Observations placeholder

The Poetic Edda - from Sayings of the High One

I know those spells, which a ruler's wife doesn't know,
nor any man's son;
'help' one is called
and that will help you
against accusations and sorrows
and every sort of anxiety

I know a second one which the sons of men need
those who want to live as physicians

I know a third one which  is very useful to me,
which fetters my enemy;
the edges of my foes I can blunt,
neither weapon nor club will bite for them

 I know a fourth one if men put
chains upon my limbs;
I can chant so that I can walk away,
fetters spring from my feet
and bonds from my hands

I know a fifth if I see, shot in malice
a dart flying amid the army;
it cannot fly so fast that I cannot stop it
if I see it with my eyes

…....................

I know a ninth one if I am in need
if I must protect my ship at sea;
the wind I can lull upon the wave
and quieten all the sea to sleep

I know a tenth one if I see witches
playing up in the air;
I can bring it about that they can't make their way back
to their shapes,
to their own spirits

…........

I know a twelth one if I see, up in a tree,
a dangling corpse in a noose
I can so carve and colour the runes
that the man walks
and talks with me

I know a thirteenth if I shall pour water
over a young warrior
he will not fall though he goes into battle
before swords he will not sink

….......

I know a sixteenth if I want to have all
a clever woman's heart and love-play
I can turn the thoughts of the white armed woman
and change her mind entirely