'Þrymskviða'

1. Wild was Vingthor | when he awoke, And when his mighty | hammer he missed; He shook his beard, | his hair was bristling, As the son of Jorth | about him sought.

2. Hear now the speech | that first he spake: "Harken, Loki, | and heed my words, Nowhere on earth | is it known to man, Nor in heaven above: | our hammer is stolen."

3. To the dwelling fair | of Freyja went they, Hear now the speech | that first he spake: "Wilt thou, Freyja, | thy feather-dress lend me, That so my hammer | I may seek?"
Freyja spake:

4. "Thine should it be | though of silver bright, And I would give it | though 'twere of gold." Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him | the home of the gods, And reached at last | the realm of the giants.

5. Thrym sat on a mound, | the giants' master, Leashes of gold | he laid for his dogs, And stroked and smoothed | the manes of his steeds.
Thrym spake:

6. "How fare the gods, | how fare the elves? Why comst thou alone | to the giants' land?"
Loki spake:
"Ill fare the gods, | ill fare the elves! Hast thou hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer?"
Thrym spake:

7. "I have hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer, Eight miles down | deep in the earth; And back again | shall no man bring it If Freyja I win not | to be my wife."

8. Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him | the home of the giants, And reached at last | the realm of the gods. There in the courtyard | Thor he met: Hear now the speech | that first he spake:

9. "Hast thou found tidings | as well as trouble? Thy news in the air | shalt thou utter now; Oft doth the sitter | his story forget, And lies he speaks | who lays himself down."
Loki spake:

10. "Trouble I have, | and tidings as well: Thrym, king of the giants, | keeps thy hammer, And back again | shall no man bring it If Freyja he wins not | to be his wife."

11. Freyja the fair | then went they to find Hear now the speech | that first he spake: "Bind on, Freyja, | the bridal veil, For we two must haste | to the giants' home."

12. Wrathful was Freyja, | and fiercely she snorted, And the dwelling great | of the gods was shaken, And burst was the mighty | Brisings' necklace: "Most lustful indeed | should I look to all If I journeyed with thee | to the giants' home."

13. Then were the gods | together met, And the goddesses came | and council held, And the far-famed ones | a plan would find, How they might Hlorrithi's | hammer win.

14. Then Heimdall spake, | whitest of the gods, Like the Wanes he knew | the future well: "Bind we on Thor | the bridal veil, Let him bear the mighty | Brisings' necklace;

15. "Keys around him | let there rattle, And down to his knees | hang woman's dress; With gems full broad | upon his breast, And a pretty cap | to crown his head."

16. Then Thor the mighty | his answer made: "Me would the gods | unmanly call If I let bind | the bridal veil."

17. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey: "Be silent, Thor, | and speak not thus; Else will the giants | in Asgarth dwell If thy hammer is brought not | home to thee."

18. Then bound they on Thor | the bridal veil, And next the mighty | Brisings' necklace.

19. Keys around him | let they rattle, And down to his knees | hung woman's dress; With gems full broad | upon his breast, And a pretty cap | to crown his head.

20. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey: "As thy maid-servant thither | I go with thee; We two shall haste | to the giants' home."

21. Then home the goats | to the hall were driven, They wrenched at the halters, | swift were they to run; The mountains burst, | earth burned with fire, And Othin's son | sought Jotunheim.

22. Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader: "Bestir ye, giants, | put straw on the benches; Now Freyja they bring | to be my bride, The daughter of Njorth | out of Noatun.

23. "Gold-horned cattle | go to my stables, Jet-black oxen, | the giant's joy; Many my gems, | and many my jewels, Freyja alone | did I lack, methinks."

24. Early it was | to evening come, And forth was borne | the beer for the giants; Thor alone ate an ox, | and eight salmon, All the dainties as well | that were set for the women; And drank Sif's mate | three tuns of mead.

25. Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader: "Who ever saw bride | more keenly bite? I ne'er saw bride | with a broader bite, Nor a maiden who drank | more mead than this!"

26. Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise, So well she answered | the giant's words: "From food has Freyja | eight nights fasted, So hot was her longing | for Jotunheim."

27. Thrym looked 'neath the veil, | for he longed to kiss, But back he leaped | the length of the hall: "Why are so fearful | the eyes of Freyja? Fire, methinks, | from her eyes burns forth."

28. Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise, So well she answered | the giant's words: "No sleep has Freyja | for eight nights found, So hot was her longing | for Jotunheim."

29. Soon came the giant's | luckless sister, Who feared not to ask | the bridal fee: "From thy hands the rings | of red gold take, If thou wouldst win | my willing love, (My willing love | and welcome glad.)"

30: Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader: "Bring in the hammer | to hallow the bride; On the maiden's knees | let Mjollnir lie, That us both the band | of Vor may bless."

31. The heart in the breast | of Hlorrithi laughed When the hard-souled one | his hammer beheld; First Thrym, the king | of the giants, he killed, Then all the folk | of the giants he felled.

32. The giant's sister | old he slew, She who had begged | the bridal fee; A stroke she got | in the shilling's stead, And for many rings | the might of the hammer.

33. And so his hammer | got Othin's son.