#thrymskvitha

1. Wild was Vingthor | when he awoke,

And when his mighty | hammer he missed;

He shook his beard, | his hair was bristling,

As the son of Jorth | about him sought.

2. Hear now the speech | that first he spake:

"Harken, Loki, | and heed my words,

Nowhere on earth | is it known to man,

Nor in heaven above: | our hammer is stolen."

3. To the dwelling fair | of Freyja went they,

Hear now the speech | that first he spake:

"Wilt thou, Freyja, | thy feather-dress lend me,

That so my hammer | I may seek?"

Freyja spake:

4. "Thine should it be | though of silver bright,

And I would give it | though 'twere of gold."

Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred,

Till he left behind him | the home of the gods,

And reached at last | the realm of the giants.

5. Thrym sat on a mound, | the giants' master,

Leashes of gold | he laid for his dogs,

And stroked and smoothed | the manes of his steeds.

Thrym spake:

6. "How fare the gods, | how fare the elves?

Why comst thou alone | to the giants' land?"

Loki spake:

"Ill fare the gods, | ill fare the elves!

Hast thou hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer?"

Thrym spake:

7. "I have hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer,

Eight miles down | deep in the earth;

And back again | shall no man bring it

If Freyja I win not | to be my wife."

8. Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred,

Till he left behind him | the home of the giants,

And reached at last | the realm of the gods.

There in the courtyard | Thor he met:

Hear now the speech | that first he spake:

9. "Hast thou found tidings | as well as trouble?

Thy news in the air | shalt thou utter now;

Oft doth the sitter | his story forget,

And lies he speaks | who lays himself down."

Loki spake:

10. "Trouble I have, | and tidings as well:

Thrym, king of the giants, | keeps thy hammer,

And back again | shall no man bring it

If Freyja he wins not | to be his wife."

11. Freyja the fair | then went they to find

Hear now the speech | that first he spake:

"Bind on, Freyja, | the bridal veil,

For we two must haste | to the giants' home."

12. Wrathful was Freyja, | and fiercely she snorted,

And the dwelling great | of the gods was shaken,

And burst was the mighty | Brisings' necklace:

"Most lustful indeed | should I look to all

If I journeyed with thee | to the giants' home."

13. Then were the gods | together met,

And the goddesses came | and council held,

And the far-famed ones | a plan would find,

How they might Hlorrithi's | hammer win.

14. Then Heimdall spake, | whitest of the gods,

Like the Wanes he knew | the future well:

"Bind we on Thor | the bridal veil,

Let him bear the mighty | Brisings' necklace;

15. "Keys around him | let there rattle,

And down to his knees | hang woman's dress;

With gems full broad | upon his breast,

And a pretty cap | to crown his head."

16. Then Thor the mighty | his answer made:

"Me would the gods | unmanly call

If I let bind | the bridal veil."

17. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey:

"Be silent, Thor, | and speak not thus;

Else will the giants | in Asgarth dwell

If thy hammer is brought not | home to thee."

18. Then bound they on Thor | the bridal veil,

And next the mighty | Brisings' necklace.

19. Keys around him | let they rattle,

And down to his knees | hung woman's dress;

With gems full broad | upon his breast,

And a pretty cap | to crown his head.

20. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey:

"As thy maid-servant thither | I go with thee;

We two shall haste | to the giants' home."

21. Then home the goats | to the hall were driven,

They wrenched at the halters, | swift were they to run;

The mountains burst, | earth burned with fire,

And Othin's son | sought Jotunheim.

22. Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader:

"Bestir ye, giants, | put straw on the benches;

Now Freyja they bring | to be my bride,

The daughter of Njorth | out of Noatun.

23. "Gold-horned cattle | go to my stables,

Jet-black oxen, | the giant's joy;

Many my gems, | and many my jewels,

Freyja alone | did I lack, methinks."

24. Early it was | to evening come,

And forth was borne | the beer for the giants;

Thor alone ate an ox, | and eight salmon,

All the dainties as well | that were set for the women;

And drank Sif's mate | three tuns of mead.

25. Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader:

"Who ever saw bride | more keenly bite?

I ne'er saw bride | with a broader bite,

Nor a maiden who drank | more mead than this!"

26. Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise,

So well she answered | the giant's words:

"From food has Freyja | eight nights fasted,

So hot was her longing | for Jotunheim."

27. Thrym looked 'neath the veil, | for he longed to kiss,

But back he leaped | the length of the hall:

"Why are so fearful | the eyes of Freyja?

Fire, methinks, | from her eyes burns forth."

28. Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise,

So well she answered | the giant's words:

"No sleep has Freyja | for eight nights found,

So hot was her longing | for Jotunheim."

29. Soon came the giant's | luckless sister,

Who feared not to ask | the bridal fee:

"From thy hands the rings | of red gold take,

If thou wouldst win | my willing love,

(My willing love | and welcome glad.)"

30: Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader:

"Bring in the hammer | to hallow the bride;

On the maiden's knees | let Mjollnir lie,

That us both the band | of Vor may bless."

31. The heart in the breast | of Hlorrithi laughed

When the hard-souled one | his hammer beheld;

First Thrym, the king | of the giants, he killed,

Then all the folk | of the giants he felled.

32. The giant's sister | old he slew,

She who had begged | the bridal fee;

A stroke she got | in the shilling's stead,

And for many rings | the might of the hammer.