Asatru Folk Assembly - Skírnismál, a reading

00:00:00.000 Scurinismal, the lay of Scurinir, Scurinir's journey.

00:00:26.000 Introductory note by Carolyn Larrington

00:00:30.000 Threyr falls in love with a giant's daughter who he sees from Odin's high seat, Hlitskijov.

00:00:37.320 According to Snorri, his love sickness is a punishment for resirping Odin's place, though the poem does not suggest this.

00:00:45.240 Freyr's concerned parents, Njord and Skadi, is not said to be Freyr's mother elsewhere.

00:00:58.480 Loki claims that Freyr and Freya were born of the union between Njord and his sister

00:01:03.160 in Lokasina, an allegation which Snorri does not address.

00:01:10.740 First-concerned parents, Njord and Skadi, ask their son's old friend and servant, Skirnir,

00:01:17.140 Shining One, to help.

00:01:19.800 Skirnir volunteers to go on a wooing mission and, after a remarkably smooth journey, effectively

00:01:26.100 bullies the reluctant girl into agreeing to a rendezvous with Freyr.

00:01:31.360 Snorri tells us in Yngling Saga that the pair married and had a son called Fjornir, who

00:01:37.980 it was the ancestor of the England dynasty of Norwegian kings, and that in handing his

00:01:43.620 sword over to Skönernir, Freyr leaves himself weaponless at Ragnarok.

00:01:49.580 Although the poem has no special connection with wisdom, it is composed mostly in Ljødderhater

00:01:57.080 dialogue.

00:01:58.580 Several scholars have thought that, with its accession of lively scenes, Skönernismal

00:02:03.860 may well have been intended for dramatic presentation.

00:02:08.120 Introductory note by Henry Bellows.

00:02:12.060 The Skurnesmall is found complete in the Codex Regius

00:02:15.160 and through stanza 27 in the Armandian Codex.

00:02:21.500 Snorri quotes the concluding stanza.

00:02:25.260 In Regius, the poem is entitled

00:02:27.860 For Skurnes, or Skurnes' Journey.

00:02:31.400 The scrum in a small differs sharply from the poems preceding it, in that it is distinctively

00:02:38.580 ballad quality.

00:02:41.220 As a matter of fact, however, its verse is altogether dialogue, a narrative being supplied

00:02:45.980 in the prose links.

00:02:48.240 The dramatic effectiveness and vivid characterization of the poem seem to connect it with the Thrymskvitha,

00:02:55.080 and the two may possibly have been put into their present form by the same man.

00:02:59.380 Bugh's guess that the screen of small was the work of the author of the Locasena is

00:03:03.920 also possible, though it has less to support it.

00:03:09.080 Critics have generally agreed in dating the poem as we now have it as early as the first

00:03:13.660 half of the 10th century.

00:03:15.580 Fanner Johnson puts it as early as 800, and claims it as usual for Norway.

00:03:23.580 Dallas was current in Norway in one form or another before the first Icelandic settlements,

00:03:28.860 But his argument that the thistle, in stanza 31, is not an Icelandic plant has little weight,

00:03:35.140 for such curse formulas must have traveled freely from place to place.

00:03:40.300 In view of the evidence pointing to a Western origin for many or all of the Edic poems,

00:03:46.420 Johnson reiterated,

00:03:47.480 Diktet er sekert norsk og ikke Islandis, is what is somewhat exasperating.

00:03:56.540 Somewhere the Skarnesmol was composed.

00:03:59.340 It has been preserved in an exceptionally good condition, and seems to be practically

00:04:04.200 devoid of interpretation or lacunae.

00:04:09.780 Skarnesmol.

00:04:11.780 Frere, the son of Njord, had sat one day in Hilskjolf and looked over all the worlds.

00:04:19.540 He looked into Jotunheim and saw there a fair maiden, as she went from her father's house

00:04:25.500 to her bower.

00:04:28.040 Forthwith he felt a mighty love-sickness.

00:04:31.880 Skirnir was the name of Thrair's servant.

00:04:35.120 Njord bade him ask speech of Thrair.

00:04:38.520 He said, Go now, Skirnir, and seek to gain speech from my son, and answer to win, for

00:04:45.840 whom the wise one is mightily moved.

00:04:49.940 Skrnir spake, ill words do I now await from thy son, if I seek to get speech with him, and answer to win, for whom the wise one is mightily moved.

00:05:03.220 Skrnir spake, speak prithee, threre, foremost of the gods, for now I fain would know, why sittest thou here in the white halls, days long, my prince, alone?

00:05:19.940 Thraer spake, how shall I tell thee, thou hero young, of all my griefs so great?

00:05:29.960 Though every day the elf-beam dawns, it lights my longing never.

00:05:36.400 Skurnir spake, the longings, methink, are not so large, that thou may'st not tell them

00:05:42.780 to me, since in days of yore we were young together, we two my each other'd thrust.

00:05:52.080 Freyr spake, from Gimir's house I beheld go forth a maiden dear to me.

00:06:00.260 Her arms glitter'd, and from their gleam shone all the sea and sky.

00:06:07.360 To me more dear than in days of old was ever made into man.

00:06:13.700 But no one of gods or elves will grant that we both together should be.

00:06:21.200 Skurnir spake, Then give me the horse that goes through the dark

00:06:26.260 And magic flickering flames, And the sword as well that fights of itself

00:06:32.180 Against the giant's grim.

00:06:35.880 Frere spake,

00:06:37.620 The horse will I give thee

00:06:39.340 That goes through the dark

00:06:40.940 In magic-flickering flames,

00:06:43.220 And the sword as well

00:06:44.640 That will fight of itself

00:06:45.960 If worthy hero wields it.

00:06:50.220 Skirnir spake to the horse,

00:06:53.620 Dark is it without,

00:06:55.520 And I deem it time

00:06:56.620 To fare through the wild fells,

00:06:59.340 To fare through the giant's fastness,

00:07:02.180 We shall both come back, or us both together, the terrible giant, will take.

00:07:10.300 Skrna rode into Jotunheim, to Girmir's house.

00:07:15.040 There were fierce dogs bound before the gate of the fence, which was around Gurs Hall.

00:07:21.160 He rode to where a herdsman sat on a hill and said,

00:07:25.300 Tell me, herdsman, sitting on the hill and watching all the ways, 0.98

00:07:30.100 How may I win a word with the maid 1.00

00:07:33.040 Past the hounds of Gimir here? 1.00

00:07:37.040 The herdsmen spake

00:07:38.240 Art thou doomed to die, or are thee dead?

00:07:42.020 Thou horsemen that ridest hither

00:07:44.220 Barred from speech shalt thou ever be

00:07:47.740 With Gimir's daughter good 1.00

00:07:50.100 Skirner spake

00:07:53.060 Boldness is better than plaints can be

00:07:56.720 For him whose feet must fare

00:07:59.100 To destined day has mine age been doomed

00:08:03.180 And my life span thereto laid

00:08:06.100 Gird spake, bid the man come in

00:08:10.860 And drink good mead here within our hall

00:08:14.640 Though this I fear that there without

00:08:17.880 My brother's slayer stands

00:08:20.300 Art thou of the elves, or the offspring of gods

00:08:26.260 or of the wise wains?

00:08:29.880 How cam'st thou alone through the leaping flame,

00:08:33.060 thus to behold our home? 0.89

00:08:36.200 Scrinish spake, I am not of the elves,

00:08:40.300 nor of the offspring of gods, nor of the wise wains.

00:08:44.280 Though I came alone through the leaping flame,

00:08:48.060 thus to behold thy home.

00:08:51.520 Eleven apples, all of gold,

00:08:54.080 Here will I give thee, Girth, to buy thy troth,

00:09:00.540 That Freyr shall be deemed to be dearest to you.

00:09:05.560 Girth spake, I will not take, at any man's wish,

00:09:09.600 These eleven apples ever, nor shall Freyr and I,

00:09:13.240 One dwelling find, so long as we two live.

00:09:19.040 Scunner spake, Then do I bring thee the ring that was burned,

00:09:24.080 of old with Odin's son, from it to eight, of lightweight fall, on every ninth night.

00:09:34.780 Gilder spake, the ring I wish not, though burned it was, of old with Odin's son,

00:09:42.540 in Gimur's home is no lack of gold, in the wealth my father wields.

00:09:47.700 Skullinus spake,

00:10:17.700 Ymir seek to fight if he finds the heel.

00:10:22.480 Scenarious spake.

00:10:24.880 Seast thou, maiden, this keen bright sword that I hold here in my hand.

00:10:29.900 Before its blade, the old giant bends.

00:10:33.640 Thy father is doomed to die.

00:10:36.700 I seek thee, maid, with my magic staff, to tame thee to work my will. 0.99

00:10:43.860 There shalt thou go, where never again the sons of men shall see thee 1.00

00:10:49.620 On the eageless hill shalt thou ever sit, and gaze on the gates of hell

00:10:55.320 More lonesome to thee than the light-hued snake to men shall thy meat become

00:11:02.100 Fearful to see, if thou comest forth, remner will stand and stare

00:11:07.960 Men will marvel at thee, more fame shalt thou grow than the watchman of the gods 0.82

00:11:13.740 Peer forth from thine prison

00:11:16.700 Rage and longing, fetters and wrath

00:11:19.400 Tears and torment are thine

00:11:21.500 Where thou sittest down, my doom is on thee

00:11:24.780 Of heavy heart and double door

00:11:26.820 In the giant's home shall vile things harm thee

00:11:30.980 Each day with evil deeds

00:11:33.000 Grief shalt thou get in still gladness

00:11:36.820 And sorrow to suffer with tears

00:11:39.240 With three-headed giants thou shalt dwell ever

00:11:43.180 or never know a husband.

00:11:45.740 Let longing grip thee, 0.62

00:11:47.440 let wasting waste thee.

00:11:49.640 Be like to the thistle

00:11:50.820 that in the loft was cast and there was crushed.

00:11:54.780 I go to the wood

00:11:56.140 and to the wet forest

00:11:57.840 to win a magic wand.

00:12:02.900 I won a magic wand.

00:12:05.980 Oden grows angry.

00:12:07.600 Angry is the best of the gods.

00:12:09.960 Therere shall be thy foe. 1.00

00:12:13.180 most evil maid, 1.00

00:12:15.380 who the magic rat of gods 1.00

00:12:17.160 has got for thyself. 0.99

00:12:19.540 Give he, throsters,

00:12:21.200 here at giants,

00:12:23.000 sons of Sutton, gods ye too,

00:12:25.780 how I forbid

00:12:26.800 and how I ban 0.99

00:12:28.400 the meeting of men with the maid,

00:12:31.160 the joy of men with the maid.

00:12:35.420 Remdremir is he,

00:12:36.660 the giant who shall have thee 1.00

00:12:38.140 in the depths by the doors of hell.

00:12:41.380 To the frost giant's halls

00:12:43.660 Each day shalt thou fare

00:12:45.880 Crawling and craving in vain

00:12:48.400 Crawling and having no hope 1.00

00:12:51.180 Base wretches there 0.99

00:12:53.840 By the root of the tree 0.99

00:12:55.260 Will hold of thee horns of filth

00:12:57.900 A fairer drink shalt thou never find

00:13:01.360 Made to meet thy wish

00:13:03.740 Made to meet thy wish

00:13:06.520 I write thee a charm

00:13:09.420 And three runes therewith

00:13:11.180 Longing and madness and lust

00:13:13.920 But what have I writ

00:13:16.420 I may yet unwrite

00:13:18.220 If I find a need therefore

00:13:20.740 Ghost spake

00:13:25.360 Find welcome, rather

00:13:28.780 And with it take

00:13:30.020 The frost cup filled with mead

00:13:32.420 Though I did not believe

00:13:35.080 That I should so love

00:13:36.500 Ever one of the wains

00:13:38.140 Skrner spake

00:13:41.600 My tidings all must I truly learn

00:13:44.880 Ere homeward hence I ride

00:13:46.660 How soon thou wilt

00:13:48.520 With the mighty son of Njord a meeting make

00:13:50.820 Girth spake 0.73

00:13:53.860 Bari there is

00:13:56.440 Which we both know well

00:13:59.600 A forest fair and still

00:14:01.540 And nine nights hence

00:14:03.560 The son of Njord

00:14:04.700 Will girth their grand delight

00:14:07.840 Then Skirner rode home.

00:14:13.380 Thraer stood without and spoke to him and asked for tidings.

00:14:18.240 Tell me, Skirner,

00:14:20.860 ere thou take off the saddle, or farest forward a step,

00:14:25.220 what hast thou done in the giant's dwelling

00:14:27.780 to make glad thee or me?

00:14:33.140 Skirner spoke.

00:14:34.260 Barri there is, which we both know well

00:14:38.380 A forest fair and still

00:14:40.440 And nine nights hence, to the sun of Njol

00:14:44.260 Will girth their grand delight

00:14:47.500 First spake

00:14:51.060 Long is one night, longer or two

00:14:55.480 How then shall I bear three?

00:14:59.660 Often to me has a month seemed less

00:15:01.740 Than now half a night of desire

00:15:04.020 there.

Asatru Folk Assembly - December 18, 2023

Skírnismál, a reading

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