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Poetic Edda

Now Freyja they bring  to be my bride,
The daughter of Njorth  out of Noatun.

23. "Gold-horned cattle  go to my stables,
Jet-black oxen,  the giant's joy;
Many my gems,  and many my jewels,
Freyja alone  did I lack, methinks."

24.[1] Early it was  to evening come,
And forth was borne  the beer for the giants;
Thor alone ate an ox,  and eight salmon,
All the dainties as well  that were set for the women;
And drank Sif's mate  three tuns of mead.

25. Then loud spake Thrym,  the giants' leader:
"Who ever saw bride  more keenly bite?
I ne'er saw bride  with a broader bite,
Nor a maiden who drank  more mead than this!"

26. Hard by there sat  the serving-maid wise,
So well she answered  the giant's words:
"From food has Freyja  eight nights fasted,
So hot was her longing  for Jotunheim."

    ("Ships'-Haven"): Njorth's home, where his wife, Skathi, found it impossible to stay; cf. Grimnismol, 11 and note.

  1. ↑ Grundtvig thinks this is all that is left of two stanzas describing Thor's supper. Some editors reject line 4. In line 3 the manuscript has "he," the reference being, of course, to Thor, on whose appetite cf. Hymiskvitha, 15. Sif: Thor's wife; cf. Lokasenna, note to the introductory prose and stanza 53.

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