Skjöldr was a son of Odin from whom the Skjöldungs are descended. He had his residence in and ruled the land that is now
called Denmark, which was then called Gotland. Skjöldr's son was called Friðleifr, who ruled the land after him. Friðleif's son was called Frodi.
King Frodi succeeded to the kingdom of Denmark at the time when the emperor Augustus had proclaimed peace over all the world. At that time Christ was born.
And as Frodi was the most powerful king in the North, the peace was attributed to him and called Frodi's peace, wherever the Danish tongue was spoken.
No man injured another, though he might have before him his father's killer or his brother's killer, loose or bound.
At that time there was also no thief or robber, so that a gold ring would lie long unmolested on Jalangr Heath.
When on a visit to king Fiolnir in Sweden, he bought two female slaves, whose names were Fenia and Menia, both of great strength
and stature. At this time two millstones were found in Denmark so large that no one could drag them. These stones possessed the
property of grinding whatever the grinder asked for. The quern, or mill, was named Grotti. Hengikjöfr (Hangjaw) was the name of
the man who gave it to King Frodi. Frodi set the two slaves to work at the quern and commanded them to grind gold, peace, and
prosperity to Frodi; but he allowed them not a moment's rest nor even sleep longer than while the cuckoo was
silent, or a song might be sung.
It is said that they then sang the song called Grottasongr, and ceased not before they had ground an army against Frodi, so that in the night a sea-king, named
Mysing, came, slew Frodi, and carried off great booty. Such was the end of Frodi's peace. Mysing took Grotti, together with
Fenia and Menia, and ordered them to grind salt. He ordered them to grind more. They ground only a little while before the ship sank in Fentland Firth.1
There is ever since a vortex where the sea falls into Grotti's eye; there the sea roars as it (Grotti) roars, and then it was that the sea first
became salt.2
1. Now are come to the king's house
two prescient damsels, Fenia and Menia;
they are with Frodi, Fridleif's son,
the powerful maidens, in thraldom held.
2. To the mill they both were led,
and the grey stone to set a going ordered;
he to both forbade rest and solace,
before he heard the maidens' voice.
3. They made resound the clattering quern,
with their arms swung the light stones.
The maidens he commanded yet more to grind.
4. They sung and swung the whirling stone,
until Frodi's thralls nearly all slept.
Then said Menia
— to the meal'twas come—
5. "Riches we grind for Frodi,
all happiness we grind, wealth in abundance,
in gladness' mill.
On riches may he sit, on down may be sleep,
to joy may he wake:
then 'tis well ground!
[ 1. "in Fentland Firth" has been added for clarity.
2. This prose summary is taken from Skáldskaparmál, as Thorpe notes here referring to Rask's edition, p. 146.]
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Skjöldr hét sonr Óðins, er Skjöldungar er frá komnir. Hann hafði atsetu ok réð löndum, þar sem nú er kölluð Danmörk, en þá var
kallat Gotland. Skjöldr átti þann son, er Friðleifr hét, er löndum réð eftir hann. Sonr Friðleifs hét Fróði. Hann tók konungdóm
eftir föður sinn í þann tíð, er Ágústus keisari lagði frið of heim allan. Þá var Kristr borinn. En fyrir því at Fróði var allra
konunga ríkastr á Norðrlöndum, þá var honum kenndr friðrinn um alla danska tungu, ok kalla Norðmenn þat Fróðafrið. Engi maðr
grandaði öðrum, þótt hann hitti fyrir sér föðurbana eða bróðurbana lausan eða bundinn. Þá var ok engi þjófr eða ránsmaðr, svá at
gullhringr einn lá á Jalangrsheiði lengi.
Fróði konungr sótti heimboð í Svíþjóð til þess konungs, er Fjölnir er nefndr. Þá keypti hann ambáttir tvær, er hétu Fenja ok Menja.
Þær váru miklar ok sterkar.
Í þann tíma fannst í Danmörk kvernsteinar tveir svá miklir, at engi var svá sterkr, at dregit gæti. En sú náttúra fylgði kvernunum, at
þat mólst á kverninni, sem sá mælti fyrir, er mól. Sú kvern hét Grótti. Hengikjöftr er sá nefndr, er Fróða konungi gaf kvernina. Fróði
konungr lét leiða ambáttirnar til kvernarinnar ok bað þær mala gull ok frið ok sælu Fróða. Þá gaf hann þeim eigi lengri hvíld eða svefn
en gaukrinn þagði eða hljóð mátti kveða. Þá er sagt, at þær kvæði ljóð þau, er kallat er Gróttasöngr. Ok áðr létti kvæðinu, mólu þær her
at Fróða, svá at á þeiri nótt kom þar sá sækonungr, er Mýsingr hét, og drap Fróða, tók þar herfang mikit. Þá lagðist Fróðafriðr.
Mýsingr hafði með sér Grótta ok svá Fenju ok Menju ok bað þær mala salt. Hann bað þær mala lengr. Þær mólu litla hríð, áðr niðr sukku skipin,
ok var þar eftir svelgr í hafinu, er særinn fellr í kvernaraugat. Þá varð sær saltr.
1. Nú eru komnar til konungs húsa
framvísar tvær, Fenja ok Menja;
þær ro at Fróða Friðleifssonar
máttkar meyjar at mani hafðar.
2. Þær at lúðri leiddar váru
ok grjóts gréa gangs of beiddu;
hét hann hvárigri hvíld né ynði,
áðr hann heyrði hljóm ambátta.
3. Þær þyt þulu þögnhorfinnar:
"Leggjum lúðra, léttum steinum."
Bað hann enn meyjar, at þær mala skyldu.
4. Sungu ok slungu snúðga-steini,
svá at Fróða man flest sofnaði;
þá kvað þat Menja, var til meldrs komin:
5. "Auð mölum Fróða, mölum alsælan,
mölum fjölð féar á feginslúðri;
siti hann á auði, sofi hann á dúni,
vaki hann at vilja, þá er vel malit.
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