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Vafthruthnismol

The morning dews  for meat shall they have,
 Such food shall men then find."

  Othin spake:
46.[1] "Much have I fared,  much have I found,
 Much have I got of the gods:
Whence comes the sun  to the smooth sky back,
 When Fenrir has snatched it forth?"

  Vafthruthnir spake:
47.[2] "A daughter bright  Alfrothul bears
 Ere Fenrir snatches her forth;
Her mother's paths  shall the maiden tread
 When the gods to death have gone."

  Othin spake:
48. "Much have I fared,  much have I found,
 Much have I got of the gods:
What maidens are they,  so wise of mind.
 That forth o'er the sea shall fare?"

    this is the ash-tree Yggdrasil, which is sometimes referred to as "Mimir's Tree," because Mimir waters it from his well; cf. Voluspo, 27 and note, and Svipdagsmol, 30 and note. Hoddmimir is presumably another name for Mimir. Lif ("Life") and Lifthrasir ("Sturdy of Life"?): nothing further is known of this pair, from whom the new race of men is to spring.

  1. ↑ Fenrir: there appears to be a confusion between the wolf Fenrir (cf. Voluspo, 39 and note) and his son, the wolf Skoll, who steals the sun (cf. Voluspo, 40 and note).
  2. ↑ Snorri quotes this stanza. Alfrothul ("the Elf-Beam"): the sun.

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