THE PROSE EDDA IN FOUR PARTS -  PART FOUR

                                                                          BY SNORRI STURLUSON

        TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ARTHUR GILCHRIST BRODEUR, Ph. D

                                          Instructor in English Philology in the University of California.

                                                NEW YORK THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION 1916

THE POESY OF SKALDS [2]

It is also recorded here that one may periphrase Freyja by calling her Sister of Freyr.

And thus also:

A defence of songs full goodly He freely gave me, neighbor Of sea-scales: I praise gladly Njördr's Daughter's golden gem-child.

Here she is called Daughter of Njördr.

And again thus:

The awesome Stately Urger Of Odin, he who raises The struggle stern, gave to me The courage-stalwart daughter Of the Vana-Bride, my fair axe; The valorous sword-mote's Ruler Led Gefn's girl to the Skald's bed, Set with the sea-flame's gold-work.

Here she is called Gefn and Bride of the Vanir.--It is proper to join 'tears' with all the names of Freyja, and

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to call gold by such terms; and in divers ways these periphrases have been varied, so that gold is called Hail, or Rain, or Snow-Storm, or Drops, or Showers, or Water falls, of Freyja's Eyes, or Cheeks, or Brows, or Eyelids.

XXXVIII. "In this place one may hear that gold is called Word, or Voice, of Giants, as we have said before; thus sang Bragi the Skald:

Then had I the third friend Fairly praised: the poorest In the Voice of the Botched-Knob's Áli, But best of all to me.

He called a rock Botched Knob, and a giant Áli of Rock, and gold Voice of the Giant.

XXXIX. "For what reason is gold called Otter's Wergild? It is related that when certain of the Ćsir, Odin and Loki and HSnir, went forth to explore the earth, they came to a certain river, and proceeded along the river to a waterfall. And beside the fall was an otter, which had taken a salmon from the fall and was eating, blinking his eyes the while. Then Loki took up a stone and cast it at the otter, and struck its head. And Loki boasted in his catch, that he had got otter and salmon with one blow. Then they took up the salmon and the otter and bore them along with them, and coming to the buildings of a certain farm, they went in. Now the husbandman who dwelt there was named Hreidmarr: he was a man of much substance, and very skilled in black magic. The Ćsir asked him for a night's lodging, saying that they had sufficient food with them, and showed him

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their catch. But when Hreidmarr saw the otter, straight way he called to him his sons, Fáfnir and Reginn, and told them that the otter their brother was slain, and who had done that deed.

It Now father and sons went up to the Ćsir, seized them, bound them, and told them about the otter, how he was Hreidmarr's son. The Ćsir offered a ransom for their lives, as much wealth as Hreidmarr himself desired to appoint; and a covenant was made between them on those terms, and confirmed with oaths. Then the otter was flayed, and Hreidmarr, taking the otter-skin, bade them fill the skin with red gold and also cover it altogether; and that should be the condition of the covenant between them. Thereupon Odin sent Loki into the Land of the Black Elves, and he came to the dwarf who is called Andvari, who was as a fish in the water. Loki caught him in his hands and required of him in ransom of his life all the gold that he had in his rock; and when they came within the rock, the dwarf brought forth all the gold he had, and it was very much wealth. Then the dwarf quickly swept under his hand one little gold ring, but Loki saw it and commanded him to give over the ring. The dwarf prayed him not to take the ring from him, saying that from this ring he could multiply wealth for himself if he might keep it. Loki answered that be should not have one penny left, and took the ring from him and went out; but the dwarf declared that that ring should be the ruin of every one who should come into possession of it. Loki replied that this seemed well enough to him, and that this condition should hold good provided that he himself brought it to the ears of them that should receive the ring and the curse. He went his way and came to Hreidmarr's dwelling, and showed the

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gold to Odin; but when Odin saw the ring, it seemed fair to him, and he took it away from the treasure, and paid the gold to Hreidmarr. Then Hreidmarr filled the otter-skin as much as he could, and set it up when it was full. Next Odin went up, having the skin to cover with gold, and he bade Hreidmarr look whether the skin were yet altogether hidden. But Hreidmarr looked at it searchingly, and saw one of the hairs of the snout, and commanded that this be covered, else their covenant should be at an end. Then Odin drew out the ring, and covered the hair, saying that they were now delivered from their debt for the slaying of the otter. But when Odin had taken his spear, and Loki his shoes, and they had no longer any need to be afraid, then Loki declared that the curse which Andvari had uttered should be fulfilled: that this ring and this gold should be the destruction of him who received it; and that was fulfilled afterward. Now it has been told wherefore gold is called Otter's Wergild, or Forced Payment of the Ćsir, or Metal of Strife.

XL. "What more is to be said of the gold? Hreidmarr took the gold for his son's wergild, but Fáfnir and Reginn claimed some part of their brother's blood-money for themselves. Hreidmarr would not grant them one penny of the gold. This was the wicked purpose of those brethren: they slew their father for the gold. Then Reginn demanded that Fáfnir share the gold with him, half for half. Fáfnir answered that there was little chance of his sharing it with his brother, seeing that he had slain his father for its sake; and he bade Reginn go hence, else he should fare even as Hreidmarr. Fáfnir had taken the helmet which Hreidmarr had possessed, and set it upon his head (this helmet was

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called the Helm of Terror, of which all living creatures that see it are afraid), and the sword called Hrotti. Reginn had that sword which was named Refill. So he fled away, and Fáfnir went up to Gnita Heath, and made himself a lair, and turned himself into a serpent, and laid him down upon the gold.

"Then Reginn went to King Hjálprekr at Thjód, and there he became his smith; and he took into his fostering Sigurdr, son of Sigmundr, Völsungr's son, and of Hjördís, daughter of Eylimi. Sigurdr was. most illustrious of all Host-Kings in race, in prowess, and in mind. Reginn declared to him where Fáfnir lay on the gold, and incited him to seek the gold. Then Reginn fashioned the sword Gramr, which was so sharp that Sigurdr, bringing it down into running water, cut asunder a flock of wool which drifted down-stream onto the sword's edge. Next Sigurdr clove Reginn's anvil down to the stock with the sword. After that they went, Sigurdr and Reginn, to Gnita Heath, and there Sigurdr dug a pit in Fáfnr's way and laid him self in ambush therein. And when Fáfnir glided toward the water and came above the pit, Sigurdr straightway thrust his sword through him, and that was his end.

"Then Reginn came forward, saying that Sigurdr had slain his brother, and demanded as a condition of reconciliation that he take Fáfnir's heart and roast it with fire; and Reginn laid him down and drank the blood of Fáfnir, and settled himself to sleep. But when Sigurdr was roasting the heart, and thought that it must be quite roasted, he touched it with his finger to see how hard it was; and then the juice ran out from the heart onto his finger, so that he was burned and put his finger to his mouth. As soon as the heart's blood came upon his tongue, straightway he knew the speech

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of birds, and he understood what the nuthatches were saying which were sitting in the trees. Then one spake:

There sits Sigurdr Blood-besprinkled, Fáfnir's heart With flame he roasteth: Wise seemed to me The Spoiler of Rings If the gleaming Life-fibre he ate.

There lies Reginn--sang another-- Rede he ponders, Would betray the youth Who trusteth in him: In his wrath he plots Wrong accusation; The smith of bale Would avenge his brother.

Then Sigurdr went over to Reginn and slew him, and thence to his horse, which was named Grani, and rode till he came to Fáfnir's lair. He took up the gold, trussed it up in his saddle-bags, laid it upon Grani's back, mounted up himself, and then rode his ways. Now the tale is told why gold is called Lair or Abode of Fáfnir, or Metal of Gnita Heath, or Grani's Burden.

XLI. "Then Sigurdr rode on till he found a house on the mountain, wherein a woman in helm and birnie lay sleeping. He drew his sword and cut the birnie from her: she

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awoke then, and gave her name as Hildr: she is called Brynhildr, and was a Valkyr. Sigurdr rode away and came to the king who was named Gjúki, whose wife was Grímhildr; their children were Gunnarr, Högni, Gudrún, Gudný; Gotthormr was Gjúki's stepson. Sigurdr tarried there a long time, and then he obtained the hand of Gudrún, daughter of Gjúki, and Gunnarr and Högni swore oaths of blood brotherhood with Sigurdr. Thereafter Sigurdr and the sons of Gjúki went unto Atli, Budli's son, to sue for the hand of Brynhildr his sister in marriage to Gunnarr. Brynhildr abode on Hinda-Fell, and about her hall there was a flaring fire; and she had made a solemn vow to take none but that man who should dare to ride through the flaring fire.

"Then Sigurdr and the sons of Gjúki (who were also called Niflungs) rode up onto the mountain, and Gunnarr should have ridden through the flaring fire: but he had the horse named Goti, and that horse dared not leap into the fire. So they exchanged shapes, Sigurdr and Gunnarr, and names likewise; for Grani would go under no man but Sigurdr. Then Sigurdr leapt onto Grani, and rode through the flaring fire. That eve he was wedded with Brynhildr. But when they came to bed, he drew the Sword Gramr from its sheath and laid it between them. In the morning when he arose and clothed himself, he gave Brynhildr as linen-fee the same gold ring which Loki had taken from Andvari, and took another ring from her hand for remembrance. Then Sigurdr mounted his horse and rode to his fellows, and he and Gunnarr changed shapes again and went home to Gjúki with Brynhildr. Sigurdr and Gudrún had two children, Sigmundr and Svanhildr.

"It befell on a time that Brynhildr and Gudrún went to the water to wash their hair. And when they came to the

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river, Brynhildr waded out from the bank well into the river, saying that she would not touch to her head the water which ran out of the hair of Gudrún, since herself had the more valorous husband. Then Gudrún went into the river after her and said that it was her right to wash her hair higher upstream, for the reason that she had to husband such a man as neither Gunnarr nor any other in the world matched in valor, seeing that he had slain Fáfnir and Reginn and succeeded to the heritage of both. And Brynhildr made answer: 'It was a matter of greater worth that Gunnarr rode through the flaring fire and Sigurdr durst not.' Then Gudrún laughed, and said: 'Dost thou think that Gunnarr rode through the flaring fire? Now I think that he who went into the bride-bed with thee was the same that gave me this gold ring; and the gold ring which thou bearest on thine hand and didst receive for linen-fee is called Andvari's Yield, and I believe that it was not Gunnarr who got that ring on Gnita Heath.' Then Brynhildr was silent, and went home.

"After that she egged on Gunnarr and Högni to slay Sigurdr; but because they were Sigurdr's sworn blood-brothers, they stirred up Gotthormr their brother to slay him. He thrust his sword through Sigurdr as he slept; but when Sigurdr felt the wound, he hurled his sword Gramr after Gotthormr, so that it cut the man asunder at the middle. There fell Sigurdr and Sigmundr, his son of three winters, whom they slew. Then Brynhildr stabbed herself with a sword, and she was burned with Sigurdr; but Gunnarr and Högni took Fáfnir's heritage and Andvari's Yield, and ruled the lands thereafter.

"King Atli, Budli's son, and brother of Brynhildr, then wedded Gudrún, whom Sigurdr had had to wife; and they

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had children. King Atli invited to him Gunnarr and Högni, and they came at his invitation. Yet before they departed from their land, they hid the gold, Fáfnir's heritage, in the Rhine, and that gold has never since been found. Now King Atli had a host in readiness, and fought with Gunnarr and Högni; and they were made captive. King Atli bade . the heart be cut out of Högni alive, and that was his end. Gunnarr he caused to be cast into a den of serpents. But a harp was brought secretly to Gunnarr, and he struck it with his toes, his hands being bound; he played the harp so that all the serpents fell asleep, saving only one adder, which glided over to him, and gnawed into the cartilage of his breast-bone so far that her head sank within the wound, and she clove to his liver till he died. Gunnarr and Högni were called Niflungs and Gjúkungs, for which reason gold is called Treasure, or Heritage, of the Niflungs.

["A little while after, Gudrún slew her two sons, and caused flagons to be made of their skulls, set with gold and silver. Then the funeral-feast was held for the Niflungs; and at this feast Gudrún had mead poured into the flagons for King Atli, and the mead was mixed with the blood of the boys. Moreover, she caused their hearts to be roasted and set before the king, that he might eat of them. And when he had eaten, then she herself told him what she had done, with many scathing words. There was no lack of strong drink there, so that most of the company had fallen asleep where they sat. That night she went to the king while he slept, and Högni's son with her; they smote the king, and that was the death of him. Then they set fire to the hall, and burned the folk that were within. After that she went to the shore and leaped into the sea, desiring to make

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an end of herself; but she was tossed by the billows over the firth, and was borne to King Jónakr's land. And when he saw her, he took her to him and wedded her, and they had three sons, called Sörli, Hamdir, and Erpr: they were all raven-black of hair, like Gunnarr and Högni and the other Niflungs. There Svanhildr, daughter of the youth Sigurdr, was reared, and of all women she was fairest. King Jörmunrekkr the Mighty learned of her beauty, and sent his son Randvér to woo her and bring her to be his wife. When Randvér had come to the court of Jónakr, Svanhildr was given into his hands, and he should have! brought her to King Jörmunrekkr. But Earl Bikki said that it was a better thing for Randvér to wed Svandhildr, since he and she were both young, whereas Jörmunrekkr was old. This counsel pleased the young folk well. Thereupon Bikki reported the matter to the king. Straightway, King Jörmunrekkr commanded that his son be seized and led to the gallows. Then Randvér took his hawk and plucked off ins feathers, and bade that it be sent so to his father; after which he was hanged. But when King Jörmunrekkr saw the hawk, suddenly it came home to him that even as the hawk was featherless and powerless to fly, so was his kingdom shorn of its might, since he was old and childless. Then King Jörmunrekkr, riding out of the wood where he had been hunting, beheld Svanhildr as she sat washing her hair: they rode upon her and trod her to death under their horses' feet.

"But when Gudrún learned of this, she urged on her sons to take vengeance for Svanhildr. When they were preparing for their journey, she gave them birnies and helmets so strong that iron could not bite into them. She laid these instructions upon them: that, when they were come to King Jörmunrekkr, they should go up to him by night as he slept:

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Sörli and Hamdir should hew off his hands and feet, and Erpr his head. But when they were on their way, they asked Erpr what help they might expect from him, if they met King Jörmunrekkr. He answered that he would render them such aid as the hand affords the foot. They said that that help which the foot received from the hand was altogether nothing. They were so wroth with their mother that she had sent them away with angry words, and they desired so eagerly to do what would seem worst to her, that they slew Erpr, because she loved him most of all. A little later, while Sörli was walking, one of his feet slipped, and he supported himself on his hand; and he said: 'Now the hand assists the foot indeed; it were better now that Erpr were living.' Now when they came to King Jörmunrekkr by night, where he was sleeping, and hewed hands and feet off him, he awoke and called upon his men, and bade them arise. And then Hamdir spake, saying: 'The head had been off by now, if Erpr lived.' Then the henchmen rose up and attacked them, but could not overmaster them with weapons; and Jörmunrekkr called out to them to beat them with stones, and it was done. There Sörli and Hamdir fell, and now all the house and offspring of Gjúki were dead. A daughter named Áslaug lived after young Sigurdr; she was reared with Heimir in Hlymdalir, and great houses are sprung from her. It is said that Sigmundr, Völsungr's son, was so strong that he could drink venom and receive no hurt; and Sinfjötli his son and Sigurdr were so hard-skinned that no venom from without could harm them: wherefore Bragi the Skald has sung thus:

When the wriggling Serpent Of the Völsung's Drink hung writhing

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On the hook of the Foeman Of Hill-Giants' kindred.

Most skalds have made verses and divers short tales from these sagas. Bragi the Old wrote of the fall of Sörli and Hamdir in that song of praise which he composed on Ragnarr Lodbrók:

Once Jörmunrekkr awakened To an dream, 'mid the princes Blood-stained, while swords were swirling: A brawl burst in the dwelling Of Randvér's royal kinsman, When the raven-swarthy Brothers of Erpr took vengeance For all the bitter sorrows.

The bloody dew of corpses, O'er the king's couch streaming, Fell on the floor where, severed, Feet and hands blood-dripping Were seen; in the ale-cups' fountain He fell headlong, gore-blended: On the Shield, Leaf of the Bushes Of Leifi's Land, 't is painted.

There stood the shielded swordsmen, Steel biting not, surrounding The king's couch; and the brethren Hamdir and Sörli quickly To the earth were beaten By the prince's order,

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To the Bride of Odin With hard stones were battered.

The swirling weapons' Urger Bade Gjúki's race be smitten Sore, who from life were eager To ravish Svanhildr's lover; And all pay Jónakr's offspring With the fair-piercing weapon, The render of blue birnies, With bitter thrusts and edges.

I see the heroes' slaughter On the fair shield-rim's surface; Ragnarr gave me the Ship-Moon With many tales marked on it.]

XLII. "Why is gold called Fródi's Meal? This is the tale thereof: One of Odin's sons, named Skjöldr,--from whom the Skjöldungs are come,--had his abode and ruled in the realm which now is called Denmark, but then was known as Gotland. Skjöldr's son, who ruled the land after him, was named Fridleifr. Fridleifr's son was Fródi: he succeeded to the kingdom after his father, in the time when Augustus Caesar imposed peace on all the world; at that time Christ was born. But because Fródi was mightiest of all kings in the Northern lands, the peace was called by his name wherever the Danish tongue was spoken; and men call it the Peace of Fródi. No man injured any other, even though he met face to face his father's slayer or his brother's, loose or bound. Neither was there any thief nor robber then, so that a gold ring lay long on Jalangr's Heath. King Fródi

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went to a feast in Sweden at the court of the king who was called Fjölnir, and there he bought two maid-servants, Fenja and Menja: they were huge and strong. In that time two mill-stones were found in Denmark, so great that no one was so strong that he could turn them: the nature of the mill was such that whatsoever he who turned asked for, was ground out by the mill-stones. This mill was called Grótti. He who gave King Fródi the mill was named Hengikjöptr. King Fródi had the maid-servants led to the mill, and bade them grind gold; and they did so. First they ground gold and, peace and happiness for Fródi; then he would grant them rest or sleep no longer than the cuckoo held its peace or a song might be sung. It is said that they sang the song which is called the Lay of Grótti, and this is its beginning:

Now are we come To the king's house, The two fore-knowing, Fenja and Menja: These are with Fródi Son of Fridleifr, The Mighty Maidens, As maid-thralls held.

And before they ceased their singing, they ground out a host against Fródi, so that the sea-king called Mýsingr came there that same night and slew Fródi, taking much plunder. Then the Peace of Fródi was ended. Mýsingr took Grótti with him, and Fenja and Menja also, and bade them grind salt. And at midnight they asked whether Mýsingr were not weary of salt. He bade them grind longer. They had ground but a little while, when down sank the ship; and from that

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time there has been a whirlpool the sea where the water falls through the hole in the mill-stone. It was then that the sea became salt.

["The lay of Grótti:

They to the flour-mill Were led, those maidens, And bidden tirelessly To turn the gray mill-stone: He promised to neither Peace nor surcease Till he had heard The handmaids' singing.

They chanted the song Of the ceaseless mill-stone: 'Lay we the bins right, Lift we the stones!' He urged the maidens To grind on ever.

They sung and slung The whirling stone Till the men of Fródi For the most part slept; Then spake Menja, To the mill coming:

'Wealth grind we for Fródi, We grind it in plenty,

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Fullness of fee At the mill of fortune: Let him sit on riches And sleep on down; Let him wake in weal: Then well 't is ground.

Here may no one Harm another, Contrive evil, Nor cast wiles for slaying, Nor slaughter any With sword well sharpened, Though his brother's slayer In bonds he find.'

But he spake no word Save only this: 'Sleep ye no longer Than the hall-cuckoo's silence, Nor longer than so, While one song is sung.'

'Thou wast not, Fródi, Full in wisdom, Thou friend of men, When thou boughtest the maidens: Didst choose for strength And outward seeming; But of their kindred Didst not inquire.

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'Hardy was Hrungnir, And his father; Yet was Thjazi Than they more mighty: Idi and Aurnir Of us twain are kinsmen,-- Brothers of Hill-Giants, Of them were we born.

Grótti had not come From the gray mountain, Nor the hard boulder From the earth's bosom, Nor thus would grind The Hill-Giants' maiden, If any had known The news of her.

'We nine winters Were playmates together, Mighty of stature, 'Neath the earth's surface, The maids had part In mighty works: Ourselves we moved Mighty rocks from their place.

'We rolled the rock O'er the Giants' roof-stead, So that the ground, Quaking, gave before us;

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So slung we The whirling stone, The mighty boulder, Till men took it.

'And soon after In Sweden's realm, We twain fore-knowing Strode to the fighting; Bears we hunted, And shields we broke; We strode through The gray-mailed spear-host.

We cast down a king, We crowned another; To Gotthormr good We gave assistance; No quiet was there Ere Knúi fell.

'This course we held Those years continuous, That we were known For warriors mighty; There with sharp spears Wounds we scored, Let blood from wounds, And reddened the brand.

'Now are we come To the king's abode

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Of mercy bereft And held as bond-maids; Clay eats our foot-soles, Cold chills us above; We turn the Peace-Grinder: 'T is gloomy at Fródi's.

'Hands must rest, The stone must halt; Enough have I turned, My toil ceases: Now may the hands Have no remission Till Fródi hold The meal ground fully.

'The hands should hold The hard shafts, The weapons gore-stained,-- Wake thou, Fródi! Wake thou, Fródi, If thou wouldst hearken To the songs of us twain And to ancient stories.

'Fire I see burning East of the burg, War-tidings waken, A beacon of warning: A host shall come Hither, with swiftness,

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And fire the dwellings Above King Fródi.

'Thou shalt not hold The stead of Hleidr, The red gold rings Nor the gods' holy altar; We grasp the handle, Maiden, more hardly,-- We were not warmer In the wound-gore of corpses.

'My father's maid Mightily ground For she saw the feyness Of men full many; The sturdy posts From the flour-box started, Made staunch with iron. Grind we yet swifter.

'Grind we yet swifter! The son of Yrsa, Hálfdanr's kinsman, Shall come with vengeance On Fródi's head: Him shall men call Yrsa's son and brother. We both know that.'

The maidens ground, Their might they tested,

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Young and fresh In giant-frenzy: The bin-poles trembled, And burst the flour-box; In sunder burst The heavy boulder.

And the sturdy bride Of Hill-Giants spake: 'We have ground, O Fródi! Soon we cease from grinding; The women have labored O'er long at the grist.'

Thus sang Einarr Skúlason:

I have heard that Fródi's hand-maids Ground in the mill full gladly The Serpent's Couch; with gold-meal The king lets peace be broken: The fair cheeks of my axe-head, Fitted with maple, show forth Fenja's Grist; exalted Is the skald with the good king's riches.

So sang Egill:

Glad are full many men In Fródi's meal.]

XLIII. "Why is gold called Kraki's Seed? In Denmark there was a king called Hrólfr Kraki: he was most renowned

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of all ancient kings for munificence, valor, and graciousness. One evidence of his graciousness which is often brought into stories is this: A little lad and poor, Vöggr by name, came into the hall of King Hrólfr. At that time the king was young, and of slender stature. Vöggr came into his presence and looked up at him; and the king said: 'What wouldst thou say, lad, for thou lookest at me?' Vöggr answered: 'When I was at home, I heard say that Hrólfr the king at Hleidr was the greatest man in the northern lands; but now there sitteth in the high seat a little pole, and he is called King.' Then the king made answer: 'Thou, boy, hast given me a name, so that I shall be called Hrólfr the Pole (Kraki); and it is the custom that the giving of a name be accompanied by a gift. Now I see that with the name which thou has fastened on me, thou hast no gift such as would be acceptable to me, wherefore he that has wherewith to give shall give to the other.' And he took from his hand a gold ring and gave it to him. Then Vöggr said: 'Above all kings be thou most blessed of givers! Now I swear an oath that I shall be that man's slayer who slays thee.' Then spake the king, laughing loudly: 'Vöggr is pleased with a small thing.'

"Another example is the tale told concerning the valor of Hrólfr Kraki: That king whom men call Adils ruled over Uppsala; he had to wife Yrsa, mother of Hrólfr Kraki. He was at strife with the king who ruled over Norway, whose name was Ali; the two joined battle on the ice of the lake called Vaeni. King Adils sent an embassy to Hrólfr Kraki, his stepson, praying him to come to his aid, and promised wages to all his host so long as they should be away; King Hrólfr himself should have three precious gifts, whatsoever three he might choose from all Sweden. {p. 171} King Hrólfr could not make the journey in person, owing to the strife in which he was engaged with the Saxons; but he sent to Adils his twelve berserks: Bödvar-Bjarki was there for one, and Hjalti the Stout-Hearted, Hvítserkr the Stern, Vöttr Véseti, and the brethren Svipdagr and Beigudr. In that battle King Áli fell, and the great part of his host with him; and King Adils took from him in death the helm Battle-Swine and his horse Raven. Then the berserks of Hrólfr Kraki demanded for their hire three pounds of gold for each man of them; and in addition they required that they might bear to Hrólfr Kraki those gifts of price which they had chosen for him: which were the Helm Battle-Boar and the birnie Finn's Heritage,--on neither of which iron would take hold,--and the gold ring which was called Pig of the Swedes, which Adils' forefathers had had. But the king denied them all these things, nor did he so much as pay their hire: the berserks went away ill-pleased with their share, and told the state of things to Hrólfr Kraki.

"Straightway he begin his journey to Uppsala; and when he had brought his ships into the river Fýri, he rode at once to Uppsala, and his twelve berserks with him, all without safe-conduct. Yrsa, his mother, welcomed him and led him to lodgings, but not to the king's hall: fires were made there before them, and ale was given them to drink. Then men of King Adils came in and heaped firewood onto the fire, and made it so great that the clothes were burnt off Hrólfr and his men. And the fellows spake: 'Is it true that Hrólfr Kraki and his berserks shun neither fire nor iron?' Then Hrólfr Kraki leapt up, and all they that were with him; and he said:

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'Add we to the fire In Adils' dwelling!'

took his shield and cast it onto the fire, and leapt over the flames, while the shield burnt; and he spake again:

'He flees not the flames Who o'er the fire leapeth!'

Even so did his men, one after another; and they laid hands on those fellows who had heaped up the fire, and cast them into the flames. Then Yrsa came and gave Hrólfr Kraki a deer's horn full of gold, the ring Pig of the Swedes being with the gold; and she bade them ride away to the host. They vaulted onto their horses and rode down into the Plain of the Fýri; and soon they saw King Adils riding after them with his host all in armor, hoping to slay them. Then Hrólfr Kraki plunged his right hand down into the horn, grasped the gold, and strewed it all about the road. When the Swedes saw that, they leapt down out of their saddles, and each took up as much as he could lay hold of; but King Adils bade them ride on, and himself rode furiously . His horse was called Slöngvir, swiftest of all horses. Then Hrólfr Kraki saw that King Adils was drawing close up to him, took the ring, Pig of the Swedes, and threw it toward him, and bade him receive it as a gift. King Adils rode at the ring and thrust at it with his spear-point, and let it slide down over the shaft-socket. Then Hrólfr Kraki turned back and saw how he bent down, and spake: 'Now I have made him who is mightiest of Swedes stoop as a swine stoops.' Thus they parted. For this cause gold is called Seed of Kraki or of Fýri's Plain. Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:

{p. 173}

God of the blade of battle, We bear through Hákon's life-days The Seed of Fýri's valley On our arms, where sits the falcon.

Even as Thjódólfr sang:

The king sows the bright seed-corn Of knuckle-splendid gold rings, With the crop of Yrsa's offspring, In his company's glad hand-grasp; The guileless 'Land-Director With Kraki's gleaming barley Sprinkles my arms, the flesh-grown Seat of the hooded falcon.

XLIV. "It is said that the king called Hölgi, from whom Hálogaland is named, was the father of Thorgerdr Hölgabrúdr; sacrifice was made to both of them, and a cairn was raised over Hölgi: one layer of gold or silver
(that was the sacrificial money), and another layer of mould and stones. Thus sang Skúli Thorsteinsson:

When I reddened Reifnir's Roof-Bane, The ravening sword, for wealth's sake At Svöldr, I heaped with gold rings Warlike Hölgi's cairn-thatch.

In the ancient Bjarkamál many terms for gold are told: it says there:

The king most gift-gracious His guardsmen enriched

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With Fenja's Labor, With Fáfnir's Midgard, Glasir's bright Needles, Grani's fair Burden, Draupnir's dear dripping, Down of Grafvitnir.

The free-handed Lord gave, The heroes accepted, Sif's firm-grown tresses, Ice of the bow-force, Otter-gild unwilling, Weeping of Mardöll, Fire-flame of Órun, Idi's fine Speeches.

The warrior rejoiced; We walked in fair garments, In Thjazi's counsels The people's host-countless, In the Rhine's red metal, Wrangling of Niflungs, The leader war-daring, Warded Baldr not.

XLV. Gold is metaphorically termed Fire of the Hand, or of the Limb, or of the Leg, because it is red; but silver is called Snow, or Ice, or Hoar-Frost, because it is white. In like manner, gold or silver may be periphrased in metaphors of purse, or crucible, or lather, and both silver and gold may be called Hand-Stone, or Necklace, of any man who was

{p. 175}

wont to have a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if no other distinction is raised.

As Thorleikr the Fair sang:

The kindly Prince the Load casts Of Crucibles on the Hawk-Seats Of thanes, the wrists embellished,-- Gives Embers of the Arm-joint.

And as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The land-strong King of Lurid Breaks the golden Limb-Brands; I think the Prince of Warriors Lacks not the Rhine's bright Pebbles.

Thus sang Einarr Skúlason:

The Purse-Snow and the Sea-Fire Lie on both sides of the axe-head Blood-spilling; 't is my office To praise our foemen's Scather.

And as he sang further:

The Sea-Glow each day standeth O'er the Crucible's white Snow-Drift, And the shield, ships' cheeks protecting, Shelters a heart most lavish; Ne'er can one melt the silver Flagon-Snow in the Fire-Flame Of the Eel's Stream-Road; the Feller Of Hosts all feats performeth.

176

Here gold is called Fire of the Eel's Stream-Road; and silver, Snow of Flagons.

Thus sang Thórdr Mćri's Skald:

The glad Giver of the Hand-Waste Of the Gold-Minisher perceiveth That the Hermódr of the Snake's Lair Hath had a lordly father.

XLVI. "Man is called Breaker of Gold, even as Óttarr the Swarthy sang:

I needs must use the Breaker Of the Battle-Glow of good men; Here is the watch war-doughty Of the Wise King assembled.

Or Gold-Sender, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The Sender of Gold permitteth The silent earth to hearken To song; his gifts I gather: The prince his young men gladdens.

Gold-Caster, as Thorleikr sang:

Gold-Caster makes loyal to him His guard with kingly armor.

Gold's Adversary, as sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald:

The gold's foe Hot Coals casteth Of the Arm; the king gives red wealth;

{p. 177}

The vile folk's Desolator Dispenseth the Freight of Grani.

Gold-Towerer, as is written here:

The Gold-Towerer in friendship I got, and of the Warrior, Son of the glowing War-Blade, I make a song of praise.

Woman is periphrased in metaphors of gold, being called Willow or Giver of Gold, as Hallarsteinn sang:

He who casts the Amber Of Vidblindi's Boar's cool, salt Drink, Long will recall the Willow Of the Reed-Snake's golden River.

Here the whale is called Boar of Vidblindi; this Vidblindi was a giant who drew whales out of the sea like fishes. The Drink of Whales is the sea; Amber of the Sea is gold; woman is the Willow, or Dealer, of that gold which she gives; and the willow is a tree. Therefore, as is already shown, woman is periphrased with all manner of feminine tree-names: she is also called User of that which she gives; and the word for 'user' also signifies a log, the tree which falls in the forest.

Thus sang Gunnlaugr Serpent's-Tongue:

That dame was born to stir strife Among the sons of men-folk; The War-Bush caused that; madly I yearned to have the Wealth-Log.

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Woman is called Forest; so sang Hallarsteinn:

With the well-trained Plane of Singing, The tongue, I have planed, my Lady, Dame of the First Song's ale-vats, Forest fair of Flagons.

Fagot, as Steinn sang:

Thou shalt, O fresh Sif-Tender Of the Flood's gold Fire, like other Fagots of Hjadnings' gravel, Break with thy good fortune.

Prop, as Ormr Steinthórsson sang:

The Prop of Stone was clothčd In garments clean and seemly: A new cloak did the hero Cast o'er the Mead's bright Valkyr.

Post, as Steinarr sang:

All my dreams of the gracious Goddess Of the bracelet-girded soft arms Have lied to me; the Stream-Moon's Unsteadfast Prop beguiled me.

Birch, as Ormr sang:

For a mark of the Birch Of the bright hollow ring, The palm-flame, I laid On the dwarf-flagon, my song.

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Oak, even as stands here:

The fair shaped Oak of Riches Stands, our mirth forestalling.

Linden, even as is written here:

O dreadful, towering Elm-Tree Of the dinning shower of weapons, Our courage shall not lessen: So bade the Linen's Linden.

Man is periphrased in tree-metaphors, as we have written before; he is called Rowan, or Tester, of Weapons, or of Combats, of Expeditions and of Deeds, of Ships, and of all that which he wields and tests; thus sang Úlfr Uggason:

But the flashing-eyed stiff Edge-Rope Of the Earth stared past the gunwale At the Rowan-Tree of the people Of Stone, the Giant-Tester.

Tree and Beam, as Kormákr sang:

The Beam of the murdering Sword-Twig Is taller than are many In the Din of Darts; the sword wins. The land for dauntless Sigurdr.

Grove, as sang Hallfredr Troublous-Skald:

The Mighty Grove and Faithful Of the Shield-Murderer, budded

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With hair, stands in the Eastlands Safe with Ullr's Ash-Warriors.

Here he is also called Ash.

Box, as Arnórr sang:

The Box of Ships bade the Rygir Bring the shields together At early dusk; through the spear-rain Of strife-clouds held the autumn night.

Ash, as Refr sang:

The Strife-Lord, gracious Giver, Sought the Maid's bed gold-sprinkled; The Ash of Odin's War-Sleet Won the estate of manhood.

Maple, as here:

Hail, Maple of the Ice-Lumps Of the Hand!' So spake the Birnie.

Tree, as Refr sang:

Since I have appointed To proffer Odin's Breast-Sea, The War-God's Verse, to Thorsteinn; The Tree of Swords so wills it.

Staff, as Óttarr sang:

Thou, fierce War-Staff, maintainedst Maugre two kings, thy borders

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With heroes' kin, where the ravens Starved not; keen-hearted art thou.

Thorn, as Arnórr sang:

He gathered, the young Wealth-Thorn, Many great heaps of corpses For the eagles, and his henchmen Guided and helped the hero.

XLVII. "How should battle be periphrased? By calling it Storm of Weapons or of Sheltering Shields, or of Odin or the Valkyrs, or of Host-Kings; and Din and Clashing.

Thus sang Hornklofi:

The king hath held a Spear-Storm With heroes, where the eagles Screamed at the Din of Skögul; The red wounds spat out blood.

Thus sang Eyvindr:

And that hero At Háar's Tempest Wore a sark Of gray wolf-skin.

Thus sang Bersi:

In earlier days I seemed not To Gunn's War-Bushes useful In the Sleet of Hlökk, when younger We were: so 't is said.

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Thus sang Einarr:

The stark prince lets Hildr's Shield-Sails Take the sternest crashing Storm-Wind Of the Valkyr, where hail of bow-strings Drives; the sword-blade hammers.

As Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The mail-sarks of the warriors, Firm-woven, did not shelter The seemly youths 'gainst Högni's Showers of Hákon's onset.

Even as here:

They set the Point-Net's edge-band Against the Point-Crash-Urger.

And again:

'Neath eagles' claws the king's foes Sank at the Clash of Göndul.

XLVIII. "Weapons and armor should be periphrased in figures of battle, and with reference to Odin and the Valkyrs and host-kings: one should call a helmet Cowl, or Hood; a birnie, Sark, or Kirtle; a shield, Tent; and a shield-wall is termed Hall and Roof, Wall and Floor. Shields, periphrased in figures of warships, are called Sun, or Moon, or Leaf, or Sheen, or Garth, of the Ship; the shield is also called Ship of Ullr, or periphrased in terms of Hrungnir's feet, since he stood upon his shield. On ancient shields it

{p. 183}

was customary to paint a circle, which was called the 'ring,' and shields are called in metaphors of that ring. Hewing weapons, axes or swords, are called Fires of Blood, or of Wounds; swords are called Odin's Fires; but men call axes by the names of troll-women, and periphrase them in terms of blood or wounds or a forest or wood. Thrusting weapons are properly periphrased by calling them by names of serpents or fishes. Missile weapons are often metaphorically termed hail or sleet or storm. Variants of all these figures have been made in many ways, for they are used chiefly in poems of praise, where there is need of such metaphors.

So sang Víga-Glúmr:

With the Hanged-God's helmet The hosts have ceased from going By the brink; not pleasant The bravest held the venture.

Thus sang Einarr Tinkling-Scale:

Helm-folded strife-bold Búi,-- Who from the south went forth Into Gunn's Crash,--and din-swift Sigvaldi offered battle.

Sark of Ródi, as Tindr sang:

When came the birnied Hákon To cast away the ring-rent Streaming Sark of Odin, Ródi's rocking sea-steeds were cleared.

{p. 184}

Hamdir's Kirtle, as Hallfredr sang:

The war-sleet hard and streaming Of Egill's weapons breaketh Fiercely on Hamdir's Kirtles Of the foremost wave-deer's warriors.

Sörli's Garments, as he sang further:

Thence the bright Weeds of Sörli In men's blood must be reddened; I hear it clearly: Wound-Fire In cutting showers of iron.

Shields are called Tents of Hlökk, as Grettír sang:

Hlökk's Tent-Raisers held their noses Together, and the heroes Of the Rain-Storm of Hildr's Shield-Wall Hewed at each other's beards.

Ródi's Roof, as Einarr sang:

Ródi's Roof's great Ice-Lump For the Rain of Freyja's Eyelids Grows not less, my fair axe-head; His age my lord so useth.

Wall of Hildr, as Grettír sang, and as we have written before.

Ship-Sun, as Einarr sang:

In the sea Ólafr's Kinsman Reddens the flame of the Ship-Sun.

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Moon of the Ship's Cheek, as Refr sang:

Fair was the day, when Scatterers Of Arm-Fire thrust the clear Moon Of the Cheek into my hand-clasp, The coiling track of red rings.

Ship's Garth, as here:

The swift Sweller of the Spear-Crash Shot through the stain-dyed Prow-Garth As it were birch-bark; truly He was a bitter battler.

Ash of Ullr, as here:

The Snow-Gusts of Ullr's Ash-Ship Grimly o'er our Prince shoot With fullness, where are tossing The fearsome covered spike-spars.

Blade of Hrungnir's Foot-Soles, as Bragi sang:

Wilt hear, O Hrafnketill, How I shall praise the Sole-Blade Of Thrúdr's thief, stain-covered With skill, and praise my king.

Bragi the Skald sang this concerning the ring on the shield:

Unless it be, that Sigurdr's Renowned Son would have payment In good kind for the ring-nave Of the Ringing Wheel of Hildr.

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He called the shield Wheel of Hildr, and the ring the Nave of the Wheel.

Ring-Earth, as Hallvardr sang:

The Chief of ranks of Combat Sees the red-gleaming Ring-Earth Fly in two parts; the white disk, The pictured, bursts in sunder.

It is also sung:

A ring befits the shield best; Arrows befit the bow.

A sword is Odin's Fire, as Kormákr sang:

The fight swelled, when the Warrior, The Wolf's blithe Feeder, in tumult Fared with Odin's ringing Fire-Flame; Urdr came forth from the Well.

Fire of the Helm, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

The very mighty Maiden Of the Mountain made the Sea-Horse Roll forward, but the Champions Of Odin's Helm-Fire felled her Wolf-Steed.

Fire of the Birnie, as Glúmr Geirason sang:

At that the Land-Protector Let the Birnie's Streaming Fire whine, Hone-whetted, he who warded Him strongly 'gainst the warriors.

{p. 187}

Ice of the Rim, and Hurt of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:

I received the Ice of Wed Rims, With Freyja's golden Eye-Thaw, From the upright prince high-hearted; We bear in hand the Helm's Hurt.

An axe is called Troll-Woman of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:

Rćfill's Sea-Steed's Riders May see how, richly carven, The dragons close are brooding 'Gainst the brow of the Helm-Ogress.

A spear is called Serpent, as Refr sang:

My angry Murky Serpent Of the markings of the Shield-Board Savagely doth sport, in My palms, where men in strife meet.

Arrows are called Hail of the Bow or Bowstring, or of the Shelters, or of Battle, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The hammering King of Swords shook From the Sails of Hlökk the Bow-Hail: Bravely the Wolf's Supporter Warded his life in battle.

And Hallfredr:

And the armor of the Spear-Sleet, Knitted with iron, saved not

{p. 188}

The saters of hungry ravens From the Shaft-Hail of the Bowstring.

And Eyvindr Skald- Despoiler:

They said, O Hörds' Land-Warder, Thy spirit little faltered, When the Birnie's Hail in the wound burst; Bent were the stringčd elm-bows.

XLIX. "Battle is called Storm or Snow-Shower of the Hjadnings, and weapons are termed Fire or Wands of Hjadnings; and this is the tale thereof: that king who was called Högni had a daughter named Hildr: her King Hedinn, son of Hjarrandi, took as the spoils of war, while King Högni attended an assembly of kings. But when he learned that there had been raiding in his realm and his daughter had been borne off, he departed with his host to seek Hedinn, and heard tidings of him, that he was proceeding northward along the land. When Högni had come into Norway, he learned that Hedinn had sailed westward over the sea. Then Högni sailed after him, even to the Orkneys; and when he landed at the place called Hoy, Hedinn was already there before him with his host. Then Hildr went to meet her father, and offered him a necklace on Hedinn's behalf, for reconciliation and peace; but if it were not accepted, she said, Hedinn was ready to fight, and Högni might hope for no mercy at his hands.

"Högni answered his daughter harshly; and when she returned to Hedinn, she told him that Högni desired no reconciliation, and she bade him make ready for battle. So did both parties: they went to the island and marshalled

{p. 189}

their hosts. Then Hedinn called to Högni his father-in-law, offering him reconciliation and much gold in compensation. But Högni answered: 'Thou hast made this offer over-late, if thou wouldst make peace: for now I have drawn Dáinsleif, which the dwarves made, and which must cause a man's death every time it is bared, nor ever fails in its stroke; moreover, the wound heals not if one be scratched with it.' Then said Hedinn: 'Thou dost boast in the sword, but not in the victory; I call any sword good which is faithful to its lord.' Then they began that famous battle which is called the Hjadnings' Strife, and they fought all that day, but at evening the kings went to their ships. Now Hildr went to the slain by night, and with magic quickened all those that were dead. The next day the kings went to the battlefield and fought, and so did all those that had fallen on the day before. So the fight went one day after the other: all who fell, and all those weapons which lay on the field, and the shields also, were turned to stone; but when day dawned, up rose all the dead men and fought, and all weapons were renewed. It is said in songs that in this fashion the Hjadnings shall continue unto the Weird of the Gods. Bragi the Skald composed verses after this tale in Ragnarr Lodbrók's Song of Praise:

And the belovčd Maiden

Of the veins' blood-letting Purposed to bring, for wrath's sake, The bow-storm to her father: When the ring-wearing lady, The woman full of evil, Bore the neck-ring of War-Doom To the Battler of the Wind's Steeds.

{p. 190}

That gory Wound-Amender To the glorious Monarch offered The necklace not for fear's sake, At the mote of fatal weapons: Ever as restraining battle She seemed, although she goaded Warriors to walk the death-road With the ravening Wolf's dire Sister.

The Prince of Folk, the Land-God, Let not the fight, wolf-gladdening, Halt, nor slaughter on the sands cease,-- Hate, deadly, swelled in Högni, When the stern Lords of Sword-Din Sought Hedinn with stern weapons, Rather than receive The necklet-rings of Hildr.

And that baleful Witch of Women, Wasting the fruits of victory, Took governance on the island O'er the axe, the Birnie's Ruin; All the Ship-King's war-host Went wrathful 'neath the firm shields Of Hjarrajidi, swift-marching From Reifnir's fleet sea-horses.

On the fair shield of Svölnir One may perceive the onslaught; Ragnarr[1] gave me the Ship-Moon, With many tales marked on it.

[1. See page 161.]

{p. 191}

Battle is called Storm of Odin, as is recorded above; so sang Víga-Glúmr:

I cleared my way aforetime Like earls to lands; the word went Of this among the Storm-Staves, The men of Vidrir's Sword-Wand.

Here battle is called Storm of Vidrir, and the sword is the Wand of Battle; men are Staves of the Sword. Here, then, both battle and weapons are used to make metaphors for man. It is called 'inlaying,' when one writes thus.

"The shield is the Land of Weapons, and weapons are Hail or Rain of that land, if one employs figures of later coinage.

L. "How should the ship be periphrased? Call it Horse or Deer or Snowshoe of the Sea-King, or of Ship's Rigging, or of Storm. Steed of the Billow, as Hornklofi sang:

The Counsel-Stern Destroyer Of the pale Steed of the Billow When full young let the ships' prows Press on the sea at flood-tide.

Geitir's Steed, as Erringar-Steinn sang:

But though to the skald all people This strife from the south are telling, We shall yet load Geitir's Sea-Steed With stone; we voyage gladly.

{p. 192}

Sveidi's Reindeer:

O Son of Sveinn strife-valiant, Thou comest with Sveidi's Reindeer, Long of seam, on the Seat of Sölsi; The Sound-Deer from land glided.

So sang Hallvardr. Here the ship is also called Deer of the Sound; and the Sea is called Sölsi's Seat.

Thus sang Thórdr Sjáreksson:

The swift Steed of the Gunwale Around Sigg veered from northward, The gust shoved Gylfi's Stream's Mirth, The Gull's Wake-Horse, to southward Of Aumar, laying fleetly Both Körmt and Agdir's coastline Along the stern; by Listi The Leek's Steed lightly bounded.

Here the ship is called Steed of the Gunwale; and the sea is Gylfi's Land; the sea is also called Gull's Wake. The ship is called Horse, and further, Horse of the Leek: for 'leek' means 'mast.'

And again, as Markús sang:

The Stream's Winterling waded Stoutly the Firth-Snake's Snow-Heaps; The Tusker of the Mast-Head Leaped o'er the Whale's spurned House-Tops; The Bear of the Flood strode forward On the ancient paths of sea-ships;

{p. 193}

The Stay's Bear, shower-breasting. Broke the Reef's splashing Fetter.

Here the ship is called Winterling of the Stream: a bear cub is called a Winterling; and a bear is called Tusker; the Bear of the Stay is a ship.

The ship is also called Reindeer, and so Hallvardr sang, as we have written before; and Hart, as King Haraldr Sigurdarson sang:

By Sicily then widely The Seam cut: we were stately; The Sea-Hart glided swiftly As we hoped beneath the heroes.

And Elk, as Einarr sang:

The ring's mild Peace-Dispenser, The princely hero, may not Long bide with thee, if something Aid not; we boune the Flood's Elk.

And Otter, as Máni sang:

What, laggard carle with gray cheeks, Canst do among keen warriors On the Otter of the Sea-Waves? For thy strength is ebbing from thee.

Wolf, as Refr sang:

And the Hoard-Diminisher hearkened To Thorsteinn; true my heart is

{p. 194}

To the Lord of the Wolf of Billows In the baleful Wrath-Wand's conflict.

And Ox also. The ship is called Snowshoe, or Wagon, or Wain. Thus sang Eyjólfr the Valiant Skald:

Late in the day the young Earl In the Snowshoe of Landless Waters Fared with equal following To meet the fearless chieftain.

Thus sang Styrkárr Oddason:

Högni's host drove the Wagons Of Rollers o'er Heiti's snow-Heaps, Angrily pursuing The great Giver of Flood-Embers.

And as Thorbjörn sang:

The Freighter of Wave-Crests' Sea-Wain Was in the font of christening, Hoard-Scatterer, who was given The White Christ's highest favor.

LI. "How should one periphrase Christ? Thus: by calling Him Fashioner of Heaven and Earth, of Angels, and of the Sun; Governor of the World and of the Heavenly Kingdom and of Jerusalem and Jordan and the Land of the Greeks; Counsellor of the Apostles and of the Saints. Ancient skalds have written of Him in metaphors of Urdr's Well and Rome; as Eilífr Gudrúnarson sang:

{p. 195}

So has Rome's Mighty Ruler In the Rocky Realms confirmčd His power; they say He sitteth South, at the Well of Urdr.

Thus sang Skapti Thóroddssen:

The King of Monks is greatest Of might, for God all governs; Christ's power wrought this earth all, And raised the Hall of Rome.

King of the Heavens, as Markús sang:

The King of the Wind-House fashioned Earth, sky, and faithful peoples; Christ, sole Prince of Mortals, Hath power o'er all that liveth.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:

The Host of the beaming World's Roof And the Band of Illustrious bow down To the Holy Cross; than all glory Else the Sole Sun's King is brighter.

Son of Mary, as Eilífr sang further:

The bright Host of Heaven boweth To Mary's Bairn: He winneth, The Gentle Prince, of glory The true might, God and man both.

{p. 196}

King of Angels, as Eilífr sang again:

The goodly might of God's friend Is better than men guess of; Yet the Gracious King of Angels Is dearer than all, and holier.

King of Jordan, as Sigvatr sang:

Four angels the King of Jordan Sent long ago through aether To earthward; and the stream washed The holy head of the World's Lord.

King of Greeks, as Arnórr sang:

I have lodged for the hero's ashes Prayers with the Lordly Warder Of Greeks and men of Gardar: Thus I pay my Prince for good gifts.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:

The Glory of Heaven praises Man's Prince: He is King of all things.

Here he called Christ, first, King of Men, and again, King of All. Eínarr Skúlason sang:

He who compasseth, Bright in Mercy, All the world, and gently careth For all, caused the realm of Heaven To ope for the valiant ruler.

{p. 197}

LII. "There the metaphors coincide; and he who interprets the language of poesy learns to distinguish which king is meant; for it is correct to call the Emperor of Constantinople King of Greeks, and similarly to call the king who rules over the land of Jerusalem King of Jerusalem, and also to call the Emperor of Rome King of Rome, and to call him King of Angles' who governs England. But that periphrasis which was cited but now, which called Christ King of Men, may be had by, every king. It is proper to periphrase all kings by calling them Land-Rulers, or Land-Warders, or Land-Attackers, or Leader of Henchmen, or Warder of the People.

Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:

Who filled the ravens From life was reft By the Earth-Rulers At Ögló.[1]

And as Glúmr Geirason sang:

The Prince beneath the helmet Reddened the sword hone-hollowed On the Geats: there the Land-Warder Was found in the grinding spear-din.

As Thjódólfr sang:

'T is my wish that the glorious Leader Of Henchmen, the Glad-hearted, Should leave his sons the heritage And the sod of his fair freehold.

[1. The reverse of Gregory's pun: "Non Angli sed angeli."

2. See page 98.]

{p. 198}

As Einarr sang:

The valiant-souled Earth-Warder On his stern head the helm bears; The bard before heroes telleth The fame of the King of Hördland.

It is right also to call him King of Kings, under whom are tributary kings. An emperor is highest of kings, and next under him is that king who reigns over a nation; and each of these is equal to the other in the periphrases made of them in poesy. Next to them are those men who are called earls or tributary kings: and they are equal in periphrasis with a king, save that one may not term them kings of nations. And thus sang Arnórr Earl's Skald concerning Earl Thorfinnr:

Let the men hear how the Earl's King, Hardy of mind, the sea sought: The overwhelming Ruler Failed not to thwart the ocean.

Next to these in the figures of poesy are those men who are called chiefs: one may periphrase them as one might a king or an earl, calling them Dispensers of Gold, Wealth Munificent, Men of the Standards, and Captains of the Host, or Van-Leaders of the Array or of Battle; since each king of a nation, who rules over many lands, appoints tributary kings and earls in joint authority with himself, to administer the laws of the land and defend it from attack in those parts which lie far removed from the king. And in those parts they shall be equal with the king's self in giving

{p. 199}

judgment and meting punishment. Now there are many districts in one land; and it is the practice of kings to appoint justiciars over as many districts as one chooses to give into their hands. These justiciars are called chiefs or landed men in the Danish tongue, reeves in Saxony, and barons in England. They are also to be righteous judges and faithful warriors over the land which is entrusted to them for governance. If the king is not near, then a standard shall be borne before them in battle; and then they are quite as lawful war-captains as kings or earls.

"Next under them are those men who are called franklins: they are those freeholders who are of honorable kindred, and possessed of full rights. One may periphrase them by calling them Wealth-Givers, and Protectors, and Reconcilers of Men; headmen also may have these titles.

"Kings and earls have as their following the men called henchmen and house-carles; landed-men also have in their service those who are called henchmen in Denmark and Sweden, and house-carles in Norway, and these men swear oaths of service to them, even as henchmen do to kings. The house-carles of kings were often called henchmen in the old heathen time.

Thus sang Thorvaldr Blending Skald:

Hail, King, swift in the onset! And thy sturdy house-carles with thee! In their mouths men have my verses, Made for a song of praising.

King Haraldr Sigurdarson composed this:

The man full mighty waiteth The filling of the King's seat;

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Oft, I find, to the Earl's heels Throngs my host of house-carles.

Henchmen and house-carles may be periphrased by calling them House-Guard, or Wage-Band, or Men of Honor: thus sang Sigvatr:

I learned the Warrior's Wage-Band On the water fought that battle Newly: 't is not the smallest Snow-shower of Shields I tell of.

And thus also:

When on the Steed of Cables The clashing steel was meeting, 'T was not as when a maid bears The Chief's mead to the Honor-Winners.

The service-fee which headmen give is called wages and gifts; thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:

I needs must use the Breaker Of the Battle-Glow of good men; Here is the watch war-doughty Of the Wise King assembled.[1]

Earls and chiefs and henchmen are periphrased by calling them Counsellors or Speech-Friends or Seat-Mates of the King, as Hallfredr sang:

[1. See page 176.]

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The Counsellor battle-mighty Of the Prince, whom boldness pleases, Lets the feud-fiery weeds of Högni, Hammer-beaten, clash upon him.

As Snaebjörn sang:

The Speech-Friend of Kings letteth The long-hulled steer-rope's Race-Horse Steady the swordlike steel beak Of the ship against the stern wave.

Thus sang Arnórr:

My young sons do bear for my sake Grave sorrow for the slaughter Of the Earl, destroyed by murder, The Bench-Mate of our Monarch.

King's Counsel-Friend, as Hallfredr sang:

In council 't was determined That the King's Friend, wise in counsel, Should wed the Land, sole Daughter Of Ónarr, greenly wooded.[1]

One should periphrase men by their kindred; as Kormákr sang:

Let the son of Haraldr's true friend Give ear, and hearken to me: I raise my song, the Yeast-Stream Of Sýr's snow-covered Monsters.

[1. See page 136.]

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He called the Earl True Friend of the King, and Hákon, Son of Earl Sigurdr. And Thjódólfr sang thus concerning Haraldr:

About Ólafr's sire Waxed the steel-knife-storm's ire, That of wightness each deed Is worthy fame's meed.

And again:

Jarizleifr could espy Where the king passed by: The brave, sainted lord's kin Stoutly praise did win.

And again he sang:

Breath-bereft is he Who o'er all bore the gree,-- Of chiefs kinsman mild, Haraldr's brother's child.

Arnórr also sang thus in Rögnvaldr's Song of Praise:

Heiti's war-good kinsman Made wedlock-kindred with me: The earl's strong tie of marriage Made honor to us rendered.

And again, concerning Earl Thorfinnr, he sang:

The thin-made swords bit keenly Old Rögnvaldr's kin, to southward

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Of Man, where rushed the strong hosts Under the sheltering shield-rims.

And he sang further:

O God, guard the glorious Kin-Betterer of great Turf-Einarr From harm; I pray, show mercy To him whom faithful chiefs love.

And Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The House-Prop of the Kindred Of Hilditönn shall not lack Hardihood more munificent; I am bound to maintain praises.

LIII. "How are the uninvolved terms of poesy made? By calling each thing by its proper name. What are the simple terms for poesy? It is called Poetry, Glorifying, Song, Laud, and Praise. Bragi the Old sang this, when he was travelling through a forest late at evening: a troll woman hailed him in verse, asking who passed:

'Trolls do call me Moon's . . . . . . of the giant, Storm-sun's (?) bale, Fellow-in-misery of the sibyl, Warder of the circled ring-earth, Wheel-devourer of the heaven. What is the troll but that?"

[1. "Eru tröll-kenningar, sumar myrkar." Jónsson, p. 403.]

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He answered thus:

'Skalds do call me Vidurr's Shape-Smith, Gautr's Gift-Finder, Bard not faulty, Yggr's Ale-Bearer, Song's Arrayer, Skilled Smith of Verse: What is the Skald but this?'

And as Kormákr sang:

I make more Glorifying By far o'er Hákon's great son: I pay him the song-atonement Of the gods. In his wain Thor sitteth.

And as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:

The Shield-Maple let many swift ships And merchant-craft, and speedy War-boats o'er the sea pour; The skald's ready Song of Laud waxed.

Laud, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

Now the stream to the sea cometh; But first the Laud I sang forth Of the Messenger of Sword-Rain: Thus I raise the praise of warriors.

Here poesy is called praise also.

{p. 205} LIV. "How are the gods named? They are called Fetters, as Eyjólfr the Valiant Skald sang:

Eiríkr draws the lands beneath him At the pleasure of the Fetters, And fashions the Spear-Battle.

And Bonds, as Thjódólfr of Hvin sang:

The skilful God-Deceiver To the Bonds proved a stern sharer Of bones: the Helmet-Hooded Saw somewhat hindered seething.[1]

Powers, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

I say, the Mighty Powers Magnify Hákon's empire.

Jólnar,[2] as Eyvindr sang:

We have fashioned The Feast of Jólnar, The Prince's praise-song, Strong as a stone bridge.

Deities,[3] as Kormákr sang:

[1. See page 130.

2. This word, in the singular, is one of the names of Odin. I can find no etymology for it.

3. A rare and doubtful word. According to Cl.-Vig., the word occurs only twice: Yngl. S., ch. ii, and here. Cl.-Vig. holds that the word probably meant priests: "The díar of the Yngl. S. were probably analogous to the Icel. godi, from god (deus)" (p. 100).]

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The Giver of Lands, who bindeth The sail to the top, with gold-lace Honors him who pours Deities' verse-mead; Odin wrought charms on Rindr.[1]

LV. "These names of the heavens are recorded (but we have not found all these terms in poems; and these skaldic terms, even as others, are not meet for use in skaldic writing, methinks, unless one first find such names in the works of Chief Skalds): Heaven, Hlýrnir, Heidthornir, Storm Mímir, Long-Lying, Light-Farer, Driving, Topmost Sky, Wide-Fathom, Vet-Mímir, Lightning, Destroyer, Wide-Blue. The solar planet is called Sun, Glory, Ever-Glow, All-Bright, Sight, Fair Wheel, Healing Ray, Dvalinn's Playmate, Elfin-Beam, Doubtful-Beam, Luminary. The lunar planet is called Moon, Waxer, Waner, Year-Teller, Mock-Sun, Fengari,[2] Glamour, Haster, Crescent, Glare.

LVI. "Which are the simple terms for Earth? She is called Earth, as Thjódólfr sang:

The hardy Point-Rain's Urger Oft caused the harsh sword-shower, Ere under him the broad Earth With battle he subjected.

Field, as Óttarr sang:

The Prince guards the Field: Few kings are so mighty;

[1. See page 100.

2. "Byzant. {Greek fegga'ri}; an {Greek a?'p. leg.}" (Cl.-Vig., p. 151).]

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Óleifr fattens the eagle, Foremost is the Swedes' King.

Ground, as Hallvardr sang:

The broad Ground, 'neath the venom-cold Adder Bound, lies subject to the Warrior Of the Island-Fetter's heaped gold; The Hone-Land's Lord the hoard dispenseth.

Haudr,[1] as Einarr sang:

Brave heroes are defending The hard Haudr of famous princes With the sword; oft splits the helmet Before the furious edge-storm.

Land, as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:

The Land, after the battle, Was laid low from Veiga northward To Agdir south, or farther: Hard is song in conflict.

Fief, as Óttarr sang:

Thou, fierce War-Staff, maintainedst The Fief despite two Monarchs With heroes' kin. where the ravens Starved not; keen-hearted art thou.[2]

[1. "Etymology not known" (Cl.-Vig., p. 241).

2. See pages 180, 181.]

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Hlödyn,[1] as Völu-Steinn sang:

I remember how murky earth yawned With graven mouth for the Sender Of the Gold-Words of the Giant Of the hard bones of Green Hlödyn.

Country, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

But the flashing-eyed stiff Edge-Rope Of the Earth stared past the gunwale At the Rowan-Tree of the Country Of Stone, the Giant-Tester.[2]

Fjörgyn,[3] as is said here:

I was faithful to the free Payer Of the stream-bed of Fjörgyn's Serpent; May honor be closely guarded By the Giver of the Giant's Stream-gold.

LVII. "It is correct to periphrase blood or carrion in terms of the beast which is called Strangler," by calling them his Meat and Drink; it is not correct to express them in terms of other beasts. The Strangler is also called Wolf.

As Thjódólfr sang:

Enough guesting to the Ravener Was given, when the Son of Sigurdr

[1. A personification.

2. See page 179.

3. Cf. Goth. fairguni (= a mountain) and A.-S. fyrgen. A personification: Fjörgynn is father of Frigg and of Jörd (Earth).

4. Vargr; cf. A.-S. wearg, Ger. -würgen.]

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Came from the North, the Wolf To lure from the wood to the wound.

Here he is called Ravener also.

Greedy One, as Egill sang:

The Greedy One gashed Grisly wounds, when plashed The red Point-Creek On the raven's beak.

Witch-Beast, as Einarr sang:

The Götha, cold with venom, With hot Wound-Gush was reddened; The Witch-Beast's warm drink, mingled With the water, in the sea poured.

She-Wolf, as Arnórr sang:

The She-Wolf's evil Kindred Swallowed the corpse, harm-swollen, When the green sea was turnčd To red, with gore commingled.

Strangler, as Illugi sang:

There was happiness for the Strangler When my lord pursued hosts full many; With the sword the Necklet-Minisher Pierced the swart Snake of the Forest.

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Thus sang Hallr:

He sated the Heath-Beasts' Hunger: The hoar howler in wounds gladdened; The king reddened the Wild One's mouth-hairs,-- The Wolf went to drink of the wound.

And again, as Thórdr sang:

In blood Gjálp's Stud-Horse waded, The dusty pack got fullness Of the Greedy One's Wheat; the howler Enjoyed the Ravener's Gore-Drink.

The bear is called Wide-Stepper, Cub, Winterling, Ourse, Gib-Cat, Tusker, Youngling, Roarer, Jölfudr,[1] Wilful-Sharp, She-Bear, Horse-Chaser, Scratcher, Hungry One, Blómr,[1] Bustler. The hart is called Módrödnir,[2] Dalarr,[3] Dalr,[3] Dáinn,[4] Dvalinn,[4] Duneyrr,[4] Durathrór.[4] These are the names of horses enumerated in the Rhymes of Thorgrímr:[5]

Hrafn[6] and Sleipnir, The famous horses; Valr[7] and Léttfeti; Tjaldari[8] a was there too; Gulltopr and Goti;[9] I heard Sóti[10] told of; Mór[11] and Lungr[12] with Marr.[13]

[1. Meaning?

2. Angry-minded?

3. Meaning?

4. These are the names of the harts that feed on the leaves of the Ash Yggdrasill. See Gylfag., ch. xvi.

5. For meanings not given in footnotes, see Gylfag., ch. xv, and Skálds., ch. xvii.

6. Raven.

7. Hawk.

8. Racer? (Cl.-Vig, p. 635).

9. ?

10. Soot-Colored.

11. Dark-Gray.

12. ?

13. a Steed.]

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Vigg[1] and Stúfr[2] Were with Skćvadr;[3] Blakkr[4] could well bear Thegn; Silfrtoppr and Sinir;[5] I heard Fákr[6] spoke of; Gullfaxi and Jór[7] with the Gods were.

Blódughófi[8] hight a horse That they said beareth The strength-eminent Atridi; Gísl[9] and Falhófnir;[10] Glćr[11] and Skeidbrimir;[12] Mention, too, was made of Gyllir.[13]

These also are recorded in Kálfsvísa:

Dagr rode Drösull,[14] And Dvalinn rode Módnir;[15] Hjálmthér, Háfeti;[16] Haki rode Fákr; The Slayer of Beli Rode Blódughófi, And Skćvadr was ridden By the Ruler of Haddings.

Vésteinn rode Valr, And Vifill rode Stúfr; Meinthjófr rode Mór,

[1 Carrier.

2. Stump.

3. Hoof-Tosser.

4. Black.

5. Sinewy.

6. Jade.

7. Horse, Steed.

8. Bloody-Hoof.

9. Hostage.

10. Hollow-Hoof.

11. Shining.

12. Swift-Runner.

13. Golden.

14. Roamer.

15. Spirited.

16. High-Heels.]

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And Morginn on Vakr;[1] Áli rode Hrafn, They who rode onto the ice: But another, southward, Under Adils, A gray one, wandered, Wounded with the spear.

Björn rode Blakkr, And Bjárr rode Kertr;[2] Atli rode Glaumr,[3] And Adils on Slöngvir;[4] Högni on Hölvir,[5] And Haraldr on Fölkvir;[6] Gunnarr rode Goti,[7] And Sigurdr, Grani.[8]

Arvakr[9] and Alsvidr[10] draw the Sun, as is written before; Hrímfaxi[11] or Fjörsvartnir[12] draw the Night; Skinfaxi[13] and Gladr[14] are the Day's horses.

"These names of oxen are in Thorgrímr's Rhymes:

Of all oxen the names Have I accurately learned,-- Of these: Raudr[15] and HSfir,[16] Rekinn[17] and Hýrr,[18]

[1. Watchful, Nimble, Ambling, or perhaps Hawk.

2. Related to Kerti = a candle?

3. Tumult.

4. Slinger.

5. Horse; etymology?

6. ?

7. Goth.

8. Shining-Lip? (Jónsson).

9. Early-Wake.

10. All-Swift.

11. Frosty-Mane.

12. Swart-Life.

13. Shining-Mane.

14. Bright, or Glad.

15. Red.

16. Meet.

17. Driven.

18. Gentle.]

ABBREVIATIONS

CL.-VIG. = the Cleasby-Vigfússon Icelandic-English Dictionary, Oxford, 1874.

COD. REG. = Codex Regius, one of the manuscripts in which Snorri's Edda is preserved.

COD. WORM. = Codex Wormianus, another of the manuscripts.

COD. UPSAL. = Codex Upsaliensis, a third manuscript (U).

YNGL. S. = Ynglinga Saga.

GYLFAG. = Gylfaginning.

SKÁLDS. = Skáldskaparmál.

THE END