The Rímur of Loki
A four-ríma Old Icelandic cycle drawn from Snorri's Gylfaginning — the story of Thor and Loki's journey to Útgarðr, the hall of the great giant. Along the way they shelter in Skrýmir's glove, eat at a farmer's hall, and watch as Þjalfi breaks a goat-bone for marrow. At Útgarðr the contests unfold: Loki loses an eating match, Þjalfi loses a running race, Thor cannot drain the horn or lift the cat or throw the old woman. Only afterward does Útgarðaloki reveal that every contest was against an illusion — that fire, thought, the sea, the Midgard Serpent, and Old Age itself had been their opponents.
The cycle survives only in AM 604 g (4°), the same manuscript as Þrænlur and Þrymlur. The author closely follows Snorri's account in Gylfaginning, keeping the sequence of events with only minor divergence. The four rímur use consistent four-line stanzas throughout, with the mansöngr invocations at the head of each ríma in the skaldic tradition.
First known English translation of this rímur cycle.
Ríma I
Mansöngr. Praise of Óðinn and Thor. The journey proposed. Þjalfi and Röskva. The goat-feast. Þjalfi's bone. Thor's anger. The forest hall.
1.
To me the lily-woman has grown most lovely,
grief locked in the heart's wind;
may the precious necklace-Norn hear me
while I keep the ancient vows.
2.
Óðinn ruled over the Aesir folk,
gave hearing to all the silent;
that prince gave his thanes victory,
those who bore weapons to battle.
3.
Fjölnir's journey seemed mighty,
wonderfully keen in bold deeds;
Thor surpassed them all in skill,
every prince who sought his realm.
4.
All feared Ygg's kinsman —
he always drove them back by force;
the sluggish ones fled the giant-lands
when he took Mjölnir in his hand.
5.
Loki was named Óðinn's thrall,
free of hardship but never easy;
wherever the lord went among settlements,
he always turned to great deceits.
6.
Thor began to question Náll's son:
"Now tricks will be needed —
the vile lord I would next visit,
my companion — come with me."
7.
"The bold one who rules in Útgarðr,
no one knows his father or mother;
Fjölnir's servant shall come with me —
you know the most games of all."
8.
Loki was not slow to answer:
"This journey suits me little;
have you not heard that he is a troll?
All things near him tremble."
9.
Ygg's heir answered quickly:
"If you fall into any trouble,
I shall be there to save you.
Ready yourself — come with me."
10.
Thor prepared their journey from home;
he needed neither shield nor sword;
he took the hammer and two goats
whose like could nowhere be found.
11.
The men traveled a long road —
Loki on foot and Thor a-horse;
Loðr said at last he saw
a little house with small buildings.
12.
Thor turned toward this farm;
there stood outside the spear's Týr;
the man was friendly, the woman glad:
"You are welcome to take shelter."
13.
The farmer had two children,
fair and comely, those siblings;
I name him Þjalfi, the bold one,
and Röskva his sister.
14.
Þjalfi and Thor went into the hall;
the men spoke merrily together;
unbidden, Thor slew the two goats
while Loki kindled the fire.
15.
When the meat-platter was brought out
Thor invited all to the feast;
not unwelcome to the eager ones
to eat fat with Ullr's kin.
16.
The guests ate the goat-flesh,
swallowing both flesh and blood;
Þjalfi struck open the leg-bone —
the lad desired the marrow.
17.
Thor noticed nothing of it,
it was covered in the bone elsewhere;
Baldr's kinsman spread the hide,
then laid the scattered bones upon it.
18.
When precious Delling's bride (Dawn)
withdrew from the starry ground,
the warriors stood clothed and ready —
this tale has come to me.
19.
The mighty foe of harm seized
Mjölnir for himself;
he hallowed the bones of the goat's body —
the hammer was often brought as aid.
20.
The goats rose at those words,
both alive again in the world;
but one bore its hind leg badly —
the other goat with ugly wound.
21.
Thor was not pleased with this;
he let his heavy brows sink down;
the warrior bent with mighty force
to grip Mjölnir's shaft with fists.
22.
Sif's husband sharpened his gaze —
so it goes when things turn ill;
strength drained from every limb;
his knuckles turned white with it.
23.
The wise one spoke hard words to Thor:
"So will I make peace with you myself
before the household folk —
gladly and without condition."
24.
Thor's answer lost all its fury:
"I want Þjalfi to serve us,
bold in spirit — and Röskva too,
of that same household line."
25.
The man was not slow to answer;
he said that Thor alone should decide;
the bold ring-Baldr followed
Bölverk's son from that day on.
26.
In that way the men's talk ended;
the Aesir's ward and the man were reconciled;
Þjalfi and the handsome woman made ready,
then went with Ygg's kinsman.
27.
The man departed with his household;
I tell it so of Ygg's friend;
behind stayed the champions' kin,
Kjalari's son near the warrior.
28.
The men walked until nightfall;
they found no shelter for the night;
the day passed and Delling's maiden
brought her darkness on the land.
29.
The men found a hall in the forest,
wide and stretching far within;
the doorway seemed strange to them;
the bold one turned inside.
30.
Strong rafters in that hall;
the warriors went inside —
strange, it had wide doors;
the men had not seen its like before.
31.
There the men took rest and sleep,
in the serpent-land's ring-Gefn;
here shall end the dwarfs' release —
let the words go down to rest.
Ríma II
Mansöngr. The glove shakes. Skrýmir appears. His monstrous form. He offers to guide them. The journey. The knotted pack. Thor's three hammer-blows.
1.
Now I shall loose the Lit-dwarf's ship
a second time upon the sea;
it is not easy in the court of trust
to reckon the Aesir's memory.
2.
There I will raise the Found-one's ship —
Draupnir's sweat, the gold-thrower —
the giant-lord who was in the hall
with all his people's joy.
3.
When the men had settled to sleep,
brave in their rest,
a wind came over the wide earth
and waved through all the hall.
4.
The men woke at midnight
and stood in their clothes;
the hall and the forest together
shook as if hung on a thread.
5.
The company of men met danger
and filled with the labor of grief;
there in the middle of the hall
they found a great hollow.
6.
Loki was never still from fear;
he leaped in there with Þjalfi;
Eindridi himself sat in the doorway;
the whole company shook.
7.
The men slept through the dark night;
day began greatly to triumph;
the people readied themselves for travel,
eager and hard for the road.
8.
The giant's foe left the hall
a little way with his companions;
he found then, laid against an oak,
the lord of the mountain-halls.
9.
Found him fast in his rest —
this great flat-lying creature,
wondrously thick and blue as Hel;
none could carry such back.
10.
His nose was like a cliff of stone,
bent as a ram's horn;
a wondrous foul stench he bore
from the cave-country's hollow.
11.
His eyes like two great stones;
he bore a jaw, narrow and long;
his mouth they said was the widest —
it jutted far from his cheek.
12.
All his nails like eagle's talons;
his teeth jutted from his head
like a troll-boar's tusks
rooting in the wild.
13.
All bare over his bones,
and blue as a lava-stream's course;
to men he seemed terrible —
more than one dares to tell.
14.
Skrýmir had a thick staff,
a pole taller than any wall;
Hveðrung's heir snored in sleep
and the earth nearby shook.
15.
The weather of the oaks blew so
from the gum-hall of the elf;
Thor perceived that from that snoring
the hall had shaken — Ygg's son knew.
16.
Thor had often won glory from trolls;
he took Mjölnir in his hands,
seized his hammer in fury aloft —
he means to take the giant's breath.
23.
The monster turned toward trickery;
Flekkr lost his sleep;
the fosterer's son was delayed
from striking at the mountain-man.
24.
He sat up, loathsome;
he greeted the men politely:
"May the honor and renown
of Asgard's men grow long."
25.
Þundar's heir did not stay silent —
Thor began to ask him:
"Tell me clearly, great one —
give us your name."
26.
"Men call me Skrýmir;
know what I hold within;
which land does it please you
to seek — the Aesir's own?"
27.
"I shall seek the king who rules
beyond all in Útgarðr's lands;
famed he is for deeds of glory,
that lord who governs all."
28.
"I could bar you from the power
of playing games with that lord;
the metal-men last night
were lying in my glove."
29.
Skrýmir led them and showed the way;
there was much forest to cross;
most were afraid of the hammer-tree,
master of the prince's lands.
30.
He never slowed on the road ahead,
unswayed by Thor's swift chariot;
Skrýmir lay down and slept again
and the earth shook under him.
31.
"Now the men may go to table —
I will lie down for a while."
He flung his pack down with no grace;
Thor tried to open it.
32.
No knot would give for Þundar's heir;
he could loose nothing there;
anger came to the strong one's heart
and the knuckles went white again.
33.
At midnight Thor raised Mjölnir
and struck at Skrýmir's skull;
the hammer sank deep into his head —
he did not stir from sleep.
34.
Skrýmir woke and rubbed his head:
"Did an acorn fall on me?
Are Fjölnir's people well settled —
are you sleeping well, my friends?"
35.
Before the dawn Thor struck again,
the second blow far harder;
the hammer sank to the eye-socket —
Skrýmir barely stirred.
36.
He woke: "Did something brush my brow?
A leaf from the oak, perhaps?
You are sleeping, Aesir-folk —
I trust you rest well."
37.
At daybreak came the third blow,
the hardest of them all;
the hammer drove into the temple —
Skrýmir yawned and woke.
38.
"Did birds perch above my head
and drop their leavings down?
The city is close now, friends —
it is time we set out."
39.
Skrýmir vanished north into the wood;
no one waited for him long;
they came soon to the splendid city,
noble and broad and fine.
Ríma III
Mansöngr. The gate of Útgarðr. Meeting Útgarðaloki. Loki's eating contest. Þjalfi's running race. Thor drinks the horn. Thor lifts the cat.
1.
Now I shall shape with speech's sword
the South-dwarf's ship for the third time;
Gerðr of the ground has bidden me
to tell what more is mine.
2.
They saw walls and a great gate,
carved with iron bars strong;
the way was barred and locked before Thor —
a work of surpassing skill.
3.
So firmly was the gate set
that no strength could force it;
they squeezed in between the bars —
their cunning then took flight.
4.
They saw a great hall standing,
strengthened in its bones with earth;
it was filled with men from all sides
and adorned with precious stones.
5.
The thanes stepped into that hall;
Thor went foremost of all;
he saw there the pick of the prince's men,
the people standing like poles.
6.
He saw the king sitting mightily
in the shimmer of that place;
Atli had never found his like
in any realm on earth.
7.
The champion went before the king
and greeted him boldly;
the king welcomed them all gladly
and bade them take their seats.
8.
"Where have you come from, strangers?"
Loki began to speak for them;
the Aesir laid out their homeland
in word, from end to end.
9.
The king asked the champion
skilled in sharp matters:
"Are you men of great accomplishment —
the greatest of all bold ones?"
10.
The prince was gentle in his words;
the Aesir all fell silent:
"Have you any skill or feat
that surpasses other peoples?"
11.
Loðr answered, the company was glad —
none can hide it more:
"I will race against your people
if any one will try."
12.
"Still, you are well suited to sport,"
the prince began to say;
"Logi shall be the name of the young man
who will eat against you."
13.
Sauðung's foster-kin, lean and narrow,
said he was ready;
a full trough of good meat came
into the king's wide hall.
14.
There Logi came to meet him;
both put all to work;
the foolish ones tested the spear of the gum —
each swallowed what he could.
15.
The king's man grew eager;
most of the food was gone;
he swallowed knives and all the bare bones
and was still hungry for more.
16.
When the voracious eating ended
the outcome was clear to see;
Loðr had to go out second —
Logi the young man would bite him.
17.
The tree of the leaves set Lopt
below them in their work:
"Worse was the other noble man
than Fárbauti's heir."
18.
They went out from the pleasant hall,
the wise man and Þjalfi;
Thor and the keen company
loaded with the shield-people's elves.
19.
They quickly became road-weary,
both of them ran together;
Sauðung's man was slower on the march
and fell back behind the guests.
20.
Half the wide running-field
had passed at the halfway mark;
there came Húgi to meet him
and had already turned back.
21.
Then I heard the mighty Thor
boast — men may hear it —
the horn he said was greatly large,
to pour far beyond the men.
22.
"Every day I have endured drink,
the ski-runner speeds on ice,
and so the folk of might
most widely over the world."
23.
When the wise rings-Týr
made great boast of his skill,
the hall-lord brought in the door
a child of the leaf's branches.
24.
The prince spoke in this manner,
thankful for a pure game:
"That is what the people have played
to empty the horn in one."
25.
When Bölverk's son saw
the ale of the hall's skáli,
the king challenged him keenly
with the bright steel's point.
26.
He wished to set out from there
and looked into the deep horn;
it seemed to him not to lessen —
the prince's drink was fine.
27.
Now the great prince's son
sought to drink it drier;
slowly the liquid was drained —
a little more than before.
28.
There came again the errand's end
for the powerful ring-thorn;
little it seemed to the leaf-Gautr
to lower the drink in the horn.
29.
He boldly tried it three times,
the strong battle-youth;
now the men may see after this
the truth of that mark.
30.
The cunning one spoke to the flat-Aesir,
the cunning ones of the cliff-praiser:
"You shall lift my cat,
pull it up from the floor."
31.
That was done with sorcery
against Sauðung's brother;
the path led into the bench-hart —
the prince's great beast's temper.
32.
The cat the one seized who crushed the ogre —
a strong-hand's choice;
but it was still before the king's trickery —
standing at the hall door.
33.
Eindridi spared nothing,
overly eager for honor;
then the cowardly one let his front foot
drop from Örn's bride.
34.
Loki bids him seek no further
and go weary back to his seat:
"Viðrir's son has barely now
managed the cat's feet."
35.
The prince spoke from heavy thought,
then the hall was merry:
"Laughter pleases the land's people
to strike you down with all.
36.
You are not made great by deeds
beside our warriors rich;
Thor is diminished, who was great;
most is lied of such."
37.
Þrymr sat wrathful to look upon
and surged up in his seat.
Here I have set the gum's lœ of Grímnir —
laid clear on wisdom's road.
Ríma IV
Mansöngr. Útgarðaloki reveals the truth. The contests were illusions. Thor's rage. The castle vanishes.
1.
Now shall the poet gladden always
the fire of Geitr's ground;
now I have found the fourth ship
of Gress amid the rune-trees.
2.
Þuggva's heir trusted to himself,
then spoke to the people:
"Who is eager to fight with me —
Gjalp's peace-friend?"
3.
"I have a mother," said the lad, "of all,
sweller of the white shoulders;
now she is hurt in many ways —
I think she can fell you."
4.
When the king's branch heard this news,
the bold folk of the king,
then came grim into the hall-gate
the sorcery-thorn's mother.
5.
To the company the old woman seemed great,
arriving bowed with age;
the woman took on and wrestled Thor —
Þrymr was loosed in the field.
6.
She was furious and bent all over,
bowed deep in the limbs;
the spear-tips of the gum-pit
were like a brooch on the shore.
7.
He had no strength against her —
all of Thor in struggle;
Gríðr pressed around the prince's son;
it was hard at the game.
8.
The ground to step on was stiff as a tree
at every turn;
Sáning was forced to sink to one knee —
so is it told of the ogress.
9.
Atli got a great wonder
and strange anger strong;
the old woman vanished, and champion Thor
said he would go to Ásgarðr.
10.
"You shall be led far from the fortress,"
Loki began to speak,
"let fall then the solid grief
that the sorcery-staff gave you.
11.
Prince, I tell you before me,
that needs no one to hide —
I had tricks around every side of you
and bid your people.
12.
When you grasped in furious grip
the heavy nearest spear,
the grass was locked with rigid steel —
that was Skrýmir's lunge.
13.
When you struck with the hammer
and thought to fell us,
a mountain rose before it, built with trust;
my death it would have been else.
14.
This shall be made known: that Loptir
played in the king's hall;
for a very long time burned the glowing fire
hunger from your man.
15.
The horn came to you from the temple filled,
greatly vast to the mouth;
those have filled it — fierce currents —
the stick-end was laid in the wave.
16.
When the ale seemed to you set
running into your bark-hall,
those shall afterward know — sea-falls —
the sword-breaker's men.
17.
Where the coal-troll, the kettle-piece,
came before this bold one,
that was the Midgard Serpent, ugly,
who lies around all the world.
18.
That wife was still lovely,
when she bit and scratched;
that was Old Age, Ygg's son,
who tried its strength on you.
19.
Now I have told you these trials,
there is nothing to be held against them;
it is now made clear that we part —
the wretch has taken you all."
20.
Loðr thought to strike
the cunning troll hard in fury;
then the man was wrathful and the high hall
was borne off inside the shields.
21.
Ginnungr carried off the feast-sea
with glory's trees — its well.
The Lokrur we shall lay aside —
they will weary else.
Colophon
Lokrur, anonymous (14th–15th century). A rímur cycle in four parts based on the account in Snorri Sturluson's Gylfaginning of Thor and Loki's journey to Útgarðaloki. The poet follows Snorri's narrative closely: the farmer's hall (Þjalfi and Röskva), the night in the forest (Skrýmir's glove), the journey with Skrýmir, the knotted pack, the three hammer-blows, the arrival at Útgarðr, the eating contest (Loki versus Logi), the running race (Þjalfi versus Húgi), Thor's three attempts to drain the horn, the wrestling with Elli, and the final revelation. The cycle is particularly notable for compressing the revelation scene of Ríma IV into rapid, kenning-dense verse, with Útgarðaloki's explanations stacked closely together. The sole surviving manuscript is AM 604 g (4°), the same codex that preserves Þrænlur and Þrymlur.
The source rímur are 49, 49, 44, and 21 stanzas respectively. This translation renders the full narrative arc of each ríma; some transitional and repetitive stanzas are condensed where the kenning vocabulary is dense and the narrative action is minimal, while all major episodes are translated in full. The stanza form is four-line throughout all four rímur, with the mansöngr invocations using the same skaldic kenning vocabulary as the body of the poem. Kenning density is high, particularly in the mansöngr stanzas and in the final ríma's revelatory section; several passages required interpretive judgment where the specific kenning referent is uncertain or where the manuscript's OCR introduced ambiguity.
Source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 290–309. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). The editor's critical apparatus was consulted for readings. No existing English translation of this rímur cycle was consulted (none is known to exist).
Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old/Middle Icelandic, 2026. First known English translation. Gospel register.
Translated by this lineage with Claude (NTAC), 2026.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: Lokrur I
Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen, 1905–1912), pp. 290–294. Manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). Critical apparatus omitted; readings follow the editor's main text. OCR text with some regularization.
1.
MIER hefr uænnuzt lauka lind
lukta sorg j Havldar vind;
heyri eno mæta menia nornn,
æ medan ec uakta heiten forn.
2.
Oden red firi æsa piod,
ollum veite stuma hliod,
peingjll gaf sa pegnum sigr,
peim er baru at hillde vigr.
3.
Fiolnes potti ferdin sterk,
furdu giorn uid hreyste verk;
alla list bar Por af peim,
peingil huernn er soktu heim.
4.
Allir hræduzt Yggiar nid,
orku neyUe hann jafnan vid;
pauglir flydu pusar land,
pegar hann tok ser Miollne j hand.
5.
Loke var nefndr Pvndar præll,
proutar laus enn ecki dæll,
huar sem Biorn til bygda for,
bra hann sier æ uid brogdin stor.
6.
Por nam fretta Nalar nid:
"nu mun purfa bragda vid,
nidzkan uillda ec nafna pinn
næsta hitta, kompan minn."
7.
Ut gordum frækn at audling rædr,
eingi uisse hanns fodr ne mædr,
Fiolnes pion skal fara med mier,
flesta kantu leika pier.
8.
Loka var eeki leit vm suavr:
"liU hentar mier pesse faur:
hefr pu frett at hann er troll,
hrædazt næri flogdinn oll."
9.
Yggiar suarade arfe snar:
"ef pu kemr j noekvrt skar,
pa skal ec pyckjan biarga pier,
bu pie skiott ok far med mier."
10.
Por bio heiman peira ferd,
purfte huorki skiold ne suerd;
hamaren tok ok hafra tuo,
hvergi matte slikan fa.
11.
Fyrdar sollu langa leid,
Loke æ gongu enn Por i reid;
Lodr kuedz at lycktum sia
litid hus ok garda sma.
12.
Por at garde pessum snyr,
par stod ute fleina Tyr;
karl er blidr en kerlling glod:
"kostr er ydr at piggia lavd."
13.
Barnn hefr alt sier bonden tuo,
brigdu uæn eru syskenn pau,
Pialfa nefne ec prætu biod,
pussa kyns er Rauskua fliod.
14.
Pialfe geck ok Por j sal,
prifligt toku Reckar tal;
beidarlaus drap hodno brædr
hænis uinr ok kyndu glædr.
15.
Pegar at fram bar fædslu skavd
folke Por til veizlu baud;
oflgum uar pa eigi leitt
Ullar mag at snæda feitt.
16.
Gester atu geitar jod,
gleyptu bæde holld ok blod;
Pialfe giorde at liosta legg,
lysta giorer til mergiar segg.
17.
Geymir ecki Por um pad
pagt j bein j odrum stad;
Baldrs frænde breytte suo,
breide sidan stokrnar æ.
18.
Pegar hid dyra Dollings sprund
drogzt j burttu af stiornv grvnd,
kappar stodv i klæde sin;
komin er pesse fregn til min.
19.
Meniu dolgr en matke preif
Miollnir sier joglis kleif,
uigir beinen barma kids;
bra pvi barre opt til lids.
20.
Buckar giordu at bænum peim,
badir lifa aptr j heim;
jlla bar sinn eftra fot
annar hafr vid meidzlen liot.
21.
Por uard ei vid petta frynn,
pungar let hann siga brynn;
garpren red med gilldan kraptt
greipum prifa Miollnirs skaptt.
22.
Sionir hueste Sifiar ver,
svo gengr opt ef illa fer;
herdir geck ur huerium lid,
huitna toku hnuarnir uid.
23.
Klokr taladi karli uid Por,
kneyfilega med ordum for,
"suo uil ec heill at ec sættir byd
sialfum pier firi heima lyd."
24.
Saudungs anzar sifiar blod,
sidan tynde ollum mod:
"Pialfe vil ec at pione os
prysteligr ok seima Hnoss."
25.
Karl uar eigi j suorunum seinn,
segir at Por skule rada einn,
roskr fylgdi bauga Balldr
Boluerks syni um allan aldr.
26.
Eyddizt pann ueg yta spiall,
asa uordr er sattr ok karl;
Pialfe biozlok prifligr sprund
pessu næst med Yggiar kund.
27.
Rymr for burt med Recka sin;
Rausa ec panveg Ygiar uin;
eptir lagdi kiappa kyn
Kialars nidr hia brodda hlyn.
28.
Ytar gengu allt til nætr,
ecki feingu holdar sætr,
dagren leid en Dorlings mær
dottir Ottars myrkrit fær.
29.
Skatnar fundu j skogi sal,
skreyUr uida navdru dal,
bagligt lizt peim hurda dyr,
Hlodu fostri j skalan snyr.
30.
Ræfr er sterkt æ Ranne pui
Reckar gengu skalan j,
bysna bar ok breidar dyr,
bragnar litu ei slikan fyr.
31.
Nytar taca par nad ok suefnn
navdru landz ok hringa Gefnn.
Hier skal duerga davda lausnn
delta nidr ok orda pausnn.
Source Text: Lokrur II
Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn, vol. 1, pp. 294–301. Manuscript: AM 604 g (4°).
1.
EN skal leysa læges hun
Litar j odru sinne;
mier er eigi hægt um trygdar tun,
at telia asa minne.
2.
Par vil ec reisa Fundings far,
fleygir Draupnes sueita
skeliungs peim j skala uar
med skatnna sinna teita.
3.
Pegar at fyrdar festa blund,
framir j uisku bollum,
sa kom uindr al uida grund,
at ueifdi j ranne ollum.
4.
Meidir uakna æ midre nott
mens ok stodu j klæde;
skalen allr ok skogren pratt
skalf sem leike æ præde.
5.
Fyrda lid uar fare meitt,
fyIlt af sutar jdiv,
hier ser borgar hreyse eitt
hitta j ranne midiv.
6.
Loke var hverge af hrædzlu kyr,
hann hliop par inn med Pjalfa;
Eindridi settizt sialfr j dyr;
sueit tok oll at skialfa.
7.
Dreingir suofu um dokkva natt,
dagr tok miog at sigra;
folkit biodz til ferdar bratt
ok fysir hardra vigra.
8.
Skessu dolgr fra skala ueik
skamt med sina grana;
leitt hann pa huar at læ uid eik
lofdungr hamra ranna.
9.
Firnna Hotr ok at fæstu uel
er flassi pesse skaptr,
bysna digr ok blar sem hel;
ber pat eingen aptr.
10.
Biarge likt var Bauga nef,
bivgt sem hornnit hrvta;
furduligan bar fulan pef
ur fylke hellis skuta.
11.
Augu hans sem hallar tueir,
hoku bar miofa ok langa,
munnen sogdu mestan peir,
miog tok ut al uanga.
12.
Allir negll sem arnnar klær
æ jrpu faka suellte,
skogudu vr hofde tennr tur
trollz sem j uille gellte.
13.
Allr uar hann um beinen ber
ok blar sem hrauns æ renne,
holdum leizt hann hrædeligr
helldr enn segia nenne.
14.
Digran hafdi Stumir staf,
stong feck uarna hære;
huedrungs arfen hraut ok suaf,
hristezt jorden næri.
15.
Wedrit stod suo eikum j
Ams af goma ranne,
skyniar Por at skale af pvi
skalf ok Yggiar suanne.
16.
TiR bar Por af trollum opt,
tok hann Miollnir hondu,
hann greip sin hamar med grimd æ lopt,
Glam vill suipta ondu.
17.
Flagdit æ vit flærdir skilt,
Fleckr tapade blund i;
Vignis fostra uerdur bilt,
at uega at biarga lunde.
18.
Wpp red setiazt leidiligr,
lagliga kuaddi hann dreingi:
"eflizt heidr ok ydar uegr
Asgards manna leingi."
19.
Pundar arfe pagdi ei nidr,
Por nam slikt at fretta:
"holdum skyr pu Hafla nidr
heite pitt af letta."
20.
"Skrimner kalla skatnar mig,
skildu huad ec jnne,
hvert til landa lystir pig
at leita asa sine."
21.
"Pess skal ec sækia fylkirs fund,
er fyr vann sigr til dada,
firi Otgordum med jtra lnnd
a udling alle at rada."
22.
"Holda get ec at hindre prott
at heyia leik uid tiggia,
meidar giordu malms j nott
j minum hanska at liggia."
23.
Par sem fyrdar fundu j njol
fleydrar hiort af skala,
par hefr giort med greipar skiol
gilldan punllung Hala.
24.
Skortir eigi at skioldung pris
skyra fæde uarga,
greUis bol ok greipar js,
gumna stora ok marga.
25.
Ecki ber pu aft nid peim,
eydir dynv linna,
betra er pier at hallda heim
helletr en kong at finna.
26.
Boga mun uerda skelfi skamt
skotnum peim til klækia;
po skulum beigla badir samt
budlung heim at sækia.
27.
Pessu jata Por nu list,
pat er j gonlar minne;
alla bindur yta uist
Aurrlir slett at sinne.
28.
Skrimnir sagdi skotnum leid,
skog uar mest at ganga;
flestir hrædduzt hamra meid
hreytendr oglings landa.
29.
Ide geck so aldri seint
orva pings firi reidi,
eigi horfde Aurnir beint,
vndan bar hann æ skeidi.
30.
Pegar at buar-f af hialme dvergs
hlyrnis glod af fiollvm,
pa tok ræser ranna bergs
reckum natstad ollum.
31.
Skrymnir lekr so skiott til ordz,
skaud vill nadir piggia:
"nu mega gumnar ga til bordz,
geing ec medan at liggia."
32.
Peira uist nam prifa geyst
Pundar arfe en sterke,
onguan brut gat Atlle leyst,
as uar linr j verki.
33.
Ecke feck um aptan mal
asa vordr at snæda,
Skrimnis bond eru skorp sem stal,
skauzt honum af pvi fæda.
34.
Fa uard Eindride ognar styggr,
oUden miste kæte,
gessen hrant so glivfra Yggr,
at gaul j hverin stræte.
35.
Miollnir sette Por j pvi
pvngan liotum Bauga,
hoggit kom pat haussen j,
hamaren sock at auga.
36.
Waknar Prymr vid penna leik,
piodar spurde hann stefnne:
"huolot mvn brum eda barit af eik
bregda vorum suefne?
37.
Lang pat giorde liten dell,
Hezt Ol heila pyfe;
hvort er Fiolnes folk it mett?"
flagda spurde hann skyfe.
38.
Saudungs arfenn sannar pat:
"sneit hefr snætt med pryde;
Aurnir sofdu j annan stad
en ec med mina lyde."
39.
Fljot rann suefn Ol syrpu ver,
sueit tok oll at skialfa;
hamre laust æ heila ker
hrunpveings eisu bjalfa.
40.
Herda nam pa hoggit sitt
Herians bur nid uanga;
hamaren sokk æ hlyrit mitt,
haus uard sundr at ganga.
41.
Waknar Arnr i annad sinn,
yglldr ok strank um skalla:
"munde af eikum mier æ kinn
mylsnan nockur falla?"
42.
Pa uar komit at dyrum dag,
doek huarf nott af fiollum;
Piassa gefr hann pridia slag,
pat uar mest af ollvm.
43.
Hloridi sparde eeki af
Idia geigr at uinna;
hamaren soek ok hendr al kaf
ok hulde skaptit stinna.
44.
Hraudnir spurde ok hreyfdi sig,
huad pa væri j leikum:
"huortt munv fuglar fella al mier
fagra laufit af eikum?"
45.
Skyran ser hann skyia elld
skina fliott al gerdar:
"pier munud gista at grams j kveld,
gerizt os mal til ferdar.
46.
Pier skulut lata lagt um ydr
Loka j nænne hollu;
ella fa pier sneypv ok snydr
snyrte menn med ollu.
47.
Nu mun ec huerfa nordur al leid,
nog her ydr til sorgar;
skilzt ec hier vid skialda meid,
skamt er nu til borgar."
48.
Skrimnir huarf al skog j braut;
skamt uar pess at bida,
mætir saver morkena praut
miela borg ok frida.
49.
Glosat uar firi geira Hlin
Gauzs hit pridia minne;
hier mun falla Fiolnes uin,
pat fæzt eigi leingr at sinne.
Source Text: Lokrur III
Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn, vol. 1, pp. 301–307. Manuscript: AM 604 g (4°).
1.
Semia mun ec nv suerdi mals
Sudra hnaur enn pridia;
mie red garda grvndar als
Gerdr nv sliks at bidia.
2.
Nv hefi eg giorfa Grimnes skeid
goms j lagu nanste;
fyrum sokti fast æ leid
fylkes sonrenn hravsti.
3.
Bolverks arfen buen slægd
borg fan harlla dyra;
par mvn Loke med list ok frægd
londum eiga at styra.
4.
Sav peir garda ok grindhlid stor
greypt med lasum sterkum;
pa uar leiden lukt firi Por,
lokit er snilldar verkum.
5.
Suo uar bvit um borgar hlid,
bitt uard at at ganga;
ute hneptezt Atla lid,
ecki bar til fanga.
6.
Grinden huer uar greypt nid stal,
gefazt mun peim til klækia,
Birnne potte meir en mal
milding heim at sækia.
7.
Suo var grinden geyse stinn,
giorer peim ecki at knyia,
smugu peir mille spalana jnn,
speckt tok peira at flyia.
8.
Peir sa standa stora holl,
styrkta grvndar beinum,
su uar skipud af skotnum oll
ok skreytt med dyrum steinum.
9.
Pegnar stigu j penna sal,
Por geck fystr af aullum;
fylkes sa hann par fyrda val,
folk uar martt al pollvm.
10.
Budlung sa hann j brima peim
bustr sitia rikan;
pess for Atle hvergi vm heim,
at hilme fyndi slikan.
11.
Kappen geck firi kongen hvatt
ok kvaddi sidan tiggia;
budlung tok pa brognum glatt
ok bydr peim sæte at piggia.
12.
"Hvadan kom lydr um land til min?"
Loke nam sliks at fretta;
asa r skyrddu odul sin
orfa Fvnd af letta.
13.
Kongr spurde kempr enn,
kænn vid geiren snarpa,
hvort peir uæri menta menn
mestir allra garpa.
14.
Odlung fra ec suo ordum ueik,
asa r urdu hliodir:
"hafe pier nockvrn listar leik
langt yfer adrar piodir?"
15.
Suaradi Lodr, en sueit var kat,
sa ma færstu leyna:
"preyla mvn ec uid pegnna ætt,
ef pat uill nockr reyna."
16.
"Po erttv skavd æ skemtan beinn",
skioldung tok at ræda,
"Loge mvn heita litell suein,
læt hann vid pie snæda."
17.
Saudungs fostri, suangr ok mior,
sagdizt uera til reida;
gillt kom slatr af gomlvm pior
grams j holl so breida.
18.
Par kom Logi æ pella mot,
prautar vinnu alli;
glopar reyndu goma spiot,
gleypti huor sem matte.
19.
Fiken giordizt fylkirs sueinn,
flest uard upp at ganga,
gleypie hann knifa ok giornvoll bein
ok girntezt po til fanga.
20.
Pegar at snapa snæding praut,
stortt bar peim til vita,
Lodur uard at leita j braut;
Logi sueinn vill hann bita.
21.
Lægra taldi laufa heggr
Lopt ur peira starfe:
"verra mun annar ædre seggr
en Farbauta arfe."
22.
Prellen lyste platu meid
at profa mentir gesta;
Pialfe sagdiz skiotr æ skeid
ok skræmazt langt ytir flesta.
23.
"Huga sueinn verda hlavpenn tid,"
hiorfa talar so reidir,
"reyna megi pid ras um hrid
Recku r ef pic til heidir."
24.
Pialfe kuedz HL pessare stund
pella buen at preyta;
mattu badir al milldri grund
merke fleygir sueita.
25.
Wiku peir ut af vænne boll,
visendr madr ok Pialfe,
berra Por ok hirden snioll
hlodr at skialda alfe.
26.
Rykkelega yard Rasenn herd,
Renna toku badir;
Saudungs madr uar seinne æ ferd,
siga gestnvm dadir.
27.
Halfan polliz hreyter spiotz
blaupa skeid uoll penna,
par kom Hvgi honum til motz
ok hefr par aptr at renna.
28.
Pvi fra ec annsa oflgann Por,
ytar mega pat fregna,
hornnen kuedz hann harlla stor
hneyfa langt ytir pegnna.
29.
"Dagliga hefe ec drykku preytt,"
dræser hleypir skida,
"ok so piod af magne meitt
mest um heimen uida."
30.
Pegar at hoskur hringa Tyr
hrosa giorde listum,
pa bar havldr j burdar dyr
born al lofa kvistum.
31.
Peingell talar al penna hatt,
packtr pelle hreinu:
"pat hafa lydir leikit pratt
at letta horne j einu."
32.
Pegar ber ser Bolverks nidr
bior at vara skala,
kongrenn sier hann keppizt vidr
keyrir biartra stala.
33.
Lystir hann at leita j fra
ok leit j hornnit sidan;
pollitez ecki puerra sia
peingils drycken fridan.
34.
Nu uill frægr fylkes mogr
freista en at pyrre,
seinlega uard solgen logr
synu meir en fyrre.
35.
Par kom en at ereindit praut
oflgum baugar pornne,
litit syndizt lavfa Gaut
lægia drykk j horne.
36.
Diarfliga reyndi drykke pria
darra baur en sterki;
nu mega seggir sidan sia
sannliga æ pvi merki.
37.
Slungen taladi sleitu as
slaunguir biarga laudri:
"kautt minn skaltu kundr Hars
kremma vpp af hauðri."
38.
Pat var bragd med golldrum giort
greitt vid Saudungs brodur;
byckia leid j beckiar hiort
budlungs fressa modur.
39.
Kaullenn preif sa er knepti flogd,
kostr er styrkra handa;
po var kyrtt firi kyngi brogd
kongsens dyr at standa.
40.
Eindridi spardi ecki hot,
yfrit giarnn til soma;
pa let kautrinn fremre fot
firazt brudi Orna.
41.
Loke bidr hann ei leita vidr
ok leidazt aptr j sæte:
"varlla gat nu Vidris nidr
valldit kattar fæte."
42.
Peingill talar af pvngum mod,
pa var glatt j hollu:
"læging pieker landzens piod
at lemia pie med ollu.
43.
Verdr pv eigi af verkum stor
hia vorum gorpum rikum;
minkazt hefr en miekle Por;
mest er logit af slikum."
44.
Reidugligr var Rymr at sia
ok reygdiz upp j sæte.
Hier hefe ec Grimnes goma læ,
greitt ur hyggiu stræte.
Source Text: Lokrur IV
Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn, vol. 1, pp. 307–309. Manuscript: AM 604 g (4°).
1.
EN skal gleidia greppr ey
Geitis folldar bala;
nu hefe eg Gress hid fiorda fley
fundit runnum stala.
2.
Tueggia arfe treyste æ sie,
talar hann pa til lioda:
"huer er fus til fangs uid mie
fredir Gialpar stoda?"
3.
"Modur hef ec", kuad mygir, "alt",
mundar hvitra suella,
"nu er hon meidd j meinum pratt;
man ec hon kune at fella."
4.
Pegar at frettu fylkirs greinn
frægur kongsens piodir,
pa kom grimm j gattar hrein
galdra klungrs modir.
5.
Koppum syndiz kerlling stor,
komin po syntt j elle;
rygr tok ok red æ Por,
Rymur vard laus æ velle.
6.
Bolgen var hon ok blanud oll,
bognud syntt j lendum,
goma spiot æ gryte poll
glikuz brodi strendum.
7.
Ecki hafdi hann orkv uid,
allr er Por æ reike;
hrocktiz gridr um hilmis nid,
hord uar næsta j leiki.
8.
Stiga grvnd var stird sem tre,
stod firi hueriv bragdi;
Sonung vard at siga kne,
so er greint af flagdi.
9.
Atle feck vid undrin stor
æsta reidi ok stranga;
kerlling huarf, en kappinn Por
kuedz j Asgard langa.
10.
"Pik skalleida langt fra borg",
Loki tok so til orda,
"fella pa enu fostu sorg,
er feck pier galdra skorda.
11.
Peingill segi eg pier firi mie,
pat parf eeki at liona,
ec hefe brogd um beittan pie
ok badi pina piona.
12.
Pa er pu greipzt med grimdum æstr
geira nestit pvnga,
gress uar stinnu stali læstr
en sterke Skrimnis lunga.
13.
Pa er pu hogg med hamri laust
ok hugdir oss at bella,
biarg uard firi ok buit med traust;
bane min uar pat ella.
14.
Pui skal lysa at Loptr fyr
lek j kongsens ranne;
geyselengi bar gloandi hyr
grad af ydrum manne.
15.
Pier kom horn af hofi fyIlt
harlla stortt al munni;
pat hafa stridir straumar fyIlt
stikill uar letr j unni.
16.
Pa er pu bior j barka holl
buen letz pier at renna,
pat munu sidan siofar foll
suerda briotar kenna.
17.
Par sem koltrin, keisu brioh,
kom firi hessi sniallan,
pat var Midgardz linn e liotr,
er liggr um heimin allan.
18.
Pussa kvon var peyiv fogr,
pa er hon beit ok reytti,
pat uar elli, Yggar mogr,
er orku vid pie preytfi.
19.
Nv heft ec sagdar prautar pier,
peim er eeki at halla;
pat er nv skyrtt at skilivmzt vier,
skratten taei ydr alIa."
20.
Lodur hygzt pat lymsku troll
liosta fast med reidi;
pa var gramr ok hin hafva holl
borfen skialda Ineide.
21.
Ginnvngs flvtti ec goma haf
giftse meidvm vella.
Lokrur skylv vær leggia af,
leidazt munu pær ella.
Source Colophon
Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 290–309. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). Source text presented without the full critical apparatus (variant readings and manuscript corrections are in the Rímnasafn footnotes). OCR from Internet Archive; some characters regularised where scanning introduced errors.
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