he last day came for King Thorvald's guests
And all kept to their drinking horns,
In order that the Danes might rest
To ply the oars upon the morn.

To each man Thorvald gave great gifts
Of shields heaped high with precious gems
Such that the men could scarcely lift
The bounty he had offered them.

He gave them weapons, flashing gold,
He gave them spices, salt and ale,
Bright cloaks to ward off winter's cold
And armor, should their shield-arms fail.

Then Thorvald spoke, "I am not done,
Though Denmark's men received their due,
My gifts are given, save but one,
Thus, Hawart, now I turn to you.

"As Denmark's prince and future king,
This gift belongs to you, not me.
Do not deny me this last thing,
'Tis given well, as you shall see.

"But first a tale that must be heard
That tells of pride and cunning deeds.
Come Bragi! Guide my simple words!
Come Odin! Bring poetic mead!

"In times long ere e'en Haakon's birth,
When gods still joined on Midgard's boards,
Most powerful upon the earth,
Was Irnfried, Denmark's king and lord.

"The gods were young, and still unformed.
E'en Odin was not fully wise,
For he had yet to trade the Norns
A draught for one great, gleaming eye.

"The smithing dwarves had yet to form
The hammer they would give to Thor.
Forseti was but lately born,
And Tyr was still the god of war.

"The Sly One, Loki, still remained
A welcome, if a prankish guest;
'Twas long before the birthing pains,
Of his ill-boding giantess.

"In those days Aesir walked the earth
Unhidden by their livery.
They loved the share the hearthside mirth,
Of mankind's hospitality.

"They sat in huts and regal halls,
On nearby shores and far off lands.
With heroes, peasants, kings and thralls,
And gave them gifts straight from their hands.

"But of all those the gods had blessed,
King Irnfried was their favored host.
Above and far beyond the rest,
They visited with him the most.

"He served the choicest cuts of meat,
On dishes of formed of hammered gold.
His ale was strong, his wine was sweet
His banquets wonders to behold.

"The Aesir sat so oft with him
That Midgard's men were often heard
To say his hall must hold, within,
The spring that fed the Well of Urd.

"King Irnfried was well-blessed with wealth,
His fields brought forth abundant grain
He kept his strength, he kept his health,
And Odin blessed his life and reign.

"Thus, Odin came to mighty Vit,
A dwarf who worked the forge's fire.
He wanted gifts that would befit
A king who had all he desired.

"For fourteen days and fourteen nights,
The dwarf intoned his magic runes.
The forge outshone e'en Sol's great light,
As Vit played out his anvil's tune.

"The Aesir met within the cave
Of mighty Vit as he brought forth
Such gifts as even gods would crave.
And all acclaimed the skillful dwarf.

"The first two gifts were of a pair,
One horse of silver, one of gold.
Detailed down to each single hair,
But massive figures to behold.

"Then Odin breathed upon the two
And lifeblood coursed within their veins.
They changed from their metallic hue
Except upon their foremost manes.

"Thus Silfrtopp and Gulltopp gained
The names they hold unto this day.
But as for why these two are famed,
Amidst this host, I need not say.

"Then Vit, before the Aesir's eyes,
Brought forth a wondrous thing to see.
This was, by far, the greatest prize.
At first, the gods did not agree.

"It seemed so common; Unadorned
By rune or detailed hammering.
It seemed unfit to e'er be worn
By one who bore the rank of king.

"Then Vit asked Odin for his sword,
Which Odin gave him warily.
The dwarf then gave to mighty Thor
The battle-twig of Hjalmberi.

"The dwarf then told the god to smite
The armor one great, stalwart blow.
The god lashed out with all his might,
He could not dent the armor, though.

"The lightning god was thunderstruck.
What arms withstand the mighty Thor?
He thought that only some ill-luck
Had held the blade of Odin's sword.

"He swung two times. Then three and four.
But still the armor did not fail.
His anger rose. He struck yet more,
He roared and raged to no avail.

"When Thor gave way, proud Vit proclaimed
This war-bark never would be hewed.
Thus, for its failure, it was named.
Its promise, Aldri, still holds true.

"The gods brought Irnfried these three things
And, humbly, Irnfried thanked them all.
With wonder in his heart, the king
Gave them obeisance in his hall.

"With Irnfried at his army's fore,
His realm was soon spared all attack.
Invaders quailed on Denmark's shore.
On sight of Irnfried, all fell back.

"This battle-tree had fearsome bark,
As though he sprang from Laerad's seed.
His chariot flew like a spark,
Upon the wind of two great steeds.

"King Irnfried's realm began to swell,
Through Jutland, Holstein, Mecklenburg,
Westphalia, across the Elbe,
And farther south to Brandenburg.

"The realm of Denmark stretched so vast,
And so profound was Denmark's might,
That, finally, it came to pass
King Irnfried had no wars to fight.

"But Irnfried was a restless soul
Unused to sedentary ways.
He did not like the regent's role,
And hearkened back to warlike days.

"He dueled and bested many men.
In chariots, his always led.
His wager, time and time again,
Was Aldri 'gainst the other's head.

"To greed, e'en wisdom often yields,
And many lusted for the arms,
Renowned upon the battlefield
For keeping Irnfried safe from harm.

"One day, Prince Hjuki, Lapland's heir,
Joined Irnfried, in his hall, to dine.
The son of Hoskuld Yellow-hair,
He was both strong of limb and mind.

"Prince Hjuki sat and entertained
His host with converse, toast and jest.
But as the mead filled up his veins,
The prince became a noisome guest.

"Unfriendly barbs first pricked the king
And all the warriors there around.
But, soon, brave insults' gouging stings
Sank deep in he who wore the crown.

"He questioned Irnfried's bravery,
And all his mighty, warlike deeds.
The king's heart burned yet silently
Until the prince spoke of his steeds.

"'Twas then the king unleashed his wrath,
'You say both Gull and Silfrtopp
Traverse a slowly wended path
Upon the gallop or the trot?'

"'I grant,' said Hjuki, 'it is true,
That pair fared well in races past.
But for a Lapland prince, those two
Would not prove so surpassing fast.

"The king then asked with overt guile,
'You say my war-car can be beat?'
The prince slurred through his drunken smile,
'With nothing but my own two feet!'

"'I name the wager, you the race.'
'Such are the terms which I accept.'
They parted with pretended grace,
Then each laid down and soundly slept.

"The 'morrow rose upon the plain
Where Irnfried waited with his team.
But, vexing the impatient Dane,
The prince was nowhere to be seen.

"The day grew long as Sol grew bright.
She well traversed nigh half her path,
Ere Hjuki came with smiling eye,
Incensing further Irnfried's wrath.

"Prince Hjuki said to Denmark's king,
' That enmity may yet be ceased,
Ere we begin this wagering,
I offer you one last release.'

"But Irnfried, puffed with pride and spite,
Said, 'Hjuki, you shall find no quarter here.
Your barbs put you in mortal plight
That sets your head upon a spear.

"Prince Hjuki said, 'Is that your way?
I offered quarter, you give none.
Then name the wager! Speak, I pray,
E'en though I think I know the one.

"'Indeed, Prince Hjuki,' Irnfried said,
'You shall win Aldri for first place,
But for my win, I take your head.
I've set the wager, name the race!'

"'The prince said, 'Since that task is mine:
Three hundred paces up and down.
Now that we stand upon the line,
I'll wait here while you turn around.'

"King Irnfried said to him, "Young man,
That way has not sufficient space.
Said Hjuki, 'You misunderstand,
For this shall be a backward race.

"King Irnfried felt the sudden flame
Of overwhelming hate and rage
But soon it fell beneath his shame;
Tricked by a boy but half his age!

"As testament to Irnfried's skill
At both the chariot and horse,
His war-car did not tilt or spill
Until the turn upon the course.

"His struggle, though, was all in vain
For Hjuki finished well before
The king had even cut the course in twain
And laughed as Irnfried cursed and swore.

"Prince Hjuki took his fearsome prize
To Lappland, winning great renown
As one courageous, strong and wise;
Traits, like Aldri, he passed down.

"The news soon came to Irnfried's foes
That Aldri ventured farther north.
Upon his meres, there quickly rose
A dozen armies marching forth.

"But still the king rode in the lead
Of Denmark's swarming oaks of war.
Behind King Irnfried's dauntless steeds,
This forest swept all those before.

"Thuringia quickly fell away,
Then Brandenburg was put to rout.
The Rhineland fell beneath his sway
Bavarians fled to redoubts,

"Within the peaks of Alpenland.
But ere the king turned to the Saar,
He put his life in fate's cruel hands
By exiting his battle-car.

"Upon the plains, he knew no match,
In strength of arms or flashing speed.
The wind itself would fail to catch,
A chariot pulled by those steeds.

"But horse and car are useless things
Amidst the craggy mountain peaks.
And so it fell to Denmark's king,
To trade eight hooves for but two feet.

"He pressed his foe through vale and pass,
His sword drank deep of life's thick wine,
But even Irnfried's stout cuirass
Could not deflect what Fate designed.

"As Irnfried pressed the Danes' advance
Against Bavaria's last stand,
A man named Schilbung took his lance
And prayed that Odin guide his hand.

"With one cast of the heartwood spine
It raced to flight and came to rest.
Unflinching from its bidden line,
The shaft sunk deep in Irnfried's breast.

"Without their king to lead the way,
The Danes could not press home attack.
Bavaria held fast that day
As Denmark's once taut lines fell slack.

"Upon the shoulders of his men,
King Irnfried faced the last defeat,
As Alpen passes, vales and glens,
Were filled with Denmark's slow retreat.

"With gasping breath, their dying lord
Was brought back through the final pass
And down from mountain heights toward
The camp where Irnfried breathed his last.

"Despite their strongly felt desire,
They could not yet attend his rites
Or build a noble, flaming pyre,
For enemies were still in sight.

"But Gulltopp and his silver twin
Brought Irnfried's empty war-car forth.
The Danes placed Irnfried's corpse within
To bear their lord back to the north.

"But as they did, the bolting steeds,
Sped off with Irnfried's battle-car.
Befitting all his war-like deeds,
They bore him to the Einherjar.

"And thus King Irnfried first of men,
Achieved Valhalla's sole domain.
But now we must think, once again,
Upon the armor Odin named.

"Prince Hjuki bore his wondrous spoil
To Lapland, where it earned renown,
Amidst the war-tide's raging toil,
To those adorned by Lapland's crown.

"Eight years have passed since Norway's war
With Lapland brought its final close.
For Thorgeir Norway's late, lamented lord
Was more than match for all his foes.

"While sweeping through the Lapland lines,
He searched for Jonakr, their king.
For, yet possessed of brave designs,
He sought to fell him with his swing.

"King Thorgeir found his fearsome prey,
King Jonakr upon the field.
But one king would survive the day,
For neither would back down or yield.

"The men who fought laid arms aside
In wonder at the two men there.
Some say e'en Sol paused in her ride,
To watch the fight between the pair.

"The gruesome, graceful martial dance
Went long, but did not stop or slow
Until King Thorgeir saw his chance
To strike his foe a mortal blow.

"Above the shoulders Aldri sheathed,
Below where head and helm were wed,
King Thorgeir's flashing sword relieved
A neck the weight of Lapland's head.

"Norwegians stood at Thorgeir's side
Lest two kings fall upon the day.
But Lapland's arms soon fell aside
And Aldri fell to Norway's sway.

"It spent its years with no great cost:
The promise, Aldri, still holds true.
Norwegians found what Denmark lost.
And, now, it is returned to you."