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Alvissmol

With the wagon-guider  a word do I seek;Let the gods their bond not break."
  Thor spake:4.[1] "Break it shall I,  for over the brideHer father has foremost right;At home was I not  when the promise thou hadst,And I give her alone of the gods."
  Alvis spake:5.[2] "What hero claims  such right to holdO'er the bride that shines so bright?Not many will know thee,  thou wandering man!Who was bought with rings to bear thee?"
  Thor spake:6.[3] "Vingthor, the wanderer  wide, am I,And I am Sithgrani's son;Against my will  shalt thou get the maid,And win the marriage word."

    rendering the line "I am come to seek  the cost of the weapons." In either case, Alvis does not as yet recognize Thor.

  1. Apparently the gods promised Thor's daughter in marriage to Alvis during her father's absence, perhaps as a reward for some craftsmanship of his (cf. Bugge's suggestion as to stanza 3). The text of line 4 is most uncertain.
  2. Hero: ironically spoken; Alvis takes Thor for a tramp, the god's uncouth appearance often leading to such mistakes; cf. Harbarthsljoth, 6. Line 4 is a trifle uncertain; some editors alter the wording to read "What worthless woman bore thee?"
  3. Vingthor ("Thor the Hurler"): cf. Thrymskvitha, 1. Sithgrani ("Long-Beard"): Othin.

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