And thus the giant he bespoke; “Nought has she eat for eight long nights, So did she long for the nuptial rites.” He stoop’d beneath her veil to kiss, But he started the length of the hall, I wiss. “Why are the looks of Freyia so dire? It seems as her eyeballs glistened with fire.” Then forward leant the crafty Loke, And thus the giant he bespoke; “Nought has she slept for eight long nights, So did she long for the nuptial rites.” Then in the giant’s sister came, Who dared a bridal gift to claim; “Those rings of gold from thee I crave, If thou wilt all my fondness have, All my love and fondness have.” Then Thrym the king of the Thursi said; “Bear in the hammer to plight the maid; Upon her lap the bruizer lay, And firmly plight our hands and fay.”[91] The Thunderer’s soul smiled in his breast, When the hammer hard on his lap was placed; Thrym first the king of the Thursi he slew, And slaughter’d all the giant crew. He slew that giant’s sister old, Who pray’d for bridal gifts so bold. Instead of money and rings, I wot, The hammer’s bruises were her lot. Thus Odin’s son his hammer got. Footnote 87: Transcriber’s note: There was no footnote text for this marker. Footnote 88: _Busk_, dress. Footnote 89: _Kirtle_, a woman’s garment. Footnote 90: _Dight_, dressed, adorned. Footnote 91: _Fay_, faith. Footnote 92: See before, p. 56. Footnote 93: See Vol. I. p. 3. Footnote 94: Pigott’s translation. Footnote 95: See before, p. 57. Footnote 96: Ibid. p. 61. Footnote 97: Ibid. p. 107. Footnote 98: See before, p. 86. Footnote 99: How then could Jotunheim be so dark? The reason is afterwards given. Her supernatural beauty illumined the whole country. Footnote 100: See before, p. 99. Footnote 101: Mr. Herbert has thus versified the expedition of Skirnir:— “Skirnir, arise! and swiftly run, Where lonely sits our pensive son! Bid him to parley, and enquire, ’Gainst whom he teems with sullen ire.” SKIRNIR (_sung_).—“Ill words, I fear, my lot will prove, If I thy son attempt to move; If I bid parley, and enquire, Why teems his soul with savage ire.” SKIRNIR (_sung_).—“Prince of the gods, and first in fight, Speak, honoured Freyr, and tell me right! Why spends my lord the tedious day In his lone hall to grief a prey?” FREYR (_sung_).—“O how shall I, fond youth, disclose To thee my bosom’s heavy woes? The ruddy god shines every day, But dull to me his cheerful ray.”