Stanza 161

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sextánda ef ek vil ins svinna mans hafa geð alt ok gaman hugi ek hverfi hvítarmri konu ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa	I know a sixteenth: if I see a girl With whom it would please me to play, I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart Of any white armed woman.	162. A sixteenth I know, | if I seek delight To win from a maiden wise; The mind I turn | of the white-armed maid, And thus change all her thoughts.	160. A sixteenth I know: when all sweetness and love I would win from some artful wench, her heart I turn, and the whole mind change of that fair-armed lady I love.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a sixteenth. If I want the heart and pleasure of a winsome lass, I turn the mind of the white-armed lady to me, and wend to bed with her.	That sixteenth I know, if I seek me some maid, to work my will with her: the white-armed woman's heart I bewitch, and toward me I turn her thoughts.	I know a sixteenth: if I say that spell any girl soon grants my desires; I win the heart of the white-armed maiden, turn her thoughts where I will.	163. For the sixteenth I know, if a modest maiden’s favour and affection I desire to possess, the soul I change of the white-armed damsel, and wholly turn her mind.
We, uh, are gonna just cruise on by this one..

Stanza 160

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fimmtánda er gól Þjóðreyrir dvergr fyr Dellings durum afl gól hann ásum en álfum frama hyggju Hroptatý	I know a fifteenth, that first Thjodrerir Sang before Delling's doors, Giving power to gods, prowess to elves, Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn,	161. A fifteenth I know, | that before the doors Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf; Might he sang for the gods, | and glory for elves, And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise.	159. A fifteenth I know, which Folk-stirrer sang, the dwarf, at the gates of Dawn; he sang strength to the gods, and skill to the elves, and wisdom to Odin who utters.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fifteenth, which Thiodrorir the dwarf sang before Delling’s door. He sang might to the Aesir, power to the elves, and understanding to Odin.	That know I fifteenth which Thjothrærir sang, the dwarf, before Delling's door: gave to Æsir strength, to alfs victory by his song, and insight to Othin.	I know a fifteenth that the dwarf Thjodrorir chanted at Delling's door: power to the Æsir, triumph to the elves, understanding to Odin.	162. For the fifteenth I know what the dwarf Thiodreyrir sang before Delling’s doors. Strength he sang to the Æsir, and to the Alfar prosperity, wisdom to Hroptatýr.
This stanza, according to Müllenhoff, was the original conclusion of the poem, the phrase "a fifteenth" being inserted only after stanzas 162-165 had crept in. Delling: a seldom mentioned god who married Not (Night). Their son was Dag (Day). Thjothrörir: not mentioned elsewhere. Hroptatyr: Othin.

Stanza 159

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fjórtánda ef ek skal fyrða liði telja tíva fyrir ása ok álfa ek kann allra skil fár kann ósnotr svá	I know a fourteenth, that few know: If I tell a troop of warriors About the high ones, elves and gods, I can name them one by one. (Few can the nit-wit name.)	A fourteenth I know, | if fain I would name To men the mighty gods; All know I well | of the gods and elves, Few be the fools know this.	158. A fourteenth I know: if I needs must number the Powers to the people of men, I know all the nature of gods and of elves which none can know untaught.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fourteenth: If I talk of the gods before the folk, I can speak of Ases and elves. Few of the unlearned know these things.	That fourteenth I know, if to folk I shall sing and say of the Gods: Æsir and alfs know I altogether-- of unlearned few have that lore.	I know a fourteenth, as men will find when I tell them tales of the gods: I know all about the elves and the Æsir -- few fools can say as much.	161. For the fourteenth I know, if in the society of men I have to enumerate the gods, Æsir and Alfar, I know the distinctions of all. This few unskilled can do.
Our lore and history is an important thing to know. We have all seen the “bro-satru” out there, who insist they are going to Valhalla because they've watched the Marvel movies..

Stanza 158

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it þrettánda ef ek skal þegn ungan verpa vatni á munat hann falla þótt hann í fólk komi hnígra sá halr fyr hjörum	I know a thirteenth if I throw a cup Of water over a warrior, He shall not fall in the fiercest battle, Nor sink beneath the sword,	A thirteenth I know, | if a thane full young With water I sprinkle well; He shall not fall, | though he fares mid the host, Nor sink beneath the swords.	157. A thirteenth I know: if the new-born son of a warrior I sprinkle with water, that youth will not fail when he fares to war, never slain shall he bow before sword.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a thirteenth: If I sprinkle a young thane with water, he will not fall, though he goes to battle. He will not be cut down by swords.	That thirteenth I know if a thane's son I shall wet with holy water: never will he fall, though the fray be hot, nor sink down, wounded by sword.	I know a thirteenth: if I pour water over a youth, he will not fall in any fight, swords will not slay him.	160. For the thirteenth I know, if on a young man I sprinkle water, he shall not fall, though he into battle come: that man shall not sink before swords.
The sprinkling of a child with water was an established custom long before Christianity brought its conception of baptism.

Stanza 157

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it tólpta ef ek sé á tré uppi váfa virgilná svá ek ríst ok í rúnum fák at sá gengr gumi ok mælir við mik	I know a twelfth: If a tree bear A man hanged in a halter, I can carve and stain strong runes That will cause the corpse to speak, Reply to whatever I ask.	158. A twelfth I know, | if high on a tree I see a hanged man swing; So do I write | and color the runes That forth he fares, And to me talks.	156. A twelfth I know: if I see in a tree a corpse from a halter hanging, such spells I write, and paint in runes, that the being descends and speaks.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a twelfth: If I see a hanged man swinging high in a tree, I can carve and stain runes, so that the man walks and speaks with me.	That twelfth I know, if on tree I see a hanged one hoisted on high: thus I write and the runes I stain that down he drops and tells me his tale.	I know a twelfth: if up in a tree I see a corpse hanging high, the mighty runes I write and color Make the man come down to talk with me.	159. For the twelfth I know, if on a tree I see a corpse swinging from a halter, I can so grave and in runes depict, that the man shall walk, and with me converse.
Lines 4-5 are probably expanded from a single line.

Stanza 156

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it ellipta ef ek skal til orrostu leiða langvini undir randir ek gel en þeir með ríki fara heilir hildar til heilir hildi frá koma þeir heilir hvaðan	I know an eleventh: when I lead to battle Old comrades in-arms, I have only to chant it behind my shield, And unwounded they go to war, Unwounded they come from war, Unscathed wherever they are.	An eleventh I know, | if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, | and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home.	155. An eleventh I know: if haply I lead my old comrades out to war, I sing 'neath the shields, and they fare forth mightily safe into battle, safe out of battle, and safe return from the strife.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know an eleventh: If I lead old friends into the fray, I sing under the shield and they fare into battle mighty and whole, they fare from battle whole, they are whole, wherever they go	That eleventh I know, if I am to lead old friends to the fray: under buckler I chant that briskly they fare hale and whole to battle, hale and whole from battle: hale whereever they are.	I know an eleventh: if I lead to war good and faithful friends, under a shield I shout the spell that speeds them -- well they fare in the fight, well they fare from the fight, wherever they go they fare well.	158. For the eleventh I know, if I have to lead my ancient friends to battle, under their shields I sing, and with power they go safe to the fight, safe from the fight; safe on every side they go.
The last line looks like an unwarranted addition, and line 4 may likewise be spurious.

Stanza 155

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it tíunda ef ek sé túnriðir leika lopti á ek svá vinnk at þeir villir fara sinna heimhama sinna heimhuga	I know a tenth: if troublesome ghosts Ride the rafters aloft, I can work it so they wander astray, Unable to find their forms, Unable to find their homes.	156. A tenth I know, | what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work | that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their own homes.	154. A tenth I know: when at night the witches ride and sport in the air, such spells I weave that they wander home out of skins and wits bewildered.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a tenth. If I see ghost-riders sporting in the sky, I can work it that the wild ones fare away. So their shapes (ham) shall fare home, so their spirits fare home.	That tenth I know, if night-hags sporting I scan aloft in the sky: I scare them with spells so they scatter abroad, heedless of their hides, heedless of their haunts.	I know a tenth: any time I see witches sailing the sky the spell I sing sends them off their course; when they lose their skins they fail to find their homes.	157. For the tenth I know, if I see troll-wives sporting in air, I can so operate that they will forsake their own forms, and their own minds.
House-riders: witches, who ride by night on the roofs of houses, generally in the form of wild beasts. Possibly one of the last two lines is spurious.

Stanza 154

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it níunda ef mik nauðr um stendr at bjarga fari mínu á floti vind ek kyrri vági á ok svæfik allan sæ	I know a ninth: when need I have To shelter my ship on the flood, The wind it calms, the waves it smoothes And puts the sea to sleep,	155. A ninth I know, | if need there comes To shelter my ship on the flood; The wind I calm | upon the waves, And the sea I put to sleep.	153. A ninth I know: when need befalls me to save my vessel afloat, I hush the wind on the stormy wave, and soothe all the sea to rest.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a ninth. If need arises, to save my ship on the flood, I can still the wind, and calm the waves, put the entire sea to sleep.	That ninth I know: if need there be to guard a ship in a gale, the wind I can calm, and the waves also, and wholly soothe the sea.	I know a ninth: if I ever need to save my ship in a storm, it will quiet the wind and calm the waves, soothing the sea.	156. For the ninth I know, if I stand in need my bark on the water to save, I can the wind on the waves allay, and the sea lull.
How many lives could have been saved if we had this knowledge today?

stanza 153

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it átta er öllum er nytsamligt at nema hvars hatr vex með hildings sonum þat má ek bœta brátt	I know an eighth: that all are glad of, Most useful to men: If hate fester in the heart of a warrior, It will soon calm and cure him.	154. An eighth I know, | that is to all Of greatest good to learn; When hatred grows | among heroes' sons, I soon can set it right.	152. An eighth I know: which all can sing for their weal if they learn it well; where hate shall wax 'mid the warrior sons, I can calm it soon with that song.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know an eighth. It is useful for all who know it, Whenever hatred flares up among warriors’ sons, I am able to quell it.	That eighth I know which to all men is needful, and good to know: when hatred runs high, heroes among, their strife i can settle full soon.	I know an eighth which no one on earth could fail to find useful: when hatred waxes among warriors the spell will soothe them.	155. For the eighth I know, what to all is useful to learn: where hatred grows among the sons of men - that I can quickly assuage.
How many wars could we end with this power?

Stanza 152

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sjaunda ef ek sé hávan loga sal um sessmögum brennrat svá breitt at ek honum bjargigak þann kann ek galdr at gala	I know a seventh: If I see the hall Ablaze around my bench mates, Though hot the flames, they shall feel nothing, If I choose to chant the spell.	153. A seventh I know, | if I see in flames The hall o'er my comrades' heads; It burns not so wide | that I will not quench it, I know that song to sing.	151. A seventh I know: if I see a hall high o'er the bench-mates blazing, flame it ne'er so fiercely I still can save it, -- I know how to sing that song.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a seventh. If I see a fire high on the hall around my bench companions, I can help them by singing the spell.	That seventh I know, if o'er sleepers' heads I behold a hall on fire: however bright the blaze I can beat it down-- that mighty spell I can speak.	I know a seventh: if I see flames high around a hall, no matter how far the fire has spread my spell can stop it.	154. For the seventh I know, if a lofty house I see blaze o’er its inmates, so furiously it shall not burn that I cannot save it. That song I can sing.
In today's fire-wrought landscape that is America, how cool would this spell be?

Stanza 151

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it sétta ef mik særir þegn á rótum rams viðar ok þann hal er mik heipta kveðr þann eta mein heldr en mik	I know a sixth: it will save me if a man Cut runes on a sapling' s Roots With intent to harm; it turns the spell; The hater is harmed, not me.	152. A sixth I know, | if harm one seeks With a sapling's roots to send me; The hero himself | who wreaks his hate Shall taste the ill ere I.	150. A sixth I know: when some thane would harm me in runes on a moist tree's root, on his head alone shall light the ills of the curse that he called upon mine.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a sixth. If some thane attacks me, with the wood of a young root, he who says he hates me will get hurt, but I will be unharmed.	that sixth I know, if me someone wounds with runes on gnarled root written, or rouses my wrath by reckless speech: him blights shall blast, not me.	I know a sixth: if someone would harm me by writing runes on a tree root, the man who wished I would come to woe will meet misfortune, not I.	153. For the sixth I know, if one wounds me with a green tree’s roots; also if a man declares hatred to me, harm shall consume them sooner than me.
The sending of a root with runes written thereon was an excellent way of causing death. So died the Icelandic hero Grettir the Strong.

Stanza 150

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fimmta ef ek sé af fári skotinn flein í fólki vaða flýgra hann svá stinnt at ek stöðvigak ef ek hann sjónum of sék	I know a fifth: no flying arrow, Aimed to bring harm to men, Flies too fast for my fingers to catch it And hold it in mid-air.	152. A fifth I know, | if I see from afar An arrow fly 'gainst the folk; It flies not so swift | that I stop it not, If ever my eyes behold it.	149. A fifth I know: when I see, by foes shot, speeding a shaft through the host, flies it never so strongly I still can stay it, if I get but a glimpse of its flight.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fifth. If a foe shoots a shaft into the host, it cannot fly so fast that I cannot stop it, if I catch sight of it.	That fifth I know, if from foemans's hand I see a spear sped into throng, never so fast it flies but its flight I can stay, once my eye lights on it.	I know a fifth: in battle's fury if someone flings a spear, it speeds not so fast but that I can stop it -- I have only to see it.	152. For the fifth I know, I see a shot from a hostile hand, a shaft flying amid the host, so swift it cannot fly that I cannot arrest it, if only I get sight of it.
Shaolin monk, anyone?

Stanza 149

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it fjórða ef mér fyrðar bera bönd at bóglimum svá ek gel at ek ganga má sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr en af höndum hapt	I know a fourth: it will free me quickly If foes should bind me fast With strong chains, a chant that makes Fetters spring from the feet, Bonds burst from the hands.	150. A fourth I know, | if men shall fasten Bonds on my bended legs; So great is the charm | that forth I may go, The fetters spring from my feet, Broken the bonds from my hands.	148. A fourth I know: if men make fast in chains the joints of my limbs, when I sing that song which shall set me free, spring the fetters from hands and feet.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a fourth, so that if bonds bind my limbs, I can get free. Fetters spring from my feet, and bonds from my hands.	that fourth I know, if foemen have fettered me hand and foot: I chant a charm the chains to break, so the fetters fly off my feet, and off my hands the halter.	I know a fourth: if I should find myself fettered hand and foot, I shout the spell that sets me free, bonds break from my feet, nothing holds my hands.	151. For the forth I know, if men place bonds on my limbs, I so sing that I can walk; the fetter starts from my feet, and the manacle from my hands
Wouldn't that be a cool spell to know?

Stanza 148

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek it þriðja ef mér verðr þörf mikil hapts við mína heiptmögu eggjar ek deyfi minna andskota bítat þeim vápn né velir	I know a third: in the thick of battle, If my need be great enough, It will blunt the edges of enemy swords, Their weapons will make no wounds.	149. A third I know, | if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe; Blunt do I make | mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff.	147. A third I know: if sore need should come of a spell to stay my foes; when I sing that song, which shall blunt their swords, nor their weapons nor staves can wound.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know a third for the event that I should be in dire need of fettering a foe. I can dull the blades of my attackers so that they can strike by neither weapon or wile.	That third I know, if my need be great to fetter a foeman fell: I can dull the swords of deadly foes, that nor wiles nor weapons avail.	I know a third if I should need to fetter any foe; it blunts the edge of my enemy's sword, neither wiles nor weapons work.	150. For the third I know, if I have great need to restrain my foes, the weapons’ edge I deaden: of my adversaries nor arms nor wiles harm aught.
How many have chosen this particular thought, in all the wars of all of history? “My cause is just, I will SURELY win!” Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Stanza 147

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Þat kann ek annat er þurfu ýta synir þeir er vilja læknar lifa	I know a second that the sons of men Must learn who wish to be leeches.	A second I know, | that men shall need Who leechcraft long to use;	146. A second I know, which the son of men must sing, who would heal the sick.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
I know another that is needed by the sons of men, who want to be leeches.	That other I know which all will need who leeches list to be: (on the bark scratch them of bole in the woods whose boughs bend to the east).	I know another which all men need who hope to be healers.	149. For the second I know, what the sons of men require, who will as leeches live. *********************** *********************** ***********************
Straight foreward and simple, this one. If you want to be a healer, you have to learn first.