Ab ortu ad occasum :
sybilline voices of creation and destruction.
English overtitles
1. Völuspa I
Hlióðs bið ec allar helgar kindir
meiri oc minni mögo Heimdalar.
Vildo at ec Valföðr
vel fyrtelia forn spioll fira
þau er fremst um man.
Ec man iotna ár um borna
þá er forðom mic foedda höfðo.
Nío man ec heima nío íviði
miotvið maeran fyr mold neðan.
Ár var alda þar er Ymir bygði
vara sandr né sær né svalar unnir
iorð fannz æva né upphiminn
gap var ginnunga enn gras hvergi.
Áðr Burs synir bioðom um ypþo
þeir er miðgarð maeran scópo.
Sól scein sunnan á salar steina
þá var grund gróin groenom lauki.
Sól varp sunnan sinni mána
hendi inni hoegri um himinioður
sól þat né vissi hvar hon sali átti
stiornor þat né visso hvar þær staði átto
máni þat né vissi hvat hann megins átti.
Þá gengo regin öll á röcstóla
ginnheilog goð oc um þat gættuz:
nótt oc niðiom nöfn um gáfo
morgin héto oc miðian dag
undorn oc aptan árom at telia.
Hittoz æsir á Iðavelli,
þeir er hörg ok hof hátimbroðo;
afla lögðo, auð smíðoðo,
tangir skópo ok tól gørðo.
Teflðo í túni teitir vóro –
var þeim vettergis vant ór gulli,
unz þriár kvómo þursa meyiar
ámátkar miök ór iötunheimom.
Þá gengo regin öll á rökstóla,
ginnheilog goð, ok um þat gættuz,
hvárt skyldi dverga dróttir skepia
ór Brimis blóði ok ór Bláins leggiom.
Þrír qvómo ór því liði
öþgir oc ástgir æsir at húsi.
Fundo á landi lítt megandi
Asc oc Emblo ørlöglausa.
Önd þau né átto óð þau né höfðo
lá né læti né lito góða.
Önd gaf Óðinn óð gaf Hoenir
lá gaf Lóðurr oc lito góða.
Asc veit ec standa heitir Yggdrasill
hár baðmr ausinn hvítaauri.
Þaðan koma döggvar þærs í dala falla
stendr æ yfir groenn Urðar brunni.
Þaðan koma meyiar margs vitandi
þriár ór þeim sæ er und þolli stendr.
Urð héto eina aðra Verðandi
– scáro á scíði – Sculd ina þriðio.
Þær lög lögðo þær líf kuro
alda bornom ørlög seggia.
2. O quam mirabilis est (Hildegard von Bingen)
O quam mirabilis est
prescientia divini pectoris,
que prescivit omnem creaturam.
Nam cum Deus inspexit
faciem hominis quem formavit,
omnia opera sua in eadem forma
hominis integra aspexit.
O quam mirabilis est inspiratio
que hominem sic suscitavit.
3. Instrumental.
4. O ignis spiritus (Hildegard von Bingen)
O ignis Spiritus Paracliti,
vita vite omnis creature,
sanctus es vivificando formas.
Sanctus es ungendo
periculose fractos,
sanctus es tergendo
fetida vulnera.
O spiraculum sanctitatis,
o ignis caritatis,
o dulcis gustus in pectoribus
et infusio cordium
in bono odore virtutum.
O fons purissime,
in quo consideratur
quod Deus alienos colligit
et perditos requirit.
O lorica vite
et spes compaginis membrorum omnium
et o cingulum honestatis:
salva beatos.
Custodi eos qui carcerati sunt
ab inimico,
et solve ligatos
quos divina vis salvare vult.
O iter fortissimum,
quod penetravit omnia
in altissimis et in terrenis
et in omnibus abyssis,
tu omnes componis et colligis.
De te nubes fluunt, ether volat,
lapides humorem habent,
aque rivulos educunt,
et terra viriditatem sudat.
Tu etiam semper educis doctos
per inspirationem Sapientie
letificatos.
Unde laus tibi sit,
qui es sonus laudis
et gaudium vite,
spes et honor fortissimus,
dans premia lucis.
5. Instrumental
6. Völuspa II
Þat man hon fólkvíg
fyrst í heimi,
er Gullveigo
geirom studdu
ok í höll Hárs
hana brendo;
þrysvar brendo
þrysvar borna,
opt, ósialdan,
þó hon enn lifir.
Heiði hana héto
hvars til húsa kom,
völo vel spá,
vitti hón ganda;
seið hón kunni,
seið hón leikin.
æ var hon angan
illrar brúðar.
Þá gengo regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilog goð,
ok um þat gættuz
hvárt skyldo æsir
afráð gjalda,
eða skyldo goðin öll
gildi eiga.
Fleygði Óðinn
ok í fólk um skaut,
þat var enn fólkvíg
fyrst í heimi;
brotinn var borðveggr
borgar ása,
knátto vanir vígspá
völlo sporna.
Þá gengo regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilog goð,
ok um þat gættuz
hverr hefði lopt allt
lævi blandit
eða ætt iötuns
Óðs mey gefna.
Þórr einn þar vá
þrunginn móði,
hann sjaldan sitr
er hann slíkt um fregn;
á gengoz eiðar,
orð ok sœri,
mál öll meginlig
er á meðal voro.
Veit hon Heimdallar
hlióð um fólgit
undir heiðvönom
helgom baðmi.
á sér hón ausaz
aurgom forsi
af veði Valföðrs.
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat?
Ein sat hón úti,
þá er inn aldni kom
yggiungr ása
ok í augo leit:
"Hvers fregnið mik?
Hví freistið mín?
Alt veit ek, Óðinn,
hvar þú auga falt,
í enum mæra
Mímis brunni!
Drekkr mjöð Mímir
morgin hverian
af veði Valföðrs."
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat?
Valði henne Herföðr
hringa ok men,
fekk spiöll spaklig
ok spáganda,
sá hon vítt ok um vítt
of veröld hveria.
Sá hón valkyrior
vítt um komnar,
görvar at ríða
til Goðþióðar;
Skuld helt skildi,
en Skögul önnor,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
ok Geirskögul.
Nú e-ro tal-ðar
nön-nor Her-ians,
gör-var at rí-ða
grund, val-kyr-ior.
Ek sá Baldri,
blóðgom tívor,
Óðins barni,
örlög fólgin;
stóð um vaxinn
völlom hæri
miór ok miök fagr
mistilteinn.
Varð af þeim meiði,
er mær sýndiz
harmflaug hættlig,
Höðr nam skjóta;
Baldrs bróðir var
of borinn snemma,
sá nam Óðins sonr
einnættr vega.
Þó hann æva hendr
né höfuð kembði,
áðr á bál um bar
Baldrs andskota;
en Frigg um grét
í Fensölom
vá Valhallar.
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat?
Hapt sá hón liggia
und Hveralundi,
lægiarns líki
Loka áþekkian;
þar sitr Sigyn
þeygi um sínom
ver velglýjoð.
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat?
Stóð fyr norðan
á Niðavöllom
salr ór gulli
Sindra ættar;
en annarr stóð
á Ókólni,
bjórsalr iötuns,
en sá Brímir heitir.
Sal sá hon standa
sólo fjarri
Náströndo á,
norðr horfa dyrr;
fello eitrdropar
inn um lióra,
sá er undinn salr
orma hryggiom.
Sá hon þar vaða
þunga strauma
menn meinsvara
ok morðvarga
ok þannz annars glepr
eyrarúno
þar saug Niðhöggr
nái fram-gengna,
sleit vargr vera.
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat?
Hvat er með ásom?
Hvat er með álfom?
Gnýr allr Jötunheimr,
æsir ro á þingi,
stynja dvergar
fyr steindurom,
veggbergs vísir.
Vitoð ér enn - eða hvat? 3x
7. Instrumental
8. Iudicii signum
Iudicii signum tellus sudore madescet.
E caelo rex adveniet per saecla futurus,
scilicet ut carnem praesens,
ut iudicet orbem.
Iudicii signum tellus sudore madescet.
Unde Deum cernent incredulus atque fidelis
Celsum cum sanctis aevi iam termino in ipso
Iudicii signum...
Sic animae cum carne aderunt, quas iudicat ipse,
cum iacet incultus densis in vepribus orbis.
Iudicii...
Reicient simulacra viri, cunctam quoque gazam,
exuret terras ignis pontumque polumque
Iudicii...
Inquirens taetri portas effringet Averni
Sanctorum sed enim cunctae lux libera carni
Iudicii...
Tradetur, sontes aeterna flamma cremabit.
Occultos actus retegens tunc quisque loquetur
Iudicii...
Secreta, atque Deus reserabit pectora luci.
Tunc erit et luctus, stridebunt dentibus omnes.
Iudicii...
Eripitur solis iubar et chorus interit astris.
Volvetur caelum, lunaris splendor obibit;
Iudicii...
Deiciet colles, valles extollet ab imo.
Non erit in rebus hominum sublime vel altum.
Iudicii...
Iam aequantur campis montes et caerula ponti
Omnia cessabunt, tellus confracta peribit:
Iudicii...
Sic pariter fontes torrentur fluminaque igni.
Sed tuba tum sonitum tristem demittet ab alto
Iudicii...
Orbe, gemens facinus miserum variosque labores,
Tartareumque chaos monstrabit terra dehiscens.
Iudicii...
Et coram hic Domino reges sistentur ad unum.
Reccidet e caelo ignisque et sulphuris amnis.
Iudicii signum: Tellus sudore madescet.
1. The prophecy of the seeress, part 1
Attention I ask from all the sacred people, greater and lesser, the offspring of Heimdall.
Odin, you wished that I should declare the ancient histories of men and gods—those which I know.
I, born of giants, remember them who nurtured me then.
I remember nine worlds, and nine roots, and the mighty Measuring Tree down below the earth.
In ancient times when Ymir lived, there was no sand nor sea nor cool waves.
Earth was nowhere nor the sky above, chaos yawned, grass was nowhere there.
First the sons of Bur brought up the earth, the glorious ones who shaped the world between.
The Sun shone from the south on the ground of stones, then the soil was grown over with green plants.
From the south, Sun, companion of the Moon, threw her right hand 'round the edge of the heaven,
Sun did not know where her hall might be, the stars did not know where their place might be, Moon did not know what power he had.
Then all the Powers went to the thrones of fate and considered this.
To night and her children they gave names: morning they named and midday, afternoon and evening, to reckon up the years.
Aesir met on Eddying Plain
they who built towering altars and temples.
They founded forges, fashioned wealth,
moulded tongs and made tools.
They played chequers in the meadow, merrily –
for them there was no want of gold –
until there came three ogres' daughters, of redoubtable strength, from Giant Realms.
Then the powers all strode to their thrones of fate,
sacrosanct gods, and gave thought to this:
whether they should create dwarf companies
from Brimir's blöood and Blainn's limbs.
Three Aesir, strong and loving, came to the Sea.
They found on land Ash and Embla, capable of little, lacking fate.
They had no spirit, no life, neither warmth nor voice, nor fresh complexions.
Life gave Odin, spirit gave Hænir, warmth gave Lodur, and fresh complexions.
I know that an ash-tree stands, called Yggdrasill, a high tree, soaked with shining loam. From there come the dews which fall in the valley, ever green, it stands over the well of Fate.
From there come three wise young women, from the lake which stands under the tree.
Fated one is called, Becoming another, the third Must-Be, they carved runes on the wood.
They set down laws, they chose lives for the sons of men, the fates of men.
How wondrous is
the prescience of the divine Heart
that foreknew every creature!
For when God gazed
into the face of the human being whom he formed,
he beheld all his works,
in that same human form, entire.
How wondrous is the in-spiration,
that awoke mankind in this way!
O fire of the Paraclete,
the life of every creature’s life:
you are holy in giving life to forms.
You are holy in anointing
the severely injured,
holy in cleansing
loathsome wounds.
O vent of holiness,
fire of charity,
O sweet taste in our bodies
and infusion in our hearts
of the fragrance of all virtues.
O clearest fountain,
in which is shown
how God gathers together those who wander
and seeks those who are lost.
O shield of life
and hope of all our limbs’ union,
O belt of honor:
save those who are blessed.
Guard those who have been imprisoned
by the enemy,
release those in bondage
whom divine power wills to save.
O boldest path,
penetrating into all places,
on high and on earth,
and in every abyss:
you fit and gather all together.
From you the clouds issue and the air soars,
the rock have their humors
and the waters bring forth their streams
and the earth sweats out green things growing.
And always you teach the learned,
those made happy by the inspiration
of Wisdom.
So let there be praise to you
who are the sound of all praise
and the joy of life,
who are hope and powerful honor,
granting the gifts of light.
6. Prophecy of the seeress, part 2
She remembers the war
the first in the world
when Gold Brew
they studded with spears
and burned her
in Harr's hall
three times burned her
three times reborn
-often, not stinting -
yet she still lives.
Bright Heidr they called her,
at all the houses she came to,
a good seer of fair fortunes.
She conjured spirits who told her.
Sorcery she had skill in,
sorcery she practised.
She was ever the darling
of an evil wife.
Then the powers all strode
to their thrones of fate,
sacrosanct gods,
and gave thought to this:
whether the Aesir should
pay such a price
and all the gods
get recognition?
Odin flung
and shot into the host
it was war still,
the first in the world.
Torn was the timber wall
of the Aesir's stronghold.
Vanir were - by a war charm -
live and kicking on the plain.
Then all the powers strode
to their thrones of fate
sacrosanct gods,
and gave thought to this:
Who had laced all
the air with ruin
and to the giant's kin
wedded Odr's girl?
Thor alone smote there,
swollen with wrath,
he seldom sits idle
when he hears such a thing!
Oaths paid for oaths,
the vows and sworn pledges,
all the words of weight
that intervened.
She knows Heimdallr's
hearing is couched
beneath the bright-nurtured
holy tree.
A strem she sees springing
with loamy flood
from Sire of the Slain's forfeit.
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
Alone she held seance out in the night
when the old fellow came,
Aesir's Son of Dread,
and looked into her eyes.
"What do you ask me?
Why do you try me?
I know it all, Odinn,
where you lodged your eye:
in the famed
fountain of Mimir!
Mimir drinks mead every morning
from Valfadr's forfeit."
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
The warlord chose for her
rings and necklaces.
He got wise news
and spirits of prophecy.
She saw far, and far beyond -
over every world.
She saw valkyries
come from afar,
ready to ride to the
realm of the gods.
Skuld bore a shield,
and Skögul was with her,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
and Spear-Skögul.
Now are listed
the ladies of War Lord,
ready to ride,
valkyries, over the earth.
I saw for Baldr-
the bloodstained sacrifice,
Odin's child,
the fates set hidden.
There stood full-grown,
higher than the plains,
slender and most fair,
the mistletoe.
There formed from that stem,
which was slender-seeming,
a shaft of anguish, perilous:
Hödr started shooting.
A brother of Baldr
was born quickly
he started - Odin's son -
killing, at one night old.
He never washed hands,
never combed head,
till he bore to the pyre
Baldr's adversary -
while Frigg wept
in Fen Halls
for Valhöll's woe.
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
A captive she saw lying
under Cauldrons' Grove
in the shape of malignant
Loki, unmistakable.
There Sigyn sits,
surely with little
delight in her husband.
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
There stood to the north
on Dark of the Moon Plains
the hall made of gold
of Sindri's race.
Yet another stood
on Never Cold.
the beer hall of a giant,
he is named Brimir.
A hall she saw standing
remote from the sun
on Dead Body Shore.
Its door looks north.
There fell drops of venom
in through the roof vent.
That hall is woven
of serpents' spines.
She saw there wading
onerous streams
men perjured
and wolfish murderers
and the one who seduces
another's wife.
There Malice Striker sucked
corpses of the dead,
the wolf tore men.
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
What troubles the Aesir?
What troubles the Elves?
Giant Realm is aroar.
The Aesir are in council.
Dwarfs groan
at the granite doors,
well knowing their immuring rock.
Do you still wish to know more – or what?
The sign of the final judgment: The earth shall be drenched with sweat.
From the sky a king shall come to judge
all mortals, to reign for all times.
The sign of the final judgment:
The earth shall be drenched with sweat.
Our God shall unbelievers and believers see Uplifted with the saints, as ends the present age.
The sign of the final judgment: The earth shall be drenched with sweat.
So embodied souls shall stand before his judgement; the world now lies chaotic, in dense thickets.
The sign of the final judgment...
Men shall cast idols away, and treasures. Each land and all the sea and sky shall blaze with fire.
The sign of the final judgment...
Searching to destroy the gates of hell, salvation's light shall set saints' bodies free.
The sign of the final judgment...
Though wicked souls shall burn in everlasting flame. Obscurest acts will be revealed, and each shall tell...The sign of the final judgment...
... their secrets. And God shall unlock men's hearts to the light. Then there will be great mourning and gnashing of teeth.
The sign of the final judgment...
Extinguished is the blazing sun, the rhythm of the planets stilled. The skies shall roll away, the radiance of the moon shall die.
The sign of the final judgment...
Hills shall he level and valleys raise up. Nothing high or great shall be left to mortals.
The sign of the final judgment...
Now the mountains lie in a flat plain, and all the seas' movements shall cease, the earth will die, cracked.
The sign of the final judgment...
So all springs and streams will be quenched by fire. And a trumpet will sound from above with a mournful sound,
The sign of the final judgment...
bewailing wretched deeds and varied toils. The vast abyss of Tartaros appears, as earth yawns wide.
The sign of the final judgment...
Each ruler there shall stand before the bar of God. Rivers of fire and brimstone will rain from the sky.
The sign of the final judgment: The earth shall be drenched with sweat.
12. The prophecy of the seeress, part 3
A river falls from the east through venom-cold dales, with knives and swords:
Savage is its name.
In the east she sat, the old one,
in Iron Wood, and bred there
the broods of Fenrir.
There will come from them all one of that number to be a moon-snatcher
in troll's skin.
It sates itself on the life-blood of fated men, paints red the powers' homes
with crimson gore.
Black become the sun's beams in the summers that follow,
weathers all treacherous.
Now Garmr bays loud before Gnipahellir: The fetters will break and Frekki will run free. Much she knows of old, but I see further over the fate of the powers.
Brothers will fight and kill each other,
sister's children will defile kinship.
Loud blows Heimdallr, the horn points to the sky. Odinn talks with Mimir's head.
Yggdrasill shivers, the ash, as it stands.
The old tree groans, and the giant slips free.
Now Garmr bays loud before Gnipahellir: The fetters will break and Frekki will run free. Much she knows of old, but I see further over the fate of the powers.
The sun starts to blacken, land sinks into sea, the radiant stars recoil from the sky.
Fume rages against fire, fosterer of life,
the heat soars high against heaven itself.
Now Garmr bays loud before Gnipahellir:
The fetters will break and Frekki will run free. Much she knows of old, but I see further over the fate of the powers.
She sees come up a second time
earth out of ocean once again green.
The waterfalls flow, an eagle flies over,
in the hills, hunting fish.
9. Instrumental
10. Kyrie eleison (Hildegard von Bingen)
11. Instrumental
12. Völuspa III
Á fellr austan um eitrdala
söxom ok sverðom Slíðr heitir sú.
Austr sat in aldna í Járnviði
ok fœddi þar Fenris kindir.
Verðr af þeim öllom einna nøkkorr
tungls tjúgari í trolls hami.
Fylliz fjörvi feigra manna
rýðr ragna sjöt rauðom dreyra.
svört verða sólskin of sumor eptir,
veðr öll válynd.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök fyr Gnipahelli
festr mun slitna, en freki renna
fjölð veit hón frœða fram sé ek lengra
um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Brœðr muno berjaz ok at bönom verðaz
munu systrungar sifjom spilla.
hátt blæss Heimdallr horn er á lopti
mælir Óðinn við Míms höfuð.
Skelfr Yggdrasils askr standandi
ymr it aldna tré en jötunn losnar.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök fyr Gnipahelli
festr mun slitna en freki renna.
fjölð veit hón frœða fram sé ek lengra
um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Sól tér sortna sígr fold í mar
hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnor.
Geisar eimi við aldrnara
leikr hár hiti við himin sjalfan.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök fyr Gnipahelli
festr mun slitna en freki renna
fjölð veit hón frœða fram sé ek lengra
um ragna rök römm sigtíva.
Sér hón upp koma öðro sinni
jörð ór ægi iðjagrœna.
Falla forsar flýgr örn yfir
sá er á fjalli fiska veiðir.
Photo by Jana Jocif