The complete text
Þrymskviða
Thor Dresses as a Bride
About these two editions
These are complete reading editions of the poem and its accompanying prose, rather than a facsimile of Codex Regius. Bellows sometimes orders, divides, or supplements stanzas differently, so the two editions do not always share stanza numbers. Editorial introductions and footnotes are omitted; follow the source links for that commentary.
Original wording is retained. Obvious transcription errors in stanza numbering have been corrected. Spelling and names differ from the modern retelling.
Tap an underlined name for an explanation. Switch editions above at any time.
Old Norse
Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗
Stanza 1Vreiðr var þá Vingþórr er hann vaknaði ok síns hamars of saknaði, skegg nam at hrista, skör nam at dýja, réð Jarðar burr um at þreifask.
Stanza 2Ok hann þat orða
alls fyrst of kvað:
"Heyrðu nú, , hvat ek nú mæli er eigi veit jarðar hvergi né upphimins: áss er stolinn hamri!"
Stanza 3Gengu þeir fagra túna, ok hann þat orða
alls fyrst of kvað:
"Muntu mér, , fjaðrhams léa, ef ek minn hamar mættak hitta?".
kvað:
Stanza 4"Þó munda ek gefa þér þótt ór gulli væri, ok þó selja, at væri ór silfri."
Stanza 5Fló þá , - fjaðrhamr dunði, - unz fyr útan kom ása garða ok fyr innan kom jötna heima.
Stanza 6 sat á haugi, þursa dróttinn, greyjum sínum gullbönd sneri ok mörum sínum mön jafnaði.
kvað:
Stanza 7"Hvat er með ásum? Hvat er með alfum? Hví ertu einn kominn í Jötunheima?"
kvað:
"Illt er með ásum, illt er með alfum; hefr þú Hlórriða hamar of folginn?"
kvað:
Stanza 8"Ek hef Hlórriða. hamar of folginn átta röstum fyr jörð neðan; hann engi maðr aftr of heimtir, nema færi mér at kvæn."
Stanza 9Fló þá , - fjaðrhamr dunði, - unz fyr útan kom jötna heima ok fyr innan kom ása garða. Mætti hann miðra garða, ok þat hann orða
alls fyrst of kvað:
Stanza 10"Hefr þú erendi sem erfiði? Segðu á lofti löng tíðendi, oft sitjanda sögur of fallask ok liggjandi lygi of bellir."
kvað:
Stanza 11"Hef ek erfiði ok erendi; hefr þinn hamar, þursa dróttinn; hann engi maðr aftr of heimtir, nema hánum færi at kván.
Stanza 12Ganga þeir fagra at hitta, ok hann þat orða
alls fyrst of kvað:
"Bittu þik, , brúðar líni; vit skulum aka tvau í Jötunheima."
Stanza 13Reið varð þá ok fnasaði, allr ása salr undir bifðisk, stökk þat it mikla men Brísinga: "Mik veiztu verða vergjarnasta, ef ek ek með þér í Jötunheima."
Stanza 14Senn váru æsir allir á þingi ok ásynjur allar á máli, ok um þat réðu ríkir tívar hvé þeir Hlórriða hamar of sætti.
Stanza 15Þá kvað þat , hvítastr ása, vissi hann vel fram sem vanir aðrir: "Bindum vér þá brúðar líni, hafi hann it mikla men Brísinga.
Stanza 16Látum und hánum hrynja lukla ok kvenváðir um kné falla, en á brjósti breiða steina ok hagliga um höfuð typpum."
Stanza 17Þá kvað þat , þrúðugr áss: "Mik munu æsir argan kalla, ef ek bindask læt brúðar líni!"
Stanza 18Þá kvað þat Laufeyjar sonr: "Þegi þú, , þeira orða. Þegar munu jötnar búa, nema þú þinn hamar þér of heimtir."
Stanza 19Bundu þeir þá brúðar líni ok inu mikla meni Brísinga, létu und hánum hrynja lukla ok kvenváðir um kné falla, en á brjósti breiða steina, ok hagliga um höfuð typpðu.
Stanza 20Þá kvað Laufeyjar sonr: "Mun ek ok með þér ambótt vera, vit skulum aka tvær í Jötunheima."
Stanza 21Senn váru hafrar heim of reknir, skyndir at sköklum, skyldu vel renna; björg brotnuðu, brann jörð loga, ók Óðins sonr í Jötunheima.
Stanza 22Þá kvað þat , þursa dróttinn: "Standið upp, jötnar, ok stráið bekki, nú færa mér at kván Njarðar dóttur ór Nóatúnum.
Stanza 23Ganga hér at garði gullhyrnðar kýr, öxn alsvartir jötni at gamni; fjölð á ek meiðma, fjölð á ek menja, einnar mér ávant þykkir."
Stanza 24 þar at kveldi of komit snemma ok fyr jötna öl fram borit; einn át oxa, átta laxa, krásir allar, þær er konur skyldu, drakk verr sáld þrjú mjaðar.
Stanza 25Þá kvat þat , þursa dróttinn: "Hvar sáttu brúðir bíta hvassara? Sák-a ek brúðir bíta breiðara, né inn meira mjöð mey of drekka."
Stanza 26Sat in alsnotra ambótt fyrir, er orð of fann við jötuns máli: "Át vætr átta nóttum, svá var hon óðfús í Jötunheima."
Stanza 27Laut und línu, lysti at kyssa, en hann útan stökk endlangan sal: "Hví eru öndótt augu ? Þykki mér ór augum eldr of brenna."
Stanza 28Sat in alsnotra ambótt fyrir, er orð of fann við jötuns máli: "Svaf vætr átta nóttum, svá var hon óðfús í Jötunheima."
Stanza 29Inn kom in arma jötna systir, hin er brúðféar biðja þorði: "Láttu þér af höndum hringa rauða, ef þú öðlask vill ástir mínar, ástir mínar, alla hylli.
Stanza 30Þá kvað þat , þursa dróttinn: "Berið inn hamar brúði at vígja, lekkið Mjöllni í meyjar kné, vígið okkr saman Várar hendi."
Stanza 31Hló Hlórriða hugr í brjósti, er harðhugaðr hamar of þekkði; drap hann fyrstan, þursa dróttin, ok ætt jötuns alla lamði.
Stanza 32Drap hann ina öldnu jötna systur, hin er brúðféar of beðit hafði; hon skell of hlaut fyr skillinga, en högg hamars fyr hringa fjölð. Svá kom Óðins sonr endr at hamri.
English translation
Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗
Stanza 1Wild was | when he awoke, And when his mighty | hammer he missed; He shook his beard, | his hair was bristling, As the son of | about him sought.
Stanza 2Hear now the speech | that first he spake: "Harken, , | and heed my words, Nowhere on earth | is it known to man, in heaven above: | our hammer is stolen."
Stanza 3To the dwelling fair | of went they,
Hear now the speech | that first he spake:
"Wilt thou, , | thy feather-dress lend me, That so my hammer | I may seek?"
spake:
Stanza 4"Thine should it be | though of silver bright, And I would give it | though 'twere of gold." Then flew, | and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him | the home of the gods, And reached at last | the realm of the giants.
Stanza 5 sat on a mound, | the giants' master, Leashes of gold | he laid for his dogs, And stroked and smoothed | the manes of his steeds.
spake:
Stanza 6"How fare the gods, | how fare the elves? Why comst thou alone | to the giants' land?"
spake:
"III fare the gods, | ill fare the elves!
Hast thou hidden | 's hammer?"
spake:
Stanza 7"I have hidden | 's hammer, Eight miles down | deep in the earth; And back again | shall no man bring it If I win not | to be my wife."
Stanza 8Then flew, | and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him | the home of the giants, And reached at last | the realm of the gods. There in the courtyard | he met:
Hear now the speech | that first he spake:
Stanza 9"Hast thou found tidings | as well as trouble? Thy news in the air | shalt thou utter now; Oft doth the sitter | his story forget, And lies he speaks | who lays himself down."
spake:
Stanza 10"Trouble I have, | and tidings as well: , king of the giants, | keeps thy hammer, And back again | shall no man bring it If he wins not | to be his wife."
Stanza 11 the fair | then went they to find
Hear now the speech | that first he spake:
"Bind on, , | the bridal veil, For we two must haste | to the giants' home."
Stanza 12Wrathful was , | and fiercely she snorted, And the dwelling great | of the gods was shaken, And burst was the mighty | ' necklace: "Most lustful indeed | should I look to all If I journeyed with thee | to the giants' home."
Stanza 13Then were the gods | together met, And the goddesses came | and council held, And the far-famed ones | a plan would find, How they might 's | hammer win.
Stanza 14Then spake, | whitest of the gods, Like the he knew | the future well: "Bind we on | the bridal veil, Let him bear the mighty | ' necklace;
Stanza 15"Keys around him | let there rattle, And down to his knees | hang woman's dress; With gems full broad | upon his breast, And a pretty cap | to crown his head."
Stanza 16Then the mighty | his answer made: "Me would the gods | unmanly call If I let bind | the bridal veil."
Stanza 17Then spake, | the son of : "Be silent, , | and speak not thus; Else will the giants | in dwell If thy hammer is brought not | home to thee."
Stanza 18Then bound they on | the bridal veil, And next the mighty | ' necklace.
Stanza 19Keys around him | let they rattle, And down to his knees | hung woman's dress; With gems full broad | upon his breast, And a pretty cap | to crown his head.
Stanza 20Then spake, | the son of : "As thy maid-servant thither | I go with thee; We two shall haste | to the giants' home."
Stanza 21Then home the goats | to the hall were driven, They wrenched at the halters, | swift were they to run; The mountains burst, | earth burned with fire, And 's son | sought .
Stanza 22Then loud spake , | the giants' leader: "Bestir ye, giants, | put straw on the benches; Now they bring | to be my bride, The daughter of | out of .
Stanza 23"Gold-horned cattle | go to my stables, Jet-black oxen, | the giant's joy; Many my gems, | and many my jewels, alone | did I lack, methinks."
Stanza 24Early it was | to evening come, And forth was borne | the beer for the giants; alone ate an ox, | and eight salmon, All the dainties as well | that were set for the women; And drank 's mate | three tuns of mead.
Stanza 25Then loud spake , | the giants' leader: "Who ever saw bride | more keenly bite? I ne'er saw bride | with a broader bite, a maiden who drank | more mead than this!"
Stanza 26Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise, So well she answered | the giant's words: "From food has | eight nights fasted, So hot was her longing | for ."
Stanza 27 looked 'neath the veil, | for he longed to kiss, But back he leaped | the length of the hall: "Why are so fearful | the eyes of ? Fire, methinks, | from her eyes burns forth."
Stanza 28Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise, So well she answered | the giant's words: "No sleep has | for eight nights found, So hot was her longing | for ."
Stanza 29Soon came the giant's | luckless sister, Who feared not to ask | the bridal fee: "From thy hands the rings | of red gold take, If thou wouldst win | my willing love, (My willing love | and welcome glad.)"
Stanza 30Then loud spake , | the giants' leader: "Bring in the hammer | to hallow the bride; On the maiden's knees | let lie, That us both the band | of may bless."
Stanza 31The heart in the breast | of laughed When the hard-souled one | his hammer beheld; First , the king | of the giants, he killed, Then all the folk | of the giants he felled.
Stanza 32The giant's sister | old he slew, She who had begged | the bridal fee; A stroke she got | in the shilling's stead, And for many rings | the might of the hammer.
Stanza 33And so his hammer | got 's son.