Hymiskviða

The Lay of Hymir

Hymiskvädet

Thirty-nine stanzas on Thor's fishing voyage with the giant Hymir and the gods' winning of the great cauldron

Summary

A

Hymiskviða narrates two interwoven actions surrounding Thor's visit to the giant Hymir. The outer frame is the gods' need for a large cauldron to brew ale for a feast at Ægir's hall. Týr reports that his father Hymir owns such a vessel, and Thor and Týr travel to the giant's estate to retrieve it.

The inner and dramatically central action is the fishing voyage. Thor and Hymir row out to sea. Thor uses an ox-head as bait and pulls Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, up from the deep. The confrontation is brief but intense: Thor plants his feet against the boat's planks, the serpent strikes, Thor raises his hammer, but Hymir in panic cuts the line and the serpent sinks back. The myth of Thor's final battle with the serpent at Ragnarök is thus deferred.

The poem ends with Thor seizing the cauldron, defeating Hymir's company of giants on the way home, and the gods holding their feast. Hymiskviða is one of the more comic poems in the Edda, with Hymir as a sullen and outmatched host. Thor appears invincible but also bluntly powerful rather than clever.

The story

Ár valtívarveiðar námuok sumblsamiráðr sætt gǫfgu;hristu teinaok á hlaut sáu,fundu at Ægisöðrum hverjum.
Once the battle-godswent out huntingand hungrysought a noble feast;they shook the twigsand read the blood,found at Ægir's halltheir turn had come.

English translation: own translation.

Sat bergbúibarmi sínum,líkr mjǫk Ymi;var þar Útgarða-Loki at kveðja,við hann Ásgarðseinherjar.
Sat the mountain-dwellerat his own breast,much like Ymir in spirit;Útgarðalokiwas there to greet,against him Ásgarðr'seinherjar.

English translation: own translation.

Léztu öll reginá rökstólaganga at gildiGymir at vitja;þá er á þing kómuþjóðans megirok rǫkna reginRágnarr rœktu.
He summoned all the godsto the judgment-seats,to go to the feastand visit Gymir;when they came to the assemblythe sons of the rulerand the mighty godsRagnar presided.

English translation: own translation.

Hann bað Ægisöllum goðumsumar at kveldibjór at bjóða;fúss vas hǫlðrá hvíluvegsnjallr at sœkjaSváfnis land.
He asked Ægirto invite all the godsone summer eveningto ale;eager was the hosttoward his resting-placeshrewd to seekSvafnir's land.

English translation: own translation.

Hann kveðr þat Hlórriðahvast í augum,féll á gólf niðrfárr af reiði:"Þú skalt gefagoðum öllumsumar at kveldibjór at bjóða."
He told this to Hlórriðisharply in the eyes,fell to the floorpale with rage:"You shall giveall the godsone summer eveningale to offer."

English translation: own translation.

Léztu þá Týtil Þórs kveða:"Ráðumk þérriðja leið;fǫður minná fjǫllum byggvir,austan ÉlivágaHymir heitir."
Then he had Týrspeak to Thor:"I counsel youto ride on the road;my fatherdwells in the mountains,east of ÉlivágarHymir is his name."

English translation: own translation.

Fóru drjúgtáðr Finnsbyggðir,enn ása sonrEgils ók geitum;kómu at húsiHymis þeira,þar er kaldr búikveðinn var.
They traveled farpast the settlements of the Finns,and the son of the Aesirdrove Egill's goats;they came to Hymir'shouse, both of them,where the cold farmerwas said to dwell.

English translation: own translation.

Sá hann þar sitjaseinna máliHymis móðurhundvísa konu;önnur satí armgulli,hvít af hnefi,við hana gyllt.
He saw sitting therespeaking at lastHymir's mother,a woman of a hundred wisdoms;another satin gold arm-rings,white of brow,golden beside her.

English translation: own translation.

Ætlar þú ossinni geyma,vinr Véurr,í vánda stað;veiztu at Hymirharðr er sinnum,opt illr viðrum komnum gest.
I intend to keep youhidden inside,friend Véurr,in a sheltered place;you know that Hymiris hard in temper,often harsh toan arrived guest.

English translation: own translation.

Snemma kómuHymir at húsiór veiðum;hratt brott ísarn,íss nam skjálfa,þar er inn fórenn hvítskeggi.
Early cameHymir to the housefrom his hunt;the iron rattled,the ice trembled,when he walked in,the white-bearded one.

English translation: own translation.

Sá hann at súlusínni kvánarhris ólíktat hlaut hanga;öðrum hverjumásið þverr,gluggr en glærok gnýr.
He saw at the pillarof his wifebranches, unlike a tree,hanging by the blood;every othercross-beam cracked,the window clatteredand thundered.

English translation: own translation.

Sá þar gangaganga át sérkonu sína,kona kvaðst hafaheim komnartveggja áttatívar samanÞórs ok Tyrs.
He saw there comingcoming toward himhis wife,the wife said she hadcome home withtwice eightgods together,Thor's and Týr's.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Hymir,harðr í móti:"Finnr þú þat,frú mín,at þær eruþrjár þær kýrer ek á;þær átta höfuð."
Then spoke Hymir,hard in reply:"Do you see,my wife,that there arethree oxenthat are mine;they have eight heads."

English translation: own translation.

Hlaut hann þar etitáðr lagi þatÞórr ofantvau af stœrum;þótti honumþéttr kveldverðr,Hymir at nótthug fór at leggja.
He managed to eatbefore it was done,Thor overheadtwo of the larger ones;it seemed to Hymira substantial evening meal,Hymir at nightwent to lay himself down.

English translation: own translation.

Þórr kvað at hannvildi út fara,rœr á rœðr,ef Hymir vildi;Hymir kveðr atþat hefir lítit liðser hann hefirsvá þrekinn gest.
Thor said that hewanted to go out,row and fish,if Hymir would agree;Hymir says thathe has little aidfrom one who hasso strong a guest.

English translation: own translation.

Bað hann hafa beitef ganga villharðr á sveif;Þórr kvað at hannmundi sjálfr um sérbeit um fá,ef gæfi honumHymir hross.
He told him to fetch baitif he wants to gohard to the rowing bench;Thor said that hewould get himselfbait,if Hymir gave hima horse.

English translation: own translation.

Gekk hann til hirðar,er Hymir átti,sá þar uxannallsvartan standa;braut af Þórrþverligar báðarkinnar þærkolsvartar höfðu.
He went to the herdthat Hymir owned,saw the bullstanding all black;Thor broke offboth the transversecheekbones thatwere coal-black.

English translation: own translation.

Þórr kvað at hannmundi betr sitjaí stafnien styri Hymir;Hymir kvað atkveld kemr at líðaáðr heimferð hafiHrungnisfari.
Thor said that hewould rather sitin the prowthan Hymir steer;Hymir said thatevening will comebefore the homeward journey ofHrungnir's killer.

English translation: own translation.

Þórr kvað at hannmundi lengra útrœr vilja;Hymir orkar eigiok þykisk hræðaskÞór af því.Reri þeir þárétt til þess.
Thor said that hewanted to row further out;Hymir cannot manageand seems to fearThor for it.They rowed thenstraight out to sea.

English translation: own translation.

Kvað þat Hymir,harðr í móti:"Hér skulum vérstanda þegar;her hvátra fiskrveiðast mun,hér á þessumþrymheimsfjǫllum."
Said Hymir,hard in reply:"Here shall westop at once;here is caughtthe best fish,here at theseThrymheim mountains."

English translation: own translation.

Lét hann fiskibeitflotna undan,sveigðisk ormrinná oxahöfðit;lagði upp á landLoki frá Ásgarði,þvengr varð at öngulÞórr er fékk.
He let the fish-baitsink below,the serpent curvedtoward the ox-head;Loki laid against the landfrom Ásgarðr,the strap became the hookthat Thor received.

English translation: own translation.

Vað varð at vegi,vinr Hrungnisdró djarfligadýr upp á borð;lítt leifðisk lífLyngvis móður,þá er Þórr ofanhamri laust.
The waves reached the path,Hrungnir's foeboldly draggedthe creature up to the gunwale;little life remainedof Lyngvi's mother,when Thor from abovestruck with the hammer.

English translation: own translation.

Hrœrðisk ormrinn,hafa á lífivarð at leysa;Hymir þáhlóðu hjörtuharðar grátuok gnap við sjósárr ok fǫlr.
The serpent stirred,life to preserveit was forced to;Hymir thentook hard at heart,wept hard tearsand hung over the seapained and pale.

English translation: own translation.

Þórr varð reiðr,rœkr í móti,lét hann siglasjó at ganga;Hymir mælti,harm var í brjósti:"Hálft vinnr þúef heim komr."
Thor grew angry,furious in reply,he let the boatgo out to sea;Hymir spoke,pain in his chest:"Half the gain is yoursif you come home."

English translation: own translation.

Reri þeir þá,rask at hvöttu,heim til lands;Hymir þagðiok hafði harmá hug sínum,enn tveir stýrðutil strandar.
They rowed then,swiftly and eagerly,home to land;Hymir was silentand bore his griefin his heart,while the two steeredtoward shore.

English translation: own translation.

Kvað þat Hymir:"Mundu vinnameð mér hlut,halfa vinning,at þú berr heimhval til bœjareða fest bátrfastr við land."
Said Hymir:"Can you managea task with me,half the gain,that you carry homethe whale to the farmor moor the boatfast to land."

English translation: own translation.

Gekk Þórr fram,greip kjölinn,dró upp bátinbraut af sjónumsaman við hlutok við hval okvið árar okausker allt.
Walked Thor forward,grabbed the keel,dragged up the boataway from the seatogether with everything:whale andoars andall the bailing gear.

English translation: own translation.

Enn þat Hymirhlytr eigi þegja,kveðr at Þórrþrygðir mun þolaþar til erþrekinn ábikar þannbrotit hafi.
Yet Hymircannot keep silent,says that Thormust endure another trial,until thepowerful one hasbroken thatgoblet.

English translation: own translation.

Stóð upp Þórr,strengðisk í ást,lét seggrvið súlu ganga;en súlan brotnaði,en Þórr batt bikarvið höfuð Hymis,heill er bágr.
Stood Thor up,stretched his strength,let the mango toward the pillar;but the pillar broke,but Thor hurled the gobletagainst Hymir's skull,whole is the difficult one.

English translation: own translation.

Reis þá upp Þórr,rœkr Ása vinr,lét bikar gangavið enni Hymis;heill varð stóll,en stórr Hymirfell af fótum,fór á kné.
Rose then Thor,furious friend of the Aesir,let the goblet goagainst Hymir's forehead;whole remained the stool,but the great Hymirfell from his feet,sank to his knees.

English translation: own translation.

Kvað þat Hymir:"Margt veit ek þikþróttarmann,þó er þú hefrkittilinn minnkirkju brotit."Þórr tók ketilinnok steig á reið.
Said Hymir:"A powerful man I know you to be,though you havemy cauldronthus broken."Thor took the cauldronand stepped into the chariot.

English translation: own translation.

Tyr bað hanntvisvar reyna;stóð á reit honumí stað tvívegis;en Þórr tók uppok á höfuð lagðiketilinner Hymir átti.
Týr asked himto try twice;it stood for himunmoved both times;but Thor liftedand put on his headthe cauldronthat Hymir owned.

English translation: own translation.

Enn þat Hymirharðr at huga,gékk hann atgeta meira;bauð við Þórþrjár þær kýrer Hymir áttihluta sér.
Still Hymirhard in mind,went he todemand more;challenged Thorwith the three cowsthat Hymir ownedto share them.

English translation: own translation.

Léztu Þórtil þingsins gangameð ketliok konu sinni;þá kómu þarþrjár meyjarer björn hljótubeðit hafa.
Thor was letgo to the assemblywith the cauldronand his wife;then came therethree maidensthat bears hadbeen waiting for.

English translation: own translation.

Gengu þeirgǫfug dísirundan Hymirheim til Ása;hljóp at þeimhergangr mikill,en Þórr þá tókþrekinn við.
They walked,honored dísir,away from Hymirhome to the Aesir;leaped against thema great war-band,but Thor then tookthem on with force.

English translation: own translation.

En Þórr varðáðr litlu vertfara lítiðfrá fǫður Týs;vann hann Leiknok Þrivaldi,vann Starkaðrok Gjálp dauða.
But Thor hadshortly beforegone a short wayfrom Týr's father;he defeated Leiknand Þrivaldi,defeated Starkaðrand Gjálp to death.

English translation: own translation.

Fann hann Hymirdauðan liggjaá melrakkaströnd fjarri;þar lá Ótinnok Þjaziok Þrívaldiþrjár þær kýr.
He found Hymirlying deadon the fox'sdistant shore;there lay Óðinnand Þjaziand Þrivaldiand the three cows.

English translation: own translation.

Áðr Þórr kómitil Ásgarðsmátti hann velvega hafra sína;þar er haltrharðr á beinisá er lömðr varaf Loka velgi.
Before Thor cameto Ásgarðrhe had wellslaughtered his goat;there limpshard on the legthe one who was lamedby Loki's trickery.

English translation: own translation.

En ér þat kunniat kveða fyr þérþrymskviðu þáer Þórr ortiok Hlórriðihafa rétt til:sér at heillumhafa rétt til.
And you who canrecite this before you:the Thrym-lay thatThor composedand Hlórriðihas right to:for his own good luckhas right to.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • Jörmungandr , The Midgard Serpent, Loki's son and Thor's mortal enemy (st. 22-23)
  • Mjölner , Thor's hammer, raised against the serpent in the climax stanza (st. 22)
  • Hymir , ice-cold sea-giant, father of Týr, owner of the great cauldron (st. 1-39)
  • Élivágar , the primordial poison-rivers of the creation myth; Hymir's home is east of them (st. 6)
  • Ägir , the sea-god who is to host the gods' feast and who demands a cauldron large enough to brew for all (st. 1-5)

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

That Hymiskviða is preserved in Codex Regius (GKS 2365 4to) and AM 748 I 4to, and that these manuscripts transmit a fornyrðislag text about Thor's fishing voyage, is textually established.

That Thor and Jörmungandr confront each other during the fishing trip and that Thor raises Mjöllnir to kill the serpent but is stopped by Hymir is the poem's explicit content.

That the cauldron is the goal of the expedition and that Thor and Týr succeed in bringing it back to the gods is the narrative's clear conclusion.

B What we think we know

Whether the fishing myth (Thor vs. Jörmungandr) was originally a separate narrative joined together with the cauldron story is debated. The two actions fit loosely together and may have had different origins.

That Týr is the son of Hymir is remarkable and has no parallel in the rest of Old Norse literature. The reason for this genealogy is unclear: it may be a local mythological feature or a poetic invention.

The text's corruption in several stanzas (2, 3, 12, 21, 34, 37) means that interpretations of these passages vary considerably between editions.

C What we do not know

Whether the poem in its current form is a composite work by an editor who combined older material, or a more organic composition, cannot be determined from extant sources.

What the closing stanzas 38-39 actually narrate, and why they reference the Þrymskviða, remains without satisfactory explanation.

Sources and further reading

Primary sources

  • Neckel, Gustav, och Hans Kuhn. 1983. Edda: Die Lieder des Codex Regius nebst verwandten Denkmälern. 5. uppl. Heidelberg: Winter.

Translations

  • Bellows, Henry Adams (trans.). 1923. The Poetic Edda. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. (PD)
  • Larrington, Carolyne (trans.). 2014. The Poetic Edda. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Scholarly works

  • Lindow, John. 2001. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer.
  • Turville-Petre, E. O. G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.