Stanza 140

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Fimbulljóð níu nam ek af inum frægja syni Bölþórs Bestlu föður ok ek drykk of gat ins dýra mjaðar ausinn Óðreri	Nine lays of power I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla' s father: He poured me a draught of precious mead, Mixed with magic Odrerir.	141. Nine mighty songs | I got from the son Of Bolthorn, Bestla’s father; And a drink I got | of the goodly mead Poured out from Othrörir.	142. Potent songs nine from the famed son I learned of Bölthorn, Bestla’s sire, and a draught obtained of the precious mead, drawn from Odhrærir.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
Fimbul spells I got from the famous Son of Bolthor the father of Bestla. I had a drink of the dear mead that was drawn from Othroerir.	From the son of Bolthorn, Bestla's father, I mastered mighty songs nine, and a drink I had, of the dearest mead, got from out of Óthrærir.	Nine mighty songs I learned from the son of Bolthorn, Bestla's father, and I came to drink of that costly mead the holy vessel held.	139. Nine mighty songs I learned from the great son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire; I drank a measure of the wondrous Mead, with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.
This stanza, interrupting as it does the account of Othin’s winning the runes, appears to be an interpolation. The meaning of the stanza is most obscure. Bolthorn was Othin’s grandfather, and Bestla his mother. We do not know the name of the uncle here mentioned, but it has been suggested that this son of Bolthorn was Mimir (cf. Voluspo, 27 and note, and 47 and note). In any case, the nine magic songs which he learned from his uncle seem to have enabled him to win the magic mead (cf. stanzas 104-110). Concerning Othrörir, here used as the name of the vessel containing the mead, cf. stanza 107 and note.