"Rístu nú, Skírnir,

ok gakk skjótt at beiða

okkarn mála mög

ok þess at fregna,

hveim inn fróði sé

ofreiði afi."

"Go now, Skirnir!

and seek to gain

Speech from my son;

And answer to win,

for whom the wise one

Is mightily moved."

Skírnir kvað:

"Illra orða

er mér ón at ykkrum syni,

ef ek geng at mæla við mög

ok þess at fregna,

hveim inn fróði sé

ofreiði afi."

Skirnir spake:

"Ill words do I now

await from thy son,

If I seek to get speech with him,

And answer to win,

for whom the wise one

Is mightily moved."

"Segðu mér þat, Freyr,

folkvaldi goða,

ok ek vilja vita:

Hví þú einn sitr

endlanga sali,

minn dróttinn, um daga?"

Skirnir spake:

"Speak prithee, Freyr,

foremost of the gods,

For now I fain would know;

Why sittest thou here

in the wide halls,

Days long, my prince, alone?"

Freyr kvað:

"Hví um segjak þér,

seggr inn ungi,

mikinn móðtrega?

Því at álfröðull

lýsir um alla daga

ok þeygi at mínum munum."

Freyr spake:

"How shall I tell thee,

thou hero young,

Of all my grief so great?

Though every day

the elfbeam dawns,

It lights my longing never."

Skírnir kvað:

"Muni þína

hykk-a ek svá mikla vera,

at þú mér, seggr, né segir,

því at ungir saman

várum í árdaga,

vel mættim tveir trúask."

Skirnir spake:

"Thy longings, methinks,

are not so large

That thou mayst not tell them to me;

Since in days of yore

we were young together,

We two might each other trust."

Freyr kvað:

"Í Gymis görðum

ek ganga sá

mér tíða mey;

armar lýstu,

en af þaðan

allt loft ok lögr."

Freyr spake:

"From Gymir's house

I beheld go forth

A maiden dear to me;

Her arms glittered,

and from their gleam

Shone all the sea and sky."

"Mær er mér tíðari

en manna hveim

ungum í árdaga;

ása ok alfa

þat vill engi maðr

at vit samt séim."

"To me more dearthan in days of old

Was ever maiden to man;

But no one of godsor elves will grant

That we both together should be."

Skírnir kvað:

"Mar gefðu mér þá

þann er mik um myrkvan beri

vísan vafrloga,

ok þat sverð,

er sjalft vegisk

við jötna ætt."

Skirnir spake:

"Then give me the horse

that goes through the dark

And magic flickering flames;

And the sword as well

that fights of itself

Against the giants grim."

Freyr kvað:

"Mar ek þér þann gef,

er þik um myrkvan berr

vísan vafrloga,

ok þat sverð,

er sjalft mun vegask

ef sá er horskr, er hefr."

Freyr spake:

"The horse will I give thee

that goes through the dark

And magic flickering flames,

And the sword as well

that will fight of itself

If a worthy hero wields it."

Skírnir mælti við hestinn:

"Myrkt er úti,

mál kveð ek okkr fara

úrig fjöll yfir,

þursa þjóð yfir;

báðir vit komumk,

eða okkr báða tekr

sá inn ámáttki jötunn."

Skirnir spake to the horse:

"Dark is it without,

and I deem it time

To fare through the wild fells,

(To fare through the giants' fastness;)

We shall both come back,

or us both together

The terrible giant will take."

"Segðu þat, hirðir,

er þú á haugi sitr

ok varðar alla vega:

Hvé ek at andspilli

komumk ins unga mans

fyr greyjum Gymis?"

"Tell me, herdsman,

sitting on the hill,

And watching all the ways,

How may I win

a word with the maid

Past the hounds of Gymir here?"

Hirðir kvað:

"Hvárt ertu feigr,

eða ertu framgenginn?

*********

Andspillis vanr

þú skalt æ vera

góðrar meyjar Gymis."

The herdsman spake:

"Art thou doomed to die

or already dead,

Thou horseman that ridest hither?

Barred from speech

shalt thou ever be

With Gymir's daughter good."

Skírnir kvað:

"Kostir ro betri

heldr en at klökkva sé,

hveim er fúss er fara;

einu dægri

mér var aldr of skapaðr

of allt líf of lagit."

Skirnir spake:

"Boldness is better

than plaints can be

For him whose feet must fare;

To a destined day has mine age been doomed,

And my life's span thereto laid."

Gerðr kvað:

"Hvat er þat hlym hlymja,

er ek heyri nú til

ossum rönnum í?

Jörð bifask,

en allir fyrir

skjalfa garðar Gymis."

Gerth spake:

"What noise is that which now so loud

I hear within our house?

The ground shakes, and the home of Gymir

Around me trembles too."

Ambátt kvað:

"Maðr er hér úti,

stiginn af mars baki,

jó lætr til jarðar taka.

*********"

The Serving-Maid spake:

"One stands without who has leapt from his steed,

And lets his horse loose to graze;"

*********

*********

Gerðr kvað:

"Inn bið þú hann ganga

í okkarn sal

ok drekka inn mæra mjöð;

þó ek hitt óumk,

at hér úti sé

minn bróðurbani."

Gerth spake:

"Bid the man come in, and drink good mead

Here within our hall;

Though this I fear, that there without

My brother's slayer stands."

"Hvat er þat alfa

né ása sona

né víssa vana?

Hví þú einn of komt

eikinn fúr yfir

ór salkynni at séa?"

"Art thou of the elves

or the offspring of gods,

Or of the wise Wanes?

How camst thou alone

through the leaping flame

Thus to behold our home?"

Skírnir kvað:

"Emk-at ek alfa

né ása sona

né víssa vana;

þó ek einn of komk

eikinn fúr yfir

yður salkynni at séa."

Skirnir spake:

"I am not of the elves,

nor the offspring of gods,

Nor of the wise Wanes;

Though I came alone

through the leaping flame

Thus to behold thy home."

"Epli ellifu

hér hef ek algullin,

þau mun ek þér, Gerðr, gefa,

frið at kaupa,

at þú þér Frey kveðir

óleiðastan lifa."

"Eleven apples,

all of gold,

Here will I give thee, Gerth,

To buy thy troth

that Freyr shall be

Deemed to be dearest to you."

Gerðr kvað:

"Epli ellifu

ek þigg aldregi

at mannskis munum,

né vit Freyr,

meðan okkart fjör lifir,

byggjum bæði saman."

Gerth spake:

"I will not take

at any man's wish

These eleven apples ever;

Nor shall Freyr and I

one dwelling find

So long as we two live."

Skírnir kvað:

"Baug ek þér þá gef,

þann er brenndr var

með ungum Óðins syni;

átta eru jafnhöfðir,

er af drjúpa

ina níundu hverja nótt."

Skirnir spake:

"Then do I bring thee

the ring that was burned

Of old with Othin's son;

From it do eight

of like weight fall

On every ninth night."

Gerðr kvað:

"Baug ek þikk-a-k,

þótt brenndr séi

með ungum Óðins syni;

er-a mér gulls vant

í görðum Gymis,

at deila fé föður."

Gerth spake:

"The ring I wish not,

though burned it was

Of old with Othin's son;

In Gymir's home

is no lack of gold

In the wealth my father wields."

Skírnir kvað:

"Sér þú þenna mæki, mær,

mjóvan, málfáan,

er ek hef í hendi hér?

Höfuð höggva

ek mun þér hálsi af,

nema þú mér sætt segir."

Skirnir spake:

"Seest thou, maiden,

this keen, bright sword

That I hold here in my hand?

Thy head from thy neck

shall I straightway hew,

If thou wilt not do my will."

Gerðr kvað:

"Ánauð þola

ek vil aldregi

at mannskis munum;

þó ek hins get,

ef it Gymir finnizk,

vígs ótrauðir,

at ykkr vega tíði."

Gerth spake:

"For no man's sake

will I ever suffer

To be thus moved by might;

But gladly, methinks,

will Gymir seek

To fight if he finds thee here."

Skírnir kvað:

"Sér þú þenna mæki, mær,

mjóvan, málfáan,

er ek hef í hendi hér?

Fyr þessum eggjum

hnígr sá inn aldni jötunn,

verðr þinn feigr faðir."

Skirnir spake:

"Seest thou, maiden,

this keen, bright sword

That I hold here in my hand?

Before its blade the

old giant bends,

Thy father is doomed to die."

"Tamsvendi ek þik drep,

en ek þik temja mun,

mær, at mínum munum;

þar skaltu ganga,

er þik gumna synir

síðan æva séi."

"I strike thee, maid,

with my magic staff,

To tame thee to work my will;

There shalt thou go

where never again

The sons of men shall see thee."

"Ara þúfu á

skaltu ár sitja

horfa heimi ór,

snugga heljar til;

matr né þér meir leiðr

en manna hveim

innfráni ormr með firum."

"On the eagle's hill

shalt thou ever sit,

And gaze on the gates of Hel;

More loathsome to thee

than the light-hued snake

To men, shall thy meat become."

"At undrsjónum þú verðir,

er þú út kemr;

á þik Hrímnir hari,

á þik hotvetna stari;

víðkunnari þú verðir

en vörðr með goðum,

gapi þú grindum frá."

"Fearful to see,

if thou comest forth,

Hrimnir will stand and stare,

(Men will marvel at thee;)

More famed shalt thou grow

than the watchman of the gods!

Peer forth, then, from thy prison,"

"Tópi ok ópi,

tjösull ok óþoli,

vaxi þér tár með trega;

sezk þú niðr,

en ek mun segja þér

sváran súsbreka

ok tvennan trega:"

"Rage and longing,

fetters and wrath,

Tears and torment are thine;

Where thou sittest down

my doom is on thee

Of heavy heart

And double dole."

"Tramar gneypa

þik skulu gerstan dag

jötna görðum í;

til hrímþursa hallar

þú skalt hverjan dag

kranga kostalaus,

kranga kostavön;

grát at gamni

skaltu í gögn hafa

ok leiða með tárum trega."

"In the giants' home

shall vile things harm thee

Each day with evil deeds;

Grief shalt thou get

instead of gladness,

And sorrow to suffer with tears."

"Með þursi þríhöfðuðum

þú skalt æ nara,

eða verlaus vera;

þitt geð grípi,

þik morn morni;

ver þú sem þistill,

sá er var þrunginn

í önn ofanverða."

"With three-headed giants

thou shalt dwell ever,

Or never know a husband;

(Let longing grip thee,

let wasting waste thee,)

Be like to the thistle

that in the loft

Was cast and there was crushed."

"Til holts ek gekk

ok til hrás viðar,

gambantein at geta,

gambantein ek gat."

"I go to the wood,

and to the wet forest,

To win a magic wand;

*********

*********

I won a magic wand."

"Reiðr er þér Óðinn,

reiðr er þér Ásabragr,

þik skal Freyr fíask,

in firinilla mær,

en þú fengit hefr

gambanreiði goða."

"Othin grows angry,

angered is the best of the gods,

Freyr shall be thy foe,

Most evil maid,

who the magic wrath

Of gods hast got for thyself."

"Heyri jötnar,

heyri hrímþursar,

synir Suttungs,

sjalfir ásliðar,

hvé ek fyrbýð,

hvé ek fyrirbanna

manna glaum mani,

manna nyt mani."

"Give heed, frost-rulers,

hear it, giants.

Sons of Suttung,

And gods, ye too,

How I forbid

and how I ban

The meeting of men with the maid,

(The joy of men with the maid.)"

"Hrímgrímnir heitir þurs,

er þik hafa skal

fyr nágrindr neðan;

þar þér vílmegir

á viðarrótum

geitahland gefi;

æðri drykkju

fá þú aldregi,

mær, af þínum munum,

mær, at mínum munum."

"Hrimgrimnir is he,

the giant who shall have thee

In the depth by the doors of Hel;

To the frost-giants' halls

each day shalt thou fare,

Crawling and craving in vain,

(Crawling and having no hope.)"

"Þurs ríst ek þér

ok þría stafi,

ergi ok æði ok óþola;

svá ek þat af ríst,

sem ek þat á reist,

ef gerask þarfar þess."

"Base wretches there

by the root of the tree

Will hold for thee horns of filth;

A fairer drink

shalt thou never find,

Maid, to meet thy wish,

(Maid, to meet my wish.)"

Gerðr kvað:

"Heill ver þú nú heldr, sveinn,

ok tak við hrímkálki

fullum forns mjaðar;

þó hafðak ek þat ætlat,

at myndak aldregi

unna vaningja vel."

"I write thee a charm

and three runes therewith,

Longing and madness and lust;

But what I have writ

I may yet unwrite

If I find a need therefor."

Skírnir kvað:

"Öendi mín

vil ek öll vita,

áðr ek ríða heim heðan,

nær þú á þingi

munt inum þroska

nenna Njarðar syni."

Gerth spake:

"Find welcome rather,

and with it take

The frost-cup filled with mead;

Though I did not believe

that I should so love

Ever one of the Wanes."

Gerðr kvað:

"Barri heitir,

er vit bæði vitum,

lundr lognfara;

en eft nætr níu

þar mun Njarðar syni

Gerðr unna gamans."

Skirnir spake:

"My tidings all

must I truly learn

Ere homeward hence I ride:

How soon thou wilt

with the mighty son

Of Njorth a meeting make."

"Segðu mér þat, Skírnir,

áðr þú verpir söðli af mar

ok þú stígir feti framar:

Hvat þú árnaðir

í Jötunheima

þíns eða míns munar?"

Then Skirnir rode home. Freyr stood without, and spoke to him, and asked for tidings:

Skírnir kvað:

"Barri heitir,

er vit báðir vitum,

lundr lognfara;

en eft nætr níu

þar mun Njarðar syni

Gerðr unna gamans."

"Tell me, Skimir,

ere thou take off the saddle,

Or farest forward a step:

What hast thou done

in the giants' dwelling

To make glad thee or me?"

Freyr kvað:

"Löng er nótt,

langar ro tvær,

hvé of þreyjak þrjár?

Oft mér mánaðr

minni þótti

en sjá half hýnótt."

Skirnir spoke:

"Barri there is,

which we both know well,

A forest fair and still;

And nine nights hence

to the son of Njorth

Will Gerth there grant delight."