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6. Uprose Odin
lord of men,
and on Sleipnir he
the saddle laid;
rode thence down
to Niflhel.
A dog he met,
from Hel coming.
7. It was blood-stained
on its breast,
on its slaughter-craving throat,
and nether jaw.
It bayed
and widely gaped
at the sire of magic song:
long it howled.
8. Forth rode Odin
the ground rattled
till to Hel's lofty
house he came.
Then rode Ygg
to the eastern gate,
where he knew there was
a Vala's grave.
9. To the prophetess he began
a magic song to chant,
towards the north looked,
potent runes applied,
a spell pronounced,
an answer demanded,
until compelled she rose,
and with deathlike voice she said:
Vala
10. “What man is this,
to me unknown
who has for me increased
an irksome course?
I have with snow been decked
by rain beaten,
and with dew moistened:
long have I been dead.”
Vegtam
11. “Vegtam is my name,
I am Valtam's son.
Tell thou me of Hel:
from earth I call on thee.
For whom are those benches
strewed o'er with rings,
those costly couches
o'erlaid with gold?”
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