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The Marriage of Freyr and Gerd
Tune: “The Rovin’ Dies Hard” by Battlefield Band, album "Home Ground" -
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One day, up in Asgardh, Freyr sat on the throne
That Odin did use to look over Midgardh
He saw a dark place with a beautiful face
More lovely than any in Asgardh
So he turned to his servant, named Skirnir, and said
"Bring her to Alfheim, to her I must wed!"
So Skirnir rode into the castle of Gymir that day
For the marriage of Freyr.
Frey's servant approached close to Gerd and said
"I've brought along with me the riches of dreams
"If you 'd come with me Freyr wants to take you away
"And make you his beautiful Queen."
She spired at the servant and told him to go
"I'll never love Freyr, and I'm rich, don't you know!"
So Skirnir returned back to his master only to say,
"She won't marry you, Freyr."
Frey cried out in anguish, his heart rent in twain
But the clever man, Skirnir, had devised a plan
He'd bring Freyr's sword down on the giantess' crown
And destroy all the giants' home lands
He'd spare them if Gerd to the marriage agreed
And subjected herself to Freyr's fertile seed
So off Skirnir went again to obtain Gerd's willing fay
To the heartbroken Freyr.
When Skirnir arrived and he threatened the giant
She asked him to spare her home land from the fury
She agreed to wed Freyr in eight nights and one day
So Skirnir returned in a hurry
He gave the good news to the Lord of the Vans
Freyr waited nine days with his heart in his hands
Gerd met up with him in a forest upon the ninth day
To be married to Freyr.
©
Karl Donaldsson, 16 August 1996
The Hearth
of Karl Donaldsson
Image: One of several kinds of so-called "Guldgubber" (thin gold foil found in, assumedly, sacrificial deposits).