Skáldskaparmál

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     The Chariot-God, who swiftly
     Wrought grief to the Giant's bench-thanes.

     He to whom hosts make offering
     Hewed down the dolt-like dwellers
     Of the cloud-abyss of Elf-Home,
     Crushing them with the fragment
     Of Grídr's Rod: the litter
     Of hawks, the race of Listi
     Could not harm the help-strong
     Queller of Ella's Stone-Folk.]

XIX. "How should one periphrase Frigg? Call her Daughter of Fjörgynn, Wife of
Odin, Mother of Baldr, Co-Wife of Jörd and Rindr and Gunnlöd and Grídr, Mother-
in-law of Nanna, Lady of the Æsir and Asynjur, Misttess of Fulla and of the
Hawk-Plumage and of Fensalir.

XX. "How should one periphrase Freyja? Thus: by calling her Daughter of Njördr,
Sister of Freyr, Wife of Ódr, Mother of Hnoss, Possessor of the Slain, of
Sessrúmnir, of the Gib-Cats, and of Brísinga-men; Goddess of the Vanir, Lady of
the Vanir, Goddess Beautiful in Tears, Goddess of Love. All the goddesses may
be periphrased thus: by calling them by the name of another, and naming them in
terms of their. possessions or their works or their kindred.

[XXI. "How should Sif be periphrased? By calling her Wife of Thor, Mother of
Ullr, Fair-Haired Goddess, Co-Wife of Járnsaxa, Mother of Thrúdr.

XXII. "How should Idunn be periphrased? Thus: by call-


130

ing her Wife of Bragi, and Keeper of the Apples; and the apples should be
called Age-Elixir of the Æsir. Idunn is also called Spoil of the Giant Thjazi,
according to the tale that has been told before, how he took her away from the
Æsir. Thjódólfr of Hvin composed verses after that tale in the Haustlöng:

     How shall I make voice-payment
     Meetly for the shield-bridge

     . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

     Of the war-wall Thórleifr gave me?
     I survey the truceless faring
     Of the three gods strife-foremost,
     And Thjatsi's, on the shining
     Cheek of the shield of battle.

     The Spoiler of the Lady
     Swiftly flew with tumult
     To meet the high god-rulers
     Long hence in eagle-plumage;
     The erne in old days lighted
     Where the Æsir meat were bearing
     To the fire-pit; the Giant
     Of the rocks was called no faint-heart.

     The skilful god-deceiver
     To the gods proved a stern sharer
     Of bones: the high Instructor
     Of Æsir, helmet-hooded,
     Saw some power checked the seething;
     The sea-mew, very crafty,


131

     Spake from the ancient tree-trunk;
     Loki was ill-willed toward him.

     The wolfish monster ordered
     Meili's Sire to deal him
     Food from the holy trencher:
     The friend of Him of Ravens
     To blow the fire was chosen;
     The Giant-King, flesh-greedy,
     Sank down, where the guileless
     Craft-sparing gods were gathered.

     The comely Lord of All Things
     Commanded Loki swiftly
     To part the bull's-meat, slaughtered
     By Skadi's ringing bow-string,
     Among the folk, but straightway
     The cunning food-defiler
     Of the Æsir filched the quarters,
     All four, from the broad table.

     And the hungry Sire of Giants
     Savagely ate the yoke-beast
     From the oak-tree's sheltering branches,-
     That was in ancient ages,-
     Ere the wise-minded Loki,
     Warder of war-spoil, smote him,
     Boldest of foes of Earth-Folk,
     With a pole betwixt the shoulders.

     The Arm-Burden then of Sigyn,
     Whom all the gods in bonds see,



132


     Firmly forthwith was fastened
     To the Fosterer of Skadi;
     To Jötunheim's Strong Dweller
     The pole stuck, and the fingers
     Of Loki too, companion
     Of Hoenir, clung to the pole's end.

     The Bird of Blood flew upward
     (Blithesome in his quarry)
     A long way off with Loki,
     The lither God, that almost
     Wolf's Sire was rent asunder;
     Thor's friend must sue for mercy,
     Such peace as he might purchase
     To pray: nigh slain was Loptr.

     Then Hymir's Kinsman ordered
     The crafty god, pain-maddened,
     To wile to him the Maiden
     Who warded the Æsir's age-cure;
     Ere long the necklace-robber,
     Brísinga's thief, lured slyly
     The Dame of Brunnakr's brooklet
     Into the Base One's dwelling.

     At that the steep slope-dwellers
     No sorrow felt; then Idunn
     Was from the south, by giants
     New-stolen, come among them.
     All Ingvi-Freyr's high kindred,
     Hoary and old, to council




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