The Poetic Edda on Skirnir
The > Volume I > Introductory Note
- attribution: Skirnir delivers a speech in the verse.
"1. "Go now, Skirnir! | and seek to gain Speech from my son; And answer to win, | for whom the wise one Is mightily moved."
Skirnir spake:"
- attestation: Skirnir is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"1. "Go now, Skirnir! | and seek to gain Speech from my son; And answer to win, | for whom the wise one Is mightily moved."
Skirnir spake:"
- attestation: Skirnir is characterized by terror in the verse.
"10. "Dark is it without, | and I deem it time To fare through the wild fells, (To fare through the giants' fastness;) We shall both come back, | or us both together The terrible giant will take."
"
- attestation: Skirnir is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"10. "Dark is it without, | and I deem it time To fare through the wild fells, (To fare through the giants' fastness;) We shall both come back, | or us both together The terrible giant will take."
"
- attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Skirnir.
"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:"
- attribution: Skirnir delivers a speech in the verse.
"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: Skirnir is characterized by age in the verse.
"17. "Art thou of the elves | or the offspring of gods, Or of the wise Wanes? How camst thou alone | through the leaping flame Thus to behold our home?"
Skirnir spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Skirnir.
"17. "Art thou of the elves | or the offspring of gods, Or of the wise Wanes? How camst thou alone | through the leaping flame Thus to behold our home?"
Skirnir spake:"
- attribution: Skirnir delivers a speech in the verse.
"38. "Find welcome rather, | and with it take The frost-cup filled with mead; Though I did not believe | that I should so love Ever one of the Wanes."
Skirnir spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Skirnir.
"41. "Tell me, Skirnir, | ere thou take off the saddle, Or farest forward a step: What hast thou done | in the giants' dwelling To make glad thee or me?"
Skirnir spake:"
The > Volume I > Notes
- attestation: Skirnir begins a curse using his magic staff against Gerth when bribes and threats have failed.
"With this stanza, bribes and threats having failed, Skirnir begins a curse which, by the power of his magic staff, is to fall on Gerth if she refuses Freyr."