Odin.

23.  Knowest thou that I gave to those I ought not—­victory to cowards?  Thou wast eight winters on the earth below, a milch cow and a woman, and didst there bear children.  Now that, methinks, betokens a base nature.

Loki.

24.  But, it is said, thou wentest with tottering steps in Samso, and knocked at houses as a Vala.  In likeness of a fortune teller, thou wentest among people.  Now that, methinks, betokens a base nature.

Frigg.

25.  Your doings ye should never publish among men, what ye, AEsir twain, did in days of yore.  Ever forgotten be men’s former deeds!

Loki.

26.  Be thou silent, Frigg!  Thou art Fiorgyn’s daughter, and ever hast been fond of men, since Ve and Vili, it is said, thou, Vidrir’s wife, didst both to thy bosom take.

Frigg.

27.  Know thou that if I had, in Oegir’s halls, a son like Baldr, out thou shouldst not go from the AEsir’s sons:  thou should’st have been fiercely assailed.

Loki.

28.  But wilt thou, Frigg! that of my wickedness I more recount?  I am the cause that thou seest not Baldr riding to the halls.

Freyia.

29.  Mad art thou, Loki! in recounting thy foul misdeeds.  Frigg, I believe, knows all that happens, although she says it not.

Loki.

30.  Be thou silent, Freyia!  I know thee full well; thou art not free from vices:  of the AEsir and the Alfar, that are herein, each has been thy paramour.

Freyia.

31.  False is thy tongue.  Henceforth it will, I think, prate no good to thee.  Wroth with thee are the AEsir, and the Asyniur.  Sad shalt thou home depart.

Loki.

32.  Be silent, Freyia!  Thou art a sorceress, and with much evil blended; since against thy brother thou the gentle powers excited.  And then, Freyia! what didst thou do?

Niord.

33.  It is no great wonder, if silk-clad dames get themselves husbands, lovers; but ’tis a wonder that a wretched As, that has borne children, should herein enter.

Loki.

34.  Be silent, Niord!  Thou wast sent eastward hence, a hostage from the gods.  Hymir’s daughters had thee for an utensil, and flowed into thy mouth.[41] Niord.

35.  ’Tis to me a solace, as I a long way hence was sent, a hostage from the gods, that I had a son, whom no one hates, and accounted is a chief among the AEsir.

Loki.

36.  Cease now, Niord! in bounds contain thyself; I will no longer keep it secret:  it was with thy sister thou hadst such a son; hardly worse than thyself.

Ty.

37.  Frey is best of all the exalted gods in the AEsir’s courts:  no maid he makes to weep, no wife of man, and from bonds looses all.

Loki.

38.  Be silent, Ty!  Thou couldst never settle a strife ’twixt two; of thy right hand also I must mention make, which Fenrir from thee tore.