Freyr Uses Hlidskialf Poetic Edda

Freyr, the son of Niord, had seated himself in Hlidskialf and looked over all the worlds. He looked into Giant-land and saw there a beautiful girl, as she was walking from her father’s hall to an outbuilding. From that he caught great sickness of heart. Skirnir was the name of Freyr’s page. Niord asked him to go and have a conversation with Freyr. Then Skadi said:

1 ‘Get up now, Skirnir, and go and ask to speak
with our son
and ask this: with whom the wise man
is so terribly angry.’

Skirnir said:
2 ‘Harsh words I expect from your son
if I go to talk to the young man
and ask this: with whom the wise man
is so terribly angry.

3 ‘Tell me, Freyr, war-leader of the gods,
for I would like to know,
why do you sit alone in the long hall,
my lord, day after day?’

Freyr said:
4 ‘Why should I tell you, young man,
about my great sorrow of heart,
for the elf-radiance shines day after every day,*
but not according to my desires.’

Skirnir said:
5 ‘I don’t think your desires can be very great,
that you, sir, can not tell me,
for we were young together in bygone days;
you and I may well trust each other.’

Freyr said:
6 ‘In Gymir’s courts I saw walking
a girl pleasing to me.
Her arms shine and from them
all the sea and air catch light.

7 ‘More pleasing to me is the girl than any girl to any young man,
in bygone days;
of all the gods and the elves, no one wishes
that we should be together.’


- Poetic Edda, Skírnismál