The Prose Edda · Part 3
Skáldskaparmál 23
23.1"How should the heaven be periphrased? Thus: call it Skull of Ymir, and hence, Giant's Skull; Task or Burden of the Dwarves, or Helm of Vestri and Austri, Sudri, or Nordri; Land of the Sun, of the Moon, and of the Stars of Heaven, of the Wains and the Winds; Helm, or House, of the Air and the Earth and the Sun. So sang Arnórr Earls'-Skald: So large of gifts ne'er mounted Young Lord of Shields on ship-deck 'Neath the ancient Skull of Ymir: Splendid this Prince's largess.
23.2And as he sang again: Bright grows the sun at dusking, The earth sinks into the dark sea, The Toil of Austri bursteth; All the ocean on the fells breaks.
23.3Thus sang Bödvarr the Halt: For never 'neath the Sun's Plain Shall come a nobler Land-Ward, Keener in battle-onset, Nor a brother of Ingi better.
23.4And as Thjódólfr of Hvin sang: Jörd's Son drove to the steel-play (High swelled the godlike anger In the mind of Meili's Brother), And the Moon-Way 'neath him quivered.
23.5Even as sang Ormr Barrey's-Skald: Lady of Draupnir's gore-streak, However great I know him, The wielder (by right he ruleth) Of the Wain's Road sees me gladly.
23.6Even as the skald Bragi sang: He who threw the dead eyes Of Thjazi, Skadi's father, Into the Winds' Wide Basin O'er the abodes of men-folk many.
23.7And as Markús sang: 'Tis long since the dear-loved Warder Of sea-men was born on the wave-girt earth-bottom Of the Storm-Container; each man praises The sublime age of the Ring-Dispenser.
23.8Even as Steinn Herdísarson sang: I sing the holy Ruler Of the high World-Tent rather Than men, for very precious Is He: His praises tell I.
23.9And as Arnórr Earls'-Skald sang: Help, dear King of Heaven, The Day's Plain, help my Hermundr.
23.10And as Arnórr sang further: Soothfast King of the Sun-Tents, Help stout-hearted Rögnvaldr.
23.11And as Hallvardr sang: Knútr wards the land, as the Ruler Of All wards the radiant Fell-Hall.
23.12As Arnórr sang: Michael, wise of understanding, Weighs what seems done ill, and good things: Then the Monarch of the Sun's Helm At the Doom-Seat parts all mortals.