Prose Edda - Anderson Trans.
Chapter 11
The Giantess Gerd and
Skirnir's Journey (1)
38. Gymer hight a man whose wife was Orboda, of the race of mountain giants.
Their daughter was Gerd, the fairest of all women. One day when Frey had
gone into Hlidskjalf, and was looking out upon all the worlds, he saw toward
the north a hamlet wherein was a large and beautiful house. To this house
went a woman, and when she raised her hands to open the door, both the sky
and the sea glistened therefrom, and she made all the world bright. As a
punishment for his audacity in seating himself in that holy seat, Frey went
away full of grief. When he came home, he neither spake, slept, nor drank,
and no one dared speak to him. Then Njord sent for Skirner, Frey's servant,
bade him go to Frey and ask him with whom he was so angry, since he would
speak to nobody. Skirner said that he would go, though he was loth to do
so, as it was probable that he would get evil words in reply. When he came
to Frey and asked him why he was so sad that he would not talk, Frey answered
that he had seen a beautiful woman, and for her sake he had become so filled
with grief, that he could not live any longer if he could not get her. And
now you must go he added, and ask her hand for me and bring her home to
me, whether it be with or without the consent of her father. I will reward
you well for your trouble. Skirner answered saying that he would go on this
errand, but Frey must give him his sword, that was so excellent that it
wielded itself in fight. Frey made no objection to this and gave him the
sword. Skirner went on his journey, courted Gerd for him, and got the promise
of her that she nine nights thereafter should come to Bar-Isle and there
have her wedding with Frey. When Skirner came back and gave an account of
his journey, Frey said:
Long
is one night,
Long
are two nights,
How
can I hold out three?
Oft
to me one month
Seemed
less
Than
this half night of love. (2)
This is the reason why Frey
was unarmed when he fought with Bele, and slew him with a hart's horn. Then
said Ganglere: It is a great wonder that such a lord as Frey would give
away his sword, when he did not have another as good. A great loss it was
to him when he fought with Bele; and this I know, forsooth, that he must
have repented of that gift. Har answered: Of no great account was his meeting
with Bele. Frey could have slain him with his hand. But the time will come
when he will find himself in a worse plight for not having his sword, and
that will be when the sons of Muspel sally forth to the fight.
ENDNOTES:
1. This is the Niblung story in a nut-shell. Back
2. Elder Edda: Skirner's Journey, 42. Back
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