The Prose Edda (12 page)

‘And Utgarda-Loki replied, “Now that you are out of the fortress, I will tell you the truth, for, if I live and am the one to decide, you will never enter it again. On my word, I can assure you, that you would never have been allowed to enter if I had
known in advance that you had so much power in you, because you nearly brought disaster upon us. I have tricked you with magical shape-changings, as I did that first time when I found you in the forest. I am the one you met there. And when you tried to untie the food bag, you were unable to find where to undo it, because I had fastened it with iron wire.
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When you next struck me three times with the hammer, the first was the least, yet it was so powerful that it would have killed me had it found its mark. But when you saw a flat-topped mountain near my hall with three square-shaped valleys in it, one deeper than the others, these were the marks of your hammer. I had moved this flat-topped mountain in front of your blows, but you did not see me doing it. It was the same when your companions contested with my retainers. And so it was in the first contest undertaken by Loki. He was very hungry and he ate quickly. But the one called Logi was wildfire itself, and he burned the trough no less quickly than the meat. When Thjalfi ran against the one called Hugi, that was my mind, and Thjalfi could not be expected to compete with its speed. When you drank from the horn, you thought it slow going, but on my word that was a miracle I would never have believed could happen. The other end of the horn, which you could not see, was out in the ocean. When you come to the ocean you will see how much your drinking lowered it. This is now known as the tides.”

‘Utgarda-Loki had still more to say: “I thought it no less a feat when you lifted the cat. Truly all those who saw you raise one of the cat's paws off the ground grew fearful, because that cat was not what it seemed to be. It was the Midgard Serpent, which encircles all lands, and from head to tail its length is just enough to round the earth. But you pulled him up so high that he almost reached the sky.

‘“It, too, was a real wonder that you remained on your feet for so long during the wrestling. You fell no more than on to one knee, as you struggled with the crone Elli [Old Age], and no one accomplishes that after reaching the point where old age beckons, because no one overcomes Old Age. As we part, I can truthfully say that it would be better for us both if you never come again to meet me. Next time I will defend my
stronghold with similar or other trickery, so that you will not get me into your power.”

‘When Thor heard this account, he gripped his hammer and raised it into the air. But, when he was ready to strike, Utgarda-Loki was nowhere to be seen. Then Thor returned to the fortress, intending to destroy it. There he saw a broad, beautiful plain, but no stronghold. Then, turning back, he journeyed until he came once again to Thrudvangar. In truth, it can be said that from then on he was determined to find a way to confront the Midgard Serpent, and later on that happened.

‘Now I believe that no one else could have given you a truer account of this journey by Thor.'

High answered, ‘Even those who are not men of learning know that Thor made amends
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for the journey just recounted. He was not home for long before he prepared to set out again. He went so quickly that he took with him neither chariot nor goats nor companions. Leaving Midgard disguised as a young boy, he arrived one evening at the house of a giant, the one called Hymir. Thor stayed there that night. At daybreak Hymir got up, dressed and prepared to go fishing in the sea. Thor jumped up, quickly got himself ready and asked Hymir to let him row out to sea with him. But Hymir said he could expect little help from the boy because he was so young and so small. “And you will freeze if you stay as long and as far out as I am accustomed to doing.”

‘Thor told Hymir that he would not stop him from rowing far out from land, and he added that it was not clear who would be the first one wanting to row back in. Thor grew so
enraged at the giant that he almost let the hammer slam into him. Yet he let the matter pass because he had set his mind on testing his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what sort of bait they should use, but Hymir told him to get his own. Thor then went off looking until he saw a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir. He took the biggest ox, called Himinhrjot, ripped off its head, and took it with him down to the sea.

‘Hymir had already launched the boat. Thor got in and sat down towards the stern. He took two oars and started rowing, and Hymir noticed that he was making some progress. Hymir rowed from forward in the bow, and the boat moved quickly. Hymir then said that they had come to the waters where he usually trawled for flatfish, but Thor said he wanted to row much further, and they started another bout of fast rowing. Hymir then warned that they had come so far out that to go further was dangerous because of the Midgard Serpent. But Thor replied that he wanted to keep on rowing, and so he did. Hymir was by then most unhappy.

‘Finally Thor pulled up his oars and set about preparing his line, which was very strong, with a hook that was neither weaker nor less firm.
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Thor baited the hook with the ox head and cast it overboard, where it sank to the bottom. And it can be said in truth that this time Thor tricked the Midgard Serpent no less than Utgarda-Loki had tricked Thor into lifting the Midgard Serpent with his arm.

‘The Midgard Serpent opened its mouth and swallowed the ox head. The hook dug into the gums of its mouth, and when the serpent felt this, he snapped back so hard that both of Thor's fists slammed against the gunwale. Thor now became angry and, taking on his divine strength, he strained so hard that both his feet pushed through the bottom of the boat. Using the sea floor to brace himself, he began pulling the serpent up on board. It can be said that no one has seen a more terrifying sight than this: Thor, narrowing his eyes at the serpent, while the serpent spits out poison and stares straight back from below. It is told that the giant Hymir changed colour. He grew pale and feared for his life when he saw the serpent and also the sea rushing in and out of the boat.

‘Just at that instant, as Thor grabbed the hammer and raised it into the air, the giant, fumbling with the bait knife, cut Thor's line where it lay across the edge of the boat, and the serpent sank back into the sea. But Thor threw his hammer after it, and people say that down on the bottom he struck the serpent's head off. But I think the opposite is true: the Midgard Serpent still lives and lies in the surrounding sea. Using his fist, Thor punched Hymir behind the ear so that he fell head over heels overboard. With this Thor waded back to land.'

High replied: ‘One could tell of an event that the Æsir themselves thought more important. The origin of this saga was that Baldr the Good had a series of ominous dreams; he saw his life threatened. When he told the Æsir about his dreams, they took council and decided to seek a truce for Baldr, protecting him from all dangers. Frigg took oaths that Baldr would not be harmed by fire and water, iron and all kinds of metal, stones, the earth, trees, diseases, animals, birds, poisons and snakes. When this was done and became known, Baldr and the Æsir took to amusing themselves by having Baldr stand in front of all the others at the assembly while some would shoot at him, some would strike blows, and some would hit him with stones. Whatever was done caused him no injury, and all thought this remarkable.

‘But when Loki, son of Laufey, saw this, it angered him that Baldr was uninjured. After changing himself into the likeness of a woman, he went to Frigg at Fensalir. Frigg asked this woman if she knew what the Æsir were doing at the assembly. The woman replied that everyone was shooting at Baldr, yet he suffered no injury.

‘Then Frigg said, “Neither weapons nor wood will harm Baldr. I have received oaths from all of them.”

‘Then the woman asked, “Have all things given their oath not to harm Baldr?”

‘Frigg answered, “A shoot of wood grows to the west of Valhalla. It is called mistletoe, and it seemed too young for me to demand its oath.” Immediately afterwards, the woman disappeared.

‘Loki got hold of the mistletoe. He broke it off and went to the assembly.

‘Hod, because he was blind, stood at the edge of the circle of people. Loki spoke to him, asking: “Why aren't you shooting at Baldr?”

‘Hod replied, “Because I can't see where Baldr is, and also I have no weapon.”

‘Then Loki said, “You should be behaving like the others, honouring Baldr as they do. I will direct you to where he is standing. Shoot this twig at him.”

‘Hod took the mistletoe and, following Loki's directions, shot at Baldr. The shot went right through Baldr, who fell to the ground dead. This misfortune was the worst that had been worked against the gods and men. Baldr's death left the gods speechless and so weak that they were unable to muster the strength to lift him up in their arms. They all looked at one another, and all were of a single mind against the one who had done the killing. But no one could take vengeance because the place was deeply revered as a sanctuary. When the Æsir first tried to speak, all they could do was weep, and no one could form words to tell the others of his grief. Odin suffered most from this misfortune. This was because he understood most clearly how grievous was the loss, and that the death of Baldr was ruin for the Æsir.
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‘When the gods returned to their senses, Frigg asked who among the Æsir wished to gain all her love and favour by agreeing to ride the Road to Hel to see if he could find Baldr. He was to offer Hel a ransom if she would let Baldr return home to Asgard. Hermod the Bold, Odin's son, was the one who agreed to undertake the journey. They caught Odin's
horse Sleipnir and led it forward. Hermod mounted and galloped off.

‘The Æsir took Baldr's body and carried it to the sea. Baldr's ship was called Ringhorn and it was the greatest of all ships. The gods wanted to launch it and use it for Baldr's funeral pyre, but the ship would not budge. Then they sent to Giant Land for the giantess called Hyrrokkin. She came riding a wolf, using a poisonous snake for reins. When she jumped off her mount, Odin called to four berserkers. He told them to watch that mount, but they were unable to hold it and they struck it down. Hyrrokkin approached the prow of the ship. On her first try, she pushed so hard that the log rollers underneath the keel
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of the ship caught fire, and the whole land shook. This angered Thor, who gripped his hammer. He would have crushed her head had not all the gods asked that she be left in peace.

‘Baldr's body was carried out on to the ship, and when his wife, Nanna Nep's daughter, saw this, her heart burst from sorrow and she died. She too was carried on to the funeral pyre, which was then set on fire. Next Thor stood up and blessed the pyre with Mjollnir. A dwarf named Lit ran in front of his feet. Thor kicked the dwarf with his foot; it landed in the fire and burned to death.

‘Many kinds of beings came to this cremation. First to be mentioned is Odin. Frigg was with him, as were the valkyries and his ravens. Frey rode in his chariot. It was drawn by the boar called Gold Bristle or Sheathed Tooth. Heimdall rode the horse Golden Forelock, and Freyja drove her harnessed cats. Many from among the frost giants and the mountain giants also came. Odin laid the gold ring Draupnir
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[Dripper] on the pyre. It had the characteristic afterwards that, every ninth night, eight gold rings of equal weight dripped from it. Baldr's horse, with all its riding gear, was led onto the pyre.

‘But about Hermod the following is told. For nine nights he rode through valleys so deep and dark that he saw nothing before he reached the river Gjoll and rode on to the Gjoll Bridge.
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The bridge was roofed with shining gold, and the maiden guarding it was named Modgud. She asked Hermod about his name and family and said that the previous day five troops of dead men had ridden across the bridge, “yet the bridge echoed more under you alone, and you lack the colour of the dead. Why do you ride here on the Road to Hel?”

‘He answered, saying, “I ride to Hel in search of Baldr. But have you seen anything of Baldr on the Hel Road?”

‘She replied that Baldr had ridden across the Gjoll Bridge, “and down and to the north lies the Road to Hel.”

‘Hermod rode on until he came to the Gates of Hel. He dismounted from his horse and tightened the girth. Then he remounted and spurred the horse, which sprang forward, jumping with such force that it cleared the top of the gate without even coming near it. Then Hermod rode up to the hall. He dismounted and went inside. He saw that his brother Baldr was sitting in the seat of honour. He then stayed there through the night. In the morning Hermod asked Hel to let Baldr ride home with him, telling her of the deep sorrow and the wailing of the Æsir.

‘But Hel answered that a test would be made to see whether Baldr was as well loved as some say: “If all things in the world, alive or dead,
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weep for him, then he will be allowed to return to the Æsir. If anyone speaks against him or refuses to cry, then he will remain with Hel.”

‘Thereupon Hermod stood up. Baldr led him out of the hall, and, taking the ring Draupnir, he sent it to Odin as a token. Along with other gifts, Nanna sent to Frigg a linen robe. To Fulla she sent a gold finger ring. Hermod then retraced his path, riding into Asgard where he recounted all that had happened: what he had seen and heard.

‘Next the Æsir sent messengers throughout the world, asking that Baldr be wept out of Hel. All did so, people and animals, the earth, the stones, the trees and all metals in the way that you have seen these things weep when they come out of the freezing cold and into warmth. As the messengers, having accomplished their task, were returning home, they found a giantess sitting in a cave. She said her name was Thokk [Gratitude]. When they asked her to weep Baldr out of Hel, she said: