[Note that this song is almost 14 minutes long, and it is in Old Icelandic. Contrary to my usual advice that you listen to the music first without distractions, this time I recommend that you read the following information about this song first. Below are two translations of the saga if you want to use one to help you follow along while you listen to the performance.]
The song
Vreiðr Var þá Ving-Þórr (The Lay of Thrym) – 13:54! – Benjamin Bagby
Today’s song is the full Vreiðr Var þá Ving-Þórr (The Lay of Thrym), also called Þrymskviða (or Thrymskvitha; Thrym’s Poem or the Tale of Þrymr.) It is performed here by Benjamin Bagby. Although it is almost 14 minutes long, by saga standards that is quite short.
The poetic saga is recited/sung here in its original Old Icelandic, which is very similar to Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons. Bagby’s 6-string harp is an accurate replica based on one found in a 7th century archaeological site. The pronunciation of Old Icelandic, the playing of the harp, and the style of performance are based on Bagby’s careful research.
This recording is from the medieval music ensemble Sequentia’s 1999 album Edda: Myths from medieval Iceland. Here is how Sequentia describes their album:
Benjamin Bagby has always been interested in Iceland, and in fact he lived & worked on that mysterious North Atlantic island during summers as a student, studying the language. It is only natural that his passion for medieval music would find an outlet in the many medieval texts preserved by the Icelanders. In this project … the myths of the ‘Edda’ are interwoven, to tell the stories of creation, destruction, and of the gods Odin, Thor and Baldur. …
[This is the] first great reconstruction project of a lost musical repertoire, for which Bagby’s work in Icelandic archives was the basis. The philological guiding light in this project was the Icelandic scholar Heimir Pálsson, and the CD was recorded [in 1996] in the church at Skálholt, in Iceland, a place rich in history.
If, after listening to this saga you would like to hear and watch him sing/recite more of this kind of song/poetry you can watch his entire highly-acclaimed performance of Beowulf (over 1½ hours) on this YouTube video (with surtitles.) I was fortunate to have been able to see him perform it live here in Victoria at the Alix Goolden Hall many years ago. Victoria’s Early Music Society hosted his concert in conjunction with a University of Victoria colloquium on Icelandic studies. I was transfixed through the whole performance!
Very briefly, Vreiðr Var þá Ving-Þórr tells the story of how Ƥórr’s (Thor’s) hammer Mjöllnir was stolen by Thrym (Ƥrymr), the king of the gods’ power-hungry rivals the jötnar (often called the giants.) Ƥórr’s friend and fellow-god Loki went to Jotunheim, the kingdom of the giants, to negotiate. When he got there King Thrym demanded the hand of the goddess Freyja as ransom for its return. When Loki returned and relayed that, she absolutely refused to wed the giant’s king. Without his magical hammer, Ƥórr would not be able to protect both the humans and the gods from their shared enemies. So he and Loki went to Thrym’s court in disguise to try to take the magic hammer back by deceit.
In Scandenavian folklore this is perhaps the most popular of the old sagas. It continued to be passed down in the old way, through oral storytelling, until the 19th century. The author and age of the poem are not known. Scholars frequently conservatively date its origin to the 8th or 9th centuries, but even at that time its composition style would have been considered to be archaic.
The earliest written documentation of the poem is from a Icelandic manuscript written by a Christian monk the Codex Regius (also called the Poetic Edda) written from an oral source or transcribed in the 1270s. At that time, Catholic Christianity had been the official religion since 1000 CE. However authorities were quite tolerant of continuation of pagan practice and beliefs outside of the public sphere, and sagas about the old gods were considered to by a legitimate part of traditional Icelandic culture.
The document is now in the collection of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavík. It confirms that the oral transmission of the poem in Scandinavia that continued to the 19th century was quite accurate.
According to voluspa.org :
The Poetic Edda is a collection of poems written in Old Norse; which are preserved mainly in the Icelandic manuscript known as the Codex Regius. It is one of the most important works regarding Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends and equals if not surpasses the Prose Edda in importance. Written in the 13th century, it was not rediscovered until 1643 when Brynjólfur Sveinsson, the Bishop of Skálholt came to be in possession of the manuscript. …
There is no one author involved in the composition of the Eddic poems; they were originally minstrel poems meaning they were passed orally from singer to singer, poet to poet and story teller to story teller. By saga standard, the poem is very short. A few scholars have speculated that it is a monk’s parody of the pagan poetry that he was documenting on parchment. But due to the fact that none of the other sagas (including the humourous ones) are thought to be parodies, and due to the sheer quality of the poetry in this one, there are not many backers for that theory.
According to Prof Henry Adams Bellows (whose poetic translation is given below):
Artistically the Thrymskvitha is one of the best… It has, indeed, been called ‘the finest ballad in the world,’ and not without some reason. Its swift, vigorous action, the sharpness of its characterization and the humor of the central situation combine to make it one of the most vivid short narrative poems ever composed. Of course we know nothing specific of its author, but there can be no question that he was a poet of extraordinary ability.
Translations
I am giving you two translations. The first is actually a 2009 prose summary by Prof D.L. Ashliman who specialized in old Germanic folklore, fairy tales and mythology. It has the advantage of being written in modern language and is therefore easy to read. It comes from this source.
The second translation was published in 1936 and is by Prof. Henry Adams Bellows, who had received his Ph.D. from Harvard for a dissertation on old Norse literature. It has the advantage of translating the story line by line, and is still considered by many scholars to be the best poetic translation of the original text of the saga. Here is the online source that also includes Prof Bellows’ introductory notes about the poem and his extensive footnotes.
The Lay of ThrymProse summaryby Prof D.L. Ashliman
Thor awoke with a start. His hammer, the mighty Mjöllnir, was missing. He shook his shaggy head, and his beard bristled with anger as he groped around him.
He shouted to Loki, "My hammer has been stolen! No one in heaven or on earth can know what a loss this is for me!"
Forthwith they rushed to Freyja's shining halls.
"Freyja," said Thor, "will you lend me your feathered coat to help me seek my hammer?"
Freyja said, "I would lend it to you even if it were made of gold or silver."
Then Loki put on the feathered coat and, leaving Asgard, winged his way to Jotunheim, the world of giants.
Thrym, the lord of giants, sat upon a mound, smoothing his horses' manes and twisting golden halters for his hounds. He said, "How are the Æsir? How are the elves? Why have you come to Jotunheim?"
Loki said, "It is ill with the Æsir; it is ill with the elves. Tell me, have you hidden the Thunderer's hammer?"
Thrym said, "Yes, I have hidden Thor's hammer eight leagues deep in the earth. No one can win it back from me, unless he brings to me fair Freyja as a bride."
Loki flew away, the feathered coat rustling. He left behind the world of giants and winged his way back to the world of the gods.
Thor met him there in the middle court. He said, "Were your labors successful? Tell me the tidings before you land. Sitting causes one to forget, and lying causes one to lie."
Loki said, "Yes, my labors met with success. Thrym, the lord of giants, has your hammer; but no one can win Mjöllnir from him, unless he brings to him fair Freyja as a bride."
Forthwith they rushed to find fair Freyja. "Dress yourself in bridal linen," said Thor. "You and I are on our way to the world of giants."
At this Freyja foamed with rage. The halls of Asgard shook with her anger. The necklace of the Brisings broke apart. "You may call me man-crazy, if I go with you to Jotunheim," she said.
Straight away all the gods and goddesses gathered to discuss how they could recover Thor's hammer.
Heimdall, the fairest of the gods, like all the Vanir could see into the future. "Let us dress Thor in bridal linen," he said, "and let him wear the necklace of the Brisings. Tie housewife's keys about his waist, and pin bridal jewels upon his breast. Let him wear women's clothes, with a dainty hood on his head."
The Thunderer, mightiest of gods, replied, "The gods will call me womanish if I put on bridal linen."
Then Loki, son of Laufey, said, "Thor, be still! With such foolish words the giants will soon be living here in Asgard if you do not get your hammer from them."
So they dressed Thor in bridal linen, tied the necklace of Brisings around his neck and housewife's keys about his waist. They pinned bridal jewels upon his breast, and dressed him in women's clothes, with a dainty hood on his head.
Then Loki, son of Laufey, said, "I will accompany you as your maid-servant. Together we shall go to Jotunheim."
Forthwith the goats were driven home to be harnessed. The mountains trembled, and the earth burned with fire as Odin's son rode to Jotunheim.
Thrym, the lord of giants, said to his kin, "Stand up, you Jotuns, and put straw on the benches. They are bringing fair Freyja, daughter of Njord from Noatun, to be my bride.
I have golden-horned cattle grazing in my yard. They are pure-black oxen, a joy to giants. I have treasures aplenty and rule over great riches. Freyja is the only thing that I lack."
Day soon became evening, and ale was brought to the giants' table. There Thor ate an ox and eight whole salmons, in addition to all the dainties that were served to the women. Furthermore, he drank three measures of mead.
Thrym, the lord of giants, said, "Have you ever seen a bride eat and drink so heartily?"
The maid-servant wisely answered thus: "Freyja was so eager to come to Jotunheim that she has eaten nothing for eight nights."
Thrym stooped beneath his bride's veil, wanting to kiss her, then jumped back the whole length of the hall. "Why are Freyja's eyes so fearful?" he said. "I think that fire is flaming from her eyes."
The maid-servant wisely answered the giant thus: "Freyja was so eager to come to Jotunheim that she has not slept for eight nights."
Then a poor sister of one of the giants came in and dared to beg a gift from the bride. "If you want my love and friendship then give me the gold rings from your fingers," she said.
Then Thrym, the lord of giants, said, "Bring me the hammer to bless the bride. Lay Mjöllnir on the maiden's lap, let the two of us thus be hallowed in the name of Vor, goddess of vows!"
When Thor saw the hammer his heart laughed within him, and he took courage. He first slew Thrym, the lord of giants, then he crushed all the giant's kin.
Finally he slew the old giantess who had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of coins she got the crack of the hammer. Instead of rings she received the mark of Mjöllnir.
Thus Thor won back his hammer.
Þrymskviða (The Lay of Þrym)Poetic translation by Prof Henry Adams Bellows
1. Wild was Vingthor | when he awoke,And when his mighty | hammer he missed;He shook his beard, | his hair was bristling,As the son of Jorth | about him sought.
2. Hear now the speech | that first he spake:"Harken, Loki, | and heed my words,Nowhere on earth | is it known to man,Nor in heaven above: | our hammer is stolen."
3. To the dwelling fair | of Freyja went they,Hear now the speech | that first he spake:"Wilt thou, Freyja, | thy feather-dress lend me,That so my hammer | I may seek?"
Freyja spake:
4. "Thine should it be | though of silver bright,And I would give it | though 'twere of gold."Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred,Till he left behind him | the home of the gods,And reached at last | the realm of the giants.
5. Thrym sat on a mound, | the giants' master,Leashes of gold | he laid for his dogs,And stroked and smoothed | the manes of his steeds.
Thrym spake:
6. "How fare the gods, | how fare the elves?Why comst thou alone | to the giants' land?"
Loki spake:
"Ill fare the gods, | ill fare the elves!Hast thou hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer?"
Thrym spake:7. "I have hidden | Hlorrithi's hammer,Eight miles down | deep in the earth;And back again | shall no man bring itIf Freyja I win not | to be my wife."
8. Then Loki flew, | and the feather-dress whirred,Till he left behind him | the home of the giants,And reached at last | the realm of the gods.There in the courtyard | Thor he met:Hear now the speech | that first he spake:
9. "Hast thou found tidings | as well as trouble?Thy news in the air | shalt thou utter now;Oft doth the sitter | his story forget,And lies he speaks | who lays himself down."
Loki spake:
10. "Trouble I have, | and tidings as well:Thrym, king of the giants, | keeps thy hammer,And back again | shall no man bring itIf Freyja he wins not | to be his wife."
11. Freyja the fair | then went they to findHear now the speech | that first he spake:"Bind on, Freyja, | the bridal veil,For we two must haste | to the giants' home."
12. Wrathful was Freyja, | and fiercely she snorted,And the dwelling great | of the gods was shaken,And burst was the mighty | Brisings' necklace:"Most lustful indeed | should I look to allIf I journeyed with thee | to the giants' home."
13. Then were the gods | together met,And the goddesses came | and council held,And the far-famed ones | a plan would find,How they might Hlorrithi's | hammer win.
14. Then Heimdall spake, | whitest of the gods,Like the Wanes he knew | the future well:"Bind we on Thor | the bridal veil,Let him bear the mighty | Brisings' necklace;
15. "Keys around him | let there rattle,And down to his knees | hang woman's dress;With gems full broad | upon his breast,And a pretty cap | to crown his head."
16. Then Thor the mighty | his answer made:"Me would the gods | unmanly callIf I let bind | the bridal veil."
17. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey:"Be silent, Thor, | and speak not thus;Else will the giants | in Asgarth dwellIf thy hammer is brought not | home to thee."
18. Then bound they on Thor | the bridal veil,And next the mighty | Brisings' necklace.
19. Keys around him | let they rattle,And down to his knees | hung woman's dress;With gems full broad | upon his breast,And a pretty cap | to crown his head.
20. Then Loki spake, | the son of Laufey:"As thy maid-servant thither | I go with thee;We two shall haste | to the giants' home."
21. Then home the goats | to the hall were driven,They wrenched at the halters, | swift were they to run;The mountains burst, | earth burned with fire,And Othin's son | sought Jotunheim.
22. Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader:"Bestir ye, giants, | put straw on the benches;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. 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."
27. Thrym looked 'neath the veil, | for he longed to kiss,But back he leaped | the length of the hall:"Why are so fearful | the eyes of Freyja?Fire, methinks, | from her eyes burns forth."
28. Hard by there sat | the serving-maid wise,So well she answered | the giant's words:"No sleep has Freyja | for eight nights found,So hot was her longing | for Jotunheim."
29. Soon came the giant's | luckless sister,Who feared not to ask | the bridal fee:"From thy hands the rings | of red gold take,If thou wouldst win | my willing love,(My willing love | and welcome glad.)"
30: Then loud spake Thrym, | the giants' leader:"Bring in the hammer | to hallow the bride;On the maiden's knees | let Mjollnir lie,That us both the band | of Vor may bless."
31. The heart in the breast | of Hlorrithi laughedWhen the hard-souled one | his hammer beheld;First Thrym, the king | of the giants, he killed,Then all the folk | of the giants he felled.
32. The giant's sister | old he slew,She who had begged | the bridal fee;A stroke she got | in the shilling's stead,And for many rings | the might of the hammer.
33. And so his hammer | got Othin's son.
