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Poetic Edda

  Svipdag spake:51. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith,  the question I ask,For now the truth would I know:What call they the mountain  on which the maidIs lying so lovely to see?"
  Fjolsvith spake:52.[1] "Lyfjaberg is it,  and long shall it beA joy to the sick and the sore;For well shall grow  each woman who climbs it,Though sick full long she has lain."
  Svipdag spake:53. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith,  the question I ask,For now the truth would I know:What maidens are they  that at Mengloth's kneesAre sitting so gladly together?"
  Fjolsvith spake:54.[2] "Hlif is one named,  Hlifthrasa another,Thjothvara call they the third;

  1. Lyfjaberg ("Hill of Healing"): the manuscripts vary as to this name; I have followed Bugge's suggestion. This stanza implies that Mengloth is a goddess of healing, and hence, perhaps, an hypostasis of Frigg, as already intimated by her name (cf. stanza 3, note). In stanza 54 Eir appears as one of Mengloth's handmaidens, and Eir, according to Snorri (Gylfaginning, 35) is herself the Norse Hygeia. Compare this stanza with stanza 32.
  2. The manuscripts and editions show many variations in these names. They may be approximately rendered thus: Helper, Help-Breather, Folk-Guardian, Shining, White, Blithe, Peaceful, Kindly (?), and Gold-Giver.

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