THE JOURNEY OR LAY OF SKIRNIR.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Sæmundur fróði, Snorri Sturluson, Blackwell, Joseph Andrew, and Thorpe, Benjamin
Frey, son of Niord; had one day seated himself in Hlidskialf, and was looking over all regions, when turning his eyes to Jotunheim, he there saw a beautiful girl, as she was passing from her father's dwelling to her bower. Thereupon he became greatly troubled in mind. Frey's attendant was named Skirnir; him Niord desired to speak with Frey; when Skadi said:—
1. Rise up now, Skirnir! go and request our son to speak; and inquire with whom he so sage may be offended.
Skirnir.
2. Harsh words I have from your son to fear, if I go to speak with him, and to inquire with whom he so sage may be offended.
Skirnir.
3. Tell me now, Frey, prince of gods! for I desire to know, why alone thou sittest in the spacious hall the livelong day?
Frey.
4. Why shall I tell thee, thou young man, my mind's great trouble? for the Alfs' illuminator shines every day, yet not for my pleasure.
Skirnir.
5. Thy care cannot, I think, be so great, that to me thou canst not tell it; for in early days we were young together: well might we trust each other.
Frey.
6. In Gymir's courts I saw walking a maid for whom I long. Her arms gave forth light wherewith shone all air and water.
7. Is more desirable to me that maid than to any youth in early days; yet will no one, Æsir or Alfar, that we together live.
Skirnir.
8. Give me but thy steed, which can bear me through the dusk, flickering flame, and that sword, which brandishes itself against the Jotuns' race.
Frey.
9. I will give thee my steed, which can bear thee through the dusk, flickering flame, and that sword, which will itself brandish, if he is bold who raises it.
Skirnir Speaks to the Horse.
10. Dark it is without, 'tis time, I say, for us to go across the misty fells, over the Thursar's land: we shall both return, or the all-potent Jotun will seize us both. Skirnir rides to Jotunheim, to Gymir's mansion, where fierce dogs were chained at the gate of the enclosure that was round Gymir's hall. He rides on to where a cowherd was sitting on a mound, and says to him:
11. Tell me, cowherd! as on the mound thou sittest, and watchest all the ways, how I to the speech may come, of the young maiden, for Gymir's dogs?
Cowherd.
12. Either thou art death-doomed, or thou art a departed one. Speech wilt thou ever lack with the good maid of Gymir.
Skirnir.
13. Better choices than to whine there are for him who is prepared to die: for one day was my age decreed, and my whole life determined.
Gerd.
14. What is that sound of sounds, which I now sounding hear within our dwelling? The earth is shaken, and with it all the house of Gymir trembles.
A serving-maid.
15. A man is here without, dismounted from his horse's back: he lets his steed browse on the grass.
Gerd.
16. Bid him enter into our hall, and drink of the bright mead; although I fear it is my brother's slayer who waits without.
17. Who is this of the Alfar's, or of the Æsir's sons, or of the wise Vanir's? Why art thou come alone, through the hostile fire, our halls to visit?
Skirnir.
18. I am not of the Alfar's, nor of the Æsir's sons, nor of the wise Vanir's; yet I am come alone, through the hostile fire, your halls to visit.
19. Apples all-golden I have here eleven: these I will give thee, Gerd, thy love to gain, that thou mayest say that Frev to thee lives dearest.
Gerd.
20. The apples eleven I never will accept for any mortal's pleasure; nor will I and Frey, while our lives last, live both together.
Skirnir.
21. The ring too I will give thee, which was burnt with the young son of Odin. Eight of equal weight will from it drop, every ninth night.
Gerd.
22. The ring I will not accept, burnt though it may have been with the young son of Odin. I have no lack of gold in Gymir's courts; for my father's wealth I share.