Lokasenna / Loki's Wrangling
本页收录 Henry Adams Bellows 1923 年英译本。Bellows 译本已进入公有领域；本站保留其诗篇导言、英译正文和注释，不收现代中译或现代校勘文本。
Bellows 1923 英译
LOKI’S WRANGLING
Bellows Introductory Note
The Lokasenna is found only in Regius, where it follows the
Hymiskvitha; Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a
single stanza.
The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection, and
seems to have been preserved in exceptionally good condition. The
exchange or contest of insults was dear to the Norse heart, and the
Lokasenna consists chiefly of Loki’s taunts to the assembled gods and
goddesses, and their largely ineffectual attempts to talk back to him.
The author was evidently well versed in mythological lore, and the poem
is full of references to incidents not elsewhere recorded. As to its
date and origin there is the usual dispute, but the latter part of the
tenth century and Iceland seem the best guesses.
The prose notes are long and of unusual interest. The introductory one
links the poem closely to the Hymiskvitha, much as the Reginsmol,
Fafnismol and Sigrdrifumol are linked together; the others fill in the
narrative gaps in the dialogue—very like stage directions,—and provide
a conclusion by relating Loki’s punishment, which, presumably, is here
connected with the wrong incident. It is likely that often when the
poem was recited during the two centuries or so before it was committed
to writing, the speaker inserted some such explanatory comments, and
the compiler of the collection followed this example by adding such
explanations as he thought necessary. The Lokasenna is certainly much
older than the Hymiskvitha, the connection between them being purely
one of subject-matter; and the twelfth-century compiler evidently knew
a good deal less about mythology than the author whose work he was
annotating.
Ægir, who was also called Gymir, had prepared ale for the gods, after
he had got the mighty kettle, as now has been told. To this feast came
Othin and Frigg, his wife. Thor came not, as he was on a journey in the
East. Sif, Thor’s wife, was there, and Bragi with Ithun, his wife. Tyr,
who had but one hand, was there; the wolf Fenrir had bitten off his
other hand when they had bound him. There were Njorth and Skathi his
wife, Freyr and Freyja, and Vithar, the son of Othin. Loki was there,
and Freyr’s servants Byggvir and Beyla. Many were there of the gods and
elves.
Ægir had two serving-men, Fimafeng and Eldir. Glittering gold they had
in place of firelight; the ale came in of itself; and great was the
peace. The guests praised much the ability of Ægir’s serving-men. Loki
might not endure that, and he slew Fimafeng. Then the gods shook their
shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest, and
thereafter set to drinking again. Loki turned back, and outside he met
Eldir. Loki spoke to him:
1. “Speak now, Eldir, | for not one step
Farther shalt thou fare;
What ale-talk here | do they have within,
The sons of the glorious gods?”
Eldir spake:
2. “Of their weapons they talk, | and their might in war,
The sons of the glorious gods;
From the gods and elves | who are gathered here
No friend in words shalt thou find.”
Loki spake:
3. “In shall I go | into Ægir’s hall,
For the feast I fain would see;
Bale and hatred | I bring to the gods,
And their mead with venom I mix.”
Eldir spake:
4. “If in thou goest | to Ægir’s hall,
And fain the feast wouldst see,
And with slander and spite | wouldst sprinkle the gods,
Think well lest they wipe it on thee.”
Loki spake:
5. “Bethink thee, Eldir, | if thou and I
Shall strive with spiteful speech;
Richer I grow | in ready words
If thou speakest too much to me.”
Then Loki went into the hall, but when they who were there saw who had
entered, they were all silent.
Loki spake:
6. “Thirsty I come | into this thine hall,
I, Lopt, from a journey long,
To ask of the gods | that one should give
Fair mead for a drink to me.
7. “Why sit ye silent, | swollen with pride,
Ye gods, and no answer give?
At your feast a place | and a seat prepare me,
Or bid me forth to fare.”
Bragi spake:
8. “A place and a seat | will the gods prepare
No more in their midst for thee;
For the gods know well | what men they wish
To find at their mighty feasts.”
Loki spake:
9. “Remember, Othin, | in olden days
That we both our blood have mixed;
Then didst thou promise | no ale to pour,
Unless it were brought for us both.”
Othin spake:
10. “Stand forth then, Vithar, | and let the wolf’s father
Find a seat at our feast;
Lest evil should Loki | speak aloud
Here within Ægir’s hall.”
Then Vithar arose and poured drink for Loki; but before he drank he
spoke to the gods:
11. “Hail to you, gods! | ye goddesses, hail!
Hail to the holy throng!
Save for the god | who yonder sits,
Bragi there on the bench.”
Bragi spake:
12. “A horse and a sword | from my hoard will I give,
And a ring gives Bragi to boot,
That hatred thou makst not | among the gods;
So rouse not the great ones to wrath.”
Loki spake:
13. “In horses and rings | thou shalt never be rich,
Bragi, but both shalt thou lack;
Of the gods and elves | here together met
Least brave in battle art thou,
(And shyest thou art of the shot.)”
Bragi spake:
14. “Now were I without | as I am within,
And here in Ægir’s hall,
Thine head would I bear | in mine hands away,
And pay thee the price of thy lies.”
Loki spake:
15. “In thy seat art thou bold, | not so are thy deeds,
Bragi, adorner of benches!
Go out and fight | if angered thou feelest,
No hero such forethought has.”
Ithun spake:
16. “Well, prithee, Bragi, | his kinship weigh,
Since chosen as wish-son he was;
And speak not to Loki | such words of spite
Here within Ægir’s hall.”
Loki spake:
17. “Be silent, Ithun! | thou art, I say,
Of women most lustful in love,
Since thou thy washed-bright | arms didst wind
About thy brother’s slayer.”
Ithun spake:
18. “To Loki I speak not | with spiteful words
Here within Ægir’s hall;
And Bragi I calm, | who is hot with beer,
For I wish not that fierce they should fight.”
Gefjun spake:
19. “Why, ye gods twain, | with bitter tongues
Raise hate among us here?
Loki is famed | for his mockery foul,
And the dwellers in heaven he hates.”
Loki spake:
20. “Be silent, Gefjun! | for now shall I say
Who led thee to evil life;
The boy so fair | gave a necklace bright,
And about him thy leg was laid.”
Othin spake:
21. “Mad art thou, Loki, | and little of wit,
The wrath of Gefjun to rouse;
For the fate that is set | for all she sees,
Even as I, methinks.”
Loki spake:
22. “Be silent, Othin! | not justly thou settest
The fate of the fight among men;
Oft gavst thou to him | who deserved not the gift,
To the baser, the battle’s prize.”
Othin spake:
23. “Though I gave to him | who deserved not the gift,
To the baser, the battle’s prize;
Winters eight | wast thou under the earth,
Milking the cows as a maid,
(Ay, and babes didst thou bear;
Unmanly thy soul must seem.)”
Loki spake:
24. “They say that with spells | in Samsey once
Like witches with charms didst thou work;
And in witch’s guise | among men didst thou go;
Unmanly thy soul must seem.”
Frigg spake:
25. “Of the deeds ye two | of old have done
Ye should make no speech among men;
Whate’er ye have done | in days gone by,
Old tales should ne’er be told.”
Loki spake:
26. “Be silent, Frigg! | thou art Fjorgyn’s wife,
But ever lustful in love;
For Vili and Ve, | thou wife of Vithrir,
Both in thy bosom have lain.”
Frigg spake:
27. “If a son like Baldr | were by me now,
Here within Ægir’s hall,
From the sons of the gods | thou shouldst go not forth
Till thy fierceness in fight were tried.”
Loki spake:
28. “Thou wilt then, Frigg, | that further I tell
Of the ill that now I know;
Mine is the blame | that Baldr no more
Thou seest ride home to the hall.”
Freyja spake:
29. “Mad art thou, Loki, | that known thou makest
The wrong and shame thou hast wrought;
The fate of all | does Frigg know well,
Though herself she says it not.”
Loki spake:
30. “Be silent, Freyja! | for fully I know thee,
Sinless thou art not thyself;
Of the gods and elves | who are gathered here,
Each one as thy lover has lain.”
Freyja spake:
31. “False is thy tongue, | and soon shalt thou find
That it sings thee an evil song;
The gods are wroth, | and the goddesses all,
And in grief shalt thou homeward go.”
Loki spake:
32. “Be silent, Freyja! | thou foulest witch,
And steeped full sore in sin;
In the arms of thy brother | the bright gods caught thee
When Freyja her wind set free.”
Njorth spake:
33. “Small ill does it work | though a woman may have
A lord or a lover or both;
But a wonder it is | that this womanish god
Comes hither, though babes he has borne.”
Loki spake:
34. “Be silent, Njorth; | thou wast eastward sent,
To the gods as a hostage given;
And the daughters of Hymir | their privy had
When use did they make of thy mouth.”
Njorth spake:
35. “Great was my gain, | though long was I gone,
To the gods as a hostage given;
The son did I have | whom no man hates,
And foremost of gods is found.”
Loki spake:
36. “Give heed now, Njorth, | nor boast too high,
No longer I hold it hid;
With thy sister hadst thou | so fair a son,
Thus hadst thou no worse a hope.”
Tyr spake:
37. “Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best
Here in the home of the gods;
He harms not maids | nor the wives of men,
And the bound from their fetters he frees.”
Loki spake:
38. “Be silent, Tyr! | for between two men
Friendship thou ne’er couldst fashion;
Fain would I tell | how Fenrir once
Thy right hand rent from thee.”
Tyr spake:
39. “My hand do I lack, | but Hrothvitnir thou,
And the loss brings longing to both;
Ill fares the wolf | who shall ever await
In fetters the fall of the gods.”
Loki spake:
40. “Be silent, Tyr! | for a son with me
Thy wife once chanced to win;
Not a penny, methinks, | wast thou paid for the wrong,
Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch.”
Freyr spake:
41. “By the mouth of the river | the wolf remains
Till the gods to destruction go;
Thou too shalt soon, | if thy tongue is not stilled,
Be fettered, thou forger of ill.”
Loki spake:
42. “The daughter of Gymir | with gold didst thou buy,
And sold thy sword to boot;
But when Muspell’s sons | through Myrkwood ride,
Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch.”
Byggvir spake:
43. “Had I birth so famous | as Ingunar-Freyr,
And sat in so lofty a seat,
I would crush to marrow | this croaker of ill,
And beat all his body to bits.”
Loki spake:
44. “What little creature | goes crawling there,
Snuffling and snapping about?
At Freyr’s ears ever | wilt thou be found,
Or muttering hard at the mill.”
Byggvir spake:
45. “Byggvir my name, | and nimble am I,
As gods and men do grant;
And here am I proud | that the children of Hropt
Together all drink ale.”
Loki spake:
46. “Be silent, Byggvir! | thou never couldst set
Their shares of the meat for men;
Hid in straw on the floor, | they found thee not
When heroes were fain to fight.”
Heimdall spake:
47. “Drunk art thou, Loki, | and mad are thy deeds,
Why, Loki, leavst thou this not?
For drink beyond measure | will lead all men
No thought of their tongues to take.”
Loki spake:
48. “Be silent, Heimdall! | in days long since
Was an evil fate for thee fixed;
With back held stiff | must thou ever stand,
As warder of heaven to watch.”
Skathi spake:
49. “Light art thou, Loki, | but longer thou mayst not
In freedom flourish thy tail;
On the rocks the gods bind thee | with bowels torn
Forth from thy frost-cold son.”
Loki spake:
50. “Though on rocks the gods bind me | with bowels torn
Forth from my frost-cold son,
I was first and last | at the deadly fight
There where Thjazi we caught.”
Skathi spake:
51. “Wert thou first and last | at the deadly fight
There where Thjazi was caught,
From my dwellings and fields | shall ever come forth
A counsel cold for thee.”
Loki spake:
52. “More lightly thou spakest | with Laufey’s son,
When thou badst me come to thy bed;
Such things must be known | if now we two
Shall seek our sins to tell.”
Then Sif came forward and poured mead for Loki in a crystal cup, and
said:
53. “Hail to thee, Loki, | and take thou here
The crystal cup of old mead;
For me at least, | alone of the gods,
Blameless thou knowest to be.”
He took the horn, and drank therefrom:
54. “Alone thou wert | if truly thou wouldst
All men so shyly shun;
But one do I know | full well, methinks,
Who had thee from Hlorrithi’s arms,—
(Loki the crafty in lies.)”
Beyla spake:
55. “The mountains shake, | and surely I think
From his home comes Hlorrithi now;
He will silence the man | who is slandering here
Together both gods and men.”
Loki spake:
56. “Be silent, Beyla! | thou art Byggvir’s wife,
And deep art thou steeped in sin;
A greater shame | to the gods came ne’er,
Befouled thou art with thy filth.”
Then came Thor forth, and spake:
57. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,
Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;
Thy shoulder-cliff | shall I cleave from thy neck,
And so shall thy life be lost.”
Loki spake:
58. “Lo, in has come | the son of Earth:
Why threaten so loudly, Thor?
Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf
When he swallows Sigfather up.”
Thor spake:
59. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,
Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;
I shall hurl thee up | and out in the East,
Where men shall see thee no more.”
Loki spake:
60. “That thou hast fared | on the East-road forth
To men shouldst thou say no more;
In the thumb of a glove | didst thou hide, thou great one,
And there forgot thou wast Thor.”
Thor spake:
61. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,
Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;
My right hand shall smite thee | with Hrungnir’s slayer,
Till all thy bones are broken.”
Loki spake:
62. “A long time still | do I think to live,
Though thou threatenest thus with thy hammer;
Rough seemed the straps | of Skrymir’s wallet,
When thy meat thou mightest not get,
(And faint from hunger didst feel.)”
Thor spake:
63. “Unmanly one, cease, | or the mighty hammer,
Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth;
The slayer of Hrungnir | shall send thee to hell,
And down to the gate of death.”
Loki spake:
64. “I have said to the gods | and the sons of the gods
The things that whetted my thoughts;
But before thee alone | do I now go forth,
For thou fightest well, I ween.
65. “Ale hast thou brewed, | but, Ægir, now
Such feasts shalt thou make no more;
O’er all that thou hast | which is here within
Shall play the flickering flames,
(And thy back shall be burnt with fire.)”
And after that Loki hid himself in Franang’s waterfall in the guise of
a salmon, and there the gods took him. He was bound with the bowels of
his son Vali, but his son Narfi was changed to a wolf. Skathi took a
poison-snake and fastened it up over Loki’s face, and the poison
dropped thereon. Sigyn, Loki’s wife, sat there and held a shell under
the poison, but when the shell was full she bore away the poison, and
meanwhile the poison dropped on Loki. Then he struggled so hard that
the whole earth shook therewith; and now that is called an earthquake.
Bellows Notes
Prose. Ægir: the sea-god; Snorri gives Hler as another of his names,
but he is not elsewhere called Gymir, which is the name of the giant,
Gerth’s father, in the Skirnismol. On Ægir cf. Grimnismol, 45, and
Hymiskvitha, 1. Frigg: though Othin’s wife is often mentioned, she
plays only a minor part in the Eddic poems; cf. Voluspo, 34,
Vafthruthnismol, 1, and Grimnismol, introductory prose. Thor: the
compiler is apparently a trifle confused as to Thor’s movements; the
“journey in the East” here mentioned cannot be the one described in the
Hymiskvitha, nor yet the one narrated by Snorri, as Loki was with Thor
throughout that expedition. He probably means no more than that Thor
was off killing giants. Sif: concerning Thor’s wife the chief incident
is that Loki cut off her hair, and, at the command of the wrathful
Thor, was compelled to have the dwarfs fashion her a new supply of hair
out of gold; cf. Harbarthsljoth, 48. Bragi: the god of poetry; cf.
Grimnismol, 44 and note. Ithun: the goddess of youth; cf. note on
Skirnismol, 19. Ithun is not mentioned by name in any other of the
Eddic poems, but Snorri tells in detail how the giant Thjazi stole her
and her apples, explaining the reference in Harbarthsljoth, 19 (q. v.).
Tyr: the god of battle; cf. Hymiskvitha, 4, and (concerning his
dealings with the wolf Fenrir) Voluspo, 39, note. Njorth: the chief of
the Wanes, and father of Freyr and Freyja; cf. (concerning the whole
family) Skirnismol, introductory prose and note, also Voluspo, 21 and
note. Skathi: Njorth’s wife was the daughter of the giant Thjazi; cf.
Harbarthsljoth, 19, note, and Grimnismol, 11. Vithar: the silent god,
the son of Othin who avenged his father by slaying the wolf Fenrir; cf.
Voluspo, 54, Vafthruthnismol, 51, and Grimnismol, 17. Loki: the
mischief-making fire-god; in addition to the many references to his
career in the Lokasenna, cf. particularly Voluspo, 32 and 35, and
notes. Byggvir and Beyla: not mentioned elsewhere in the poems; Freyr’s
conspicuous servant is Skirnir, hero of the Skirnismol. Fimafeng (“The
Swift Handler”) and Eldir (“The Man of the Fire”): mentioned only in
connection with this incident. Glittering gold: Ægir’s use of gold to
light his hall, which was often thought of as under the sea, was
responsible for the phrase “flame of the flood,” and sundry kindred
phrases, meaning “gold.”
6. Lopt: like Lothur (cf. Voluspo, 18) another name for Loki; cf.
Hyndluljoth, 43, and Svipdagsmol, 42.
7. In the manuscript this stanza begins with a small letter, and
Heinzel unites it with stanza 6.
8. Bragi: cf. note on introductory prose. Why Loki taunts him with
cowardice (stanzas 11–13–15) is not clear, for poetry, of which Bragi
was the patron, was generally associated in the Norse mind with
peculiar valor, and most of the skaldic poets were likewise noted
fighters.
9. There exists no account of any incident in which Othin and Loki thus
swore blood-brotherhood, but they were so often allied in enterprises
that the idea is wholly reasonable. The common process of “mingling
blood” was carried out quite literally, and the promise of which Loki
speaks is characteristic of those which, in the sagas, often
accompanied the ceremony; cf. Brot af Sigurtharkvithu, 18 and note.
10. In stanzas 10–31 the manuscript has nothing to indicate the
identity of the several speakers, but these are uniformly clear enough
through the context. Vithar: cf. note on introductory prose. The wolf’s
father: Loki; cf. Voluspo, 39 and note.
13. Sijmons makes one line of lines 4–5 by cutting out a part of each;
Finnur Jonsson rejects 5 as spurious.
14. The text of line 4 is somewhat obscure, and has been variously
emended, one often adopted suggestion making the line read, “Little is
that for thy lies.”
15. Adorner of benches: this epithet presumably implies that Bragi is
not only slothful, but also effeminate, for a very similar word, “pride
of the benches,” means a bride.
16. Ithun: Bragi’s wife; cf. note on introductory prose. The goddesses
who, finding that their husbands are getting the worst of it, take up
the cudgels with Loki, all find themselves confronted with undeniable
facts in their own careers; cf. stanzas 26 (Frigg), 52 (Skathi) and 54
(Sif). Gefjun and Freyja are silenced in similar fashion. Wish-son:
adopted son; Loki was the son of the giant Farbauti and the giantess
Laufey, and hence was not of the race of the gods, but had been
virtually adopted by Othin, who subsequently had good reason to regret
it.
17. We do not even know who Ithun’s brother was, much less who slew
him.
19. Gefjun: a goddess, not elsewhere mentioned in the poems, who,
according to Snorri, was served by the women who died maidens. Beyond
this nothing is known of her. Lines 3–4 in the manuscript are puzzling,
and have been freely emended.
20. Nothing is known of the incident here mentioned. There is a good
deal of confusion as to various of the gods and goddesses, and it has
been suggested that Gefjun is really Frigg under another name, with a
little of Freyja—whose attributes were frequently confused with
Frigg’s—thrown in. Certainly Othin’s answer (stanza 21, lines 3–4) fits
Frigg perfectly, for she shared his knowledge of the future, whereas it
has no relation to anything known of Gefjun. As for the necklace (line
3), it may be the Brisings’ necklace, which appears in the Thrymskvitha
as Freyja’s, but which, in some mythological writings, is assigned to
Frigg.
21. Snorri quotes line 1; cf. note on stanza 29.
23. There is no other reference to Loki’s having spent eight years
underground, or to his cow-milking. On one occasion, however, he did
bear offspring. A giant had undertaken to build the gods a fortress,
his reward being Freyja and the sun and moon, provided the work was
done by a given time. His sole helper was his horse, Svathilfari. The
work being nearly done, and the gods fearing to lose Freyja and the sun
and moon, Loki turned himself into a mare, and so effectually
distracted Svathilfari from his task that shortly afterwards Loki gave
birth to Othin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. In such contests of
abuse a man was not infrequently taunted with having borne children;
cf. Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I, 39–45. One or two of the last three
lines may be spurious.
24. Samsey: perhaps the Danish island of Samsö. Othin was the god of
magic, but there is no other reference to his ever having disguised
himself as a witch.
25. Frigg: Othin’s wife; cf. note to introductory prose.
26. Fjorgyn: Othin; cf. Voluspo, 56 and note. Vili and Ve: Othin’s
brothers, who appear merely as, with Othin, the sons of Bur and Bestla;
cf. Voluspo, 4. The Ynglingasaga says that, during one of Othin’s
protracted absences, his two brothers took Frigg as their mistress.
Vithrir: another name for Othin.
27. On the death of Baldr, slain through Loki’s cunning by the blind
Hoth, cf. Voluspo, 32 and note.
29. Freyja: daughter of Njorth and sister of Freyr; cf. note on
introductory prose. Snorri, in speaking of Frigg’s knowledge of the
future, makes a stanza out of Lokasenna, 21, 1; 47, 2; 29, 3–4, thus:
“Mad art thou, Loki, | and little of wit, / Why, Loki, leavst thou
this not? / The fate of all | does Frigg know well, / Though
herself she says it not.”
30. According to Snorri, Freyja was a model of fidelity to her husband,
Oth.
32. Before each of stanzas 32–42 the manuscript indicates the speaker,
through the initial letter of the name written in the margin. Thy
brother: Freyr; there is no other indication that such a relation
existed between these two, but they themselves were the product of such
a union; cf. stanza 36 and note.
33. Njorth: father of Freyr and Freyja, and given by the Wanes as a
hostage, in exchange for Hönir, at the close of the first war; cf.
Voluspo, 21 and note, also Skirnismol, introductory prose and note.
Babes: cf. stanza 23 and note. Bugge suggests that this clause may have
been a late insertion.
34. Daughters of Hymir: we have no clue to who these were, though Hymir
is doubtless the frost-giant of the Hymiskvitha (q.v.). Loki’s point is
that Njorth is not a god, but the product of an inferior race (the
Wanes).
35. The son: Freyr.
36. Thy sister: the Ynglingasaga supports this story of Njorth’s having
had two children by his sister before he came among the gods. Snorri,
on the other hand, specifically says that Freyr and Freyja were born
after Njorth came to the gods.
37. Tyr: the god of battle; cf. notes on Hymiskvitha, 4, and Voluspo,
39. Freyr; concerning his noble qualities cf. Skirnismol, introductory
prose and note.
38. Snorri mentions Tyr’s incompetence as a peacemaker. Fenrir: the
wolf, Loki’s son; cf. Voluspo, 39.
39. Hrothvitnir (“The Mighty Wolf”): Fenrir, who awaits in chains the
final battle and death at the hands of Vithar. The manuscript has a
metrical error in line 3, which has led to various emendations, all
with much the same meaning.
40. Thy wife: there is no other reference to Tyr’s wife, nor do we know
who was the son in question.
41. The mouth of the river: according to Snorri, the chained Fenrir
“roars horribly, and the slaver runs from his mouth, and makes the
river called Vam; he lies there till the doom of the gods.” Freyr’s
threat is actually carried out; cf. concluding prose.
42. The daughter of Gymir: Gerth, heroine of the Skirnismol, which
gives the details of Freyr’s loss of his sword. Muspell’s sons: the
name Muspell is not used elsewhere in the poems; Snorri uses it
frequently, but only in this same phrase, “Muspell’s sons.” They are
the dwellers in the fire-world, Muspellsheim, led by Surt against the
gods in the last battle; cf. Voluspo, 47 and 52 and notes. Myrkwood:
here the dark forest bounding the fire-world; in the Atlakvitha (stanza
3) the name is used of another boundary forest.
43. Byggvir: one of Freyr’s two servants; cf. introductory prose.
Ingunar-Freyr: the name is not used elsewhere in the poems, or by
Snorri; it may be the genitive of a woman’s name, Ingun, the unknown
sister of Njorth who was Freyr’s mother (cf. stanza 36), or a
corruption of the name Ingw, used for Freyr (Fro) in old German
mythology.
44. Beginning with this stanza, the names of the speakers are lacking
in the manuscript. The mill: i.e., at slaves’ tasks.
45. Nothing further is known of either Byggvir’s swiftness or his
cowardice. Hropt: Othin.
47. Heimdall: besides being the watchman of the gods (cf. Voluspo, 27),
he appears also as the god of light (cf. Thrymskvitha, 14), and
possibly also as a complex cultural deity in the Rigsthula. He was a
son of Othin, born of nine sisters; cf. Hyndluljoth, 37–40. In the last
battle he and Loki slay one another. Line 2 is quoted by Snorri; cf.
stanza 29, note.
49. Skathi: the wife of Njorth, and daughter of the giant Thjazi,
concerning whose death cf. Harbarthsljoth, 19, note. Bowels, etc.:
according to the prose note at the end of the Lokasenna, the gods bound
Loki with the bowels of his son Vali, and changed his other son, Narfi,
into a wolf. Snorri turns the story about, Vali being the wolf, who
tears his brother to pieces, the gods then using Narfi’s intestines to
bind Loki. Narfi—and presumably Vali—were the sons of Loki and his
wife, Sigyn. They appear only in this episode, though Narfi (or Nari)
is named by Snorri in his list of Loki’s children. Cf. concluding
prose, and note.
52. Laufey’s son: Loki; not much is known of his parents beyond their
names. His father was the giant Farbauti, his mother Laufey, sometimes
called Nal. There is an elaborate but far-fetched hypothesis explaining
these three on the basis of a nature-myth. There is no other reference
to such a relation between Skathi and Loki as he here suggests.
53. Sif: Thor’s wife; cf. Harbarthsljoth, 48, where her infidelity is
again mentioned. The manuscript omits the proper name from the
preceding prose, and a few editors have, obviously in error, attributed
the speech to Beyla.
54. Hlorrithi: Thor. Line 5 is probably spurious.
55. Beyla: Freyr’s servant, wife of Byggvir; cf. introductory prose and
note.
57. Mjollnir: concerning Thor’s famous hammer see particularly
Thrymskvitha, 1 and note. Shoulder-cliff: head; concerning the use of
such diction in the Edda, cf. introductory note to Hymiskvitha. The
manuscript indicates line 3 as the beginning of a stanza, but this is
apparently a scribal error.
58. Son of Earth: Thor, son of Othin and Jorth (Earth). The manuscript
omits the word “son,” but all editors have agreed in supplying it. The
wolf: Fenrir, Loki’s son, who slays Othin (Sigfather: “Father of
Victory”) in the final battle. Thor, according to Snorri and to the
Voluspo, 56, fights with Mithgarthsorm and not with Fenrir, who is
killed by Vithar.
59. Lines 1–2 are abbreviated in the manuscript, as also in stanzas 61
and 63.
60. Loki’s taunt that Thor hid in the thumb of Skrymir’s glove is
similar to that of Othin, Harbarthsljoth, 26, in the note to which the
story is outlined. Line 4 is identical with line 3 of Harbarthsljoth,
26. 61. Hrungnir’s slayer: the hammer; the story of how Thor slew this
stone-headed giant is indicated in Harbarthsljoth, 14–15, and outlined
in the note to stanza 14 of that poem.
62. On the day following the adventure of the glove, Thor, Loki and
Thor’s servants proceed on their way in company with Skrymir, who puts
all their food in his wallet. At evening Skrymir goes to sleep, and
Thor tries to get at the food, but cannot loosen the straps of the
wallet. In a rage he smites Skrymir three times on the head with his
hammer, but the giant—who, it subsequently appears, deftly dodges the
blows—is totally undisturbed. Line 5 may well be spurious.
65. The flames: the fire that consumes the world on the last day; cf.
Voluspo, 57. Line 5 may be spurious.
Prose: Snorri tells the same story, with minor differences, but makes
it the consequence of Loki’s part in the slaying of Baldr, which
undoubtedly represents the correct tradition. The compiler of the poems
either was confused or thought the incident was useful as indicating
what finally happened to Loki. Possibly he did not mean to imply that
Loki’s fate was brought upon him by his abuse of the gods, but simply
tried to round out the story. Franang: “Gleaming Water.” Vali and
Narfi: cf. stanza 49 and note. Sigyn: cf. Voluspo, 35, the only other
place where she is mentioned in the poems. Snorri omits the naive note
about earthquakes, his narrative ending with the words, “And there he
lies till the destruction of the gods.”