Þrymskviða

1

Wroth was Vingthor,
when he awoke,
and his hammer
missed;
his beard he shook,
his forehead struck,
the son of earth
felt all around him;

2

and first of all
these words he uttered:
“Hear now, Loki!
what I now say,
which no ones knows
anywhere on earth,
nor in heaven above;
the As’s hammer is stolen!”

3

They went to the fair
Freyja’s dwelling,
and he these words
first of all said:
“Wilt thou me, Freyja,
thy feather-garment lend,
that perchance my hammer
I may find?”

4

Freyja

“That I would give thee,
although of gold it were,
and trust it to thee,
though it were of silver.”

5

Flew then Loki –
the plumage rattled –
until he came beyond
the Æsir’s dwellings,
and came within
the Jötun’s land.

6

On a mound sat Thrym,
the Thursar’s lord,
for his greyhounds
plaiting gold bands
and his horses’
manes smoothing.

7

“How goes it with the Æsir
How goes it with the Alfar,
Why art thou come alone
to Jötunheim?”

8

Loki

“Ill it goes with the Æsir,
Ill it goes with the Alfar.
Hast thou Hlorridi’s
hammer hidden?”

9

Thrym

“I have Hlorridi’s
hammer hidden
eight rasts
beneath the earth;
it shall no man
get again,
unless he bring me
Freyja to wife.”

10

Flew then Loki –
the plumage rattled –
until he came beyond
the Jötun’s dwellings,
and came within
the Æsir’s courts;
there he met Thor,
in the middle court,
who these words
first of all uttered.

11

“Hast thou had success
as well as labour?
Tell me from the air
the long tidings.
Oft of him who sits
are the tales defective,
and he who lied down
utters falsehood.”

12

Loki

“I have had labour
and success:
Thrym has thy hammer,
the Thursar’s lord.
It shall no man
get again,
unless he bring him
Freyja to wife.”

13

They went the fair
Freyja to find;
and he those words
first of all said:
“Bind thee, Freyja,
in bridal raiment,
we two must drive
to Jötunheim.”

14

Wroth then was Freyja,
and with anger chafed,
all the Æsir’s hall
beneath her trembled:
in shivers flew the famed
Brísinga necklace.
“Know me to be
of women lewdest,
if with thee I drive
to Jötunheim.”

15

Straightway went the Æsir
all to counsel,
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
Brísinga 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 Jötuns will
Asgard inhabit,
unless thy hammer thou
gettest back.”

20

Then they clad Thor
in bridal raiment,
and with the noble
Brísinga necklace,
let by his side
keys jingle,
and woman’s weeds
fall round his knees:
and on his breast
places precious stones,
and a neat coif
sat on his head.

21

Then said Loki,
Laufey’s son:
“I will with thee
as a servant go:
we two will drive
to Jötunheim.”

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 Jötunheim.

23

Then said Thrym,
the Thursar’s lord:
“Rise up, Jötuns!
and the benches deck,
now they bring me
Freyja to wife,
Niörd’s daughter,
from Noatún.

24

“Hither to our court let bring
gold-horned cows,
all-black oxen,
for the Jötuns’ joy.
Treasures I have many,
necklaces many,
Freyja alone
seemed to me wanting.”

25

In the evening
they early came,
and for the Jötuns
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 Jötun’s speech:
“Freyja has nothing eaten
for eight nights,
so eager was she
for Jötunheim.”

28

Under her veil he stooped
desirous to salute her,
but sprang back
along the hall.
“Why are so piercing
Freyja’s looks?
Methinks that fire
burns from her eyes.”

29

Sat the all-crafty
serving-maid close by,
who words fitting found
against the Jötun’s speech:
“Freyja for eight nights
has not slept,
so eager was she
for Jötunheim.”

30

In came the Jötun’s
luckless sister,
for a bride-gift
she dared to ask:
“Give me from they 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 Mjöllnir
on the maiden’s knee;
unite us each with other
by the hand of Vör.

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 Jötun’s race
all crushed;

33

He slew the Jötun’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.