Ðrimmorstale is an oferputting an olde Norse dicts from about ðe year 900. 
Ði followingen playen an part ðerein:

Ðunor – ðe mightige Ðundergod, who, wið weightig hammer his, ðe world against 
ði Highmen and oðer efilen foreswore. His cart is wið goaten gedrifen, 
ðat he efery night cilleð and eateð his wellcenned hunger to feedan, yet 
in ðe morn aren ðey again alife, his cart to drifan.
Loci – ðe Mischiefgod, who alltide waywardness startan trieð.    
Freya – ðe Scaggodwoman, comeligest ðis allen godden and owner an feaðercloac, 
wið which man flyan can.
Ðrimmor – lord ðis Highmens, who in ðis tale Ðunors hammer stealeð, 
in order Freya as wife to becoman.
Brisinga – Freyas wellcenned, comelig, heafig and dear necchain. 
Heimdall – an wise god, who minder ðes ways into Goddenhome is and who 
ðingen in ðe comingtide seean can.
Woden – lord ðis Goddens, also as Allfaðer becenned. Ðunors faðer.
Norðer – god ðes Searealms and ðes Windes. Freyas faðer.
Sif – Croppengodwoman and Ðunors woman.
Mollnir – Ðunors hammer. Ðe folc anwended oft licenessen as blessingstoolen, 
in ðis tale trieð Ðrimmor, ðe factlig hammer ðuslig to anwendan.
Var – Blessingensgodwoman. 


raðfull was Winged-Ðunor    when he awoke
and his hammer    he lacced
beard tooc to scacing    hair tooc to tossing
began Earðs son    around to gropan.

And he ðese worden    firstlig did say:
“Heare ðou now Loci,    what now speace ig                
which no man wiseð    earðlig neiðer
nor heafenlig:    ðis Gods hammer is stolen!”

Went hey to comelig    Freyas dwelling
and he ðese worden    firstlig did say:
“Wilt ðou me, Freya,    feaðercloac lendan,
so my hammer    may ig findan?”

Freya said:
“Efen may ig it ðee gifan    if it af gold were
and efen grant it    if it were af silfer.”

Flew ðen Loci –    feaðercloac ðundering –
till outside he came,    Goddens home,
and inside came,    ðe Highmens home.

Ðrimmor sat on an roccenheap,    lord ðis Highmens, 
for doggen his    goldbindingen to mace
and for horsen his    hair to trimme.

Ðrimmor said:
“What is wið ði Godden?    What is wið ðe elfen?
Why is only one come    to Highmenshome?”

Loci said:
“Ill is wið ði Godden,    ill is wið ði elfen;
hast ðou Ðunors    hammer gehidden?”

Ðrimmor said:
“Ig hafe Ðunors    hammer aye gehidden
fifteen leagen    ðes earðs below,
it no man    bac can fetchan,
unless leadeð he me    Freya as bride.”

Flew ðen Loci –    feaðercloac ðundering –
till outside he came,    ðe Highmens home,
and inside came,    Goddens home;
met he Ðunor    mid ðes dwellings,
who ðese worden    firstlig did say:

“Hast ðou newen    so well as worc?
Say ðou aloft    long tidingen;
oft sitting    talen nowt meanen
and lying down    lien be spocen.”

Loci said:
“Hafe ig worc    and newen;
Ðrimmor has ðy hammer,    lord ðis Highmens,
it no man    bac can fetchan
unless leadeð he him    Freya as bride.”

Went hey ðe comelig    Freya to finde,
and he ðese worden    firstlig did say:
“Bind on ðyself, Freya,    bridal headdress.
We scallen togeðer risan,    to Highmenshome.”

Wraðful was ðen Freya    and snorted,
all ðe Goddens hall    under it scuddered,
snapped it ðat great    necchain Brisinga –
“Mig musten ye ðincan    man-mad,
scould ig wið you    to Highmenshome.”

Straightway weren Mengodden    alle in meeting
and Womengodden    alle chatting,
and about ðis ðought    ði mightien Godden,
how ðey Ðunors    hammer seecan scoulden.

Ðen said ðis Heimdall –    for an wise god was he –
saw he well forward,    as many Godden could,
“Let us ðen on Ðunor    bridal headdress bindan,
hafe he ðat great    necchain Brisinga.”

“Let around him    ceyen rattellan
and womensscirt    around kneen fallan
and on ðe breast    spreadan stonen
and comelig    around ðe head bedeccan.”

Ðen said ðis Ðunor,    weightig God:
“Mig scallen Godden    girllice callen,
if ig on mig bindan let,    bridal headdress.”            

Ðen said ðis Loci,    Laufeyas son:
“Tace ðou, Ðunor,    ðese worden.
Straightway scallen Highmen    our home oferrunnan,
if ðou not ðy hammer    bac do fetchan.” 

Bound ðey ðen on Ðunor    bridal headdress
and ðat great    necchain Brisinga
letten around him    ceyen rattellan
and womensscirt    around kneen fallan
and on ðe breast    stonen spreadan 
and comelig    around ðe head bedeccan.”

Ðen said ðis Loci,    Laufeyas son:
“Scall ig also ið ðee    handmaid bean,
we scallen togeðer risan,    to Highmenshome.”
Straightway weren goaten    home gedrifen,
hurried ðey to reining,    well scallen ðey runnan.
Bigroccen brocen asunder,    burned ðe earð ablase
fared Wodens son    to Highmenshome.

Ðen said ðis Ðrimmor,    lord ðis Highmens:
“Standun up, Highmen!    And macun ready ðe fest!
Now leaden ðey me    Freya as bride
Norðers daughter    from ðe Searealm.”

“Goen here on our land    goldenhorned cowen,
ocsen allblaccen    for ðe gladdscip ðis Highmens
manifold hafe ig richen,    manifold hafe ig necchainen
only to me Freya    is yet laccing.”

Ðen to efening    fast did come,
and was for Highmen    ale forwardgeborne;
alone ate an ocs,    eight fiscen,
sweetmeaten alle –    which women eatan scoulden –
Sifs man and meadbarrellen    ðree dranc he too.

Ðen said ðis Ðrimmor,    lord ðis Highmens:
“Where saw man an bride    bitan scarper?
Saw ig no bride    bitan broader
nor ðe more mead    an maid drincan!”

Sat ðere only    ðe handmaid wise ðereby,
who worden found    against ðe Highmans speech:
“Ate nowt Freya    in eight nighten
so ceen was sce    Highmenshome to reachan.”            

Under headdress bade Ðrimmor,    lust to cissan
but he bac sprang    ðe lengð ðes halls.
“Why aren fierig    ði eyen Freyas?
Seemed me from ði eyen    fire to burne.”

Sat ðere only    ðe handmaid wise ðereby,
who worden found    against ðe Highmans speech:
“Slept not Freya    in eight nighten
so ceen was sce    Highmenshome to reachan.”

Ðen came in wretched    highmanssister,
sce who for bridalgiften    beggan dared.
“Tacun from your handen    ringen golden,
if growan ye willen    lofe my,
lofe my,    alle my licing.”

Ðen said ðis Ðrimmor,    lord ðis Highmens:
“Bearun in ðe hammer    ðe bride to blesse
layun Mollnir    on maidens knee
blessun us togeðer    by Vars handen.”

Laughed Ðunor    heartilig in ðe chest
when sternhearted    ðe hammer he saw.
Ðrimmor smote he first,    lord ðis Highmens,
and alle Highmen    made he lame.

Smote he ðe olde    highmansssister,
sce who for bridalgiften    gebegged had;
sce blowen surelig felt    for her scillingen
and hitten ðes hammers    for her ringen.

So got Wodens son    again his hammer.



(Trans. by F.A.Smith 2000)

Bac to Sagascribingengaðering

(Back to literature collection)

Headwebside

(Main page)

Wordenbooc

(Dictionary)

Tonglearning

(Grammar)