Stealing Poetry Poetic Edda

104 I visited the old giant, now I’ve come back,
I didn’t get much there from being silent;
with many words I spoke to my advantage
in Suttung’s halls.

105 Gunnlod gave me on her golden throne
a drink of the precious mead;
a poor reward I let her have in return,
for her open-heartedness,
for her sorrowful spirit.

106 With Rati the auger’s mouth I made space for myself
and made it gnaw through the rock;
over me and under me went the giants’ paths,
thus I risked my head.

107 That bargain-bought beauty I made good use of,
the wise lack for little;
for Odrerir has now come up
to the rim of men’s sanctuaries.

108 I am in doubt as to whether I would have come
back from the giants’ courts,
if I had not used Gunnlod, that good woman,
and put my arms about her.

109 The next day the frost-giants went
to ask for the High One’s advice, in the High One’s hall;
they asked about Bolverk: whether he was amongst the gods,
or whether Suttung had slaughtered him.

110 I think Odin will have sworn a sacred ring-oath,
how can his pledge be trusted?
He left Suttung defrauded of the drink
and made Gunnlod weep.

111 It is time to declaim from the sage’s high-seat,
at Urd’s spring;
I saw and was silent, I saw and I considered,
I heard the speech of men;
I heard talk of runes nor were they silent about interpretation,
at the High One’s hall, in the High One’s hall;
thus I heard them speak:


- Poetic Edda, Havamal