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Historcial Texts
The spells of Merseburg
I
Eiris sâzun idisi, sâzun hera douder.
suma hapt heptidun, suma heri lezidun,
suma clûbôdun, umbi cuoniouuidi:
insprinc haptbandun, invar vîgandun!
II
Phol ende Uuodan vuorun zi holza.
dû uuart demo Balderes volon sîn vuoz birenkit.
thû biguolen Sinthgunt, Sunna era suister;
thû biguolen Frîia, Volla era suister;
thû biguolen Uuodan, sô hê uuola conda:
sôse bênrenkî, sôse bluotrenkî, sôse lidirenkî:
bên zi bêna, bluot zi bluoda, lid zi geliden,
sôse gelîmida sîn!
found in the Dome of Merseburg in a handscript from the 10th century from Fulda,
the spells are much more older
English Translation
I
Once the Disir (norse war-goddesses) sit here and there.
some tied the fetters some paralyzed the "army" of the enemies,
some gathered sacred fetters (that means they did the spells to bind the enemies):
escape the fetters, escape your enemies!
II
Phol (=Baldur, sungod) and Wotan (shamanic god) were in the woods.
there the foot of Baldur's horse was dislocated.
Then Sinthgunt the sister of Sunna (sungoddess) did her spell;
Then Freyja (goddess of love and magic) the sister of Fulla (goddess of fertility) did her spell;
Then Wotan, who knows it well, did his spell:
How is the bone, so is the blood, so is the limb:
Bone to bone, blood to blood, limb to limb
like they are sticked together!
The saxon (old nether-german) baptism vow
Forsachistû diobolae?
(et respondeat):
ec forsacho diobolae.
end allum diobolgeldae?
(respondeat):
end ec forsacho allum diobolgeldae.
end allum dioboles uuercum?
(respondeat):
end ec forsacho allum dioboles uuercum end uuordum,
Thunaer ende Uuôden ende Saxnôte
ende allum thêm unholdum, thê hira genôtas sint.
Gelôbistu in got alamehtigan fadaer?
ec gelôbu in got alamehtigan fadaer.
Gelôbistu in Christ godes suno?
ec gelôbu in Christ godes suno.
Gelôbistu in hâlogan gâst?
ec gelôbu in hâlogan gâst.
ca. 10th century
with this vow the saxon tribes that were defeated by Kaiser Karl were forced to renounce the religion of their fathers and to become christians
the ones who refused, or continued serving the ancient gods, lost their houses and properties, and sometimes their lives
English Translation
Do you renounce devil?
(and he should answer):
I renounce devil.
And all the devil's sacrifice?
(he should answer):
And I renounce all the devil's sacrifice.
And all the devil's acts?
(he should answer):
And I renounce all the devil's acts and words,
Donar (=Thor, god of thunder) and Wotan (=Odin) and Saxnot (tribal god of the saxons)
and all the devils, that are their companions.
Do you belive in god, the allmighty father?
I belive in god, the allmighty father.
Do you belive in Christ, son of god?
I belive in Christ, son of god.
Do you belive in holy spirit?
I belive in holy spirit.
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