Þrymskviða
1. 1.
Vreiðr var þá Vingþórr Enraged was Ving-Thor(1) then
er hann vaknaði when he awoke
ok síns hamars and his hammer
of saknaði, found missing,
skegg nam at hrista, [he] started to shake his beard,
skör nam at dýja, [he] started to toss his hair,
réð Jarðar burr Jǫrð's son began
um at þreifask. to grope around him.
2. 2.
Ok hann þat orða And he this word
alls fyrst of kvað: said as the first one:
"Heyrðu nú, Loki, "Listen now, Loki,
hvat ek nú mæli to what I say now,
er eigi veit which does not know(2)
jarðar hvergi anywhere on earth
né upphimins: or in heaven:
áss er stolinn hamri!" from the Áss(3) [his] hammer has been
stolen!"
3. 3.
Gengu þeir fagra They went to beautiful
Freyju túna, Freyja's dwelling,
ok hann þat orða and he this word
alls fyrst of kvað: said as the first one:
"Muntu mér, Freyja, "Will you, Freyja,
fjaðrhams léa, lend me [your] feather-cloak(4),
ef ek minn hamar in case I my hammer
mættak hitta?". can find?"
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
4. 4.
"Þó munda ek gefa þér "Still I would give it to you
þótt ór gulli væri, even if it were of gold,
ok þó selja, and still grant [it],
at væri ór silfri." if it were of silver."
5. 5.
Fló þá Loki, Then Loki flew
- fjaðrhamr dunði, - - the feather-cloak resounded -
unz fyr útan kom until [he] arrived on the outside of
ása garða Asgard
ok fyr innan kom and arrived on the inside of
jötna heima. Jǫtunheim.
6. 6.
Þrymr sat á haugi, Þrymr sat on a mound,
þursa dróttinn, lord of thurses,(5)
greyjum sínum for his greyhounds
gullbönd sneri [he] was twisting golden leashes
ok mörum sínum and his steeds'
mön jafnaði. manes he was evening.
Þrymr kvað: Þrymr said:
7. 7.
"Hvat er með ásum? "How is it with the Æsir?
Hvat er með alfum? How is it with the Álfar?
Hví ertu einn kominn Why have you come alone
í Jötunheima?" into Jǫtunheim?"
Loki kvað: Loki said:
"Illt er með ásum, "Bad it is with the Æsir,
illt er með alfum; bad it is with the Álfar;
hefr þú Hlórriða have you hidden
hamar of folginn?" Hlórriði's hammer?"
Þrymr kvað: Þrymr said:
8. 8.
"Ek hef Hlórriða "I have hidden
hamar of folginn Hlórriði's hammer
átta röstum eight leagues(6)
fyr jörð neðan; under the earth;
hann engi maðr no person [will]
aftr of heimtir, bring it back,
nema færi mér unless [he] should bring me
Freyju at kvæn." Freyja as wife."
9. 9.
Fló þá Loki, Then Loki flew,
- fjaðrhamr dunði, - - the feather-cloak resounded -
unz fyr útan kom until [he] arrived on the outside of
jötna heima Jǫtunheim
ok fyr innan kom and arrived on the inside of
ása garða. Asgard.
Mætti hann Þór He met Thor
miðra garða, in the middle of the courts,
ok þat hann orða and he this word
alls fyrst of kvað: said as the first one:
10. 10.
"Hefr þú erendi "Have you news
sem erfiði? to match your labour?
Segðu á lofti Speak from the air
löng tíðendi, the tidings at length,
oft sitjanda in seated people often
sögur of fallask the stories stumble
ok liggjandi and people lying down
lygi of bellir." deal in lies."
Loki kvað: Loki said:
11. 11.
"Hef ek erfiði "I have labour
ok erendi; and news;
Þrymr hefr þinn hamar, Þrymr has your hammer,
þursa dróttinn; lord of thurses,
hann engi maðr no person [will]
aftr of heimtir, bring it back,
nema hánum færi unless [he] should bring him
Freyju at kván." Freyja as wife."
12. 12.
Ganga þeir fagra They went to find
Freyju at hitta, fair Freyja,
ok hann þat orða and he this word
alls fyrst of kvað: said as the first one:
"Bittu þik, Freyja, "Freyja, wrap(7) yourself
brúðar líni; in bride's linen;
vit skulum aka tvau we two must drive
í Jötunheima." to Jǫtunheim."
13. 13.
Reið varð þá Freyja Enraged(8) was Freyja then
ok fnasaði, and snorted,
allr ása salr all the hall of the Æsir
undir bifðisk, shook underfoot,
stökk þat it mikla there sprang apart the great
men Brísinga: necklace of the Brísings:
"Mik veiztu verða "You [would] know me
vergjarnasta, the most man-crazy of women,
ef ek ek með þér if I drove with you
í Jötunheima." to Jǫtunheim."
14. 14.
Senn váru æsir At once the Æsir were
allir á þingi all at Thing
ok ásynjur and the goddesses
allar á máli, all in conversation,
ok um þat réðu and this they were considering,
ríkir tívar(9) the mighty gods,
hvé þeir Hlórriða how they could
hamar of sætti. regain the hammer.
15. 15.
Þá kvað þat Heimdallr, Then said this Heimdallr,
hvítastr ása, the whitest of the Æsir,
vissi hann vel fram he had good foresight
sem vanir aðrir: like the other Vanir:
"Bindum vér Þór þá "Let us wrap Thor in the
brúðar líni, bride's linen,
hafi hann it mikla let him have the great
men Brísinga. necklace of the Brísings.
16. 16.
Látum und hánum Let the keys dangle
hrynja lukla under him(10)
ok kvenváðir and women's clothes
um kné falla, fall around his knees,
en á brjósti and on his breast
breiða steina broad stones
ok hagliga and deftly
um höfuð typpum." wind [the linen] around his head."
17. 17.
Þá kvað þat Þór, Then Thor said this,
þrúðugr áss: the doughty god:
"Mik munu æsir "The Æsir will
argan kalla, call me perverted,(11)
ef ek bindask læt if I let myself be wrapped
brúðar líni!" in bride's linen!"
18. 18.
Þá kvað þat Loki Then Loki,
Laufeyjar sonr: Laufey's son, said this:
"Þegi þú, Þórr, "Thor, stop talking
þeira orða. these words.
Þegar munu jötnar Jǫtuns will soon
Ásgarð búa, be living in Asgard,
nema þú þinn hamar unless you get back
þér of heimtir." your hammer."
19. 19.
Bundu þeir Þór þá Then they wrapped Thor
brúðar líni in bridal linen
ok inu mikla and the great
meni Brísinga, necklace of the Brísings,
létu und hánum let the keys dangle
hrynja lukla under him
ok kvenváðir and women's clothes
um kné falla, fall around his knees,
en á brjósti and on his breast
breiða steina, broad stones,
ok hagliga and deftly
um höfuð typpðu. wound [the linen] around his head.
20. 20.
Þá kvað Loki Then said Loki,
Laufeyjar sonr: Laufey's son:
"Mun ek ok með þér "I will be with you
ambótt vera, [as] a handmaiden,
vit skulum aka tvær we two must drive
í Jötunheima." to Jǫtunheim."
21. 21.
Senn váru hafrar At once the goats were
heim of reknir, driven home,
skyndir at sköklum, hurried into the traces,
skyldu vel renna; they must run well;
björg brotnuðu, hills split,
brann jörð loga, the earth burnt with fire,
ók Óðins sonr Óðin's son drove
í Jötunheima. to Jǫtunheim.
22. 22.
Þá kvað þat Þrymr, Then Þrymr, lord of thurses,
þursa dróttinn: said this:
"Standið upp, jötnar, "Stand up, jǫtuns,
ok stráið bekki, and strew the benches,
nú færa mér now they are bringing(12) me
Freyju at kván Freyja as wife,
Njarðar dóttur the daughter of Njǫrð
ór Nóatúnum. from Nóatún.
23. 23.
Ganga hér at garði There are on the hoof here in the courts
gullhyrnðar kýr, gold-horned cows,
öxn alsvartir all-black oxen,
jötni at gamni; a pleasure to the jǫtunn;
fjölð á ek meiðma, many treasures I have,
fjölð á ek menja, many trinkets I have,
einnar mér Freyju Freyja alone
ávant þykkir." I lack, I think."
24. 24.
Var þar at kveldi There in the evening
of komit snemma the coming together was early,(13)
ok fyr jötna and to the jǫtuns
öl fram borit; ale was brought out;
einn át oxa, one ox [he] ate,
átta laxa, eight salmon,
krásir allar, all the delicacies
þær er konur skyldu, that the women were supposed to [have],
drakk Sifjar verr [and] Sif's husband drank
sáld þrjú mjaðar. three measures(14) of mead.
25. 25.
Þá kvat(15) þat Þrymr, Then Þrymr, lord of thurses,
þursa dróttinn: said this:
"Hvar sáttu brúðir "Did you ever see a bride
bíta hvassara? chomp [so] keenly?(16)
Sák-a ek brúðir I have never seen a bride
bíta breiðara, chomp [so] widely,
né inn meira mjöð nor a lass drink up
mey of drekka." [so] much mead."
26. 26.
Sat in alsnotra There sat the all-savvy
ambótt fyrir, handmaiden,
er orð of fann who came up with words
við jötuns máli: in response to the jǫtun's speech:
"Át vætr Freyja "Freyja ate not at all
átta nóttum, for eight nights,
svá var hon óðfús so eager she was [to come]
í Jötunheima." to Jǫtunheim."
27. 27.
Laut und línu, [Þrymr] stooped under the linen,
lysti at kyssa, wiashing to kiss,
en hann útan stökk but he started back
endlangan sal: the length of the hall:
"Hví eru öndótt "Why are Freyja's eyes
augu Freyju? [so] piercing?(17)
Þykki mér ór augum It seems to me from her eyes
eldr of brenna." a fire burns."
28. 28.
Sat in alsnotra There sat the all-savvy
ambótt fyrir, handmaiden,
er orð of fann who came up with words
við jötuns máli: in response to the jǫtun's speech:
"Svaf vætr Freyja "Freyja slept not at all
átta nóttum, for eight nights,
svá var hon óðfús so eager she was [to come]
í Jötunheima." to Jǫtunheim."
29. 29.
Inn kom in arma In came the wretched(18)
jötna systir, sister of jǫtuns,
hin er brúðféar she who dared
biðja þorði: ask for a bride-fee:
"Láttu þér af höndum "Take off your hands
hringa rauða, the red rings,
ef þú öðlask vill if you want to win
ástir mínar, my love,
ástir mínar, my love,
alla hylli." all [my] favour."
30. 30.
Þá kvað þat Þrymr, Then Þrymr, lord of thurses,
þursa dróttinn: said this:
"Berið inn hamar "Bring in the hammer
brúði at vígja, to hallow the bride,
lekkið Mjöllni lay Mjǫllnir
í meyjar kné, on the lass's knee,
vígið okkr saman hallow us together
Várar hendi." by the hand of Vár."
31. 31.
Hló Hlórriða Hlórriði's heart(19)
hugr í brjósti, laughed in his breast,
er harðhugaðr as, stern of spirit,
hamar of þekkði; he spied the hammer;
Þrym drap hann fyrstan, Þrymr he struck dead first,
þursa dróttin, lord of thurses,
ok ætt jötuns and the clan of jǫtuns
alla lamði. all he maimed.
32. 32.
Drap hann ina öldnu He struck dead the old
jötna systur, sister of jǫtuns,
hin er brúðféar she who had begged
of beðit hafði; a bride-fee;
hon skell of hlaut she got a smashing
fyr skillinga, instead of shillings,
en högg hamars and strokes of the hammer
fyr hringa fjölð. instead of rings aplenty.
Svá kom Óðins sonr Thus did Óðin's son
endr at hamri. get back his hammer.
Notes
1. Vingþórr: epithet of Thor of uncertain meaning.
2. Either this is to be taken as a passive, "is not known", or Guðbrandur Vigfússon's emendation to engi, "no one knows", is needed.
3. Áss: singular of Æsir, most often used of Thor
4. A hamr is properly either the flayed-off skin of an animal or the shape a shape-shifter takes on. In the Prose Edda, when Loki borrows it from Freyja to rescue Iðunn, it is specified to be a valshamr, a falcon cloak or form.
5. Giants. The distinction between a thurs and a jǫtunn is not very clear, although modern Icelanders characterise the thurs as stupid, the jötunn as strong and the risi as big: "Hár sem risi, sterkr sem jötunn, heimskr sem þurs".
6. A rǫst is properly a stage in a journey, between two rest breaks.
7. The verb here and in verse 15 is binda, "bind"; there may be a pun with tying up, trussing.
8. The same word as in the first line, with the normal spelling, reiðr, rather than the older alliterative variant, vreiðr.
9. Tívar is a word for the gods that is etymologically the plural of Týr's name.
10. i.e., from his belt; the bunch of keys was the mark of the lady of a house.
11. Argr is a strongly pejorative word for "effeminate". I used "degenerate" in rendering it and its variations in "Lokasenna".
12. Emended; Codex Regius has fœrið, "bring me".
13. i.e, the party gathered in early evening
14. Sáld is etymologically a sieve.
15. i.e. kvað, as in verse 30; the manuscript uses many abbreviations.
16. with such sharp teeth.
17. or "fiery"; ǫndótt literally, "staring in the face".
18. In arma, "the wretched, pathetic", should probably be amended to in aldna, "the old", to match verse 32, as suggested by Bugge.
19. Hugr is literally mind, mood, spirit.