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Skirnismol

17.[1] "Art thou of the elves  or the offspring of gods,
 Or of the wise Wanes?
How camst thou alone  through the leaping flame
 Thus to behold our home?"

  Skirnir spake:
18.[2] "I am not of the elves,  nor the offspring of gods,
 Nor of the wise Wanes;
Though I came alone  through the leaping flame
 Thus to behold thy home.

19.[3] "Eleven apples,  all of gold,
 Here will I give thee, Gerth,
To buy thy troth  that Freyr shall be
 Deemed to be dearest to you."

  Gerth spake:
20. "I will not take  at any man's wish
 These eleven apples ever;
Nor shall Freyr and I  one dwelling find
 So long as we two live."

  Skirnir spake:
21.[4] "Then do I bring thee  the ring that was burned

  1. ↑ Wise Wanes: cf. Voluspo, 21 and note.
  2. ↑ The Arnamagnæan Codex omits this stanza.
  3. ↑ Apples: the apple was the symbol of fruitfulness, and also of eternal youth. According to Snorri, the goddess Ithun had charge of the apples which the gods ate whenever they felt themselves growing old.
  4. ↑

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