146. The songs I know | that king's wives know not,
Nor men that are sons of men;
The first is called help, | and help it can bring thee
In sorrow and pain and sickness.
147. A second I know, | that men shall need
Who leechcraft long to use;
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
148. A third I know, | if great is my need
Of fetters to hold my foe;
Blunt do I make | mine enemy's blade,
Nor bites his sword or staff.
149. A fourth I know, | if men shall fasten
Bonds on my bended legs;
So great is the charm | that forth I may go,
The fetters spring from my feet,
Broken the bonds from my hands.
150. A fifth I know, | if I see from afar
An arrow fly 'gainst the folk;
It flies not so swift | that I stop it not,
If ever my eyes behold it.
[146. With this stanza begins the Ljothatal, or list of charms. The magic songs themselves are not given,
but in each case the peculiar application of the charm is explained. The passage, which is certainly
approximately complete as far as it goes, runs to the end of the poem. In the manuscript and in most
editions line 4 falls into two half-lines, running:
"In sickness and pain | and every sorrow."
147. Second, etc., appear in the manuscript as Roman numerals. The manuscript indicates no gap after line 2.]
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146. Ljóđ ek ţau kann,
er kann-at ţjóđans kona
ok mannskis mögr.
Hjalp heitir eitt,en ţat ţér hjalpa mun
viđ sökum ok sorgum ok sútum görvöllum.
147. Ţat kann ek annat,
er ţurfu ýta synir,
ţeir er vilja lćknar lifa.
148. Ţađ kann ek ţriđja:
ef mér verđr ţörf mikil hafts viđ mína heiftmögu,
eggjar ek deyfi minna andskota,
bíta-t ţeim vápn né velir.
149. Ţat kann ek it fjórđa:
ef mér fyrđar bera bönd ađ boglimum,
svá ek gel,
at ek ganga má,
sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr, en af höndum haft.
150. Ţat kann ek it fimmta:
ef ek sé af fári skotinn flein í folki vađa,
fýgr-a hann svá stinnt, at ek stöđvig-a-k,
ef ek hann sjónum of sék.
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