Odin (from Hávamál)

Odin (Norse god featured in the poem, Hávamál)

“He should get up early, the man who has few workers,
and set about his work with thought;
much gets held up for the man sleeping in the morning;
wealth is half-won by activity.”

• This quote comes from stanza 59 of Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), an old poem which was preserved in the 13th-century Poetic Edda which was produced anonymously in Iceland. The translation is by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford University Press, 2014).

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Odin (from Hávamál)

Odin (Norse god)

"The stupid man stays awake all night
and worries about everything;
he's tired out when the morning comes
and all's just as bad as it was."

• This quote comes from stanza 23 of Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), an old poem which was preserved in the 13th-century Poetic Edda which was produced anonymously in Iceland. The translation is by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford University Press, 2014).

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Odin (from Hávamál)

Odin (from Hávamál)

"The cowardly man thinks he'll live for ever,
if he keeps away from fighting;
but old age won't grant him a truce
even if spears spare him."

• This quote comes from stanza 16 of Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), an old poem which was preserved in the 13th-century Poetic Edda which was produced anonymously in Iceland. The translation is by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford University Press, 2014).

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Odin (from Hávamál)

Odin (Norse god)

"Where you recognize evil, call it evil,
and give no truce to your enemies."

• This quote comes from stanza 127 of Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), an old poem which was preserved in the 13th-century Poetic Edda which was produced anonymously in Iceland. The translation is by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford University Press, 2014).

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Brynhild (Saga of the Volsungs)

Brynhild (from the Saga of the Volsungs)

"Now shall you choose,
 As you are offered a choice,
 O maple shaft of sharp weapons.
 Speech or silence,
 You must muse for yourself.
 All words are already decided."

• A poem attributed to Brynhild in The Saga of the Volsungs (chapter 21), by an anonymous 13th century Icelander, translated by Jesse L. Byock (Penguin Classics, 1990, 1999).

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Hrolf Kraki

King Hrolf Kraki (c. 6th century)

"He flees no fire
 who jumps over it."

• Poem attributed to Hrolf Kraki in The Saga of Hrolf Kraki (chapter 28), written by an anonymous 14th century Icelander, and translated by Jesse Byock. New York: Penguin Classics, 1998.

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Brynhild (Saga of the Volsungs)

Brynhild (from the Saga of the Volsungs)

"Endure with patience and you will win long-lasting praise."

• From The Saga of the Volsungs (chapter 22), by an anonymous 13th century Icelander, translated by Jesse L. Byock (Penguin Classics, 1990, 1999).

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Egil Skallagrimsson

Egil Skallagrimsson (10th century)

"I have wielded a blood-stained sword
and howling spear; the bird
of carrion followed me
when the Vikings pressed forth;
In fury we fought battles,
fire swept through men's homes,
we made bloody bodies
slump dead by city gates."

• Egil's Saga (chapter 48, poem 14), recorded c. 13th century possibly by Snorri Sturluson, translated by Bernard Scudder. New York: Penguin Classics, 2004 edition. 

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Kjartan Olafsson (from the Laxdæla Saga)

Kjartan Olafsson (said to have lived c. 970-1003)

"If a man's got to die anyway, he might as well make a name for himself before it comes to that."

• Quote attributed to Kjartan Olafsson in the anonymously-written Laxdæla Saga (section 40), c. 13th century, translated by Keneva Kunz. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008.

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Jarl Rognvald Kali

Jarl Rognvald Kali of Orkney (d. 1158)

"I'll swear, clever sweetheart,
you're a slender delight
to grasp and to'cuddle,
my golden-locked girl.
Ravenous the haw, crimson-
clawed, flesh-crammed -
but now, heavily hangs
the silken hair."

• This poem is attributed to Rognvald Kali, a 12th-century jarl (earl) of Orkney. He wrote this love poem after having met Viscountess Ermengarde of Narbonne (c. 1120-1194) while traveling on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Rognvald Kali's poetry was preserved in the Orkneyinga Saga, written c. 1200 by an anonymous Icelander. The translation used here was by Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards (Penguin Classics, 1981).  

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Thurid (Grettir's Saga)

Grettir's Saga  (anonymously-written Icelandic text, c. 14th century)

"Few things lead more certainly to misfortune than not being able to accept what is good."

• Spoken by the witch, Thurid, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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Jarl Rognvald Kali Kolsson of Orkney

Jarl Rognvald Kali of Orkney (ruled approximately 1137-1158)

"I'll pace warily,
give no peace to the plotter,
chance nothing, cherish
the beard on my chin."

• This poem is attributed to Rognvald Kali, a 12th-century jarl (earl) of Orkney. In the poem, the jarl describes his paranoid life amidst the dangerous political climate of medieval Orkney, where multiple jarls precariously shared power over the islands. Rognvald Kali's paranoia was well founded, as he was violently killed in 1158. The verse was preserved in the Orkneyinga Saga, written c. 1200 by an anonymous Icelander. The translation used here was by Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards (Penguin Classics, 1981). 

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Hildr Hrólfsdóttir (recorded by Snorri Sturluson)

Attributed to Hildr Hrólfsdóttir (c. 9th century), recorded by Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179-1241)

"Tis ill 'gainst wolf to be wolfish,
warrior, such wolf opposing.
Hard that wolf will harry
your herds, once he runs to the forest."

• This poem is attributed to Hildr Hrólfsdóttir in The Saga of Harald Fairhair, included in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla. The translation used here is by Lee Hollander (University of Texas Press, 1964, 2018). Hildr Hrólfsdóttir reportedly stated this poem after King Harald Fairhair (or Finehair) of Norway outlawed her son, Hrolf (Rollo), who would go on to rule Normandy.

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Grettir's Saga

Grettir's Saga (anonymous 14th century text)

"No man can trust
in his own unaided
strength, that's clear
to me - because
the courage of heroes
ebbs away
on the death day
as their luck runs out."

• A Life/Death Poem about the character, Hallmund, recorded in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009). 

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Skapti Thoroddson (Grettir's Saga)

Quote attributed to the Althing Lawspeaker, Skapti Thoroddson (in Grettir's Saga)

"Many a man's death has come through overconfidence."

• Spoken by Lawspeaker Skapti Thoroddson in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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Gudmund the Powerful (Grettir's Saga)

Gudmund the Powerful (c. 11th century, quoted in the 14th cenuty Grettir's Saga)

"Trust no one so well that you do not rely best on yourself."

• Spoken by the character, Gudmund the Powerful, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009). 

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Onund Tree-Foot (Grettir's Saga)

Onund Tree-Foot
(semi-mythical Norwegian Viking and Icelandic settler said to have lived in the 9th century)

"The day we faced the music
of sword blades clanging on shields
destroyed my life's joy:
hardships grip us too soon."

• Spoken by the character, Onund Tree-Foot, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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Grettir the Strong

"Only what is tested is known."

• Spoken by the character, Grettir, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), chapter 34, translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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Grettir the Strong

Grettir the Strong (allegedly flourished in the 11th century)

"Many search in the distance while the truth is staring them in the eyes."

• Spoken by the character, Grettir, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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Onund Treefoot (Grettir's Saga)

Onund Tree-Foot (semi-mythical Norwegian Viking and Icelandic settler said to live in the 9th century)

"Many would-be warriors
mouth off but fail to think.
Your type sadly lacks practice
in fighting it out to the end."

• Spoken by the character, Onund Tree-Foot, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

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