|
Hymiskviða The Lay of Hymir From Norse Poems Translated by Paul B. Taylor & W.H. Auden Back to Source Texts Index |
|
1 Long ago the gods had game in abundance, Ate their fill, feasting together, Scored runes and relished blood. In Aegir's hall there was great plenty.
In the hall sat Fell-Dweller, happy as a child, Much like the kin of Miskurblindi, Till Ygg's son mockingly met his eye: 'Slave, at our feast you shall serve for ever.'
The taunts of the hero troubled the giant, His thoughts were turned by them to revenge: 'Let Sif's husband bring in the cauldron That I may brew ale for all the gods.'
But none of the gods, none of the powers, Had such a cauldron; they could not get one. Until Tyr, the trusty warrior, Counseled Thunderer with these words.
'Away to the east of Elivagur At the sky's end wise Hymir lives, My savage father: he possesses a kettle, A magic cauldron, miles deep.'
Then said Thunderer: 'Do you think we can get it?' 'We can,' said Tyr, 'if cunning enough.'
Long they drove, a day's journey From Asgard, till to Egil they came: They left their goats to graze with him, And entered the hall where Hymir lived.
Grandson met grandmother: grim she looked, A nine-hundred-headed monster: But white-browed, golden, the wife of Hymir Brought cups of beer to her son.
'Though you be strong and stout-hearted, I had better hide you under the cauldron: Ungenerous with guests is my giant husband, And very often ill-tempered.'
Late to his home came the evil-doer, Back from the chase; the brutal Hymir Entered the hall; the icicles clinked On his chin-forest as the churl came in.
'Now greet, Hymir, with glad mood Your son who tonight sits in the hall: He whom we missed has made his way back. The comrade with him is called Veur, Hrod's foe and a friend to man. Under the gable of the hall they sit, Protecting themselves with a tall pillar.'
The pillar gave at the glance of the giant, The main beam was broken in pieces, Eight cauldrons, hard-hammered, fell One by one from the wood shelf: They stepped out, but the old giant Held his foe with a fierce gaze.
Hymir was uneasy, beholding before him The Peril of Giants pacing his floor: Then at his orders three bulls Were led away at once to be boiled.
He made each of them a head shorter, They were carried thence to the cooking-fire. Before sleeping Sif's husband Ate two oxen all by himself.
Ample indeed Hrungnir's friend Thought the repast of Thunderer had been: 'If we three are to eat an evening meal Of game-meat, we must go hunting.'
Veur said he was ready to row on the waves If the villainous giant would provide bait. 'Take your pick of my herd if it pleases you, Bane of Fell Dwellers, for the bait you need.
There, Veur, I think you will find Ox-turds easy to get.' Quickly the warrior went to the field Where, all-black, an ox was grazing.
The Bane of Giants broke off Its two horns from the high place. 'Much worse do I deem your deeds now, Keel Wielder, than when you were sitting.'
The Goat Lord bade the Brother of Apes To steer the ship a stretch further, But the giant was weary, weak already, And little eager for a longer row.
Fierce Hymir on his fish hook Drew up two whales at one cast: Aft in the stern, Odin's son, Veur, with patience prepared his line.
With an ox-head his angle he baited, The slayer of serpents, the savior of men: From his hook gaped the gods' foe, Who under the seas encircles the world.
Doughty Thor drew boldly The hideous serpent up on board, Struck with his hammer the high hair-mountain Of the writhing Coiler, Kin of the Wolf.
The monster roared, the mountains echoed, Middle Earth was mightily shaken Then the serpent-fish sank back.
Rueful was the giant as they rowed back, Far too angry and afraid to speak, As he labored to catch a lee wind.
'Now you will have to do half the work, If I am to get home with my whales And our sea-buck bring to harbor.'
Sif's husband seized the stern Of the sea-stallion, swung it up With its bilge water, oars and bailing-can, And bore the giant's brim-swine home Past the boiling springs and the birch-scrub.
Hymir, though, would not own he was beaten, But continued still to contend with Thor: 'Stoutly you row, but strong you are not Unless you can break this beaker of mine.
Thunderer took it and threw it quickly At a stone column that cracked in pieces And fell down, but the drinking cup, When they brought it to Hymir, was undamaged.
Then whispered the beautiful wife of the giant A secret known to herself alone: 'Harder than the cup is Hymir's skull; If you want to smash it, smite him there.'
The Lord of Goats got to his feet, Exerted every ounce of his strength: Whole remained Hymir's helmet-stump, But the wine cup was cracked in half.
Seeing the shattered shards on his knees, The giant lamented: 'Many good things Are gone from me, I know I may never say From now on - "Ale, be brewed!"
It is yet to be proved that you can bear Out of this hall my ale-kettle.' Tyr tried twice to budge it, But still the cauldron stood where it was.
Sif's husband seized the rim, His feet broke through the floor of the hall: He lifted to his head the huge cauldron; The pot-rings clashed and clattered at his heels.
They had not gone far before he looked Round behind him: Odin's son Saw, then, coming from caves in the east, Hymir with a many-headed throng.
He lifted the kettle, loosed it from his shoulders, And swung Mjöllnir: he slew all Those wilderness monsters with his murderous hammer.
They had not gone far before he observed That Thunderer's goat had gone lame: The Puller on the Harness was half dead. That was malicious Loki's doing.
But you have all heard, all who are skilled In the lore of the gods, what later happened, How the waste-dweller was rewarded in return: Both his sons were the price he paid for that.
The Strong One came to the Council of gods, Entered with the cauldron Hymir had possessed, And all the gods from now on could drink Ale at Aegir's every winter. ___________________________________________ From Norse Poems, Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor Faber and Faber Ltd., ISBN 0-571-13028-3
5
It is not known just why Tyr, the son of Odin, here refers to Hymir
as his father.
Back to Top Return to Source Texts Index Woden's Harrow Home  |