Page:The Prose Edda (1916 translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur).pdf/209

 Gold-Towerer, as is written here:


 * The Gold-Towerer in friendship
 * I got, and of the Warrior,
 * Son of the glowing War-Blade,
 * I make a song of praise.

Woman is periphrased in metaphors of gold, being called Willow or Giver of Gold, as Hallarsteinn sang:


 * He who casts the Amber
 * Of Vidblindi's Boar's cool, salt Drink,
 * Long will recall the Willow
 * Of the Reed-Snake's golden River.

Here the whale is called Boar of Vidblindi; this Vidblindi was a giant who drew whales out of the sea like fishes. The Drink of Whales is the sea; Amber of the Sea is gold; woman is the Willow, or Dealer, of that gold which she gives; and the willow is a tree. Therefore, as is already shown, woman is periphrased with all manner of feminine tree-names: she is also called User of that which she gives; and the word for 'user' also signifies a log, the tree which falls in the forest.

Thus sang Gunnlaugr Serpent's-Tongue:


 * That dame was born to stir strife
 * Among the sons of men-folk;
 * The War-Bush caused that; madly
 * I yearned to have the Wealth-Log.