Aesir Funeral Prayer
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
Thyself shall die as well,
But a noble name will never die
If good renown has come to them.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
Thyself shall die as well,
But I know one thing that never dies,
The fame that a good man wins.
Hail to the glory of the Rainbow Bridge,
Which opens before you in many colors!
May your footsteps be sure upon its span,
And may the gates of Asgard open before you
In welcome, with the horn blown as if to say
Here enters a great heart, a great soul
And a great memory to be held by the living.
Speak his (her) deeds, tell his (her) story!
Let it be a light against the darkness,
Let it be a joy as well as a sorrow,
Let our loss be mellowed like mead
By the knowledge that we were granted the privilege
Of knowing such a one, and calling them friend.
Heimdall, Guardian, open the gates at the mouth
Of Bifrost's great span, for one of worth is coming.
Odin, All-Father, look down from your high tower
On this great soul, and welcome them to kneel at your throne.
Frigga, Lady of the Hall, bring forth the cup of mead
To see them in, and let all sorrows be forgotten.
Thor, Lord of Storms, wash this soul clean with the new rains
And thunder like the drum of destiny.
Iduna, bring one apple of immortality
For our friend to taste, for we beg for them this gift.
Bragi, tell their tale at the mead-hall’s feast
For it is a worthy one, and all should hear it.
Freya, open the beauty of your hall to them,
And grant them love even after death.
Speak his (her deeds, tell his (her) story!
Let it be a wonder to the ear, let it be a comfort
To the heart, let it be the song that blows him (her)
Straight to those heavenly gates, with all our love.
(In the lines summoning the Gods, the order may be changed if the deceased had a fulltrui among the ones mentioned, with Their line placed first.)