The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson

13. They went the fair Freyia to find; and he those words first of all said: "Bind thee, Freyia, in bridal raiment, we two must drive to Jotunheim." 14. Wroth then was Freyia, and with anger chafed, all the Æsir's hall beneath her trembled: in shivers flew the famed Brisinga necklace. "Know me to be of women lewdest, if with thee I drive to Jotunheim." 15. Straightway went the Æsir all to council, and the Asyniur all to hold converse; and deliberated the mighty gods, how they Hlorridi's hammer might get back. 16. Then said Heimdall, of Æsir brightest--he well foresaw, like other Vanir--"Let us clothe Thor with bridal raiment, let him have the famed Brisinga necklace. 17. "Let by his side keys jingle, and woman's weeds fall round his knees, but on his breast place precious stones, and a neat coif set on his head." 18. Then said Thor, the mighty As: "Me the Æsir will call womanish, if I let myself be clad in bridal raiment." 19. Then spake Loki, Laufey's son: "Do thou, Thor! refrain from suchlike words: forthwith the Jotuns will Asgard inhabit, unless thy hammer thou gettest back." 20. Then they clad Thor in bridal raiment, and with the noble Brisinga necklace, let by his side keys jingle, and woman's weeds fall round his knees; and on his breast placed precious stones, and a neat coif set on his head. 21. Then said Loki, Laufey's son: "I will with thee as a servant go: we two will drive to Jotunheim." 22. Straightway were the goats homeward driven, hurried to the traces; they had fast to run. The rocks were shivered, the earth was in a blaze; Odin's son drove to Jotunheim. 23. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's lord: "Rise up, Jotuns! and the benches deck, now they bring me Freyia to wife, Niord's daughter, from Noatun. 24. "Hither to our court let bring gold-horned cows, all-black oxen, for the Jotuns' joy. Treasures I have many, necklaces many, Freyia alone seemed to me wanting." 25. In the evening they early came, and for the Jotuns beer was brought forth. Thor alone an ox devoured, salmons eight, and all the sweetmeats women should have. Sif's consort drank three salds of mead. 26. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's prince: "Where hast thou seen brides eat more voraciously? I never saw brides feed more amply, nor a maiden drink more mead." 27. Sat the all-crafty serving-maid close by, who words fitting found against the Jotun's speech: "Freyia has nothing eaten for eight nights, so eager was she for Jotunheim." 28. Under her veil he stooped desirous to salute her, but sprang back along the hall. "Why are so piercing Freyia's looks? Methinks that fire burns from her eyes." 29. Sat the all-crafty serving-maid close by, who words fitting found against the Jotun's speech: "Freyia for eight nights has not slept, so eager was she for Jotunheim." 30. In came the Jotun's luckless sister, for a bride-gift she dared to ask: "Give me from thy hands the ruddy rings, if thou wouldst gain my love, my love and favour all." 31. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's lord: "Bring the hammer in, the bride to consecrate; lay Miollnir on the maiden's knee; unite us each with other by the hand of Vor." 32. Laughed Hlorridi's soul in his breast, when the fierce-hearted his hammer recognized. He first slew Thrym, the Thursar's lord, and the Jotun's race all crushed; 33. He slew the Jotun's aged sister, her who a bride-gift had demanded; she a blow got instead of skillings, a hammer's stroke for many rings. So got Odin's son his hammer back. THE LAY OF THE DWARF ALVIS. _Alvis_. 1. The benches they are decking, now shall the bride[33] with me bend her way home. That beyond my strength I have hurried will to every one appear: at home naught shall disturb my quiet. _Vingthor_. 2. What man is this? Why about the nose art thou so pale? Hast thou last night with corpses lain? To me thou seemst to bear resemblance to the Thursar. Thou art not born to carry off a bride. _Alvis_. 3. Alvis I am named, beneath the earth I dwell, under the rock I own a place. The lord of chariots I am come to visit. A promise once confirmed let no one break.[34] _Vingthor_. 4. I will break it; for o'er the maid I have, as father, greatest power. I was from home when the promise was given thee. Among the gods I the sole giver am. _Alvis_. 5. What man is this, who lays claim to power over that fair, bright maiden? For far-reaching shafts few will know thee. Who has decked thee with bracelets? _Vingthor_. 6. Vingthor I am named, wide I have wandered; I am Sidgrani's son: with my dissent thou shalt not that young maiden have, nor that union obtain. _Alvis_. 7. Thy consent I fain would have, and that union obtain. Rather would I possess than be without that snow-white maiden. _Vingthor_. 8. The maiden's love shall not, wise guest! be unto thee denied, if thou of every world canst tell all I desire to know. _Alvis_. 9. Vingthor! thou canst try, as thou art desirous the knowledge of the dwarf to prove. All the nine worlds I have travelled over, and every being known. _Vingthor_. 10. Tell me, Alvis!--for all men's concerns I presume thee, dwarf, to know--how the earth is called, which lies before the sons of men, in every world. _Alvis_. 11. Jord among men 'tis called, but with the Æsir fold; the Vanir call it vega, the Jotuns igroen, the Alfar groandi, the powers supreme aur. _Vingthor_. 12. Tell me, Alvis, etc. how the heaven is called, which is perceptible in every world. _Alvis_. 13. Himinn 'tis called by men; but hlyrnir with the gods; vindofni the Vanir call it, uppheimr the Jotuns, the Alfar fagraræfr, the dwarfs driupansal. _Vingthor_. 14. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the moon is called, which men see in every world. _Alvis_. 15. Mani 'tis called by men, but mylinn with the gods, hverfanda hvel in Hel[35] they call it, skyndi the Jotuns, but the dwarfs skin; the Alfar name it artali. _Vingthor_. 16. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the sun is called, which men's sons see in every world. _Alvis_. 17. Sol among men 'tis called, but with the gods sunna, the dwarfs call it Dvalinn's leika, the Jotuns eyglo, the Alfar fagrahvel, the Æsir's sons alskir. _Vingthor_. 18. Tell me, Alvis, etc., how the clouds are called, which with showers are mingled in every world. _Alvis_. 19. Sky they are called by men, but skurvan by the gods; the Vanir call them vindflot, the Jotuns urvan, the Alfar vedrmegin; in Hel they are called hialm hulids. _Vingthor_. 20. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the wind is called, which widely passes over every world. _Alvis_. 21. Windr 'tis called by men, but vavudr by the gods, the wide-ruling powers call it gneggiud, the Jotuns oepir, the Alfar dynfari, in Hel they call it hvidudr. _Vingthor_. 22. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the calm is called, which has to rest in every world. _Alvis_. 23. Logn 'tis called by men, but lægi by the gods, the Vanir call it vindslot, the Jotuns ofhly, the Alfar dagsevi, the Dwarfs call it dags vera. _Vingthor_. 24. Tell me, Alvis! etc., what the sea is called, which men row over in every world. _Alvis_. 25. Sær 'tis called by men, but silægia with the gods; the vanir call it vagr, the Jotuns alheimr, the Alfar lagastafr, the Dwarfs call it diupan mar. _Vingthor_. 26. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the fire is called, which burns before men's sons in every world. _Alvis_. 27. Eldr 'tis called by men, but by the Æsir funi; the Vanir call it vagr, the Jotuns frekr, but the Dwarfs forbrennir; in Hel they call it hrodudr. _Vingthor_. 28. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the forest is called, which grows for the sons of men in every world. _Alvis_. 29. Vidr 'tis called by men, but vallarfax by the gods, Hel's inmates call it hlidthangr, the Jotuns eldi, the Alfar fagrlimi; the Vanir call it vondr. _Vingthor_. 30. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the night is called, that Norvi's daughter hight, in every world. _Alvis_. 31. Nott it is called by men, but by the gods niol; the wide-ruling powers call it grima, the Jotuns olios, the Alfar svefngaman; the Dwarfs call it draumniorunn. _Vingthor_. 32. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the seed is called, which the sons of men sow in every world. _Alvis_. 33. Bygg it is called by men, but by the gods barr, the Vanir call it vaxtr, the Jotuns æti, the Alfar lagastafr; in Hel 'tis hnipinn called. _Vingthor_. 34. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the beer is called, which the sons of men drink in every world. _Alvis_. 35. Ol it is called by men, but by the Æsir biorr, the Vanir call it veig, hreina logr the Jotuns, but in Hel 'tis called miodr: Suttung's sons call it sumbl. _Vingthor_. 36. In one breast I have never found more ancient lore. By great wiles thou hast, I tell thee, been deluded. Thou art above ground, dwarf! at dawn; already in the hall the sun is shining! FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 33: Thrud, Thor's daughter by his wife Sif. _Skaldskap_.] [Footnote 34: This appears to allude to a promise made to the dwarf; but of which the story is lost.] [Footnote 35: When this composition was written, it appears that Hel was no longer regarded as a person, but as a place.] THE LAY OF HARBARD. Thor journeying from the eastern parts came to a strait or sound, on the other side of which was a ferryman with his boat. Thor cried out:-- 1. Who is the knave of knaves, that by the sound stands yonder? _Harbard_. 2. Who is the churl of churls, that cries across the water? _Thor_. 3. Ferry me across the sound, to-morrow I'll regale thee. I have a basket on my back: there is no better food: at my ease I ate, before I quitted home, herrings and oats, with which I yet feel sated. _Harbard_. 4. Thou art in haste to praise thy meal: thou surely hast no foreknowledge; for sad will be thy home: thy mother, I believe, is dead. _Thor_. 5. Thou sayest now what seems to every one most unwelcome to know--that my mother is dead. _Harbard_. 6. Thou dost not look like one who owns three country dwellings, bare-legged thou standest, and like a beggar clothed; thou hast not even breeches. _Thor_. 7. Steer hitherward thy boat; I will direct thee where to land. But who owns this skiff, which by the strand thou holdest? _Harbard_. 8. Hildolf fief is named who bade me hold it, a man in council wise, who dwells in Radso sound. Robbers he bade me not to ferry, or horse-stealers, but good men only, and those whom I well knew. Tell me then thy name, if thou wilt cross the sound. _Thor_. 9. I my name will tell, (although I am an outlaw) and all my kin: I am Odin's son, Meili's brother, and Magni's sire, the gods' mighty leader: With Thor thou here mayest speak. I will now ask how thou art called. _Harbard_. 10. I am Harbard called; seldom I my name conceal. _Thor_. 11. Why shouldst thou thy name conceal, unless thou crime hast perpetrated? _Harbard_. 12. Yet, though I may crime have perpetrated, I will nathless guard my life against such as thou art; unless I death-doomed am. _Thor_. 13. It seems to me a foul annoyance to wade across the strait to thee, and wet my garments: but I will pay thee, mannikin! for thy sharp speeches, if o'er the sound I come. _Harbard_. 14. Here will I stand, and here await thee. Thou wilt have found no stouter one since Hrungnir's death. _Thor_. 15. Thou now remindest me how I with Hrungnir fought, that stout-hearted Jotun, whose head was all of stone; yet I made him fall, and sink before me. What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard? _Harbard_. 16. I was with Fiolvari five winters through, in the isle which Algron hight. There we could fight, and slaughter make, many perils prove, indulge in love.