Poetic Edda - Cottle Trans.
XX.
Farther into ocean now,
Let us launch our daring prow, ---
The valiant son of Odin cry'd:
But Hymer his assent deny'd.
XXI.
First success was Hymer's fate;
A whale's wide swallow took the bait:
Mightily his line he drew,
And in the boat the monster threw.
Soon crafty Thor th' expedient took,
Beneath the boat to fix his hook.
XXII.
The destin'd victor of the snake,
Now began his rod to take,
A firm-spun cable-line he took,
And fix'd the bull's head to the hook.
The zone-like monster seiz'd the bait,
That Gods indignant justly hate.
XXIII.
Veorr fiercely drew the line,
The slimy spires began to shine;
Voluminous the reptile wreath'd,
As first the untry'd air he breath'd:
Then guided o'er the vessel's side,
Lay spreading many a furlong wide.
(9) Veorr to his mallet fled,
And smote the wolf-like serpent's head.
XXIV.
Rocks wept in everlasting stone;
The craggy mountains heav'd a groan;
Frenzy'd earth strange terror took,
And to her inmost centre shook.
Veorr then the monster hurl'd,
Far into the watery world.
XXV.
Little joy did Hymer feel,
Nor could he his disgrace conceal:
But sought the wide boat's farthest side,
And there, his oar, in silence ply'd.
XXVI.
Wilt thou Veorr! Hymer cries,
Assist in bearing home our prize;
And lend me too a willing hand,
To haul the vessel on the strand.
XXVII.
Elorrid delay'd no more,
But high in air the vessel bore ---
Whales, pumps, oars, benches, ropes and all,
And plac'd them in the mountain hall.
XXVIII.
Th' exploit was great --- yet Hymer's pride,
Still superior strength deny'd:
Best prov'd he said if by one stroke,
Yon firm compacted bowl he broke.
XXIX.
Elorrid at his folly laught; ---
Then broke in two the column's shaft:
This he did, nor left his seat,
So easy the prodigious feat.
Hymer's servants now croud round,
And placed the bowl upon the ground.
XXX.
The hostess instantly drew near,
And whisper'd Veorr in the ear;
Dull'd by repast --- no mischief dread:
Dash it at the Giant's head.
XXXI.
Veorr quickly stood upright,
Awful in collected might:
The bowl was shiver'd by the stroke:
The rocky skull remain'd unbroke.
XXXII.
Much I fear'd the old man cry'd,
This night some mischief would betide,
Since bright I saw the flaggon stand,
Polish'd by too frequent hand.
In vain the banquet I bewail: ---
Too freely Veorr drinks my ale.
XXXIII.
Other sports will I supply:
Lift yon massy cauldron high.
Mighty Tyr his strength twice prov'd ---
Twice the cauldron stood unmov'd.
XXXIV.
Up rose Veorr from his seat,
(Earth shook beneath his pond'rous feet,)
Then high in air the cauldron swung:
The hooks were broke whereon it hung.
XXXV.
He fled, and many regions past,
Veorr turn'd his eyes at last:
When bent on swift pursuit he saw,
Hymer forth his legions draw:
In haste they leave each lone recess,
And swift to western climates press.
XXXVI.
The cauldron speedily put by,
Veorr lifts his mallet high,
And deals his vengeful blows about,
Thick on the rocky headed rout;
Who, manful in their chieftain's right,
Had follow'd Hymer to the fight.
XXXVII.
E'er long they journey'd on their way,
The goat of Veorr dying lay:
His foot disabled by a scar,
Check'd the fury of his car.
(10) Lok, that evil minded son,
This deed had fraudulently done.
XXXVIII.
Hymer's baseness now you know;
(And who like me the truth can show?)
Veorr's vengeance I have sung;
And Hymer spoil'd of many a son.
XXXIX.
Veorr glorying in his strength,
Seeks the abode of Gods at length.
His arms the massy cauldron hold,
Possess'd by Hymer long of old.
Ager now shall glad the soul
Of Gods, with his autumnal bowl.
Notes:
9. "Veorr, &c." --- The story of Thor's engagement with the Great Serpent, is told differently in the Edda of Snorro, which was written, or collated rather, 180 years after the Edda of Sæmund. As it may not be unentertaining to compare the two together, it shall here be related: --- Thor resolved to attack the serpent if an opportunity offered: with this view he set out from Asgard under the form of a young boy, in order to go to the giant Hymer. When he got there, he besought the giant to permit him to go on board his bark with him when he went a fishing. The giant answered, that a little puny stripling like him, could be of no use to him, but would be ready to die of cold when they should reach the high seas, whither he usually went. Thor answered him, that he feared nothing; and asked him what bait he intended to fish with. Hymer bade him look out for something. Thor went up to a herd of cattle which belonged to the giant, and seizing one of the oxen, tore off his head; then returning to the bark, where Hymer was, they sat down together. Thor placed himself in the middle of the bark, and plyed both his oars at once: Hymer, who also rowed at the prow, saw with surprise how swiftly Thor drove the boat forward, and told him, that by the land marks on the coast, he discovered that they were come to the most proper place to angle for flat fish. But Thor assured him that they had better go a good way further: accordingly they continued to row on, till at length Hymer told him if they did not stop, they would be in danger from the great serpent of Midgard. Thor persisted in rowing further in spite of the admonitions of the giant. Then taking out a fishing line exceedingly strong, he fixed to it the ox's head, unwound it, and cast it into the sea. The bait reached the bottom; the serpent greedily devoured the head, and the hook stuck fast in his palate. Immediately the pain made him move with such violence, that Thor was obliged to hold fast by the pegs which bear against the oar: but the strong effort he was obliged to make with his whole body, caused his feet to force their way through the boat, and they went down to the bottom of the sea; whilst with his hands, he violently drew up the serpent to the side of the vessel. It is impossible to express the dreadful looks which the God darted at the serpent, whilst the monster, raising his head, spouted out venom upon him. In the mean time, the giant Hymer, seeing with affright, the water enter his bark on all sides, cut with his knife, the string of his fishing line, just as Thor was going to strike the serpent with his mallet. Upon this the monster fell down again into the sea: nevertheless, Thor darted his mallet after him, and bruised his head in the midst of the waves. Then Thor struck the giant a blow with his fist, night the ear, and throwing his head into the sea, waded afterwards on foot to land. We see plainly in the above fable, the origin of those vulgar opinions entertained in the North, and which Pontoppidan has recorded, in his history of Norway, concerning the Kraken. [Back]
10. Lok. --- The ancient Scandinavians seem to have regarded him as their evil Genius; whom, nevertheless, they ranked amonst their Gods. He is called the calumniator of the Gods, the grand contriver of deceits and frauds, the reproach of Gods and men, and the architect of guilt. He is beautiful in his figure, but his mind is evil, and his inclinations inconstant. No body renders him divine honors. He surpasses all mortals in the arts of perfidy and craft. He had many children by his wife Segnie: besides three monsters who owe their birth to him; the wolf Fenrir, the serpent of Midgard, and Hela or Death. All three are enemies to the Gods, who, after various struggles, have chained the wolf till the last day, when he shall break loose and devour the sun. The serpent has been cast into the sea, where he shall remain till conquered by the God Thor. Hela, or Death shall be banished into the lower regions, where she shall have the government of nine worlds, into which she distributes those who are sent to her. [Back]
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