Odin and Frigg were sitting in Hlidskialf, looking over all the world.  Odin said, “Seest thou Agnar, thy foster-son, where he is, getting children with a giantess in a cave? while Geirroed, my foster-son, is a king residing in his country.”  Frigg answered, “He is so inhospitable that he tortures his guests, if he thinks that too many come.”  Odin replied that that was the greatest falsehood; and they wagered thereupon.  Frigg sent her waiting-maid Fulla to bid Geirroed be on his guard, lest the trollmann who was coming should do him harm, and also say that a token whereby he might be known was, that no dog, however fierce, would attack him.  But that King Geirroed was not hospitable was mere idle talk.  He, nevertheless, caused the man to be secured whom no dog would assail.  He was clad in a blue cloak, and was named Grimnir, and would say no more concerning himself, although he was questioned.  The king ordered him to be tortured to make him confess, and to be set between two fires; and there he sat for eight nights.  King Geirroed had a son ten years old, whom he named Agnar, after his brother.  Agnar went to Grimnir and gave him a full horn to drink from, saying that the king did wrong in causing him to be tortured, though innocent.  Grimnir drank from it.  The fire had then so approached him that his cloak was burnt; whereupon he said:—­

1.  Fire! thou art hot, and much too great; flame! let us separate.  My garment is singed, although I lift it up, my cloak is scorched before it.

2.  Eight nights have I sat between fires here, and to me no one food has offered, save only Agnar, the son of Geirroed, who alone shall rule over the land of Goths.

3.  Be thou blessed, Agnar! as blessed as the god of men bids thee to be.  For one draught thou never shalt get better recompense.

4.  Holy is the land, which I see lying to AEsir and Alfar near; but in Thrudheim Thor shall dwell until the powers perish.

5.  Ydalir it is called, where Ullr has himself a dwelling made.  Alfheim the gods to Frey gave in days of yore for a tooth-gift.

6.  The third dwelling is, where the kind powers have with silver decked the hall; Valaskialf ’tis called, which for himself acquired the As in days of old.

7.  Soekkvabekk the fourth is named o’er which the gelid waves resound; Odin and Saga there, joyful each day, from golden beakers quaff.

8.  Gladsheim the fifth is named, there the golden-bright Valhall stands spacious, there Hropt selects each day those men who die by weapons.

9.  Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come, the mansion by its aspect.  Its roof with spears is laid, its hall with shields is decked, with corslets are its benches strewed.

10.  Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come, the mansion by its aspect.  A wolf hangs before the western door, over it an eagle hovers.

11.  Thrymheim the sixth is named, where Thiassi dwelt that all-powerful Joetun; but Skadi now inhabits, the bright bride of gods, her father’s ancient home.