Translated by Lee M. Hollander
Freyr, the son of Njordhr, one day had seated himself on Hlidhskjalf and looked
over all the worlds. To sit upon Hlidhskjalf was forbidden to all but Odhinn and Frigg,
by Odhinn's decree. Then saw he in the world of Etins a fair maiden as she went from
the hall of her father to her bower. And that sight made him heavy of heart. Skirnir was
the name of Freyr's servitor. Njordhr bade him to make Freyr speak out.
(Skathi said:)
1. Arise now, Skirnir, and ready make thee
to summon my son,
and find out this from the wise youth,
whom he doth hate.
(Skinir said:)
2. For waspish words I well may look,
if I summon thy son
to find out this from the wise youth,
whom he doth hate.
3. Wilt tell me, Freyr, foremost among Gods,
and answer me as I ask:
Why sittest thou lonely, my Lord, all day
with heavy heart in thy hall?
(Frey said:)
4. How tell thee my yearning, oh youth, as thou wishest--
Why heavy my heart?
The alf's beam shineth all these long days,
but lighter groweth not my longing.
(Skinir said:)
5. Thy heart's not so heavy, I hold, but thou mayest
open it to another;
for in days of yore we young were together:
truly thou mightest trust me.
(Frey said:)
6. From on high I beheld in the halls of Gymir
a maiden to my mind;
her arms did gleam, their glamor filled
all the sea and the air.
7. This maiden is to me more dear
than maiden to any man;
but Aesir and alfs all will have it
that strangers ay we stay.
(7a). (In my behalf her hand shalt ask,
and home bring her hither,
her father let or allow it:
good shall thy reward shall be.)
(Skinir said:)
8. Thy steed then lend me to lift me o'er wyrrd
ring of flickering flame,
the sword also that swings itself
against the tribe of trolls.
(Frey said:)
9. My steed I lend thee to lift thee o'er wyrrd
ring of flickering flame,
the sword also which swings itself,
if wise he who wields it.
(Skirnir said to his steed:)
10. Night it is now, now we shall fare
over moist mountains,
to the thurse's throng;
scatheless we both shall 'scape their might,
or else both be o'erborne by the Etins.
Skirnir rode to Jotunheimr and to Gymir's hall. There were savage
dogs tied to the gate of the enclosure about Gerdh's bower.
Skirnir rode to where a shepherd sate on a mound, and greeted him:
11. Say thou, shepherd, sitting on hill,
who dost watch all ways:
how win I the welcome of the winsome maid
through the grim hounds of Gymir?
(The shepherd said:)
12. Whether art thou doomed, or dead already,
(in the stirrup who standest)?
Never shalt thou win the welcome to have
of the good daughter of Gymir.
(Skinir said:)
13. Ne'er a whit will whine, whatso betide,
who is eager on errand bent;
my fate is foretold me to the time of a day,
allotted is all my life.
(Gerth said:)
14. What outcry and uproar within out courts
hear I now, handmaid?
The earth doth shake and all my father
Gymir's high halls.
(The handmaid said:)
15. By his steed here stands a stranger youth,
unbridles and baits him;
(He wishes, I ween, welcome to have
from the good daughter of Gymir).
(Gerth said:)
16. Bid to my bower the bold-minded come,
to meet me and drink our mead;
though far from us, I fear me, is not
my brother's banesman
17. Whether art of the alf's or Aesir come,
or art thou a wise Van?
Through furious fire why farest alone
to behold our halls?
(Skinir said:)
18. Neither alf am I, nor Aesir come
nor a wise Van;
through furious fire yet fared I alone
to behold your halls.
19. Apples eleven have I all golden;
to thee, Gerdh, I shall give them,
to hear from thy lips thou lovest Freyr,
and deemest him dearest to thee.
(Gerth said:)
20. The Apples eleven not e'er shall I take
to do any wight's will;
nor shall I ever with Njordhr's son Freyr
dwell while our lives do last.
(Skinir said:)
21. Draupnir, the ring, then thy dowry shall be,
which with Baldr was burned;
eight rings as dear will drop from it
every ninth night.
(Gerth said:)
22. Draupnir, the ring, I do not want,
though it with Baldr was burned;
gold I lack not in Gymir's halls,
to deal out daily.
(Skinir said:)
23. This mottled blade, dost, maiden, see it
which here I hold in my hand?
Thy haughty head I hew from thy neck
but thou yield thy love to the youth.
(Gerth said:)
24. Nor gold nor sword will gain it over me
any wight's will to do;
if Gymir, my father, did find thee here,
fearless warrior, ye would fight to the death.
(Skinir said:)
25. This mottled blade, dost, maiden, see it
which here I hold in my hand?
Before its edge the Etin falls,
and is thy father fey.
26. With this galdrwand bewitch thee I shall,
my will, maiden, to do;
where the sons of men will see thee no more,
thither shalt thou!
27. On eagle-hill shalt ever sit,
aloof from the world, lolling toward Hel.
To thee men shall be more loathsome far
than to mankind the slimey wyrm.
28. An ugly sight, when out thou comest,
even Hrimnir will stare at and every hind glare at,
more widely known than the warder of Gods,
and shalt gape through the gate.
29. Shalt drivel and dote, and drag through life,
with salt tears shalt sorrow;
shalt sit as I say, with sadness heavy,
feel twofold torment
with heavy heart.
30. Imps shall nip thee, all the long days
thou art with the Etins;
to Rime Thurses' hall shalt hobble all days,
cringe under curse,
cringe under care.
For play shall weeping thy pastime be:
live a loathly life with tears!
31. With three-headed thurse, thwarted, thou shalt live,
or else unwedded be;
lust shall lash thee,
weakness waste thee:
be like the thistle which is thrust under,
when the harvest is harbored.
32. To the woods I wended, to the wet forest,
a galdrwand me to make,
and a galdrwand I made me.
33. Thou hast angered Odhinn, the uppermost God;
Freyr will frown on thee,
thou wicked wench! Woe betide thee,
thou hast the great God's wrath.
34. Hear ye rime thurses, hear ye etins,
ye sons of Settung, all ye sibs of the Aesir:
how I forbid, how I debar
men's mirth to the maid,
men's love to the maid.
35. Hrimgrimnir is hight who shall have thee, a thurse,
Niflhelheimr beneath:
there, slavering slaves shall serve thee 'neath tree roots
with staling of stinking goats.
No other drink shalt ever get,
wench at thy will,
wench at my will!
36. A 'thurs' rune [Thurisaz] for thee, and three more I scratch:
lechery, loathing, and lust;
off I shall scratch them, as on I did scratch them,
if of none there be need.
(Gerth said:)
37. Hail, rather, hero, and hold to thy lips
this crystal cup with mead;
though hardly thought I that hence I should fare,
to be a Van's wife.
(Skinir said:)
38. My errand I would know altogether,
ere hence I ride home.
When art minded to meet the strong one,
and welcome the wise son of Njordhr?
(Gerth said:)
39. Barri is hight, as both we know,
for true love a trysting glade.
after nights nine to Njordhr's son there
will Gerdh grant her love.
Then rode Skirnir home. Freyr stood without and greeted him
and asked him what tidings he brought:
40. Say now, Skirnir, ere thou unsaddled the steed
and set one foot foreward:
what errand bringest thou from Jotunheimr,
of mark for thee or me?
(Skinir said:)
41. Barri is hight, as both we know,
for true love a trysting glade.
after nights nine to Njordhr's son there
will Gerdh grant her love.
(Frey said:)
42. Long is a night, longer are two--
how shall I thole three?
Shorter to me a month oft seemed,
than part of this night of pining.
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