The Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian MythologyKeary, Annie
General
The Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian Mythology
Keary, Annie
Mythology, Norse -- Juvenile literature
So he journeyed on till he came to the house of Suttung's brother,
Baugi. Odin asked Baugi to give him a night's lodging, and Baugi,
who knew no more than the thralls had done who this traveller was,
consented, and began to talk to Odin of the trouble he was in. "This
is hay harvest," he said, "as you must have seen, walking here
through the meadows; and I have a mighty field to gather in, but how
to do it puzzles me, because my nine slaves whom I sent out sound and
well this morning, all fell dead about the middle of the day. How
they managed it, I can't imagine, and it puts me out sadly, for
summer days don't last long in Jötunheim." "Well," said Odin, "I'm
not a bad hand at mowing, and I don't mind undertaking to do the work
of nine thralls for you, Baugi, for a certain reward you may give me,
if you will." "What is that?" inquired Baugi, eagerly. "A draught of
that golden mead, Odhærir, which Suttung obtained from the dwarfs,
and which his daughter Gunnlöd keeps for him." "Oh! that," said
Baugi, "isn't so good as my homebrewed for a thirsty mower; but you
shall have it. It is a bargain between us." So Odin worked for Baugi
the whole summer through with the labour of nine instead of with the
labour of one; and when the last field was reaped, and wintry mists
were gathering, the god and the giant began to talk over their
bargain again. "We will come together to Suttung's house," said
Baugi, "and my brother shall give you the draught which you desire so
much." But when the two came to Suttung's house, and asked him for
the mead, Suttung was exceedingly angry, and would not hear a word
about it from either of them. "You don't drink it yourself, brother,"
pleaded Baugi, "although you might do so every day if you liked,
without asking anybody's leave, or doing one stroke of work for it,
whilst this man has toiled night and day for nine months that he
might taste it only once." "Odhærir is for us giants, nevertheless,"
answered Suttung, "and well does my daughter Gunnlöd guard it from
dwarfs and from men, from spectres, from Asyniur, and from Æsir. Have
I not sworn that so it shall be guarded by all the snows of
Jötunheim, and by the stormy waves, and by the yawning chasm of the
abyss." Then Baugi knew that nothing more was to be said, and he
advised Odin to go back with him at once, and drink beer. But Odin
was not to be turned from his purpose so easily. "You promised me a
draught of the gold mead, Baugi," he said, "and I can see it through
the rock in its three treasure jars; sit down by me and look through
the rock till you can see it too." So Odin and Baugi sat down
together, and pierced the rock with their glances all that day until
they had made a small hole in it; and at night, when Suttung was
asleep, and when Gunnlöd was asleep, and whilst the gold mead shone
steadily in the heart of the cave, Odin looked up towards Asgard, and
said,--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account