Icelandic Poetry/Song of Grimner
ARGUMENT.
KING HRAUDUNGER had two Sons, one called Agnarr the other Geirrod. Agnarr was ten years, old and Gierrod eight, when they went to sea in a boat for the purpose of fishing. A tempest drove the boat far from their own shore and carried them to a strange country; where they met a certain countryman. There they wintered. The Mistress of the house loved Agnarr, but the Master, Geirrod; who taught him to be crafty. The same person in the following spring gave the boys a boat; but when he and his wife had led them to the shore, he spoke something privately to Geirrod. The boys obtaining a favourable wind, returned toward their own coaft. Then Geirrod, standing on the prow of the vessel, leaped on shore, and pushing the boat off, said, “now go where the evil Genii may meet with thee.” The boat was carried into the ocean; but Geirrod going home, was kindly received. Geirrod therefore was created king and became illustrious. While all this was transacting, Odin and Frigga sitting in Hlidskialfa beheld all the regions of the earth. “See” said Odin “your favourite Agnarr sitting in a cave with his gigantic wife and his children around him; but my favourite Geirrod is become king, and reigns in peace.” Frigga answered, “Geirrod is parsimonious and exercises cruelty upon his guests when he thinks too many trouble him.” Odin denyed this assertion. They lay a wager concerning it. Frigga sent the nymph Fylla to admonish the king, lest a certain magician who had come into his country should poison him; she informed him that he might be distinguished by this sign, that no dog would bark at his approach. But that was needless, because Geirrod discountenanced the visits of all strangers. He took care however that the man should be seized, whom the dogs refused to hurt. He was dressed in blue apparel and took the name of Grimner. When any one asked questions concerning himself, he refused to answer them. The king examined him by torture between two fires; where he remained eight nights. Geirrod had a son, ten years old, called Agnarr, bearing the name of his Uncle. Agnarr approached Grimner and gave him a cup of water, saying that the king behaved very ill to punish an innocent man. Grimner drank the contents. But by that time the fire burnt his clothes; when he began to speak.
SONG
OF
GRIMNER
Fire! spare thy fury spare,
Nor thus thy torrents on me bear:
Thy flames fierce flashing from me turn
In vain I strive—my garments burn:
Tho’ high in air my cloak I raise,
It wastes before thy scorching blaze.
By the pale fires sullen light,
I’ve watch’d eight times the round of night.
Mortals on me disdain to think,
Nor offer food, nor offer drink—
Agnarr except—who kind of soul,
Gave one cool refreshing bow
Thou gentle Youth! so fates have told,
The sceptre of the Goths shalt hold.
The cup was kind, and great’s the meed,
That to thy bounty will succeed;
Safe shalt thou reign from ev'ry foe,—
Smooth shall thy tide of fortune flow.
Dear are the lands to Gods on high,
That neighb’ring to the Alfi lie.
On plains of Thrudheim[1] Thor[2] shall dwell,
While Gods their golden ages tell.
Or dost thou at thy honours grieve?
What heroes croud thy palace gate,
And Gods thy vengeful malice sate?
Much have I said; but said in vain:
Mem’ry flies thy troubled brain.
Thy friends deceitful press around:
I see thy faulchion on the ground.
The faulchion of my host is dy’d!
The blood runs purpling from his side!
Ygger soon shall point the blade,
For deed of rightful veng’ance made,
Thy days are past, I now predict:
Now the Deſtinies afflict.
With flames encircled, Odin see!
Geirrod! Geirrod! rescue me.
King Geirrod was sitting with his sword upon his knees, half unsheathed; but when he understood who it was he had been tormenting, he arose to lead him from the fires. The sword fell with the point upwards; and the king, stumbling at the same time, fell upon it, and was pierced through the body. Thus he died:—Odin then disappeared, and Agnarr succeeded to the throne.
- ↑ Thrudheim, lay between the confines of the Asi and Alfi.
- ↑ Thor, the eldest son of Odin; strrength and
valor are the attendants of this God, therefore he
triumphs over every thing that has life. When
the Northern nations adopted the Roman Calender,
that day which was consecrated to Jupiter or
master of thunder, was assigned to Thor and was
called Thorsdag or Thursday.
The Laplanders to this day have a God answering to Thor, whom they worship under the name of Horagalles. They depict him with a double-headed mallet, and invoke him chiefly not to injure with his thunder their Raindeer as they wander exposed upon the wide and defolate mountains.
Lege: de Lappon:
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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