‘Gymir was the name of a man whose wife, Aurboda, came from the family of the mountain giants. Their daughter was Gerd, the most beautiful of all women. One day Frey entered Hlidskjalf and looked out over all the worlds. When he looked to the north he saw a dwelling with a large splendid house. A woman was walking up to the house. When she raised her arms to unlock the door, the light glanced off her arms, both into the air and on to the sea, and because of her the whole world brightened. For his arrogance of having sat himself in the holy seat, Frey was made to pay, and he went away overcome with sorrow. He was silent when he returned home. He neither slept nor drank, and no one dared to speak to him.
‘Then Njord sent for Skirnir, Frey’s manservant. He asked Skirnir to go to Frey and ask with whom he was so angry that he would speak to no one. Skirnir said that he would go, although he was not eager to do so, because he expected he would be answered roughly. When Skirnir met with Frey he asked him why he was so downcast and would not speak with anyone. Frey replied that he had seen a beautiful woman and that on her account he was so filled with sorrow that he would not live long if he could not have her.
‘ “And now you are to go and ask for her hand on my behalf. Bring her back here to my home, whether or not her father agrees. For this service I will pay you well.”
‘Then Skirnir replied that he would undertake the task. But in return Frey should give him his sword. The sword was so good that it fought by itself. Frey, however, let nothing stand in the way and gave the sword to Skirnir, who set out and asked for the woman on Frey’s behalf. He received her promise that nine nights later she would come to the place called Barey1 and would marry Frey there. But when Skirnir told Frey the outcome of his mission, Frey replied:
“Long is one night, long is another, how will I suffer even three? Often for me a month much less seemed than half this holding time.”[^fn55]
(The Lay of Skirnir. 42)
‘For this reason Frey was without a weapon when he fought with Beli, killing him with a stag’s horn.’
Then Gangleri said, ‘How very strange that a leader such as Frey would willingly give away his sword when he did not have another equally as good. For him this lack would be a great handicap when he fought with Beli. Truly, he must have regretted this gift.’
High replied, ‘It was of little importance when he and Beli met. Frey could have killed him with his hands. The time will come when the sons of Muspell set out on their war journey, and then Frey will find it worse to be without his sword.’
-
the place called Barey : In some manuscripts Barey is spelled Barrey. The word has several possible meanings, which has stirred controversy. If a compound, the second part of the word, ey, probably means island. One possibility for the first part of the word, Barr, is evergreen tree; hence Barey would mean wooded or conifer island, perhaps even a forest. Barr could also mean barley and, if so, the meaning could be connected with fertility worship. The god of fertility consummating his longing and marriage in a barley field with a young woman who meets him there has cultic possibilities. In The Lay of Skirnir , the place is called Barri , which seems to be a windless or quiet grove. Barey might refer to the Hebridean island Barra, lying off the western coast of Scotland. Barra was occupied by Norsemen and is mentioned in Icelandic writings, including Grettir’S Saga. ↩
-
half this holding time : The term used is hálf hýnótt. The hýnótt was a waiting period preceding a wedding. The phrase seems to mean half of such a waiting or holding time. Already Frey knows he can barely make it past three nights. ↩