Forgotten Ground Regained
The Lay of Thrym
1 Wielder Thor Awoke angry missed his hammer mighty thunderer, ruffled his mane and red whiskers, son of Earth took to searching about.
The Tale of Thrym is from the Poetic Edda. The crafty giant lord, Thrym, slyly steals Thor's hammer. Now Thor has to get it back ... even if he has to dress in drag to get into Thrym's stronghold and his hands back on his hammer.
2 These words uttered Thor first speaking: 'Hark you, Loki, hear what I say, nowhere to see neither on Earth nor in high heaven; hammer is stolen!
3. Off to fair-faced Freya's palace, these words uttered Thor first speaking: 'Would fetch, Freya, your feather pelt to help me find my hammer, stolen!'
Freya spoke:
4. 'Thee would I give it though it were gold or either silver I would give it.'
5. Off flew Loki - feather pelt thundered - out and away from Asgard's ramparts, journeyed into giants' domain.
Thrym said:
7. 'How fare Aesir, how fare elves? Why have you journeyed to giants' domain?
Loki said:
'Ill fare Aesir, elves are ill; hammer missing, have you hid it?
Thrym said:
8 'Hammer, tell Thor, hidden have I eight rasts deep under dark earth; under it stays unless one bring me first the fair-faced Frey as bride.'
9 Off flew Loki - feather pelt thundered - journeyed out from giants' domain in again over Asgard's ramparts. Mid-burg waiting met him there Thor, these words he uttered then first speaking:
10 'Message have you to match your toil? Tell us aloft your tidings' burden; seated messengers say more than truth, lying down messengers lie every word.'
Loki said:
11 'Toil have I had and tale worth telling: your hammer Thrym holds, high chief giant; under earth stays unless one bring him first the fair-faced Freya as bride.'
12 Forth to fair-faced Freya, greet her; these words uttered Thor first speaking: 'Bind you, Freya in bridal linen, journey we two to giants' domain.'
13 Angry Freya only snorted; Aesir trembled all together; broke she Brisings' brilliant necklace: 'Man-eager would you make me appear, journey with you to giants' domain!'
14 Aesir every one to meeting, gods and goddesses great ones taking weighty counsel, worry together, Thor, his hammer how recover?
15 Word from Heimdal whitest of gods, second-sighted seer, like the Vanir: 'Bind on Thor's brow bridal linen! knot great Brisings' necklace on him.'
16 Household key-chain hang from his belt, in queen-clothing clad to his shins, breast-adorning brooch upon him, finest headgear to finish off!
17 Then shouted Thor, thunder-voiced god: Arrant quean-man Aesir will call me if I let bind bride-linen on me!
18 Loud spoke Loki Laufey's son, 'Think again, Thor, thrust down your words! Enter will giants Asgard's ramparts hither, unless home hammer is fetched.'
19 Bound then was Thor with bridal linen, knotted great Brisings' necklace on him, household key-chain hung from his belt, clad to his shins in queen-clothing, breast-adorning brooch upon him, finest headgear to finish off.
20 'Listen,' said Loki Laufey's son, 'Maidservant must I make me with you, journey together to giants' domain!'
21 Goats out grazing, grooms fetch them in, harnessed, hitched up haul Thor's wagon. Broke mountain tops, blazed over fields, journeyed Odin's son into giants' domain.
22 Charged his men, Thrym, chief of giants: 'Stand up, mighty ones, strew the benches! Forth comes fair-faced Freya, my queen, Njord of Noatun's noble daughter.
23 Gold-horn cattle graze my pastures, black-coated oxen brighten my days; jewels, treasures jammed in my boxes, lack I only the lovely Freya.
24 On to evening, early came guests, beakers of ale borne in for giants. Ate one whole ox and eight salmon, finished off dainties furnished for ladies, gulped Sif's husband three gallons of mead.
25 Jaw fell of Thrym, giants' chieftain: 'Ever did bride eat more keenly? Bride have I not seen bite more hugely nor maid empty mead horns as she!'
26 Sharp-wit servant sat close at hand, able-worded to answer giant: 'Fair-faced Freya fasted eight days, journey-eager for giants' domain.'
27 Lifted linen, looked for a kiss, blinked, rebounded back through the hall: 'Fearsome, flaming are Freya's eyes; always burn they so awesome bright?'
28 Sharp-wit servant sat close at hand, able-worded to answer giant: 'Freya, wakeful, fair one, eight nights, journey-eager for giants' domain.'
29 In then comes Thrym's ugly sister, boldly bride-gift bade them give her: 'Reach me red-gold rings from your arms, give for my gracious good will and love: love and good will look both for gifts.'
30 Charged his men, Thrym, chief of giants: 'Bring in hammer bride to hallow, lay in her lap lordly Mjollnir, vow we together Var to witness.'
31 Bosom laughter bellowed from Thor, heart of iron hammer brandished. First he felled Thrym foremost giant, all his kin then in order laid.
32 Slew the sister, sullen old maid, bride gift gave her begged at table, stroke on the head instead of coin, blow of hammer for bounty of rings. Home came Odin's son's hammer again.
Copyright © George Johnson, 1990. Originally published in Endeared by Dark: Reprinted by permission of the author.
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