As this has no effect upon Gerd's mind, Skirner heaps blows upon her with a magic wand, and at the same time he begins his incantations, scoring runic characters as he sings:
E'en as I list, the magic wand
Shall tame you! Lo, with charmed hand
I touch you, maid! There shall you go
Where never man shall learn your woe.
On some high, pointed rock, forlorn
Like eagle, shall you sit at morn;
Turn from the world's all-cheering light,
And seek the deep abyss of night.
Food shall to you more loathly show
Than slimy serpent creeping slow,
When forth you come, a hideous sight,
Each wondering eye shall stare with fright;
By all observed, yet sad and lone;
'Mongst shivering giants wider known
Than him[1] who sits unmoved on high,
The guard of heaven with sleepless eye.
'Mid charms and chains and restless woe,
Your tears with double grief shall flow.
Now sit down, maid, while I declare
Your tide of sorrow and despair.
Your bower shall be some giant's cell,
Where phantoms pale shall with you dwell;
Each day to the frosty giant's hall,
Comfortless, wretched, shall you crawl;
Instead of joy, and pleasure gay,
Sorrow and tears and sad dismay;
With some three-headed giant wed,
Or pine upon a lonely bed;
From morn to morn love's secret fire
Shall gnaw your heart with vain desire;
Like barren root of thistle pent
In some high ruined battlement.
O'er shady hill, through greenwood round,
I sought this wand; the wand I found.
- ↑ Heimdal, the god of the rainbow.
