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Svipdagsmol

Is there no meat  that men may give them,
And leap within while they eat?"

  Fjolsvith spake:
40. "Two wing-joints there be  in Vithofnir's body,
If now the truth thou wouldst know;
That alone is the meat  that men may give them,
And leap within while they eat."

  Svipdag spake:
41. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith,  the question I ask,
For now the truth would I know:
What weapon can send  Vithofnir to seek
The house of Hel below?"

  Fjolsvith spake:
42.[1] "Lævatein is there,  that Lopt with runes
Once made by the doors of death;
In Lægjarn's chest  by Sinmora lies it,
And nine locks fasten it firm."

  Svipdag spake:
43. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith,  the question I ask,
For now the truth would I know:
May a man come thence  who thither goes,
And tries the sword to take?"


  1. Lævatein ("Wounding Wand"): the manuscripts differ as to the form of this name. The suggestion that the reference is to the mistletoe with which Baldr was killed seems hardly reasonable. Lopt: Loki. Lægjarn ("Lover of Ill"): Loki; cf. Voluspo, 35,

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