Introductory Note
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Bellows, Henry Adams
Thor spake:
8. “The love of the maid | I may not keep thee
From winning, thou guest so wise,
If of every world | thou canst tell me all
That now I wish to know.
9. “Answer me, Alvis! | thou knowest all,
Dwarf, of the doom of men:
What call they the earth, | that lies before all,
In each and every world?”
Alvis spake:
10. “ ‘Earth’ to men, ‘Field’ | to the gods it is,
‘The Ways’ is it called by the Wanes; [187]
‘Ever Green’ by the giants, | ‘The Grower’ by elves,
‘The Moist’ by the holy ones high.”
Thor spake:
11. “Answer me, Alvis! | thou knowest all,
Dwarf, of the doom of men:
What call they the heaven, | beheld of the high one,
In each and every world?”
Alvis spake:
12. “ ‘Heaven’ men call it, | ‘The Height’ the gods,
The Wanes ‘The Weaver of Winds’;
Giants ‘The Up-World,’ | elves ‘The Fair-Roof,’
The dwarfs ‘The Dripping Hall.’ ”
[188]
Thor spake:
13. “Answer me, Alvis! | thou knowest all,
Dwarf, of the doom of men:
What call they the moon, | that men behold,
In each and every world?”
Alvis spake:
14. “ ‘Moon’ with men, ‘Flame’ | the gods among,
‘The Wheel’ in the house of hell;
‘The Goer’ the giants, | ‘The Gleamer’ the dwarfs,
The elves ‘The Teller of Time.’ ”
Thor spake:
15. “Answer me, Alvis! | thou knowest all,
Dwarf, of the doom of men:
What call they the sun, | that all men see,
In each and every world?”