IDUN.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Snorri Sturluson and Anderson, Rasmus Björn
How shall Idun be named? She is called the wife of Brage, the keeper of the apples; but the apples are called the medicine to bar old age (ellilyf, elixir vitæ). She is also called the booty of the giant Thjasse, according to what has before been said concerning how he took her away from the asas. From this saga Thjodolf, of Hvin, composed the following song in his Haustlong:
How shall the tongue Pay an ample reward For the sonorous shield Which I received from Thorleif, Foremost ’mong soldiers? On the splendidly made shield I see the unsafe journey Of three gods and Thjasse.
Idun’s robber flew long ago The asas to meet In the giant’s old eagle-guise. The eagle perched Where the asas bore Their food to be cooked. Ye women! The mountain-giant Was not wont to be timid.
Suspected of malice Was the giant toward the gods. Who causes this? Said the chief of the gods. The wise-worded giant-eagle From the old tree began to speak. The friend of Honer Was not friendly to him.
The mountain-wolf from Honer Asked for his fill From the holy table: It fell to Honer to blow the fire. The giant, eager to kill, Glided down Where the unsuspecting gods, Odin, Loke and Honer, were sitting.
The fair lord of the earth Bade Farbaute’s son Quickly to share The ox with the giant; But the cunning foe of the asas Thereupon laid The four parts of the ox Upon the broad table.
And the huge father of Morn93 Afterward greedily ate The ox at the tree-root. That was long ago, Until the profound Loke the hard rod laid ’Twixt the shoulders Of the giant Thjasse.
Then clung with his hands The husband of Sigyn To Skade’s foster-son, In the presence of all the gods. The pole stuck fast To Jotunheim’s strong fascinator, But the hands of Honer’s dear friend Stuck to the other end.
Flew then with the wise god The voracious bird of prey Far away; so the wolf’s father To pieces must be torn. Odin’s friend got exhausted. Heavy grew Lopt. Odin’s companion Must sue for peace.
Hymer’s kinsman demanded That the leader of hosts The sorrow-healing maid, Who the asas’ youth-preserving apples keeps, Should bring to him. Brisingamen’s thief Afterward brought Idun To the gard of the giant.
Sorry were not the giants After this had taken place, Since from the south Idun had come to the giants. All the race Of Yngve-Frey, at the Thing, Grew old and gray,— Ugly-looking were the gods.
Until the gods found the blood-dog, Idun’s decoying thrall, And bound the maid’s deceiver, You shall, cunning Loke, Spake Thor, die; Unless back you lead, With your tricks, that Good joy-increasing maid.
Heard have I that thereupon The friend of Honer flew In the guise of a falcon (He often deceived the asas with his cunning); And the strong fraudulent giant, The father of Morn, With the wings of the eagle Sped after the hawk’s child.
The holy gods soon built a fire— They shaved off kindlings— And the giant was scorched. This is said in memory Of the dwarf’s heel-bridge.94 A shield adorned with splendid lines From Thorleif I received.