il for pastime shalt thou have, and tears
and misery.

31. With a three-headed Thurs thou shalt be ever bound, or be
without a mate. Thy mind shall tear thee from morn to morn: as the
thistle thou shalt be which has thrust itself on the house-top.

32. To the wold I have been, and to the humid grove, a magic wand to
get. A magic wand I got.

33. Wroth with thee is Odin, wroth with thee is the AEsir's prince;
Frey shall loathe thee, even ere thou, wicked maid! shalt have felt
the gods' dire vengeance.

34. Hear ye, Jotuns! hear ye, Hrimthursar! sons of Suttung! also ye,
iEsir's friends! how I forbid, how I prohibit man's joy unto the
damsel, man's converse to the damsel.

35. Hrimgrimnir the Thurs is named, that shall possess thee, in the
grating of the dead beneath; there shall wretched thralls, from the
tree's roots, goats' water give thee. Other drink shalt thou, maiden!
never get, either for thy pleasure, or for my pleasure.

36. Thurs[38] I cut for thee, and three letters mere: ergi, and
oedi, and othola. So will I cut them out, as I have cut them, in, if
there need shall be.

_Gerd_.

37. Hail rather to thee, youth! and accept an icy cup, filled with
old mead; although I thought not that I ever should love one of Vanir
race.

_Skirnir_.

38. All my errand will I know, ere I hence ride home. When wilt thou
converse hold with the powerful son of Niord?

_Gerd_.

39. Barri the grove is named, which we both know, the grove of
tranquil paths. Nine nights hence, there to Niord's son Gerd will
grant delight.

Skimir then rode home. Frey was standing without, and spoke to him,
asking tidings:

40. Tell me, Skirnir! ere thou thy steed unsaddlest, and a foot
hence thou goest, what thou hast accomplished in Jotunheim, for my
pleasure or thine?

_Skirnir_.

41. Barri the grove is named, which we both know, the grove of
tranquil paths. Nine nights hence, there to Niord's son Gerd will
grant delight.

_Frey_.

42. Long is one night, yet longer two will be; how shall I three
endure. Often a month to me less has seemed than half a night of
longing.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 37: Hiemdall.]

[Footnote 38: Thurs, etc., the names of magical runes.]

THE LAY OF RIG.

In ancient Sagas it is related that one of the AEsir named Heimdall,
being on a journey to a certain sea-shore, came to a village, where he
called himself Rig. In accordance with this Saga is the following:

1. In ancient days, they