherever they are.

I know this, the twelfth:
If I see a corpse swinging from a noose high in a tree,
Then I carve and I paint the runes,
So that the man comes down and speaks with me.

I know this, the thirteenth:
If I should sprinkle water on a young lord,
He will not fall, no matter if he goes to war -
The hero will not go down beneath the swords.

I know this, the fourteenth:
If I should preach of the gods at a moot,
I will know how to distinguish between all gods and elves:
Few of the unwise know this.

I know this, the fifteenth,
Which the dwarf Thjorthrerir
Called before Delling's doors.
He chanted power to the gods and strength to elves,
And foresight to Hropta-Tyr.

I know this, the sixteenth:
If I want to have the wise woman's spirited games,
I steal the heart of a white-armed wench
And I turn all her thoughts.

I know this, the seventeenth:
So that the young woman will not want to avoid me.
Loddfafnir, you will be long in learning these lays,
Thought they will do you good if you get them,
Be usable if you can grasp them,
Handy if you have them.

I know this, the eighteenth,
Which never will I teach Maid or Man's wife
(It is better to understand it alone - the end of the poem follows),
Except tht woman who folds me in her arms,
Or perhaps my sister.

Now are the Hávamál sung in Hávi's Hall,
Essential to the sons of men, useless to the son's of giants.
Hale he sang, hale he who understands.
May he use them well who has grasped them,
Hale those who have listened.

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