From the peace between the Æsir and the Vanir the wise Kvasir is created from the gods' mingled saliva, but the dwarves Fjalarr and Galarr murder him and brew the mead of poetry from his blood.
Þat er upphaf þess er Æsir ok Vanir sættu með sér frið ok settu trúnað með þeim hætti at báðir flokkar gengu at ker einu ok spýttu í ofan. Þá er þeir skilðust þá tóku Æsir þat tákn friðarins ok vildu eigi láta þat týnast, ok skópu þar af mann. Sá maðr er kallaðr Kvasir. Hann var svá spakr at hann kunni svör á allar spurningar.
This is the beginning: the Æsir and the Vanir made peace between themselves and confirmed the treaty by both companies going up to a vat and spitting into it. When they parted the Æsir took that symbol of peace and, unwilling to let it be lost, shaped from it a man. This man is called Kvasir. He was so wise that he could answer every question.
Hann fór víða um heim ok kendi mönnum fróðleik. Þá er hann kom á fund dverga þeira er Fjalarr hét ok Galarr, þá buðu þeir honum í tal með sér ok drápu hann, létu renna blóð hans í tvær ker ok einn ketil, sá er Óðrœrir heitir, en kerin heita Són ok Boðn. Þeir blendu hunang við blóðit ok varð þar af mjöðr sá er hverr er af drekkr verðr skáld eða fróðmaðr.
He wandered widely through the world and taught men wisdom. When he came to the dwarves named Fjalarr and Galarr, they invited him to private conversation, then killed him, let his blood run into two vats and a kettle called Óðrœrir, while the vats are named Són and Boðn. They mixed honey with the blood, and from this arose a mead such that whoever drinks of it becomes a skald or a man of wisdom.
Skaldic quotations
Snorri Sturluson: Skáldskaparmál (eigen prosa)
Kvasir var svá spakr at engi spurning var honum ofstór.
Kvasir was so wise that no question was too great for him.