Þrymskviða

Vreiðr var þá Vingþórrer hann vaknaðiok síns hamarsof saknaði,skegg nam at hrista,skör nam at dýja,réð Jarðar burrum at þreifask.

Thor woke up furious,his hammer gone.He shook his beard,shook his shaggy hair,and Earth's sonstarted patting himself down.

Ok hann þat orðaalls fyrst of kvað:"Heyrðu nú, Loki,hvat ek nú mælier eigi veitjarðar hverginé upphimins:áss er stolinn hamri!"

And this was the first thinghe said:"Listen, Loki —hear what I have to say.No one knows this,not anywhere on earth,not in the sky above:my hammer's been stolen!"

Gengu þeir fagraFreyju túna,ok hann þat orðaalls fyrst of kvað:"Muntu mér, Freyja,fjaðrhams léa,ef ek minn hamarmættak hitta?"

They went to Freyja'sfair courtyard,and this was the first thinghe said:"Freyja, will you lend meyour feather cloak —so I can goand find my hammer?"

Freyja kvað: "Þó munda ek gefa þérþótt ór gulli væri,ok þó selja,at væri ór silfri."

Freyja said: "I'd give it to youeven if it were made of gold,and hand it overeven if it were made of silver."

Fló þá Loki, — fjaðrhamr dunði, —unz fyr útan komása garðaok fyr innan komjötna heima.

Then Loki flew —the feather cloak roaring —until he'd leftthe Aesir's courts behindand crossed intothe giants' land.

Þrymr sat á haugi,þursa dróttinn,greyjum sínumgullbönd sneriok mörum sínummön jafnaði.

Thrym sat on a mound,lord of the giants,twisting gold collarsfor his hounds,smoothing the manesof his horses.

Þrymr kvað: "Hvat er með ásum?Hvat er með alfum?Hví ertu einn kominní Jötunheima?"Loki kvað: "Illt er með ásum,illt er með alfum;hefr þú Hlórriðahamar of folginn?"

Thrym said: "How are the gods?How are the elves?Why have you comealone to Giant-land?"Loki said: "Badly, with the gods —badly, with the elves.Have you hiddenThor's hammer?"

Þrymr kvað: "Ek hef Hlórriðahamar of folginnátta röstumfyr jörð neðan;hann engi maðraftr of heimtir,nema færi mérFreyju at kvæn."

Thrym said: "I've hiddenThor's hammereight leaguesunder the earth.No one will everget it back —not unlessthey bring me Freyja as my bride."

Fló þá Loki, — fjaðrhamr dunði, —unz fyr útan komjötna heimaok fyr innan komása garða.

Then Loki flew —the feather cloak roaring —until he'd leftthe giants' land behindand crossed backinto the Aesir's courts.

Mætti hann Þórmiðra garða:"Hefr þú erendisem erfiði?"

He met Thorin the middle of the yard:"Have you newsto show for the trouble?"

Loki kvað: "Hef ek erfiðiok erendi;Þrymr hefr þinn hamar,þursa dróttinn;hann engi maðraftr of heimtir,nema hánum færiFreyju at kván."

Loki said: "Trouble, yes —and news to match.Thrym has your hammer,that lord of giants;no one will get it backunless someone brings himFreyja as his bride."

Ganga þeir fagraFreyju at hitta:"Bittu þik, Freyja,brúðar líni;vit skulum aka tvauí Jötunheima."

They went to findfair Freyja:"Put on the bridal veil, Freyja —the two of usare driving to Giant-land."

Reið varð þá Freyjaok fnasaði,allr ása salrundir bifðisk,stökk þat it miklamen Brísinga:"Mik veiztu verðavergjarnasta,ef ek ek með þérí Jötunheima."

Freyja went red with rageand snorted;the whole hall of the godsshook beneath her;the great Brisingamensnapped from her neck:"You'd have to call methe most man-mad woman aliveif I drove off with youto Giant-land."

Senn váru æsirallir á þingiok ásynjurallar á máli,ok um þat réðuríkir tívarhvé þeir Hlórriðahamar of sætti.

At once the godsgathered in council,and the goddessesall fell to talking —the mighty powers,debatinghow they mightget Thor's hammer back.

Þá kvað þat Heimdallr,hvítastr ása:"Bindum vér Þór þábrúðar líni,hafi hann it miklamen Brísinga."

Then Heimdall spoke,whitest of the gods:"Let's dress Thorin the bridal veil —let him wearthe great Brisingamen."

"Látum und hánumhrynja luklaok kvenváðirum kné falla,en á brjóstibreiða steinaok hagligaum höfuð typpum."

"Let keys jingleat his waist,women's skirtsfall to his knees,broad gemspinned at his chest,and a fine bridal capset on his head."

Þá kvað þat Þór,þrúðugr áss:"Mik munu æsirargan kalla,ef ek bindask lætbrúðar líni!"

Then Thor spoke up,the powerful god:"The other godswill call me a disgrace —no man at all —if I let myselfbe dressed as a bride!"

Þá kvað þat LokiLaufeyjar sonr:"Þegi þú, Þórr,þeira orða.Þegar munu jötnarÁsgarð búa,nema þú þinn hamarþér of heimtir."

Then Loki,Laufey's son, spoke:"Quiet, Thor —don't talk like that.The giants will be livingin Asgard soon enoughif you don'tget your hammer back."

Bundu þeir Þór þábrúðar líniok inu miklameni Brísinga.

So they dressed Thorin the bridal veil,and hung around himthe great Brisingamen.

Þá kvað LokiLaufeyjar sonr:"Mun ek ok með þérambótt vera,vit skulum aka tværí Jötunheima."

Then Loki,Laufey's son, said:"I'll come too —as your handmaid.The two of uswill drive to Giant-land."

Senn váru hafrarheim of reknir;björg brotnuðu,brann jörð loga,ók Óðins sonrí Jötunheima.

At once the goatswere driven up;mountains cracked,the earth caught fire —Odin's sonrode into Giant-land.

Þá kvað þat Þrymr,þursa dróttinn:"Standið upp, jötnar,ok stráið bekki,nú færa mérFreyju at kvánNjarðar dótturór Nóatúnum."

Then Thrym,lord of giants, called out:"Up, giants —strew the benches!They're bringing me Freyjaas my bride,Njord's daughter,out of Noatun."

"Ganga hér at garðigullhyrnðar kýr,öxn alsvartirjötni at gamni;fjölð á ek meiðma,fjölð á ek menja,einnar mér Freyjuávant þykkir."

"Gold-horned cowswalk in my yard,oxen black as coal —a giant's delight.I've treasure in plenty,necklaces in plenty;Freyja is the only thingI'm still short of."

Var þar at kveldiof komit snemmaok fyr jötnaöl fram borit;einn át oxa,átta laxa,krásir allar,þær er konur skyldu,drakk Sifjar verrsáld þrjú mjaðar.

Evening came early,and ale was carried infor the giants.She alone ate a whole ox,eight salmon,every dainty meantfor the women there —and Sif's husbanddrank three casks of mead.

Þá kvat þat Þrymr:"Hvar sáttu brúðirbíta hvassara?Sák-a ek brúðirbíta breiðara,né inn meira mjöðmey of drekka."

Then Thrym said:"Where have you ever seena bride eat so fiercely?I've never seen a bridetake such huge bites,or a maidendrink so much mead."

Sat in alsnotraambótt fyrir:"Át vætr Freyjaátta nóttum,svá var hon óðfúsí Jötunheima."

The clever handmaidsat facing him:"Freyja hasn't eatenin eight nights —that's how eagershe was to get here."

Laut und línu,lysti at kyssa,en hann útan stökkendlangan sal:"Hví eru öndóttaugu Freyju?Þykki mér ór augumeldr of brenna."

He leaned under the veil,wanting a kiss,but sprang backthe length of the hall:"Why are Freyja's eyesso terrifying?It looks to melike fire's burning in them."

Sat in alsnotraambótt fyrir:"Svaf vætr Freyjaátta nóttum,svá var hon óðfúsí Jötunheima."

The clever handmaidsat facing him:"Freyja hasn't sleptin eight nights —that's how eagershe was to get here."

Inn kom in armajötna systir:"Láttu þér af höndumhringa rauða,ef þú öðlask villástir mínar."

In camethe giant's wretched sister:"Give me the red ringsoff your hands,if you wantmy love in return."

Þá kvað þat Þrymr,þursa dróttinn:"Berið inn hamarbrúði at vígja,leggið Mjöllnií meyjar kné,vígið okkr samanVárar hendi."

Then Thrym,lord of giants, said:"Bring in the hammerto bless the bride —lay Mjolnirin her lap.Join us togetherby Var's hand."

Hló Hlórriðahugr í brjósti,er harðhugaðrhamar of þekkði;Þrym drap hann fyrstan,þursa dróttin,ok ætt jötunsalla lamði.

Thor's heartlaughed in his chestwhen the hard-minded godfelt his hammer again.He killed Thrym first,lord of giants,then beat downthe whole family of giants.

Drap hann ina öldnujötna systur;hon skell of hlautfyr skillinga,en högg hamarsfyr hringa fjölð.Svá kom Óðins sonrendr at hamri.

He killed the oldsister of giants too;she got a beatinginstead of coins,a hammer's blowinstead of a heap of rings.So Odin's sonhad his hammer back.