The Viking Age. Volume 1 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nationsDu Chaillu, Paul B. (Paul Belloni)
History
The Viking Age. Volume 1 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nations
“A man was called Gýmir whose wife Orboda was of Berg (mountain) Risar
kin. Their daughter Gerd was the most beautiful of all women. One day
Frey had gone to _Hlidskjalf_[98] and could see over all worlds. When he
looked to the North he saw on a farm a large and fine house towards
which a woman was walking. When she lifted her arms, opening the door, a
light shone from them on the sea, and the air and all worlds were
brightened from her. His great boldness in sitting down in the holy seat
thus was revenged upon him, for he went away, full of sorrow. When he
came home he did not speak or sleep or drink and no one dared question
him. Then Njörd called to him Skirnir, the shoe-boy of Frey, and told
him to go to Frey, address him and ask with whom he was so angry that he
would not speak to men. Skirnir said he would go, though not willingly,
as unfavourable answers might be expected from him. When he came to Frey
he asked why he was so sad and did not speak to men. Frey answered that
he had seen a beautiful woman and for her sake he was so full of grief
that he would not live long if he should not get her. ‘Now thou shalt go
and ask her in marriage for me and take her home hither whether her
father is willing or not; I will reward it well.’ Skirnir answered that
he would undertake this message if Frey gave him his sword. This sword
was so good that it fought of itself. Frey did not fail to do this and
gave it to him. Skirnir then went and asked the woman in marriage for
him and got her promise that she would come after nine nights and keep
her wedding with Frey. When Skirnir had told Frey of his journey Frey
sang:
“Long is one night,
Long is another,
How can I endure three?
Often a month to me
Shorter seemed
Than one half of this wedding-night.”
(Later Edda, Gylfaginning, 37.)
After the death of Njörd, Frey, one of his sons, succeeded him as high
priest of the sacrifices, and, according to tradition, built the great
temple at Upsala, which became of great repute as a most holy place
among the people of the North, who came from all parts of the country to
assist at the sacrifices. The Sagas say that great Things were held
there, all important quarrels settled, friendship sealed, and peace
concluded between chieftains and countries.
“Frey took the realm after Njörd; he was called the dróttin of the
Swedes, and took taxes of them. He was as well liked as his father, and
in his days also were good seasons. Frey raised a large temple at
Uppsalir, and had his head burgh (höfud stad) there; all his taxes,
lands, and loose property he gave thereto. That was the beginning of the
Uppsalir wealth, which has been kept up ever since.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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