Page:Younger Edda (Anderson, 1880).djvu/188



How shall Idun be named? She is called the wife of Brage, the keeper of the apples; but the apples are called the medicine to bar old age (ellilyf, elixir vitæ). She is also called the booty of the giant Thjasse, according to what has before been said concerning how he took her away from the asas. From this saga Thjodolf, of Hvin, composed the following song in his Haustlong:

How shall the tongue

Pay an ample reward

For the sonorous shield

Which I received from Thorleif,

Foremost 'mong soldiers?

On the splendidly made shield

I see the unsafe journey

Of three gods and Thjasse.

Idun 's robber flew long ago

The asas to meet

In the giant's old eagle-guise.

The eagle perched

Where the asas bore

Their food to be cooked.

Ye women! The mountain-giant

Was not wont to be timid.

Suspected of malice

Was the giant toward the gods.

Who causes this?

Said the chief of the gods.

The wise-worded giant-eagle

From the old tree began to speak.

The friend of Honer

Was not friendly to him.