The Poetic Edda on Gymir

The > Volume I > Introductory Note

• attribution: herdsman delivers a speech in the verse.

  "11. "Tell me, herdsman, | sitting on the hill, And watching all the ways, How may I win | a word with the maid Past the hounds of Gymir here?"

The herdsman spake:"

• relationship: The stanza references a daughter of Gymir.

  "12. "Art thou doomed to die | or already dead, Thou horseman that ridest hither? Barred from speech | shalt thou ever be With Gymir's daughter good."

Skirnir spake:"

• attestation: Gymir is characterized by gladness in the verse.

  "24. "For no man's sake | will I ever suffer To be thus moved by might; But gladly, methinks, | will Gymir seek To fight if he finds thee here."

Skirnir spake:"

• attestation: The stanza contains a narrative element involving Gymir.

  "14. "What noise is that | which now so loud I hear within our house? The ground shakes, | and the home of Gymir Around me trembles too."

The Serving-Maid spake:"

• attestation: Gymir is characterized by power in the verse.

  "The Lokasenna is found only in Regius, where it follows the Hymiskvitha; Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a single stanza.

The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection, and"

• relationship: A figure is identified as the child of Gymir.

  "42. "The daughter of Gymir | with gold didst thou buy, And sold thy sword to boot; But when Muspell's sons | through Myrkwood ride, Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch."

Byggvir spake:"

• attestation: Gymir is characterized by age in the verse.

  "42. "The daughter of Gymir | with gold didst thou buy, And sold thy sword to boot; But when Muspell's sons | through Myrkwood ride, Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch."

Byggvir spake:"

The > Volume I > Notes

• relationship: Gymir is a mountain-giant, husband of Aurbotha and father of Gerth, the fairest among women.

  "Gymir: a mountain-giant, husband of Aurbotha, and father of Gerth, fairest among women."