Wrought the helm-play of Hedinn The hostile folk of sea-heights Of headland tribes; the dalesmen Stood, enduring staunchly; The Danes of the flood-reef's border Where the chiefs, with thoughts of valor Of the cave's ring-wall; the slayer And they pressed the high head, bearing Earth's Son became familiar With knowledge strange; the cave-men Of the land of stone o'ercame not, So that Gunnr's Swift-Speeder The hall of the doughty trembled With the glowing bar of mischief The God with gory hammer Of the hearth-dame was victorious; The Chariot-God, who swiftly Wrought grief to the Giant's bench-thanes. He to whom hosts make offering 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 Ásynjur, Mistress 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, CoWife of Járnsaxa, Mother of Thrúdr. XXII. "How should Idunn be periphrased? Thus: by call 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 Of the war-wall Thórleifr gave me? Of the three gods strife-foremost, The Spoiler of the Lady 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, Spake from the ancient tree-trunk; The wolfish monster ordered The comely Lord of All Things To part the bull's-meat, slaughtered Of the Æsir filched the quarters, 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, The Arm-Burden then of Sigyn, |