Prose Edda - Brodeur Trans.
Skáldskaparmál
God of the blade of battle,Even as Thjódólfr sang:
We bear through Hákon's life-days
The Seed of Fýri's valley
On our arms, where sits the falcon.
The king sows the bright seed-cornXLIV. "It is said that the king called Hölgi, from whom Hálogaland is named, was the father of Thorgerdr Hölgabrúdr; sacrifice was made to both of them, and a cairn was raised over Hölgi: one layer of gold or silver (that was the sacrificial money), and another layer of mould and stones. Thus sang Skúli Thorsteinsson:
Of knuckle-splendid gold rings,
With the crop of Yrsa's offspring,
In his company's glad hand-grasp;
The guileless Land-Director
With Kraki's gleaming barley
Sprinkles my arms, the flesh-grown
Seat of the hooded falcon.
When I reddened Reifnir's Roof-Bane,In the ancient Bjarkamál many terms for gold are told: it says there:
The ravening sword, for wealth's sake
At Svöldr, I heaped with gold rings
Warlike Hölgi's cairn-thatch.
The king most gift-gracious
His guardsmen enriched
174
With Fenja's Labor,XLV. "Gold is metaphorically termed Fire of the Hand, or of the Limb, or of the Leg, because it is red; but silver is called Snow, or Ice, or Hoar-Frost, because it is white. In like manner, gold or silver may be periphrased in metaphors of purse, or crucible, or lather, and both silver and gold may be called Hand-Stone, or Necklace, of any man who was
With Fáfnir's Midgard,
Glasir's bright Needles,
Grani's fair Burden,
Draupnir's dear dripping,
Down of Grafvitnir.
The free-handed Lord gave,
The heroes accepted,
Sirs firm-grown tresses,
Ice of the bow-force,
Otter-gild unwilling,
Weeping of Mardöll,
Fire-flame of Órun,
Idi's fine Speeches.
The warrior rejoiced;
We walked in fair garments,
In Thjazi's counsels
The people's host-countless,
In the Rhine's red metal,
Wrangling of Niflungs,
The leader war-daring,
Warded Baldr not.
175
wont to have a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if no other distinction is raised.
As Thorleikr the Fair sang:
The kindly Prince the Load castsAnd as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
Of Crucibles on the Hawk-Seats
Of thanes, the wrists embellished,-
Gives Embers of the Arm-Joint.
The land-strong King of LundThus sang Einarr Skúlason:
Breaks the golden Limb-Brands;
I think the Prince of Warriors
Lacks not the Rhine's bright Pebbles.
The Purse-Snow and the Sea-FireAnd as he sang further:
Lie on both sides of the axe-head
Blood-spilling; 't is my office
To praise our foemen's Scather.
The Sea-Glow each day standeth
O'er the Crucible's white Snow-Drift,
And the shield, ships' cheeks protecting,
Shelters a heart most lavish;
Ne'er can one melt the silver
Flagon-Snow in the Fire-Flame
Of the Eel's Stream-Road; the Feller
Of Hosts all feats performeth.
176
Here gold is called Fire of the Eel's Stream-Road; and silver, Snow of Flagons.
Thus sang Thárdr Mæri's Skald:
The glad Giver of the Hand-Waste
Of the Gold-Minisher perceiveth
That the Hermódr of the Snake's Lair
Hath had a lordly father.
XLVI. "Man is called Breaker of Gold, even as Óttarr the Swarthy sang:
I needs must use the BreakerOr Gold-Sender, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
Of the Battle-Glow of good men;
Here is the watch war-doughty
Of the Wise King assembled.
The Sender of Gold permittethGold-Caster, as Thorleikr sang:
The silent earth to hearken
To song; his gifts I gather:
The prince his young men gladdens.
Gold-Caster makes loyal to himGold's Adversary, as sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald:
His guard with kingly armor.
The gold's foe Hot Coals casteth
Of the Arm; the king gives red wealth;
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