Part 13 (1/2)
Valhalla (J. C. Jones).
None too well pleased that the serpent should attain such fearful dimensions in his new element, Odin resolved to lead Fenris to Asgard, where he hoped, by kindly treatment, to make him gentle and tractable. But the G.o.ds one and all shrank in dismay when they saw the wolf, and none dared approach to give him food except Tyr, whom nothing daunted. Seeing that Fenris daily increased in size, strength, voracity, and fierceness, the G.o.ds a.s.sembled in council to deliberate how they might best dispose of him. They unanimously decided that as it would desecrate their peace-steads to slay him, they would bind him fast so that he could work them no harm.
With that purpose in view, they obtained a strong chain named Laeding, and then playfully proposed to Fenris to bind this about him as a test of his vaunted strength. Confident in his ability to release himself, Fenris patiently allowed them to bind him fast, and when all stood aside, with a mighty effort he stretched himself and easily burst the chain asunder.
Concealing their chagrin, the G.o.ds were loud in praise of his strength, but they next produced a much stronger fetter, Droma, which, after some persuasion, the wolf allowed them to fasten around him as before. Again a short, sharp struggle sufficed to burst this bond, and it is proverbial in the North to use the figurative expressions, ”to get loose out of Laeding,” and ”to dash out of Droma,” whenever great difficulties have to be surmounted.
”Twice did the aesir strive to bind, Twice did they fetters powerless find; Iron or bra.s.s of no avail, Naught, save through magic, could prevail.”
Valhalla (J. C. Jones).
The G.o.ds, perceiving now that ordinary bonds, however strong, would never prevail against the Fenris wolf's great strength, bade Skirnir, Frey's servant, go down to Svart-alfa-heim and bid the dwarfs fas.h.i.+on a bond which nothing could sever.
By magic arts the dark elves manufactured a slender silken rope from such impalpable materials as the sound of a cat's footsteps, a woman's beard, the roots of a mountain, the longings of the bear, the voice of fishes, and the spittle of birds, and when it was finished they gave it to Skirnir, a.s.suring him that no strength would avail to break it, and that the more it was strained the stronger it would become.
”Gleipnir, at last, By Dark Elves cast, In Svart-alf-heim, with strong spells wrought, To Odin was by Skirnir brought: As soft as silk, as light as air, Yet still of magic power most rare.”
Valhalla (J. C. Jones).
Armed with this bond, called Gleipnir, the G.o.ds went with Fenris to the Island of Lyngvi, in the middle of Lake Amsvartnir, and again proposed to test his strength. But although Fenris had grown still stronger, he mistrusted the bond which looked so slight. He therefore refused to allow himself to be bound, unless one of the aesir would consent to put his hand in his mouth, and leave it there, as a pledge of good faith, and that no magic arts were to be used against him.
The G.o.ds heard the decision with dismay, and all drew back except Tyr, who, seeing that the others would not venture to comply with this condition, boldly stepped forward and thrust his hand between the monster's jaws. The G.o.ds now fastened Gleipnir securely around Fenris's neck and paws, and when they saw that his utmost efforts to free himself were fruitless, they shouted and laughed with glee. Tyr, however, could not share their joy, for the wolf, finding himself captive, bit off the G.o.d's hand at the wrist, which since then has been known as the wolf's joint.
Loki.
”Be silent, Tyr!
Thou couldst never settle A strife 'twixt two; Of thy right hand also I must mention make, Which Fenris from thee took.
Tyr.
I of a hand am wanting, But thou of honest fame; Sad is the lack of either.
Nor is the wolf at ease: He in bonds must abide Until the G.o.ds' destruction.”
Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).
Deprived of his right hand, Tyr was now forced to use the maimed arm for his s.h.i.+eld, and to wield his sword with his left hand; but such was his dexterity that he slew his enemies as before.
The G.o.ds, in spite of the wolf's struggles, drew the end of the fetter Gelgia through the rock Gioll, and fastened it to the boulder Thviti, which was sunk deep in the ground. Opening wide his fearful jaws, Fenris uttered such terrible howls that the G.o.ds, to silence him, thrust a sword into his mouth, the hilt resting upon his lower jaw and the point against his palate. The blood then began to pour out in such streams that it formed a great river, called Von. The wolf was destined to remain thus chained fast until the last day, when he would burst his bonds and would be free to avenge his wrongs.