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Poetic Edda

39.[1] Strong was he made  with the strength of earth,With the ice-cold sea,  and the blood of swine.
40.[2] One there was born,  the best of all,And strong was he made  with the strength of earth;The proudest is called  the kinsman of menOf the rulers all  throughout the world.
41. Much have I told thee,  and further will tell;There is much that I know;—  wilt thou hear yet more?
42.[3] The wolf did Loki  with Angrbotha win,And Sleipnir bore he  to Svathilfari;The worst of marvels  seemed the oneThat sprang from the brother  of Byleist then.
  1. ↑ It has been suggested that these lines were interpolated from Guthrunarkvitha II, 22. Some editors add the refrain of stanza 36. Swine's blood: to Heimdall's strength drawn from earth and sea was added that derived from sacrifice.
  2. ↑ In the manuscript this stanza stands after stanza 44. Regarding Heimdall's kinship to the three great classes of men, cf. Rigsthula, introductory note, wherein the apparent confusion of his attributes with those of Othin is discussed.
  3. ↑ Probably a lacuna before this stanza. Regarding the wolf Fenrir, born of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha, cf. Voluspo, 39 and note. Sleipnir: Othin's eight-legged horse, born of the stallion Svathilfari and of Loki in the guise of a mare (cf. Grimnismol, 44). The worst: doubtless referring to Mithgarthsorm, another child of Loki. The brother of Byleist: Loki; cf. Voluspo, 51.

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