Prose Edda - Brodeur Trans.
Skáldskaparmál
Hasted; grewsome of fashion"This is the correct manner of periphrasing the Æsir:
And ugly all the gods were.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This heard I, that the Staunch Friend
Of Hoenir-oft thereafter
With wiles he tricked the Æsir -
Flew, in hawk-wings hidden;
And the vile Sire of Giants,
Vigorous Wing-Plume-Wielder,
Hurtled on eagle-pinion
After the hawk-shaped Loki.
Swiftly the gods have kindled
A fire; and the sovereign rulers
Sustained the flame with shavings:
Scorched was the flying giant,-
He plunged down in mid-soaring:
'Tis pictured on the giant's
Sole-bridge, the shield which, painted
With stories, Thórleifr gave me.]
To call each of them by the name of another, and to designate him in terms of his works or his possessions or his kindred.
XXIII. "How should the heaven be periphrased? Thus: call it Skull of Ymir, and hence, Giant's Skull; Task or Burden of the Dwarves, or Helm of Vestri and Austri, Sudri, or Nordri; Land of the Sun, of the Moon, and of the
1. "Brjála ður texti" - Jónsson, Edda (Reykjavik, 1907), p. 384. The condition of the text makes translation impossible.
134
Stars of Heaven, of the Wains and the Winds; Helm, or House, of the Air and the Earth and the Sun. So sang Arnórr Earls'-Skald:
So large of gifts ne'er mountedAnd as he sang again:
Young Lord of Shields on ship-deck
'Neath the ancient Skull of Ymir:
Splendid this Prince's largess.
Bright grows the sun at dusking,Thus sang Bödvarr the Halt:
The earth sinks into the dark sea,
The Toil of Austri bursteth;
All the ocean on the fells breaks.
For never 'neath the Sun's PlainAnd as Thjódólfr of Hvin sang:
Shall come a nobler Land-Ward,
Keener in battle-onset,
Nor a brother of Ingi better.
Jörd's Son drove to the steel-playEven as sang Ormr Barrey's-Skald:
(High swelled the godlike anger
In the mind of Meili's Brother),
And the Moon-Way 'neath him quivered.
Lady of Draupnir's gore-streak,
However great I know him,
135
The wielder (by right he ruleth)Even as the skald Bragi sang:
Of the Wain's Road sees me gladly.
He who threw the dead eyesAnd as Markús sang:
Of Thjazi, Skadi's father,
Into the Winds' Wide Basin
O'er the abodes of men-folk many.
'T is long since the dear-loved WarderEven as Steinn Herdísarson sang:
Of sea-men was born on the wave-girt earth-bottom
Of the Storm-Container; each man praises
The sublime age of the Ring-Dispenser.
I sing the holy RulerAnd as Arnórr Earls'-Skald sang:
Of the high World-Tent rather
Than men, for very precious
Is He: His praises tell I.
Help, dear King of Heaven,And as Arnárr sang further:
The Day's Plain, help my Hermundr.
Soothfast King of the Sun-Tents,
Help stout-hearted Rögnvaldr.
136
And as Hallvardr sang:
Knútr wards the land, as the RulerAs Arnórr sang:
Of All wards the radiant Fell-Hall.
Michael, wise of understanding,XXIV. "How should one periphrase the earth? Thus: by calling her Flesh of Ymir, and Mother of Thor, Daughter of Ónarr, Odin's Bride, Co-Wife of Frigg and Rindr and Gunnlöd, Mother-in-law of Sif, Floor and Bottom of the Storm-Hall, Sea of Beasts, Daughter of Night, Sister of Audr and of Day. Even as Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler sang:
Weighs what seems done ill, and good things:
Then the Monarch of the Sun's Helm
At the Doom-Seat parts all mortals.
Now the beaming gold is hiddenAs sang Hallfredr Troublous-Skald:
In the body of the Mother
Of the Giants' Foe; the counsels
Of a kindred strong are mighty.
In council 't was determinedAnd he said further:
That the King's friend, wise in counsel,
Should wed the Land, sole Daughter
Of Ónarr, greenly wooded.
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