The Prose Edda · Part 3
Skáldskaparmál 4
4.1"What figures should be employed to periphrase the name of Thor? Thus: one should call him Son of Odin and of Jörd, Father of Magni and Módi and Thrúdr, Husband of Sif, Stepfather of Ullr, Wielder and Possessor of Mjöllnir and of the Girdle of Strength, and of Bilskirnir; Defender of Ásgard and of Midgard, Adversary and Slayer of Giants and Troll-Women, Smiter of Hrungnir, of Geirrödr and of Thrívaldi, Master of Thjálfi and Röskva, Foe of the Midgard Serpent. Foster-father of Vingnir and Hlóra. So sang Bragi the Skald: The line of Odin's Offspring Lay not slack on the gunwale, When the huge ocean-serpent Uncoiled on the sea's bottom.
4.2Thus sang Ölvir Cut-Nose-and-Crop-Ears: The encircler of all regions And Jörd's Son sought each other.
4.3Thus sang Eilífr: Wroth stood Röskva's Brother, And Magni's Sire wrought bravely: With terror Thor's staunch heart-stone Trembled not, nor Thjálfi's.
4.4And thus sang Eysteinn Valdason: With glowing eyes Thrúdr's Father Glared at the sea-road's circler, Ere the fishes' watery dwelling Flowed in, the boat confounding.
4.5Eysteinn sang further: Swiftly Sif's Husband bouned him To haste forth with the Giants For his hardy fishing: Well sing we Hrímnir's horn-stream.
4.6Again he sang: The earth-fish tugged so fiercely That Ullr's Kinsman's clenched fists Were pulled out past the gunwale; The broad planks rent asunder.
4.7Thus sang Bragi: The strong fiend's Terrifier In his right hand swung his hammer, When he saw the loathly sea-fish That all the lands confineth.
4.8Thus sang Gamli: While the Lord of high Bilskirnir, Whose heart no falsehood fashioned, Swiftly strove to shatter The sea-fish with his hammer.
4.9Thus sang Thorbjörn Lady's-Skald: Bravely Thor fought for Ásgard And the followers of Odin.
4.10Thus sang Bragi: And the vast misshapen circler Of the ship's sea-path, fierce-minded, Stared from below in anger At the Skull-Splitter of Hrungnir.
4.11Again sang Bragi: Well hast Thou, Hewer-in-Sunder Of the nine heads of Thrívaldi, Kept thy goats...
4.12Thus sang Eilífr: The Merciless Destroyer Of the people of the Giants Grasped with ready fore-arms At the heavy red-hot iron.
4.13Thus sang Úlfr Uggason: Faintly the stout-framed thickling A fearful peril called it, At the great draught wondrous heavy Drawn up by the Lord of he-goats.
4.14Thus Úlfr sang further: The very mighty Slayer Of the Mountain-Man brought crashing His fist on Hymir's temple: That was a hurt full deadly.
4.15Yet again sang Úlfr: Vimur's ford's Wide-Grappler 'Gainst the waves smote featly The glittering Serpent's head off. With old tales the hall was gleaming.
4.16Here he is called Giant of Vimur's Ford. There is a river called Vimur, which Thor waded when he journeyed to the garth of Geirrödr.
4.17Thus sang Vetrlidi the skald: Thou didst break the leg of Leikn, Didst cause to stoop Starkadr, Didst bruise Thrívaldi, Didst stand on lifeless Gjálp.
4.18Thus sang Thorbjörn Lady's-Skald: Thou didst smite the head of Keila, Smash Kjallandi altogether, Ere thou slewest Lútr and Leidi, Didst spill the blood of Búseyra; Didst hold back Hengjankjapta,— Hyrrokkin died before; Yet sooner in like fashion Svívör from life was taken.