Lokka Táttur Grain

1. A giant and a farmer set up a game
The farmer lost and the giant won.

Refrain:
What use to me is this harp
under my hand:
does the bold one not want to follow me
to another land?

2. "I have completed my challenge,
now I intend to take your son.

3. I intend to have the boy from you,
unless you hide him from me."

4. The farmer calls on the two lads:
“You two, bid Óðin to appear before me.

5. Call upon Óðin, king of the Æsir,
he will manage a long safekeeping.”

6. “I wish that Óðin were present,
to find out, how the safekeeping should proceed.”

7. Before they had the words half-said,
then Óðin was before the gaming-board.

8. "Heed me, Óðin, I speak to you:
you shall hide my son."

9. Óðin went out with the boy,
the wife and the farmer grieved.

10. Óðin asks a field of grain,
to quickly spring up in one night.

11. Óðin asks the boy to now be,
one ear of grain in the middle of the field.

12. One ear of grain in the middle of the field,
one barley-grain in the middle of the ear.

13. “Stay inside with no pain,
if I call, come to me.

14. Stay inside with no distress,
if I call, come out here.”

15. The monster has a heart as hard as horn,
reaps now an arm-full of grain.

16. Rips now grain into his grasp,
and carried a sharp sword in his hand.

17. And carried a sharp sword in his hand,
he intends to hew the boy there.

18. Then the boy was distressed,
the barley grain crept out of the fist.

19. Then the boy was in pain,
Óðin called him to himself.

20. Óðin travelled home with the boy,
the farmer and his wife welcome them.

21. “Here is your young child,
now my custody is over.”


- Lokka Táttur