Gylfaginning

45
should be laid upon me. Yet rather than that ye should impugn my courage, let
some one of you lay his hand in my mouth, for a pledge that this is done in
good faith.' Each of the Ćsir looked at his neighbor, and none was willing to
part with his hand, until Týr stretched out his right hand and laid it in the
Wolf's mouth. But when the Wolf lashed out, the fetter became hardened; and the
more he struggled against it, the tighter the band was. Then all laughed except
Týr: he lost his hand.
       "When the Ćsir saw that the Wolf was fully bound, they took the chain
that was fast to the fetter, and which is called Gelgja, and passed it through
a great rock- it is called Gjöll-and fixed the rock deep down into the earth.
Then they took a great stone and drove it yet deeper into the earth-it was
called Thviti-and used the stone for a fastening-pin. The Wolf gaped terribly,
and thrashed about and strove to bite them; they thrust into his mouth a
certain sword: the guards caught in his lower jaw, and the point in the upper;
that is his gag. He howls hideously, and slaver runs out of his mouth: that is
the river called Ván; there he lies till the Weird of the Gods." Then said
Gangleri: "Marvellous ill children did Loki beget, but all these brethren are
of great might. Yet why did not the Ćsir kill the Wolf, seeing they had
expectation of evil from him?" Hárr answered: "So greatly did the gods esteem
their holy place and sanctuary, that they would not stain it with the Wolf's
blood; though (so say the prophecies) he shall be the slayer of Odin."
XXXV. Then said Gangleri: "Which are the Asynjur?" Hárr said: "Frigg is the
foremost: she has that estate which is called Fensalir, and it is most
glorious. The second is
46
Sága: she dwells at Sřkkvabekkr, and that is a great abode. The third is Fir
(1): she is the best physician. The fourth is Gefjun: she is a virgin, and they
that die maidens attend her. The fifth is Fulla: she also is a maid, and goes
with loose tresses and a golden band about her head; she bears the ashen coffer
of Frigg, and has charge over her foot-gear, and knows her secret counsel.
Freyja is most gently born (together with Frigg): she is wedded to the man
named Ódr. Their daughter is Hnoss: she is so fair, that those things which are
fair and precious are called hnossir. Ódr went away on long journeys, and
Freyja weeps for him, and her tears are red gold. Freyja has many names, and
this is the cause thereof: that she gave herself sundry names, when she went
out among unknown peoples seeking Ódr: she is called Mardöll and Hörn, Gefn,
Sýr. Freyja had the necklace Brísinga-men. She is also called Lady of the
Vanir. The seventh is Sjöfn: she is most diligent in turning the thoughts of
men to love, both of women and of men; and from her name love-longing is called
sjafni. The eighth is Lofn: she is so gracious and kindly to those that call
upon her, that she wins Allfather's or Frigg's permission for the coming
together of mankind in marriage, of women and of men, though it were forbidden
before, or seem flatly denied; from her name such permission is called 'leave,'
and thus also she is much 'loved' of men. The ninth is Vár: she harkens to the
oaths and compacts made between men and women; wherefore such covenants are
called 'vows.' She also takes vengeance on those who perjure themselves. The
tenth is Vör: she is wise and of searching spirit, so that none can conceal
anything from her; it is a saying, that a woman becomes 'ware' of that of which
she is informed. The eleventh is Syn: she keeps

1. Eir (transcriber's note).
47

the door in the hall, and locks it before those who should not go in; she is
also set at trials as a defense against such suits as she wishes to refute:
thence is the expression, that syn (1) is set forward, when a man denies. The
twelfth is Hlín: she is established as keeper over those men whom Frigg desires
to preserve from any danger; thence comes the saying, that he who escapes
'leans.' Snotra is thirteenth: she is prudent and of gentle bearing; from her
name a woman or a man who is moderate is called snotr. (2) The fourteenth is
Gná: her Frigg sends into divers lands on her errands; she has that horse which
runs over sky and sea and is called Hoof-Tosser. Once when she was riding,
certain of the Vanir saw her course in the air; then one spake:

     What flieth there? What fareth there,
           Or glideth in the air?

She made answer:

     I fly not, though I fare
           And in the air glide
     On Hoof-Tosser, him that Hamskerpir
           Gat with Gardrofa.

From Gná's name that which soars high is said to gnćfa. (3) Sól and Bil are
reckoned among the Asynjur, but their nature has been told before.
XXXVI. "There are also those others whose office it is to serve in Valhall, to
bear drink and mind the table-service and ale-flagons; thus are they named in
Grímnismál:
1. Denial, refutation. 2. Wise, prudent. 3. Project, be eminent, tower.
48

     Hrist and Mist I would have bear the horn to me,
           Skeggjöld and Skögull;
     Hildr and Thrúdr, Hlökk and Herfjötur,
           Göll and Geirahöd,
     Randgrídr and Rádgrídr and Óđinssen-
           These bear the Einherjar ale.

These are called Valkyrs: them Odin sends to every battle; they determine men's
feyness and award victory. Gudr and Róta and the youngest Norn, she who is
called Skuld, ride ever to take the slain and decide fights. Jörd, the mother
of Thor, and Rindr, Váli's mother, are reckoned among the Asynjur.
XXXVII. "A certain man was called Gýmir, and his wife Aurboda: she was of the
stock of the Hill-Giants; their daughter was Gerdr, who was fairest of all
women. It chanced one day that Freyr had gone to Hlidskjálf, and gazed over all
the world; but when he looked over into the northern region, he saw on an
estate a house great and fair. And toward this house went a woman; when she
raised her hands and opened the door before her, brightness gleamed from her
hands, both over sky and sea, and all the worlds were illumined of her. Thus
his overweening pride, in having presumed to sit in that holy seat, was avenged
upon him, that he went away full of sorrow. When he had come home, he spake
not, he slept not, he drank not; no man dared speak to him. Then Njördr
summoned to him Skírnir, Freyr's foot-page, and bade him go to Freyr and beg
speech of him and ask for whose sake he was so bitter that he would not speak
with men. But Skírnir said he would go, albeit unwill-
 
 



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