The earth is periphrased as Ymir's flesh, mother of Þórr, daughter of Ónarr and bride of Óðinn, and as daughter of Nótt and sea of the beasts. Six verse examples show how the skalds call conquered land a prince's 'bride' — the co-wife of Óðinn or of Rindr.
Hvernig skal jörð kenna? Svá, at kalla hana Ymis hold ok móður Þórs, dóttur Ónars, brúði Óðins, elju Friggjar ok Rindar ok Gunnlaðar, sværu Sifjar, gólf ok botn veðra hallar, sjár dýranna, dóttir Náttar, systir Auðs ok Dags. Svá sem kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir:
How shall the earth be periphrased? Thus: by calling it Ymir's flesh, and mother of Þórr, daughter of Ónarr, bride of Óðinn, co-wife of Frigg and Rindr and Gunnlöð, mother-in-law of Sif, floor and bottom of the hall of the winds, sea of the beasts, daughter of Nótt, sister of Auðr and Dagr. As Eyvindr skáldaspillir spoke:
Sem kvað Hallfreðr vandræðskáld:
As Hallfreðr the troublesome-poet spoke:
Ok enn sagði hann:
And again he said:
Svá sem kvað Þjóðólfr:
As Þjóðólfr spoke:
Sem Hallfreðr kvað:
As Hallfreðr spoke:
Svá kvað Þjóðólfr:
Thus spoke Þjóðólfr:
Skaldic quotations
Eyvindr skáldaspillir (jord = móðir jötna dolgs, Þórrs mor)
Nú er alfröðull elfar jötna dolgs of folginn, ráð eru rammrar þjóðar rík, í móður líki.
Now the elf-beam of the river [gold] is hidden in the likeness of the mother of the giants' foe [Þórr] — that is, in the earth; the counsels of the mighty people are strong.
Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld (jord = Ónarrs enda dotter)
Ráð lukusk, at sá, síðan, snjallráðr konungs spjalli átti einga-dóttur Ónars viði gróna.
It came about that the wise-counselled confidant of the king afterward possessed Ónarr's only daughter [the earth], grown with trees.
Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld (jord = Báleygs [Óðins] brud)
Breiðleita gat brúði Báleygs at sér teygða stefnir stöðvar hrafna stála ríkismálum.
The steerer of the raven's resting-place [the warrior] drew to himself the broad-faced bride of Báleygr [Óðinn — the land] with the mighty speech of swords [conquest].
Þjóðólfr (jord/strand = hafs botn, havets botten)
Útan bindr við enda elgvers glöðuðr hersa hreins við, húfi rónum, hafs botni far gotna.
The gladdener of the chieftains [the leader] binds the men's vessel [ship] with riveted planking to the outer end of the sea, at the sea's bottom [the shore, the earth].
Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld (jord = Auðs systir)
Því hygg fleygjanda frægjan, ferr jörð und menþverri ítran, eina at láta Auðs systur mjök trauðan.
Therefore I think the famous gold-scatterer [prince] is very reluctant to let the sister of Auðr [the earth] go alone, for the land passes under the glorious ring-diminisher [the generous prince].
Þjóðólfr (jord = elja Rindar, Rindrs medhustru)
Dolgljóss, hefir dási darrlatr staðit fjarri, endr þá er elju Rindar ómynda tók skyndir.
The battle-bright... the spear-slow sluggard has stood far off, back when the hastener [the prince] took the co-wife of Rindr [the earth] without bride-price [seized the land by force].