1.
The Hurler woke,
went wild with rage,
For, suddenly,
he missed his sacred Hammer:
He tore his beard,
tossed his red locks,
Groped about but could grasp nothing.2.
Thus, then did Thor speak:
'Loki, Loki, listen well.
Unmarked by men,
unmarked by gods,
Someone has stolen
my sacred Hammer.'3.
Fast they went
to Freya’s quarters.
Then said Loki, Laufey's Son:
'Freya, will you lend me
your feathered cloak
To fly in search
of the sacred Hammer?'
Freya said:
4.
'I would give it you gladly,
were it gold not feathers,
Part with it now,
were it pure silver.'5.
Then Loki flew
- the feathers whistled -
Out of the door
of the Hall of Gods
On and on
to the Hall of Giants.6.
There, on a howe, Thrym sat,
Lord of the giants,
Braiding gold collars
for his kennel of hounds,
Unteasing the manes
of the mares he loved.
Thrym said:
7.
'How fare the gods?
How fare the elves?
What brings you on this journey
to Gianthome?'
Loki said:
8.
'Ill fare the gods,
ill fare the elves.
Have you taken and hidden
the Hammer of Thunder?'
Thrym said:
9.
'I have taken and hidden
the Hammer of Thunder
Eight miles deep,
way under the ground:
Henceforth no god
shall get it back
Till you fetch me Freya
for my future bride.'10.
Then Loki flew
- the feathers whistled -
Out of the door
of the Hall of Giants
On and on
to the Hall of Gods.
Meeting him there
in the middle court,
Thus then did Thor speak:11.
'Do you come with a message,
not mischief only?
Stand where you are.
Let me hear your tidings.
He who sits
is seldom truthful,
Who stretches at length
a liar always.'
Loki said:
12.
'I come with a message,
not mischief only.
Thrym stole your Hammer
to hide it away.
Henceforth no god
shall get it back
Till we fetch him Freya
for his future bride.'13.
Fast they went
to Freya's quarters.
Then said Loki,
Laufey's Son:
'Busk yourself, Freya,
in a bridal veil.
You must journey with me
to Gianthome.'14.
Freya snorted
with fierce rage,
The hall shook
and shuddered about them,
Broken to bits
was the Brising Necklace:
'In the eyes of the gods
a whore I should seem,
If I journeyed with you
to Gianthome.'15.
The gods hastened
to their Hall of Judgment,
Gathered together,
goddesses with them,
Sat in council
to consider how
To recover the holy
Hammer of Thunder.16.
Heimdal said,
sagest of gods,
Who could see the future
as his fathers did:
'We must busk Thor
in a bridal veil,
Hang about him
the Brising Necklace.17.
Bind to his waist
a bunch of keys,
Hide his legs
in a long dress,
Broad brooches
to his breast pin,
With a neat cap
cover his locks.'18.
Thus, then, did Thor speak,
mighty god:
'With coarse laughs
you will call me a She
If I busk myself
in a bridal veil.'19.
Loki replied,
Laufey's Son:
'Be silent, Thunderer,
say no more.
Without the Hammer
Asgard is lost.
The giants will dwell here,
soon drive us out.'20.
They busked Thor then
in a bridal veil,
Hung about him
the Brising Necklace,
Bound to his waist
a bunch of keys,
Hid his legs
in a long dress,
Broad brooches
to his breast pinned,
With a neat cap
covered his locks.21.
Then said Loki,
Laufey's Son:
'I also shall come
as your handmaid with you,
We will journey together
to Gianthome.'22.
Quickly the goats
were gathered from pasture,
Hurried into harness:
eagerly they ran.
Fire scorched the earth,
the fells cracked,
As Thunderer journeyed
to Gianthome.23.
Thus, then did Thrym speak,
lord of giants:
'Stand up giants,
lay straw on the benches.
They may well
bring me my bride now,
Njörd's Daughter,
from Noatun.24.
In my fields there graze
gold-horned cattle,
All-black oxen,
for my eye's delight.
Much is my treasure,
many my gems
Nothing I lack
save lovely Freya.'25.
Evening came:
ale and food
Were brought to the benches.
The bride quickly
Ate a whole ox
and eight salmon,
The sweet dainties
reserved for the women,
And more than three measures
of mead drank.26.
Thus, then did Thrym speak,
lord of the giants:
'Was ever bride
with appetite so keen,
Ever a bride
who took such big mouthfuls,
When was more mead drunk
by one maid alone?'27.
Loki, the handmaid,
leaning forward,
Found the words
to befuddle the giant:
'She has not eaten
for eight long nights,
So wild her longing
for the wedding day.'28.
Thrym lifted her veil,
leaned to kiss her,
Back he leaped,
the full length of the hall:
'How fierce the look
in Freya’s eyes!
Dangerous the fire
that darts out of them.'29.
Loki, the handmaid,
leaning forward,
Found the words
to befuddle the giant:
'She has had no sleep
for eight long nights,
So wild her longing
for the wedding day.'30.
The luckless sister
of the luckless giant
Dared to beg
for bridal gifts:
'Give me your rings
of red gold,
my favor to win,
My good will,
my grace
and blessing.'31.
Thus, then, did Thrym speak,
lord of the giants:
'To bless the bride
now bring the Hammer,
Lay Mjöllnir
upon the maiden's lap
And wish us joy
with joined hands.'32.
Then in his heart
Thunderer laughed,
The savage one,
when he saw his Hammer.
First Thrym he felled to the ground,
lord of the giants,
Then all his kin
he killed in turn.33.
Laid low
his luckless sister
Who had dared to beg
for bridal gifts:
Instead of gold
she got a blow,
Instead of rings
a rap on the skull.
Thus Thor came
to recover his Hammer.