famous among the giants, and the proposed meeting with Thor was much talked of. They regarded it very important who should gain the victory, and they feared the worst from Thor if Hrungner should be defeated, for he was the strongest among them. Thereupon the giants made at Grjottungard a man of clay, who was nine rasts tall and three rasts broad under the arms, but being unable to find a heart large enough to be suitable for him, they took the heart from a mare, but even this fluttered and trembled when Thor came. Hrungner had, as is well known, a heart of stone, sharp and three-sided; just as the rune has since been risted that is called Hrungner’s heart. Even his head was of stone. His shield was of stone, and was broad and thick, and he was holding this shield before him as he stood at Grjottungard waiting for Thor. His weapon was a flint-stone, which he swung over his shoulders, and altogether he presented a most formidable aspect. On one side of him stood the giant of clay, who was named Mokkerkalfe. He was so exceedingly terrified, that it is said that he wet himself when he saw Thor. Thor proceeded to the duel, and Thjalfe was with him. Thjalfe ran forward to where Hrungner was standing, and said to him: You stand illy guarded, giant; you hold the shield before you, but Thor has seen you; he goes down into the earth and will attack you from below. Then Hrungner thrust the shield under his feet and stood on it, but the flint-stone he seized with both his hands. The next that he saw were flashes of lightning, and he heard loud crashings; and then he saw Thor in his asa-might advancing with impetuous speed, swinging his hammer and hurling it from afar at Hrungner. Hrungner seized the flint-stone with both his hands and threw it against the hammer. They met in the air, and the flint-stone broke. One part fell to the earth, and from it have come the flint-mountains; the other part hit Thor’s head with such force that he fell forward to the ground. But the hammer Mjolner hit Hrungner right in the head, and crushed his skull in small pieces. He himself fell forward over Thor, so that his foot lay upon Thor’s neck. Meanwhile Thjalfe attacked Mokkerkalfe, who fell with but little honor. Then Thjalfe went to Thor and was to take Hrungner’s foot off from him, but he had not the strength to do it. When the asas learned that Thor had fallen, they all came to take the giant’s foot off, but none of them was able to move it. Then came Magne, the son of Thor and Jarnsaxa. He was only three nights of age. He threw Hrungner’s foot off Thor, and said It was a great mishap, father, that I came so late. I think I could have slain this giant with my fist, had I met him. Then Thor arose, greeted his son lovingly, saying that he would become great and powerful; and, added he, I will give you the horse Goldfax, that belonged to Hrungner. Odin said that Thor did wrong in giving so fine a horse to the son of a giantess, instead of to his father. Thor went home to Thrudvang, but the flint-stone still stuck fast in his head. Then came the vala whose name is Groa, the wife of Orvandel the Bold. She sang her magic songs over Thor until the flint-stone became loose. But when Thor perceived this, and was just expecting that the flint-stone would disappear, he desired to reward Groa for her healing, and make her heart glad. So he related to her how he had waded from the north over the Elivogs rivers, and had borne in a basket on his back Orvandel from Jotunheim; and in evidence of this he told her how that one toe of his had protruded from the basket and had frozen, wherefore Thor had broken it off and had cast it up into the sky, and made of it the star which is called Orvandel’s toe. Finally he added that it would not be long before Orvandel would come home. But Groa became so glad that she forgot her magic songs, and so the flint-stone became no looser than it was, and it sticks fast in Thor’s head yet. For this reason it is forbidden to throw a flint-stone across the floor, for then the stone in Thor’s head is moved. Out of this saga Thjodolf of Hvin has made a song: We have ample evidence Of the giant-terrifier’s[77] journey To Grjottungard, to the giant Hrungner, In the midst of encircling flames. The courage waxed high in Meile’s brother;[78] The moon-way trembled When Jord’s son[79] went To the steel-gloved contest.
The heavens stood all in flames For Uller’s step-father,[80] And the earth rocked. Svolne’s[81] widow[82] burst asunder When the span of goats Drew the sublime chariot And its divine master To the meeting with Hrungner.
Balder’s brother[83] did not tremble Before the greedy fiend of men; Mountains quaked and rocks broke; The heavens were wrapped in flames. Much did the giant Get frightened, I learn, When his bane man he saw Ready to slay him.
Swiftly the gray shield flew ’Neath the heels of the giant. So the gods willed it, So willed it the valkyries. Hrungner the giant, Eager for slaughter, Needed not long to wait for blows From the valiant friend of the hammer.
The slayer[84] of Bele’s evil race Made fall the bear of the loud-roaring mountain;[85] On his shield Bite the dust Must the giant Before the sharp-edged hammer, When the giant-crusher Stood against the mighty Hrungner, And the flint-stone (So hard to break) Of the friend of the troll-women Into the skull did whiz Of Jord’s son,[86] And this flinty piece Fast did stick In Eindride’s[87] blood; Until Orvandel’s wife, Magic songs singing, From the head of Thor Removed the giant’s Excellent flint-stone. All do I know About that shield-journey. A shield adorned With hues most splendid I received from Thorleif.
[Footnote 78: Thor.]
[Footnote 80: Thor.]
[Footnote 82: The earth.]
[Footnote 83: Thor.]
[Footnote 84: Thor.]
[Footnote 85: The giant Hrungner.]
[Footnote 86: Thor.]
THOR’S JOURNEY TO GEIRROD’S.
Then said Æger: Much of a man, it seems to me, was that Hrungner. Has Thor accomplished any other great deeds in his intercourse with trolls (giants)? Then answered Brage: It is worth giving a full account of how Thor made a journey to Geirrodsgard. He had with him neither the hammer Mjolner, nor his belt of strength, Megingjard, nor his steel gloves; and that was Loke’s fault,--he was with him. For it had happened to Loke, when he once flew out to amuse himself in Frigg’s falcon-guise, that he, out of curiosity, flew into Geirrodsgard, where he saw a large hall. He sat down and looked in through the window, but Geirrod discovered him, and ordered the bird to be caught and brought to him. The servant had hard work to climb up the wall of the hall, so high was it. It amused Loke that it gave the servant so much trouble to get at him, and he thought it would be time enough to fly away when he had gotten over the worst. When the latter now caught at him, Loke spread his wings and spurned with his feet, but these were fast, and so Loke was caught and brought to the giant. When the latter saw his eyes he suspected that it was a man. He put questions to him and bade him answer, but Loke refused to speak. Then Geirrod locked him down in a chest, and starved him for three months; and when Geirrod finally took him up again, and asked him to speak, Loke confessed who he was, and to save his life he swore an oath to Geirrod that he would get Thor to come to Geirrodsgard without his hammer or his belt of strength.
On his way Thor visited the giantess whose name is Grid. She was the mother of Vidar the Silent. She told Thor the truth concerning Geirrod, that he was a dog-wise and dangerous giant; and she lent him her own belt of strength and steel gloves, and her staff, which is called Gridarvol. Then went Thor to the river which is called Vimer, and which is the largest of all rivers. He buckled on the belt of strength and stemmed the wild torrent with Gridarvol, but Loke held himself fast in Megingjard. When Thor had come into the middle of the stream, the river waxed so greatly that the waves dashed over his shoulders. Then quoth Thor: Wax not Vimer, Since I intend to wade To the gards of giants. Know, if you wax, Then waxes my asa-might As high, as the heavens.
Then Thor looked up and saw in a cleft Gjalp, the daughter of Geirrod, standing on both sides of the stream, and causing its growth. Then took he up out of the river a huge stone and threw at her, saying: At its source the stream must be stemmed.[88] He was not wont to miss his mark. At the same time he reached the river bank and got hold of a shrub, and so he got out of the river. Hence comes the adage that _a shrub saved Thor_.[89] When Thor came to Geirrod, he and his companion were shown to the guest-room, where lodgings were given them, but there was but one seat, and on that Thor sat down. Then he became aware that the seat was raised under him toward the roof. He put the Gridarvol against the rafters, and pressed himself down against the seat. Then was heard a great crash, which was followed by a loud screaming. Under the seat were Geirrod’s daughters, Gjalp and Greip, and he had broken the backs of both of them. Then quoth Thor: Once I employed My asa-might In the gards of the giants. When Gjalp and Greip, Geirrod’s daughters, Wanted to lift me to heaven.
[Footnote 88: Icelandic proverb.]
[Footnote 89: Icelandic proverb.]
Then Geirrod had Thor invited into the hall to the games. Large fires burned along the whole length of the hall. When Thor came into the hall, and stood opposite Geirrod, the latter seized with a pair of tongs a red-hot iron wedge and threw it at Thor. But he caught it with his steel gloves, and lifted it up in the air. Geirrod sprang behind an iron post to guard himself. But Thor threw the wedge with so great force that it struck through the post, through Geirrod, through the wall, and then went out and into the ground. From this saga, Eilif, son of Gudrun, made the following song, called Thor’s Drapa: The Midgard-serpent’s father exhorted Thor, the victor of giants, To set out from home. A great liar was Loke. Not quite confident, The companion of the war-god Declared green paths to lie To the gard of Geirrod.
Thor did not long let Loke Invite him to the arduous journey. They were eager to crush Thorn’s descendants. When he, who is wont to swing Megingjard, Once set out from Odin’s home To visit Ymer’s children in Gandvik, The giantess Gjalp, Perjured Geirrod’s daughter, Sooner got ready magic to use Than the god of war and Loke. A song I recite. Those gods noxious to the giants Planted their feet In Endil’s land, And the men wont to battle Went forth. The message of death Came of the moon-devourer’s women, When the cunning and wrathful Conqueror of Loke Challenged to a contest The giantess.
And the troll-woman’s disgracer Waded across the roaring stream,-- Rolling full of drenched snow over its banks. He who puts giants to flight Rapidly advanced O’er the broad watery way, Where the noisy stream’s Venom belched forth.
Thor and his companions Put before him the staff; Thereon he rested Whilst over they waded: Nor sleep did the stones,-- The sonorous staff striking the rapid wave Made the river-bed ring,-- The mountain-torrent rang with stones.
The wearer of Megingjard Saw the flood fall On his hard-waxed shoulders: He could do no better. The destroyer of troll-children Let his neck-strength Wax heaven high, Till the mighty stream should diminish.
But the warriors, The oath-bound protectors of Asgard,-- The experienced vikings,-- Waded fast and the stream sped on. Thou god of the bow! The billows Blown by the mountain-storm Powerfully rushed Over Thor’s shoulders.
Thjalfe and his companion, With their heads above water, Got over the river,-- To Thor’s belt they clung. Their strength was tested,-- Geirrod’s daughters made hard the stream For the iron rod. Angry fared Thor with the Gridarvol.
Nor did courage fail Those foes of the giant In the seething vortex. Those sworn companions Regarded a brave heart Better than gold. Neither Thor’s nor Thjalfe’s heart From fear did tremble.
And the war companions-- Weapons despising-- ’Mong the giants made havoc, Until, O woman! The giant destroyers The conflict of helmets With the warlike race Did commence.
The giants of Iva’s[90] capes Made a rush with Geirrod; The foes of the cold Svithiod Took to flight. Geirrod’s giants Had to succumb When the lightning wielder’s[91] kinsmen Closely pursued them.
Wailing was ’mongst the cave-dwellers When the giants, With warlike spirit endowed, Went forward. There was war. The slayer of troll-women, By foes surrounded, The giant’s hard head hit.
With violent pressure Were pressed the vast eyes Of Gjalp and Greip Against the high roof. The fire-chariot’s driver The old backs broke Of both these maids For the cave-woman.
The man of the rocky way But scanty knowledge got; Nor able were the giants To enjoy perfect gladness. Thou man of the bow-string! The dwarf’s kinsman An iron beam, in the forge heated, Threw against Odin’s dear son.
But the battle-hastener, Freyja’s old friend, With swift hands caught In the air the beam As it flew from the hands Of the father of Greip,-- His breast with anger swollen Against Thruda’s[92] father.
Geirrod’s hall trembled When he struck, With his broad head, ’Gainst the old column of the house-wall. Uller’s splendid flatterer Swung the iron beam Straight ’gainst the head Of the knavish giant.
The crusher of the hall-wont troll-women A splendid victory won Over Glam’s descendants; With gory hammer fared Thor. Gridarvol-staff, Which made disaster ’Mong Geirrod’s companion, Was not used ’gainst that giant himself.
The much worshiped thunderer, With all his might, slew The dwellers in Alfheim With that little willow-twig, And no shield Was able to resist The strong age-diminisher Of the mountain-king.
[Footnote 90: A river in Jotunheim.]
[Footnote 91: Thor’s kinsmen = the asas.]
[Footnote 92: Thruda was a daughter of Thor and Sif.]
IDUN.
How shall Idun be named? She is called the wife of Brage, the keeper of the apples; but the apples are called the medicine to bar old age (ellilyf, elixir vitæ). She is also called the booty of the giant Thjasse, according to what has before been said concerning how he took her away from the asas. From this saga Thjodolf, of Hvin, composed the following song in his Haustlong: How shall the tongue Pay an ample reward For the sonorous shield Which I received from Thorleif, Foremost ’mong soldiers? On the splendidly made shield I see the unsafe journey Of three gods and Thjasse.
Idun’s robber flew long ago The asas to meet In the giant’s old eagle-guise. The eagle perched Where the asas bore Their food to be cooked. Ye women! The mountain-giant Was not wont to be timid.
Suspected of malice Was the giant toward the gods. Who causes this? Said the chief of the gods. The wise-worded giant-eagle From the old tree began to speak. The friend of Honer Was not friendly to him.
The mountain-wolf from Honer Asked for his fill From the holy table: It fell to Honer to blow the fire. The giant, eager to kill, Glided down Where the unsuspecting gods, Odin, Loke and Honer, were sitting.
The fair lord of the earth Bade Farbaute’s son Quickly to share The ox with the giant; But the cunning foe of the asas Thereupon laid The four parts of the ox Upon the broad table.
And the huge father of Morn[93] Afterward greedily ate The ox at the tree-root. That was long ago, Until the profound Loke the hard rod laid ’Twixt the shoulders Of the giant Thjasse.
Then clung with his hands The husband of Sigyn To Skade’s foster-son, In the presence of all the gods. The pole stuck fast To Jotunheim’s strong fascinator, But the hands of Honer’s dear friend Stuck to the other end.
Flew then with the wise god The voracious bird of prey Far away; so the wolf’s father To pieces must be torn. Odin’s friend got exhausted. Heavy grew Lopt. Odin’s companion Must sue for peace.
Hymer’s kinsman demanded That the leader of hosts The sorrow-healing maid, Who the asas’ youth-preserving apples keeps, Should bring to him. Brisingamen’s thief Afterward brought Idun To the gard of the giant.
Sorry were not the giants After this had taken place, Since from the south Idun had come to the giants. All the race Of Yngve-Frey, at the Thing, Grew old and gray,-- Ugly-looking were the gods.
Until the gods found the blood-dog, Idun’s decoying thrall, And bound the maid’s deceiver, You shall, cunning Loke, Spake Thor, die; Unless back you lead, With your tricks, that Good joy-increasing maid.
Heard have I that thereupon The friend of Honer flew In the guise of a falcon (He often deceived the asas with his cunning); And the strong fraudulent giant, The father of Morn, With the wings of the eagle Sped after the hawk’s child.
The holy gods soon built a fire-- They shaved off kindlings-- And the giant was scorched. This is said in memory Of the dwarf’s heel-bridge.[94] A shield adorned with splendid lines From Thorleif I received.
[Footnote 94: Shield.]
ÆGER’S FEAST.
How shall gold be named? It may be called fire; the needles of Glaser; Sif’s hair; Fulla’s head-gear; Freyja’s tears; the chatter, talk or word of the giants; Draupner’s drop; Draupner’s rain or shower; Freyja’s eyes; the otter-ransom, or stroke-ransom, of the asas; the seed of Fyrisvold; Holge’s how-roof; the fire of all waters and of the hand; or the stone, rock or gleam of the hand.
Why is gold called Æger’s fire? The saga relating to this is, as has before been told, that Æger made a visit to Asgard, but when he was ready to return home he invited Odin and all the asas to come and pay him a visit after the lapse of three months. On this journey went Odin, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Brage, Vidar, Loke; and also the asynjes, Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, Skade, Idun, Sif. Thor was not there, for he had gone eastward to fight trolls. When the gods had taken their seats, Æger let his servants bring in on the hall floor bright gold, which shone and lighted up the whole hall like fire, just as the swords in Valhal are used instead of fire. Then Loke bandied hasty words with all the gods, and slew Æger’s thrall who was called Fimafeng. The name of his other thrall is Elder. The name of Æger’s wife is Ran, and they have nine daughters, as has before been written. At this feast all things passed around spontaneously, both food and ale and all the utensils needed for the feasting. Then the asas became aware that Ran had a net in which she caught all men who perish at sea. Then the saga goes on telling how it happens that gold is called the fire, or light or brightness of Æger, of Ran, or of Æger’s daughters; and from these periphrases it is allowed to call gold the fire of the sea, or of any of the periphrases of the sea, since Æger and Ran are found in periphrases of the sea; and thus gold is now called the fire of waters, of rivers, or of all the periphrases of rivers. But these names have fared like other periphrases. The younger skald has composed poetry after the pattern of the old skalds, imitating their songs; but afterward they have expanded the metaphors whenever they thought they could improve upon what was sung before; and thus the water is the sea, the river is the lakes, the brook is the river. Hence all the figures that are expanded more than what has before been found are called new tropes, and all seem good that contain likelihood and are natural. Thus sang the skald Brage: From the king I received The fire of the brook. This the king gave to me And a head with song.
Why is gold called the needles or leaves of Glaser? In Asgard, before the doors of Valhal, stands a grove which is called Glaser, and all its leaves are of red gold, as is here sung: Glaser stands With golden leaves Before Sigtyr’s halls.
This is the fairest forest among gods and men.
LOKE’S WAGER WITH THE DWARFS.
Why is gold called Sif’s hair? Loke Laufey’s son had once craftily cut all the hair off Sif; but when Thor found it out he seized Loke, and would have broken every bone in him, had he not pledged himself with an oath to get the swarthy elves to make for Sif a hair of gold that should grow like other hair. Then went Loke to the dwarfs that are called Ivald’s sons, and they made the hair and Skidbladner, and the spear that Odin owned and is called Gungner. Thereupon Loke wagered his head with the dwarf, who hight Brok, that his brother Sindre would not be able to make three other treasures equally as good as these were. But when they came to the smithy, Sindre laid a pig-skin in the furnace and requested Brok to blow the bellows, and not to stop blowing before he (Sindre) had taken out of the furnace what he had put into it. As soon, however, as Sindre had gone out of the smithy and Brok was blowing, a fly lighted on his hand and stung him; but he kept on blowing as before until the smith had taken the work out of the furnace. That was now a boar, and its bristles were of gold. Thereupon he laid gold in the furnace, and requested Brok to blow, and not to stop plying the bellows before he came back. He went out; but then came the fly and lighted on his neck and stung him still worse; but he continued to work the bellows until the smith took out of the furnace the gold ring called Draupner. Then Sindre placed iron in the furnace, and requested Brok to work the bellows, adding that otherwise all would be worthless. Now the fly lighted between his eyes and stung his eye-lids, and as the blood ran down into his eyes so that he could not see, he let go of the bellows just for a moment and drove the fly away with his hands. Then the smith came back and said that all that lay in the furnace came near being entirely spoiled. Thereupon he took a hammer out of the furnace. All these treasures he then placed in the hands of his brother Brok, and bade him go with Loke to Asgard to fetch the wager. When Loke and Brok brought forth the treasures, the gods seated themselves upon their doom-steads. It was agreed to abide by the decision which should be pronounced by Odin, Thor and Frey. Loke gave to Odin the spear Gungner, to Thor the hair, which Sif was to have, and to Frey, Skidbladner; and he described the qualities of all these treasures, stating that the spear never would miss its mark, that the hair would grow as soon as it was placed on Sif s head, and that Skidbladner would always have fair wind as soon as the sails were hoisted, no matter where its owner desired to go; besides, the ship could be folded together like a napkin and be carried in his pocket if he desired. Then Brok produced his treasures. He gave to Odin the ring, saying that every ninth night eight other rings as heavy as it would drop from it; to Frey he gave the boar, stating that it would run through the air and over seas, by night or by day, faster than any horse; and never could it become so dark in the night, or in the worlds of darkness, but that it would be light where this boar was present, so bright shone his bristles. Then he gave to Thor the hammer, and said that he might strike with it as hard as he pleased; no matter what was before him, the hammer would take no scathe, and wherever he might throw it he would never lose it; it would never fly so far that it did not return to his hand; and if he desired, it would become so small that he might conceal it in his bosom; but it had one fault, which was, that the handle was rather short. The decision of the gods was, that the hammer was the best of all these treasures and the greatest protection against the frost-giants, and they declared that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. Then Loke offered to ransom his head. The dwarf answered saying there was no hope for him on that score.
Take me, then! said Loke; but when the dwarf was to seize him Loke was far away, for he had the shoes with which he could run through the air and over the sea. Then the dwarf requested Thor to seize him, and he did so. Now the dwarf wanted to cut the head off Loke, but Loke said that the head was his, but not the neck. Then the dwarf took thread and a knife and wanted to pierce holes in Loke’s lips, so as to sew his mouth together, but the knife would not cut. Then said he, it would be better if he had his brother’s awl, and as soon as he named it the awl was there and it pierced Loke’s lips. Now Brok sewed Loke’s mouth together, and broke off the thread at the end of the sewing. The thread with which the mouth of Loke was sewed together is called Vartare (a strap).
THE NIFLUNGS AND GJUKUNGS.
The following is the reason why gold is called otter-ransom: It is related that three asas went abroad to learn to know the whole world, Odin, Honer and Loke. They came to a river, and walked along the river-bank to a force, and near the force was an otter. The otter had caught a salmon in the force, and sat eating it with his eyes closed. Loke picked up a stone, threw it at the otter and hit him in the head. Loke bragged of his chase, for he had secured an otter and a salmon with one throw. They took the salmon and the otter with them, and came to a byre, where they entered. But the name of the bonde who lived there was Hreidmar. He was a mighty man, and thoroughly skilled in the black art. The asas asked for night-lodgings, stating that they had plenty of food, and showed the bonde their game. But when Hreidmar saw the otter he called his sons, Fafner and Regin, and said that Otter, their brother, was slain, and also told who had done it. Then the father and the sons attacked the asas, seized them and bound them, and then said, in reference to the otter, that he was Hreidmar’s son. The asas offered, as a ransom for their lives, as much money as Hreidmar himself might demand, and this was agreed to, and confirmed with an oath. Then the otter was flayed. Hreidmar took the otter-belg and said to them that they should fill the belg with red gold, and then cover it with the same metal, and when this was done they should be set free. Thereupon Odin sent Loke to the home of the swarthy elves, and he came to the dwarf whose name is Andvare, and who lived as a fish, in the water. Loke caught him in his hands, and demanded of him, as a ransom for his life, all the gold that he had in his rock. And when they entered the rock, the dwarf produced all the gold that he owned, and that was a very large amount. Then the dwarf concealed in his hand a small gold ring. Loke saw this, and requested him to hand forth the ring. The dwarf begged him not to take the ring away from him, for with this ring he could increase his wealth again if he kept it. Loke said the dwarf should not keep as much as a penny, took the ring from him and went out. But the dwarf said that that ring should be the bane of every one who possessed it. Loke replied that he was glad of this, and said that all should be fulfilled according to his prophecy: he would take care to bring the curse to the ears of him who was to receive it. He went to Hreidmar and showed Odin the gold; but when the latter saw the ring, it seemed to him a fair one, and he took it and put it aside, giving Hreidmar the rest of the gold. They filled the otter-belg as full as it would hold, and raised it up when it was full. Then came Odin, and was to cover the belg with gold; and when this was done, he requested Hreidmar to come and see whether the belg was sufficiently covered. But Hreidmar looked at it, examined it closely, and saw a mouth-hair, and demanded that it should be covered, too, otherwise the agreement would be broken. Then Odin brought forth the ring and covered with it the mouth-hair, saying that now they had paid the otter-ransom. But when Odin had taken his spear, and Loke his shoes, so that they had nothing more to fear, Loke said that the curse that Andvare had pronounced should be fulfilled, and that the ring and that gold should be the bane of its possessor; and this curse was afterward fulfilled. This explains why gold is called the otter-ransom, or forced payment of the asas, or strife-metal.
What more is there to be told of this gold? Hreidmar accepted the gold as a ransom for his son, but Fafner and Regin demanded their share of it as a ransom for their brother. Hreidmar was, however, unwilling to give them as much as a penny of it. Then the brothers made an agreement to kill their father for the sake of the gold. When this was done, Regin demanded that Fafner should give him one half of it. Fafner answered that there was but little hope that he would share the gold with his brother, since he had himself slain his father to obtain it; and he commanded Regin to get him gone, for else the same thing would happen to him as had happened to Hreidmar. Fafner had taken the sword hight Hrotte, and the helmet which had belonged to his father, and the latter he had placed on his head. This was called the Æger’s helmet, and it was a terror to all living to behold it. Regin had the sword called Refil. With it he fled. But Fafner went to Gnita-heath (the glittering heath), where he made himself a bed, took on him the likeness of a serpent (dragon), and lay brooding over the gold.