Page:Norse mythology or, the religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index.djvu/266

For the thirteenth I know,
If on a young man
I sprinkle water,^[1]
He shall not fall,
Though he into battle come:
That man shall not sink before swords.

For the fourteenth I know,
If in the society of men
I have to enumerate the gods,
Asas and elves,
I know the distinctions of all.
This few unskilled can do.

For the fifteenth I know.
What the dwarf of Thodrœrer^[2] sang
Before Delling's doors.
Strength he sang to the asas,
And to the elves prosperity,
Wisdom to Hroptatyr (Odin).

For the sixteenth I know,
If a modest maiden's favor and affection
I desire to possess,
The soul I change
Of the white-armed damsel,
And wholly turn her mind.

For seventeenth I know,
That that young maiden will
Reluctantly avoid me.
These songs, Lodfafner,
Thou wilt long have lacked;
Yet it may be good, if thou understandest them,
Profitable if thou learnest them.

For the eighteenth I know,
That which I never teach
To maid or wife of man,

1. The old heathen Norsemen sprinkled their children with water when
   they named them.
2. The waker of the people.