TEUTONIC MYTH AND LEGEND

by DONALD A. MACKENZIE

An Introduction to the Eddas & Sagas, Beowulf, The Nibelungenlied, etc.

London, Gresham Publications 1912

CHAPTER 14

The Great Stone Giant

Odin in Jotunheim–Two Swift Steeds–Race to Asgard–The
Boastful Giant–His Challenge to Thor–An Island Duel–The Clay Giant–A Lightning
Conflict–Thor is wounded–His Son Magni rescues Him–Groa’s Incantation–Story
of Orvandel’s Rescue–The Spell is broken–Odin as the Ferryman–How he taunted
Thor–A Divine Comedy.

THOR was in the east battling against the Trolls when Odin went forth from
Asgard towards the dwelling of Hrungner, the great Stone giant of Jotun-heim.

Hrungner watched him coming through the air in splendour and beauty, and
he cried: “Who cometh towards me? On his head is a helmet of gleaming gold.
He rides over ocean and high upon the air. Swift indeed is his mighty steed.”

Ere the giant was silent the ruler of Asgard was nigh to him, and he spake
proudly. “In all Jotun-heim,” Odin said, “there is not a horse that is Sleipner’s
equal.”

Then twitching the reins, he turned Sleipner back towards Asgard, and he
rode swifter than the wind.

“Thy steed is fast indeed,” the giant bellowed, but my nimble-footed Goldfax
(gold mane) hath greater stride.”

As he spake, Hrungner leapt upon his horse’s back and set out in swift pursuit
of the Asa-god. But although he urged Goldfax to hasten, he could not win nigh
unto Odin. Yet would the giant pause not in his speedy flight, for his heart
was afire with ambition to prevail over the rider of Sleipner. Swiftly indeed
he rode, and ere he was aware he found himself entering the gates of Asgard
over the gate-bridge which had been set down for Odin.

By the gods was he received with hospitality as he demanded. They took him
to the great feasting hall, and there he drank ancient mead and sweet. The bowls
from which Thor was wont to refresh himself were placed before him, and Freyja
filled them. Each of the bowls the giant emptied in turn at a single draught.
Indeed, so much did he drink that the mead surged in his veins and his eyes
rolled with redness, for he was made drunk. Then was his tongue unloosened,
and he gave forth loud boastings.

“Valhal,” he cried, “shall be mine. . . . The warrior’s hall must I carry
away with me to Jotun-heim.”

More mead did Freyja pour out to him, filling the bowls of Thor.

Then Hrungner boasted that he would bring utter ruin to Asgard, and cast
down its wall and palaces.

“The gods,” he cried, “and all that are within the city shall I slay save
Freyja and Sif.”

As Freyja filled the bowls he said: “Ha! all the mead in Asgard I must consume
this day. None shall I leave for the gods.”

Weary grew the gods of the braggart giant and his vain boastings, and Thor
they named. . . . Immediately Thor was in their midst. Black were the brows
of the thunder-god when he beheld Hrungner; white were his knuckles as he clutched
his great hammer.

“Who hath permitted this Jotun,” Thor roared, “to drink the mead of Asgard?
Why doth Freyja pour it forth to him as if she were honouring a feast of gods?”

Evil was in Hrungner’s eyes as he scowled at Thor, “By Odin’s wish am I here,”
he sneered, “and under his protection I remain.”

“When thou dost seek to go forth,” Thor growled sullenly, “thou mayest regret
the invitation.”

“Unarmed have I come,” Hrungner protested with sudden alarm, “and of little
honour would it be to thee, O Asa-Thor, if thou didst slay me now. If thou wouldst
fain put thy valour to proof, thee I dare to contend against me on the borders
of my kingdom.”

Thor cast at him defiant eyes, and the giant was troubled. “Alas!” he cried;
“I have done foolishly to come hither, leaving my stone shield and my flint
weapon in Jotun-heim. Were I armed, we might well fight. This shall I say unto
thee, O Asa-Thor: I would brand thee as a coward if thou didst seek to slay
me undefended. . . . I challenge thee to contend with me in an island duel.”

Now never before had Thor been challenged thus. For the island duel (Holmgang)
which Hrungner desired was fought by dealing blow for blow, and the Asa-god
would have the right to strike first because he was challenged by the other.
In the contest each would have a shieldbearer. His consent did Thor give to
the giant’s terms, and in silence they parted.

Through Jotun-heim the duel challenge was gravely debated by the giants,
and keen was their desire that Thor should be worsted, because Hrungner was
their strongest and greatest warrior, and they feared that if he fell the thunder-god
would do them more injury than heretofore.

On an island on the borders of rocky Grjottungard, where Hrungner had his
dwelling, the Jotuns made a giant of clay who was in height nine miles, and
three in breadth between the shoulders. Him they called Mokker-kalfi (Mist-wader),
and they gave him a mare’s heart. He was shieldbearer to Thor’s enemy.

Now Hrungner had a heart of stone; his head was of stone also. Broad and
thick was his stone shield, and in his right hand he grasped his great flint
weapon, which he swung over his shoulder. A terrible combatant was Hrungner.

To the island duel did Thor set forth. His shieldbearer was his faithful
Thjalfe, son of Orvandel, who ran swiftly to the place of combat. To Hrungner
he cried:

“Although thy shield is held in front, thou dost stand unprotected, for Thor
cometh to attack thee from the earth beneath.”

Then did Hrungner cause his shield to be cast down, Defiantly he stood upon
it, while with both hands he grasped his great flint weapon.

In fear and trembling was Mokker-kalfi. His mare’s heart quaked within him
because Thor was coming, and sweat ran from his body in torrents.

Thunder broke forth and lightning flashed before Hrungner. Then he beheld
rushing swiftly towards him the black-browed thunder-god, who swung his hammer
to strike. Nor did Hrungner wait till he was nigh. He raised his great flint
weapon and flung it with might against Mjolner, which Thor, divining his purpose,
hurtled simultaneously. In mid-air the weapons met and flashed forking fire
that rent the heavens and covered the ocean with flame. The flint was utterly
shattered. On the ground fell a portion, and there to this day are the flint
hills, and a great splinter pierced the forehead of the Asa-god, so that he
was thrown down.

Meanwhile the sublime hammer smote Hrungner and crushed his skull, and he
fell also. The giant’s foot struck Thor and lay heavily upon his neck, so that
he could not rise to his feet.

On the affrighted Mokker-kalfi had Thjalfe flung himself, and him he overcame
right speedily. Then ran he to help Thor, but in vain he strove to lift Hrungner’s
foot from his neck. . . . He named the Asa-gods, and they hastened from Asgard
to the place of combat. When they found that Thor was cast down, they put forth
their strength to free him, but unable were they to lift the giant’s foot.

Then came Thor’s son, Magni, whose mother was Jarnsaxa, the iron-crusher
of the World-mill. He was but three nights old, but had already exceeding great
strength. The giant’s foot he seized and flung it from his sire’s neck, saying:

“Alas! I should have come sooner. Hrungner’s head would I have broken with
my fist!”

Thor leapt up, and his arms he threw about his son, embracing him with great
love.

“To thee, O Magni,” he said, “I shall give Goldfax, Hrungner’s great steed.”

But Odin was ill-pleased with Thor, and to him he said: “Thou hast done wrong
to give unto a Hag’s son the speedy horse of the giant. ‘Twere better if thou
hadst gifted it to thy sire.”

In wrath he turned away with the gods of his clan, and went towards Asgard.

Now the day of the great island duel was long ere the time when the sons
of Ivalde waged the winter war against the Asa-gods. As Thor returned towards
Orvandel’s dwelling, his resting place on the borders of Jotun-heim, where he
was wont to leave his swift, strong goats and his sublime car, he met with Orvandel,
who was in great peril, The elfin archer had gone forth to fight against the
Frost-giants, but with ill success as it proved, for they pressed nigh to him
and sought to take him captive.

Thor rescued his friend speedily, and placed him in the meat basket, which
he carried on his shoulders, as he waded through deep Elivagar. Orvandel thrust
a toe through a hole, and a spell was put upon it by the giants, so that it
was frozen. Then did Thor snap it off and fling it high in the heavens, where
it became a bright star, which unto this day is called “Orvandel’s Toe”. Thus
it was that the elfin archer (Avo) became a star hero.

When he parted with Orvandel, Thor yoked his goats, and in his sublime car
he hastened towards his dwelling in Thrud-Varg. In grievous pain was he because
of the wound which Hrungner had given him. Deep in his forehead was the flint
flake embedded. In vain did Sith seek to alleviate his sufferings.

Now gentle Groa, Orvandel’s wife, was dwelling in Thor’s stronghold, as was
her wont when her husband went forth against the Frost-giants. She had the power
to work magic spells. She who was the “elf of growth” could make rocks to move,
and she had power to arrest the turbulent floods. It was Groa who restored to
strength those whom the Frost-giants had wounded, and it was she who gave beauty
again to the places which they laid waste.

Unto Thor she came to heal his wound, and take from his forehead the splintered
flint which stuck fast there. Incantations she sang over him. First she charmed
away the pain which afflicted the god. Then the stone quivered and grew loose.

The heart of Thor leapt within him when he perceived that Groa would give
him healing, and he was consumed with desire to reward her, and to gladden her
heart without delay. So ere she sang further, he spake and she was silenced,

Of Orvandel’s peril Thor gave Groa tidings, and of how he had rescued the
elf from the power of the Frost-giants who encompassed him about. With joy was
Groa’s heart filled, but the spell she wrought was broken, and the memory of
the magic song passed away. Thus was she unable to take from Thor’s forehead
the splintered flint, and there it ever remained because of his impatience to
give premature reward.

So there was ever after weakness in Thor. Nor must mortal fling across his
dwelling a flint weapon, lest the stone in the Asa-god’s forehead be shaken,
for then he would have suffering, and be moved to wrath against an offender.

Great were the deeds of Thor, which brought security to gods and men, for
by him were the giants driven back and their power suppressed. Unto him, therefore,
was willing service at all times rendered.

But there fell a day when Odin went forth from Asgard and towards the east.
He saw Thor coming out of Jotun-heim, and sought to mock him so that he might
have mirth.

Elivagar ran deep, and Odin waited on the opposite shore in the guise of
Greybeard, the ferryman. Thor called upon him, but Odin refused to cross, whereat
there rose a dispute between them. The valour of Thor did Odin question, and
his feats belittle. With scornful laughter, too, did he receive the angry threatenings
of the thunder-god.

“Nimble is thy tongue,” cried Thor, “but it would help thee little if I waded
across to thee. Louder than the wolf thou wouldst howl if I struck at thee with
Mjolner.”

“Better wouldst thou be engaged,” Odin answered, “if thou didst hasten home;
because there is one there whom Sif loves better than thee.”

Thor was wroth. “Well dost thou know,” he cried, “that thy cruel words sting
me. A coward art thou who speakest what is untrue.”

Odin answered: “Truly I speak indeed. . . . Thou art tardy in returning.
Why art thou lingering on thy way? ‘Twere better if thou hadst set forth on
thy journey at early morn.”

“‘Tis thou who delayest me, villain,” Thor answered wrothfully.

Odin smiled. “Can one of so little account as I am”, he said, “delay the
journey of the great Asa-god Thor?”

“Cease thy bantering,” cried Thor; “hasten hither with thy boat, and thou
shalt have the friendship of the sire of Magni.”

“Begone!” cried Odin. “I shall not cross thee.”

Then said Thor, with pleading voice: “Show me the ford then, since thou wilt
not come over.”

Odin wagged his head. “That is easy to refuse,” he said. “The way is long.
Thou canst go a little way this direction, and a little way in that; then thou
canst turn to thy left till thou dost reach No-man’s-land. There wilt thou meet
thy mother, who shall guide thee unto Odin’s land.”

“Can I go thither to-day?” Thor asked.

Odin answered: “By sunrise, if thou dost travel quickly, thou mayest get
there.”

“Mocker,” exclaimed Thor, “our talk is ended! Thou hast denied me crossing
this day, but by the holy waters of Leipter, I swear that I shall reward thee
indeed when next we meet.”

Odin smiled: “Begone!” he cried; “and may demons seize thee.”

Then took Thor his departure in great wrath, nor did he ever discover again
the ferryman Greybeard who had mocked him and put him to shame.