We owe the preservation of this spirited poem to the interest of a copyist of Snorri's Edda. It is found only in the Codex Regius No. 2367 of that work and in the Trajectinus Paper Manuscript of it. In all probability, Snorri contented himself with the quotation of the first stanza, (1) after briefly explaining the skaldic kenning for gold, as "Frothi's Flour," by a short summary of the legend. (2)

1. Copies of Snorri's Edda exist giving only the first stanza, while others give the lay in full.

2. The Prose Introduction and Conclusion (here added to the Introduction) are found in "Skaldskaparmal," Chap. 40.

It will be at once apparent that the account of the Introductory Prose, while in some measure dependent on the poem, differs from it in a number of respects. Whereas in the lay, harmonizing with the tragic conception of the theme, the wishing-mill goes to pieces when Frothi's good fortune comes to an end, in the Prose the fall of Frothi is rather ineptly combined with a fairy story widely spread in the North of "how the sea grew salt." In the other manuscripts of the Prose Edda this is localized by the statement that the sea king Mysing's ship sank in the Pentland Firth---where, indeed, the story is still current. It is hardly open to doubt that the version of the lay is the more authentic.

The curiously mixed nature of the lay itself has given rise to many interpretations. Most poetical, although not quite satisfactory, is the one of the great Danish scholar Olrik, who (while fully acknowledging that the poet has given his creation full human similitude in the figures of the giant maidens) conceives the song to contain an allegory of the mountain streams descending into the land of men, sweeping all before them (like "valkyries"), but at length being harnessed and reduced to servitude, until, overworked and abused, they finally rebel, overthrow the hated mill, and spread general havoc.

There are frequent allusions to the queen legend in skaldic poetry, the first occuring about 950 A.D., so that we may assume the poem to have been in existence by that time, with which it also agrees in style. There is no dependable clue as to its home. The measure is fornyrdhislag.

Skjold (3) was a son of Othin from whom the Skjoldungs are sprung. He dwelled and ruled in that land which now is called Denmark but which formerly was called Gotland.(4)

3. "Shield." See "Hyndluljodh," St. 11.

4. The present Jutland and, pars pro toto, Denmark.

Skjold's son was Frithleif (5) who ruled over the land after him. Frithleif's son was Frothi.(6) He succeeded his father at the time when Augustus Caesar made peace in all the world.(7) And because Frothi was the most powerful king in all the Northern lands, peace was named after him wherever the Danish tongue (8) is spoken, and all people in the North call it "The Peace of Frothi." As long as it lasted, no man harmed the other, even though he met the slayer of his father or of his brother, free or unbound.

5. "The Heir of Peace" or "of Friendship."

6. "The Wise."

7. Of course, this chronology is due to a learned combination of the writer.

8. That is, the Scandinavian languages, differentiated at that time only by slight dialectal variations.

At that time there was no thief or robber, so that a gold ring lay untouched three years by the high road over the Jalangr-Heath. (9) It happened that King Frothi attended a feast given by King Fjolnir (10) in Sweden, and there he bought two bondmaids whose names were Fenja and Menja. (11)

9. The present Jaellinge in Jutland.

10. One of Othin's names ("Grimnismal," St. 48), and possibly the god himself.

11. "Water-Maiden" (?) and "Jewel-Maiden" (?)

They were both tall and strong. At that time there were in Denmark two millstones which were so large that no man was able to turn them. And these stones had the power to grind out whatever he who turned them bade them grind. This quern was named Grotti, (12) and Hengikjopt (13) the man who had given the king this mill.

12. "Grinder"

13. "Hang-Chaps," also a name of Othin: in disguise, he prepares Frothi's ruin by these gifts.

Frothi had the maids led to the mill and bade them grind him gold; and so they did, and at first ground for Frothi gold and peace and happiness. Then he gave them rest or sleep no longer than whilst the cuckoo was silent, or a lay could be sung. It is said that then they chanted the lay which is called "The Lay of Grotti"; (14) and before it was at an end they had ground this fate for him: on that very night came there the sea king, Mysing, (15) who slew Frothi and took much booty----and that was the end of "The Peace of Frothi."

14. The grinding at the hand mill is everywhere accompanied by song.

15. "Mouse-Grey". Olrik explains this curious name to be that of the grey "sea-cattle" of folklore: according to another tradition, Frothi was killed by a monster arising out of the sea.

Mysing took with him the mill, Grotti, and also Fenja and Menja, and bade them grind salt for him. At midnight they asked him whether he had enough salt, but he bade them grind on. They ground but a little while longer before the ship went down. At that spot is now a whirlpool in the sea, where the waters rush in through the eye of the millstone. Since then the sea is salt.

1. Now then are come to the king's high hall,

the foreknowing twain, (16) Fenja and Menja;

in bondage by Frothi, Frithleif's son,

these sisters mighty as slaves are held.

16. Giants are often described as having prophetic gifts.

2. To moil at the mill the maids were bid,

to turn the grey stone as their task was set;

lag in their toil he would let them never,

the slaves' song he unceasing would hear.

3. The chained ones churning ay chanted their song: (17)

"Let us right the mill and raise the millstones."

He gave them no rest, to grind on bade them.

17. The line is difficult.

4. They sang as they swung the swift-wheeling stone,

till of Frothi's maids most fell asleep.

Then Menja quoth, at the quern standing:

5. "Gold and good hap we grind for Frothi,

a hoard of wealth, on the wishing-mill;

he shall sit on gold, he shall sleep on down,

he shall wake to joy: well had we ground then!

6. "Here shall no one harm his neighbor,

nor bale-thoughts brew for others' bane,

nor swing sharp sword to smite a blow,

though his brother's banesman bound he should find."

7. This word first then fell from his lips:

"Sleep ye shall not more than cock (18) in summer,

or longer than I a lay may sing."

18. Conjectural. Possibly also, "than the cuckoo," which in the long summer day of the high north sings almost unintermittently.

(Menja said:) (19)

8. "A fool wert, Frothi, and frenzied of mind,

the time thou, men's friend, (20) us maidens didst buy;

for strength didst choose us and sturdy looks,

but didst not reck of what race we sprang.

19. The assignment of the voices according to Olrik.

20. A kennig for "king."

9. "Hardy was Hrungnir, (21) but his sire e'en more;

more thews than they old Thjatsi (22) had.

Ithi and Aurnir are of our kin:

are we both born to brothers of etins.

21. See "Harbarzljodh," St. 14.

22. "Harbarzljodh," St. 19.

10. "Scarce had Grotti come out of grey mountain,

from out of the earth the iron-hard slab,

nor had mountain-maids now to turn the millstone,

if we had not first found it below.

11. "Winters nine we grew beneath the ground;

under the mountains, we mighty playmates

did strive to do great deeds of strength:

boulders we budged from their bases.

12. "Rocks we rolled out of etins' realm:

the fields below with their fall did shake;

we hurled from the heights the heavy quernstone,

the swift-rolling slab, so that men might seize it.

13. "But since then we to Sweden fared,

we foreknowing twain, and fought among men; (23)

(byrnies we slit) (24) and bucklers shattered,

we won our way through warriors' ranks.

23. As Valkyries.

24. Accepting Bugge's emendation.

14. "One king we overthrew, enthroned the other.

To good Guthorm we granted victory;

stern was the struggle ere Knui was struck.

15. "A full year thus we fared among men;

our name was known among noble heroes.

Through linden shields sharp spears we hurled,

drew blood from wounds, and blades reddened.

16. "Now we are come to the king's high hall,

without mercy made to turn the mill;

mud soils our feet, frost cuts our bones;

at the peace-quern we drudge: dreary is it here.

17. "The stone now let stand, my stint is done;

I have ground my share, grant me a rest."

(Fenja said:)

"The stone must not stand, our stint is not done,

before to Frothi his fill we ground.

18. "Our hands shall hold the hard spearshafts,

weapons gory: Awake, Frothi!

Awake, Frothi, if listen thou wilt

to our olden songs, to our ancient lore.

19. "My eye sees fire east of the castle;

battle cries ring out, beacons are kindred!

Hosts of foemen hither will wend

to burn down the hall over thy head.

20. "No longer thou Leire (25) shalt hold,

have rings of red gold, nor the mill of riches.

Harder the handle let us hold, sister;

our hands are not warm yet (26) with warriors' blood.

25. The famous royal seat of the Danish kings in prehistoric times, corresponding to the hall Heorot of Beowulf. It was probably situated near the present town of Roskilde, Zealand.

26. A conjectural reading.

21. "My father's daughter (27) doughtily ground,

for the death of hosts did she foresee;

even now the strong booms burst from the quern,

the stanch iron stays---- yet more strongly grind!"

27. That is, "I".

(Menja said:)

22. "Yet more swiftly grind: the son of Yrsa (28)

Frothi's blood will crave for the bane of Halfdan----(29)

he Hrolf is hight, and is to her

both son and brother, as both of us know."

28. "She-Wolf." By her father, Helgi, she has a son, the renowned hero-king Hrolf Kraki who is thus "to her both son and brother."

29. According to the Hrolfs saga Kraka, Frothi murdered his brother Halfdan in order to ascend the throne. The Translator has ad sensum changed the original, according to which Helgi, "avenged Frothi."

23. The mighty maidens, they ground amain,

strained their young limbs of giant strength;

the shaft tree quivered, the quern toppled over,

the heavy slab burst asunder.

24. Quoth the mighty maiden of the mountain giants:

"Ground have we, Frothi, now fain would cease;

we have toiled enough at turning the mill."

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