126
PROSE EDDA
- The fair warriors of the Æsir,
- In battle wise, fast waded,
- And the surging pool, sward-sweeping,
- Streamed: the earth-drift's billow,
- Blown by the mighty tempest,
- Tugged with monstrous fury
- At the terrible oppressor
- Of the earth-born tribe of cave-folk.
- Till Thjálfi came uplifted
- On his lord Thor's wide shield-strap:
- That was a mighty thew-test
- For the Prop of Heaven; the maidens
- Of the harmful giant stiffly
- Held the stream stubborn against them;
- The Giantess-Destroyer
- With Grídr's staff fared sternly.
- Nor did their hearts of rancor
- Droop in the men unblemished,
- Nor courage 'gainst the headlong
- Fall of the current fail them:
- A fiercer-daring spirit
- Flamed in the dauntless God's breast,—
- With terror Thor's staunch heart-stone
- Trembled not, nor Thjálfi's.
- And afterward the haters
- Of the host of sword-companions,
- The shatterers of bucklers,
- Dinned on the shield of giants,
- Ere the destroying peoples
- Of the shingle-drift of monsters
- Wrought the helm-play of Hedinn
- 'Gainst the rock-dwelling marksmen.