Poetic Edda Ragnarok Hauksbok Version

31 Then oppressive bonds of Vali could be twisted,
rather severe fetters, made of entrails.
There sits Sigyn, getting very little
joy from her husband—do you want to know more: and what?

32 Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave,
the fetter will break and the ravener run free,
I see further ahead, much wisdom I can utter
about the mighty Doom of the Gods, of the victory-gods.

33 He sat on the mound and struck his harp,
the giantess’s herdsman, cheerful Eggther;
there crowed above in Gallows-wood,
that bright-red rooster who is called Fialar.

34 Golden-comb crowed over the Æsir,
he wakens the warriors at Father of Hosts’ hall;
and another crows below the earth,
a sooty-red cock in the halls of Hel.

35 A hall she sees standing far from the sun,
on Corpse-strand; its doors look north;
poison-drops fall in through the roof-vents,
the hall is woven of serpents’ spines.

36 There she sees wading in turbid streams
false-oath swearers and murderers,
and the seducer of another man’s close confidante;
there Nidhogg sucks the corpses of the dead—
a wolf tears at men—do you want to know more: and what?

37 Now Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave,
the fetter will break and the ravener run free.

38 Brother will fight brother and become each other’s slayer,
sister’s sons will violate the kinship-bond;
hard it is in the world, whoredom abounds,
axe-age, sword-age, shields are cleft asunder,

39 wind-age, wolf-age, before the world plunges headlong;
the depths resound, the troll-woman goes flying;
no man will spare another.

40 The sons of Mim are at play and the Measuring-Tree is kindled;
on the ancient Giallar-horn
Heimdall blows loudly, his horn is in the air.
Odin speaks with Mim’s head.

41 Yggdrasill’s ash shudders, standing upright,
the ancient tree groans and the giant gets loose;
terrified are all on the roads to hell,
before Surt’s kinsman swallows that one up.*

42 What disturbs the Æsir? What disturbs the elves?
All Giant-land is roaring. The Æsir are in council.
The dwarfs groan before their rocky doors,
wise ones of the mountain wall—do you want to know more: and what?

43 Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave,
the fetter will break and the ravener run free.

44 Hrym drives from the east, heaves his shield before him,
the great serpent writhes in giant rage;
the serpent churns the waves, the eagle shrieks in anticipation,
pale-beaked he rips the corpse, Naglfar breaks free.

45 A ship journeys from the east, Muspell’s troops are coming
over the ocean, and Loki steers.
All the giant-sons advance along with the ravener,
Byleist’s brother goes in company with them.

46 Surt comes from the south with branches-ruin,
the slaughter-gods’ sun glances from his sword;
rocky cliffs clash together and the troll-women are abroad,
heroes tread the hell-road and the sky splits apart.

47 Then Frigg’s second sorrow comes about
when Odin advances to fight against the wolf,
and Beli’s bright slayer against Surt;
then Frigg’s dear-beloved must fall.

48 Now Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave,
the fetter will break and the ravener run free.

49 Above in the air yawns the Earth-serpent,
the terrible serpent’s jaws gape in the heights.
Odin’s son will meet the serpent
after the [death] of the wolf and Vidar’s kinsman.

50 …

51 The sun turns black, land sinks into the sea,
the bright stars vanish from the sky;
steam rises up and the conflagration,
hot flame plays high against heaven itself.

52 Now Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave,
the fetter will break and the ravener run free.

53 She sees, coming up a second time,
earth from the ocean, eternally green;
the waterfalls plunge, an eagle soars above them,
over the mountain hunting fish.

54 The Æsir meet on Idavoll
and they converse about the mighty Earth-girdler,
and they remember there the great events
and Fimbultyr’s ancient runes.

55 Then the Æsir will find the wonderful
golden chequers in the grass,
those which they possessed in the bygone days.

56 Without sowing the fields will grow,
all evil will be healed, Baldr will come;
Hod and Baldr settle in Hropt’s victory-homesteads
the golden-gods are well—do you want to know more: and what?

57 Then Hænir will choose a wooden slip for prophecy,
and two brothers’ sons build a settlement
in the wide wind-realm—do you want to know more: and what?

58 A hall she sees standing, fairer than the sun,
thatched with gold, at Gimle;
there the noble fighting-bands will dwell
and enjoy the days of their lives in pleasure.

59 Then comes the mighty one
to the judgment of the Powers,
full of strength, from above,
he who rules over all.

60 The shadow-dark dragon comes flying,
the gleaming serpent, up from kinsmen;
Nidhogg flies over the plain, in his pinions
he carries corpses; now she will sink down.


- Poetic Edda, Voluspa (Hauksbók version)


("swallows that one up: it is not clear who is swallowed by Surt’s kinsman (who is probably fire)." - from the Explanatory Notes section included with the translation)