Skírnismál

Freyr, sonr Njarðar, hafði einn dag setzt í Hliðskjálf, ok sá um heima alla. Hann sá í Jötunheima ok sá þar mey fagra, þá er hon gekk frá skála föður síns til skemmu. Þar af fekk hann hugsóttir miklar. Skírnir hét skósveinn Freys. Njörðr bað hann kveðja Frey máls. Þá mælti Skaði:"Rístu nú, Skírnirok gakk skjótt at beiðaokkarn mála mögok þess at fregnahveim inn fróði séofreiði afi."Skírnir kvað:

One day Freyr, the son of Njord, had sat down in Hlidskjalf and looked out over all the worlds. He looked into Jotunheim and saw there a beautiful girl, as she walked from her father's hall to her bower. It filled him with a deep and painful longing. Skirnir was the name of Freyr's page. Njord asked him to speak with Freyr. Then Skadi said:Get up now, Skirnir,go quickly and askour son for an answer —find outwho has that wise oneso heavy with longing.

"Illra orðaer mér ón at ykkrum synief ek geng at mæla við mögok þess at fregnahveim inn fróði séofreiði afi."

Skirnir said:"I expect harsh wordsfrom your son,if I go and speak to himand askwho has him so heavy with longing.

"Segðu mér þat, Freyrfolkvaldi goðaok ek vilja vita:Hví þú einn sitrendlanga saliminn dróttinn, um daga?"Freyr kvað:

Tell me, Freyr,leader of the gods,I want to know:why do you sit alone,the whole hall's length,my lord, day after day?"

"Hví um segjak þérseggr inn ungimikinn móðtrega?Því at álfröðulllýsir um alla dagaok þeygi at mínum munum."Skírnir kvað:

Freyr said:"Why tell you,young man,how great my grief is?The sun lights up every dayand neverwhat I long for."

"Muni þínahykk-a ek svá mikla veraat þú mér, seggr, né segirþví at ungir samanvárum í árdagavel mættim tveir trúask."Freyr kvað:

Skirnir said:"I don't think your longingis too great to tell me.We grew up together —the two of uscan trust each other."

"Í Gymis görðumek ganga sámér tíða mey;armar lýstuen af þaðanallt loft ok lögr."

Freyr said:"In Gymir's yardI saw a girl walking,dear to me.Her arms shone,and the whole sky and sealit up from it.

"Mær er mér tíðarien manna hveimungum í árdaga;ása ok alfaþat vill engi maðrat vit samt séim."Skírnir kvað:

That girl is dearer to methan any young manever wanted another.But no one —not gods, not elves —will let the two of us be together."

"Mar gefðu mér þáþann er mik um myrkvan berivísan vafrlogaok þat sverðer sjalft vegiskvið jötna ætt."Freyr kvað:

Skirnir said:"Then give me the horsethat carries me through the dark,through the wall of fire,and the swordthat fights by itselfagainst the giants."

"Mar ek þér þann gefer þik um myrkvan berrvísan vafrlogaok þat sverðer sjalft mun vegaskef sá er horskr, er hefr."Skírnir mælti við hestinn:

Freyr said:"The horse is yours —it carries you through the dark,through the wall of fire —and the sword, too.It will fight on its own,if the man who holds it dares."

"Myrkt er útimál kveð ek okkr faraúrig fjöll yfirþursa þjóð yfir;báðir vit komumkeða okkr báða tekrsá inn ámáttki jötunn."Skírnir reið í Jötunheima til Gymisgarða. Þar váru hundar ólmir ok bundnir fyrir skíðgarðs hliði, þess er um sal Gerðar var. Hann reið at þar, er féhirðir sat á haugi, og kvaddi hann:

Skirnir said to the horse:"It's dark outside.Time we rodeover the wet fells,through giant country.We both get through,or that huge giant takes the two of us."Skirnir rode into Jotunheim, to Gymir's yard. Fierce dogs strained at their chains by the fence-gate around Gerd's hall. He rode up to where a herdsman sat on a mound, and greeted him:

"Segðu þat, hirðirer þú á haugi sitrok varðar alla vega:Hvé ek at andspillikomumk ins unga mansfyr greyjum Gymis?"Hirðir kvað:

"Tell me, herdsman,sitting on that mound,watching every road:how do I get pastGymir's dogsto speak with the young woman?"

"Hvárt ertu feigreða ertu framgenginn?-- -- --Andspillis vanrþú skalt æ veragóðrar meyjar Gymis."Skírnir kvað:

The herdsman said:"Are you doomed to die,or already a dead man walking?—You'll go without a wordfrom Gymir's good daughterfor the rest of your life."

"Kostir ro betriheldr en at klökkva séhveim er fúss er fara;einu dægrimér var aldr of skapaðrof allt líf of lagit."Gerðr kvað:

Skirnir said:"Better to choose boldlythan sit and cry,for someone bent on going.My whole life's lengthwas fixedon a single day, long ago."

"Hvat er þat hlym hlymjaer ek heyri nú tilossum rönnum í?Jörð bifasken allir fyrirskjalfa garðar Gymis."Ambátt kvað:

Gerd said:"What's that clatteringI hear nowinside our walls?The ground is shaking,and Gymir's whole yardtrembles before it."

"Maðr er hér útistiginn af mars bakijó lætr til jarðar taka."-- -- --Gerðr kvað:

The handmaid said:"There's a man outside —he's dismounted,letting his horse graze."—

"Inn bið þú hann gangaí okkarn salok drekka inn mæra mjöð;þó ek hitt óumkat hér úti séminn bróðurbani.

Gerd said:"Tell him to come in,into our hall,and drink the good mead —though I'm afraidmy brother's killeris standing out there.

Hvat er þat alfané ása sonané víssa vana?Hví þú einn of komteikinn fúr yfirór salkynni at séa?"Skírnir kvað:

What are you —one of the elves,a son of the gods,one of the wise Vanir?Why did you ride alonethrough the blazing firejust to see our home?"

"Emk-at ek alfané ása sonané víssa vana;þó ek einn of komkeikinn fúr yfiryður salkynni at séa."

Skirnir said:"I'm not an elf,not a son of the gods,not one of the Vanir —but I rode alonethrough the blazing fireto see your home.

"Epli ellifuhér hef ek algullinþau mun ek þér, Gerðr, gefafrið at kaupaat þú þér Frey kveðiróleiðastan lifa."Gerðr kvað:

Eleven apples,solid gold —I have them here.I'll give them to you, Gerd,to buy your peace:say Freyr is the manyou hate least in the world."

"Epli ellifuek þigg aldregiat mannskis munumné vit Freyrmeðan okkart fjör lifirbyggjum bæði saman."Skírnir kvað:

Gerd said:"I'll never takeeleven applesfor any man's sake.And Freyr and Iwill never live together,not while we both live."

"Baug ek þér þá gefþann er brenndr varmeð ungum Óðins syni;átta eru jafnhöfðirer af drjúpaina níundu hverja nótt."Gerðr kvað:

Skirnir said:"Then take this ring —it was burnedwith Odin's young son.Eight rings as heavydrip from itevery ninth night."

"Baug ek þikk-a-kþótt brenndr séimeð ungum Óðins syni;er-a mér gulls vantí görðum Gymisat deila fé föður."Skírnir kvað:

Gerd said:"I don't want the ring,burned or not,not even Odin's son's.There's no shortage of goldin Gymir's yard —my father's wealth is mine to share."

"Sér þú þenna mæki, mærmjóvan, málfáaner ek hef í hendi hér?Höfuð höggvaek mun þér hálsi afnema þú mér sætt segir."Gerðr kvað:

Skirnir said:"Do you see this sword,slender, etched,here in my hand?I'll cut your headoff your neckunless you give me your word."

"Ánauð þolaek vil aldregiat mannskis munum;þó ek hins getef it Gymir finnizkvígs ótrauðirat ykkr vega tíði."Skírnir kvað:

Gerd said:"I'll never bowto force,for any man.But this I know —if you and Gymir meet,neither of you short of fight,there'll be a killing."

"Sér þú þenna mæki, mærmjóvan, málfáaner ek hef í hendi hér?Fyr þessum eggjumhnígr sá inn aldni jötunnverðr þinn feigr faðir.

Skirnir said:"Do you see this sword,slender, etched,here in my hand?Before this bladethe old giant falls —your father's death is set.

Tamsvendi ek þik drepen ek þik temja munmær, at mínum munum;þar skaltu gangaer þik gumna synirsíðan æva séi.

I strike you nowwith this taming rod —I'll break you, girl,to my will.You'll gowhere no man's sonever sees you again.

Ara þúfu áskaltu ár sitjahorfa heimi órsnugga heljar til;matr né þér meir leiðren manna hveiminnfráni ormr með firum.

On the eagle's cragyou'll sit forever,facing away from the world,staring toward Hel.Food will sicken youthe way a gleaming snakesickens other men.

At undrsjónum þú verðirer þú út kemr;á þik Hrímnir hariá þik hotvetna stari;víðkunnari þú verðiren vörðr með goðumgapi þú grindum frá.

You'll be a spectaclewhen you show yourself —Hrimnir will gawk at you,everyone will stare.You'll be more talked-aboutthan the gods' own watchman —peering out from behind bars.

Tópi ok ópitjösull ok óþolivaxi þér tár með trega;sezk þú niðren ek mun segja þérsváran súsbrekaok tvennan trega:

Madness and wailing,misery and unrest —let the tears pile on youwith the grief.Sit down —I'll tell you nowa hard, double sorrow.

Tramar gneypaþik skulu gerstan dagjötna görðum í;til hrímþursa hallarþú skalt hverjan dagkranga kostalauskranga kostavön;grát at gamniskaltu í gögn hafaok leiða með tárum trega.

Hunched demonswill hound youevery dayin the courts of giants.Every dayyou'll drag yourselfto the frost-giants' hall —no choice, no comfort.Weepingwill be the only joy you get,and tears will lead you through it.

Með þursi þríhöfðuðumþú skalt æ naraeða verlaus vera;þitt geð grípiþik morn morni;ver þú sem þistillsá er var þrunginní önn ofanverða.

A three-headed giantwill be your whole life,or no husband at all.Let longing seize you,let it waste you thin.Be like the thistlecrushed flatat the top of the load.

Til holts ek gekkok til hrás viðargambantein at getagambantein ek gat.

I went to the wood,to the raw green timber,to cut a magic wand.I cut the wand.

Reiðr er þér Óðinnreiðr er þér Ásabragrþik skal Freyr fíaskin firinilla mæren þú fengit hefrgambanreiði goða.

Odin is angry at you.The chief of the Aesir is angry at you.Freyr will come to hate you,wicked girl —you have earnedthe gods' whole wrath.

Heyri jötnarheyri hrímþursarsynir Suttungssjalfir ásliðarhvé ek fyrbýðhvé ek fyrirbannamanna glaum manimanna nyt mani.

Hear me, giants.Hear me, frost-giants.Sons of Suttung.You gods too, hear it:how I forbid,how I curse —no man's company for this slave-girl,no man's use for this slave-girl.

Hrímgrímnir heitir þurser þik hafa skalfyr nágrindr neðan;þar þér vílmegirá viðarrótumgeitahland gefi;æðri drykkjufá þú aldregimær, af þínum munummær, at mínum munum.

Hrimgrimnir is his name —the giant who will have you,down below the corpse-gate.There, wretchesat the roots of the treewill pour you goat's piss.You'll never get a better drink than that,girl —not by your wanting it.By mine.

Þurs ríst ek þérok þría stafiergi ok æði ok óþola;svá ek þat af rístsem ek þat á reistef gerask þarfar þess."Gerðr kvað:

A giant-rune I carve for you,and three more with it:lust, madness,torment that won't let go.I can cut it awayjust as I cut it on —if there's ever need."

"Heill ver þú nú heldr, sveinnok tak við hrímkálkifullum forns mjaðar;þó hafðak ek þat ætlatat myndak aldregiunna vaningja vel."Skírnir kvað:

Gerd said:"Welcome, then.Take this frost-cup,full of old mead —though I'd meantI would nevercare for one of the Vanir."

"Örendi mínvil ek öll vitaáðr ek ríða heim heðannær þú á þingimunt inum þroskanenna Njarðar syni."Gerðr kvað:

Skirnir said:"I want the whole answerto my errandbefore I ride home —when will you meetand give yourselfto Njord's grown son?"

"Barri heitirer vit bæði vitumlundr lognfara;en eft nætr níuþar mun Njarðar syniGerðr unna gamans."Þá reið Skírnir heim. Freyr stóð úti ok kvaddi hann ok spurði tíðenda:

Gerd said:"It's called Barri —we both know it,a grove where the air is still.And nine nights from now,thereGerd will grantNjord's son his pleasure."Then Skirnir rode home. Freyr stood outside, greeted him, and asked for news:

"Segðu mér þat, Skírniráðr þú verpir söðli af marok þú stígir feti framar:Hvat þú árnaðirí Jötunheimaþíns eða míns munar?"Skírnir kvað:

Freyr said:"Tell me, Skirnir,before you pull the saddle offand take another step:what did you winin Jotunheim —for your sake, or mine?"

"Barri heitirer vit báðir vitumlundr lognfara;en eft nætr níuþar mun Njarðar syniGerðr unna gamans."Freyr kvað:

Skirnir said:"It's called Barri —we both know it,a grove where the air is still.And nine nights from now,thereGerd will grantNjord's son his pleasure."

"Löng er nóttlangar ro tværhvé of þreyjak þrjár?Oft mér mánaðrminni þóttien sjá half hýnótt."

Freyr said:"One night is long.Two nights are longer.How will I bear three?A whole monthhas often felt shorter to methan half of this one wedding-night."