The Younger Edda; Also called Snorre's Edda, or The Prose Edda. Snorri Sturluson

in his stead as an asa-hostage the god whose name is Honer. He established peace between the gods and vans. Njord took to wife Skade, a daughter of the giant Thjasse. She wished to live where her father had dwelt, that is, on the mountains in Thrymheim; Njord, on the other hand, preferred to be near the sea. They therefore agreed to pass nine nights in Thrymheim and three in Noatun. But when Njord came back from the mountains to Noatun he sang this:

      Weary am I of the mountains,

      Not long was I there,

      Only nine nights.

      The howl of the wolves

      Methought sounded ill

      To the song of the swans.

      Skade then sang this:

      Sleep I could not

      On my sea-strand couch,

      For the scream of the sea-fowl.

      There wakes me,

      As he comes from the sea,

      Every morning the mew.

      Then went Skade up on the mountain, and dwelt in Thrymheim. She often goes on skees (snow-shoes), with her bow, and shoots wild beasts. She is called skee-goddess or skee-dis. Thus it is said:

      Thrymheim it is called

      Where Thjasse dwelt,

      That mightiest giant.

      But now dwells Skade,

      Pure bride of the gods,

      In her father’s old homestead.38

      24. Njord, in Noatun, afterward begat two children: a son, by name Frey, and a daughter, by name Freyja. They were fair of face, and mighty. Frey is the most famous of the asas. He rules over rain and sunshine, and over the fruits of the earth. It is good to call on him for harvests and peace. He also sways the wealth of men. Freyja is the most famous of the goddesses. She has in heaven a dwelling which is called Folkvang, and when she rides to the battle, one half of the slain belong to her, and the other half to Odin. As is here said: