The oldest and most important chapter of the Elder Edda is the Völuspá, or Sibyl’s Prophecy. It is addressed to Odin, describing the meeting of the Æsir (or Northern deities), the origin of the human race, and the destruction of men and gods at Ragnarök.[C] We will here transcribe a couple of stanzas as specimens of the form of the old Norse or Icelandic original, and add a close translation: STANZAS 66 AND 68. _Text._ | _Translation._ | 66. Hittask Æsir | 66. The Asas meet Á Ithavelli | On the wold of Ida Ok um moldwinur | And of the earth engirdler Mátkan dæma; | Mightily judge; Ok minnask war | And call to mind Á megindóma | Their [bygone] greatness Ok á Fimbultys | And the ancient runes Fornar runar. | Of Fimbultyr. | 68. Munu ósánir | 68. Then shall the acres Akrarvaxa, | Unsown bear harvest, Böls mun alls batna, | All ill is amended, Mun Baldr koma; | Balder is coming; Búa weir Häthr ok Baldr | Dwell Hader and Balder Hropts sigtoptir | In Hropt’s blessed dwellings Vel valtívar. | In friendship the wargods. Vituth ér enn etha hvat? | Know ye ought yet, or what? From another chapter of the Elder Edda—that called Hávamál, and the most interesting after the Völuspá—we we will quote also a specimen. The whole chapter is made up of such proverbs or reflections, said to have been indited by Odin himself: ’Tis far out of the way To an ill friend, Though he dwell by the roadside; But to a good friend Is the path short, Though he be a great way off. Thou shalt move on,— Shalt not be a guest Always in one place: The well-beloved becomes odious If he sit long In the house of another.