# THRYMSKVITHA (THE LAY OF THRYM)

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 hand | 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.