有一天,Frey 走到天父 Odin 的寶座 Hlidskjalf 上坐下,放眼望向外面的世界時,祂發現在遙遠的北方,巨人Gymer 又大又華麗的院子裡有一個年輕的女子 Gerd,當這位美麗的女子抬起手來打開門的時候,她的光芒四射,把天空、海洋和整個世界都照亮了。由於祂大膽的坐上 Odin 的寶座,Odin 於是讓Frey 離開時心中充滿了哀傷之情。
Frey 回到自己宮裡之後,心中悶悶不樂,充滿了對那女子的渴望之情。祂一言不發、不吃不喝,也不能入睡,沒有人敢去問祂為什麼。
Frey 的父親 Njord 擔心不已,於是命 Frey 的隨從Skirnir去了解什麼事情使得Frey這麼憂傷,竟然跟誰也不說話。
Skirnir 雖然不願意,怕 Frey 惡言向對,不過祂還是去了,祂問祂的年輕主人為什麼這麼落落寡歡的呆在屋子裡。
Frey 說:「我滿懷著悲傷,盡管每天太陽光芒四射,可是它從來也沒有能驅散我心中對她的渴望。」
Frey又說:「我看見 Gymer 的庭院裡有一位姑娘,她把世界都照亮了。自從看到她以後,我對她的愛就勝過了我對任何人的愛。但是,誰也不能夠讓我和她相會。現在你去 Gymer 那裡代我求婚,不管祂同意或不同意,你都要帶回祂的女兒,我會重重賞賜你。」
Skirnir 說祂隨時可以代 Frey去求婚,不過,Frey 必須將祂手上的勝利之劍送給祂做為禮物。
Frey 答應了,於是 Skirnir 騎上馬,朝Gymer的城堡飛去。Skirnir要Gerda答覆,她準備什麼時候和 Frey 會面。
Gerda回答說:「有一片密林 Bar-Isle,那裡優美幽靜,再過九個晚上,我會在那裡把愛獻給Frey。」Skirnir於是高興的策馬回去了。
當 Skirnir 對Frey轉達了Gerda 的口信之後,Frey 嘆氣說:
「一夜已經無邊,
兩夜更是漫漫!
我怎麼能熬得過三夜?
現在我覺得,
半個夜晚的愛情煎熬
也比度過一個月的日子要難!」
Frey 最後還是以手上的寶劍娶到了Gerda,但是卻付出了生命做代價。原來 Skirnir 是火焰巨人Surtr 的化身,Surtr 拿到勝利之劍之後,立刻將其帶回了巨人國。Frey 最後是在諸神的黃昏中死於自己的勝利之劍下。
One day when Frey had gone into Hlidskjalf, and was looking out upon all the worlds, he saw toward the north a hamlet wherein was a large and beautiful house. To this house went a woman, and when she raised her hands to open the door, both the sky and the sea glistened therefrom, and she made all the world bright. As a punishment for his audacity in seating himself in that holy seat, Frey went away full of grief. When he came home, he neither spake, slept, nor drank, and no one dared speak to him. Then Njord sent for Skirner, Frey’s servant, bade him go to Frey and ask him with whom he was so angry, since he would speak to nobody. Skirner said that he would go, though he was loth to do so, as it was probable that he would get evil words in reply. When he came to Frey and asked him why he was so sad that he would not talk, Frey answered that he had seen a beautiful woman, and for her sake he had become so filled with grief, that he could not live any longer if he could not get her. And now you must go he added, and ask her hand for me and bring her home to me, whether it be with or without the consent of her father. I will reward you well for your trouble. Skirner answered saying that he would go on this errand, but Frey must give him his sword, that was so excellent that it wielded itself in fight. Frey made no objection to this and gave him the sword. Skirner went on his journey, courted Gerd for him, and got the promise of her that she nine nights thereafter should come to Bar-Isle and there have her wedding with Frey. When Skirner came back and gave an account of his journey, Frey said:
Long is one night,
Long are two nights,
How can I hold out three?
Oft to me one month
Seemed less
Than this half night of love.
Long is one night,
Long are two nights,
How can I hold out three?
Oft to me one month
Seemed less
Than this half night of love.
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