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JOURNEY of SKIRNER.
F
REYER, the son of Niorder, as he sat on Hlidskialfa[1], beholding the regions of the world; cast his eyes on the nation of the Jötunheimi, where he beheld a fair virgin as he passed through her father's house to a solitary apartment. He became suddenly very sad. Skirner was the servant of Freyer. Niorder called him and bid him enquire into the cause of his master’s grief. While Skada[2] the wife of Niorder petulently said—
SKADA.
GO Skirner! speedily enquire,
Consum’d by what untam’d desire
Of hidden lore, my son retreats
Into his mansion’s inmost seats?
GO Skirner! speedily enquire,
Consum’d by what untam’d desire
Of hidden lore, my son retreats
Into his mansion’s inmost seats?
- ↑ Hlidskialfa, the throne in the palace of Valaskialf, not at Valhalla as some have said. This throne was so situated, that any one sitting upon it might behold all the regions of the world. It properly belonged to Odin and Frigga, and perhaps the passion of Freyer was a punishment inflicted on him for his presumption in sitting there.
- ↑ Skada,—A giantess, wife of Niorder, and step-mother of Freyer.