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Merseburg Incantations

Merseburger Zaubersprüche

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freely translated
from Old High German by

D. L. Ashliman
© 1998

• Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts

• Germanic Myths, Legends, and Sagas

• Charms against sprains collected during the nineteenth century in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. These spells bear a strong resemblance to the second Merseburg Incantation.

1.

Once the Idisi set forth, to this place and that;
Some fastened fetters; some hindered the horde,
Some loosed the bonds from the brave --
Leap forth from the fetters! Escape from the foes!

2.

Phol and Wodan rode into the woods,
There Balder's foal sprained its foot.
It was charmed by Sinthgunt, her sister Sunna;
It was charmed by Frija, her sister Volla;
It was charmed by Wodan, as he well knew how:
Bone-sprain, like blood-sprain,
Like limb-sprain:
Bone to bone; blood to blood;
Limb to limb -- like they were glued.