Page:The Prose Edda (1916 translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur).pdf/85

 chieftain, since he commands so large an army. Now what is the sport of the champions, when they are not fighting?" Hárr replied: "Every day, as soon as they are clothed, they straightway put on their armor and go out into the court and fight, and fell each other. That is their sport; and when the time draws near to undern-meal, they ride home to Valhall and sit down to drink, even as is said here:


 * All the Einherjar
 * in Odin's court
 * Deal out blows every day;
 * The slain they choose
 * and ride from the strife,&mdash;
 * Sit later in love together.

But what thou hast said is true: Odin is of great might. Many examples are found in proof of this, as is here said in the words of the Æsir themselves:


 * Ash Yggdrasill's trunk
 * of trees is foremost,
 * And Skídbladnir of ships;
 * Odin of Æsir,
 * of all steeds Sleipnir,
 * Bifröst of bridges,
 * and Bragi of skalds;
 * Hábrók of hawks,
 * and of hounds Garmr."

XLII. Then said Gangleri: "Who owns that horse Sleipnir, or what is to be said of him?" Hárr answered: "Thou hast no knowledge of Sleipnir's points, and thou knowest not the circumstances of his begetting; but it will seem to thee worth the telling. It was early in the first days of the gods' dwelling here, when the gods had established the Midgard and made Valhall; there came at that time a certain wright and offered to build them a citadel in three seasons, so good that it should be staunch and proof against the Hill-Giants and the Rime-Giants, though they should