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Updated: May 16, 2025
He told those in the mansion that he was Groa, the old Enchantress who was drawing out of Thor's head the fragments of a grindstone that a Giant's throw had embedded in it. Frigga knew about Groa and she praised the Enchantress for what she had done. "Many fragments of the great grindstone have I taken out of Thor's head by the charms I know," said the pretended Groa.
"The cup," cried Asmund "give me the cup that I may drink." Then Groa started forward, and as she did so she seemed to stumble, so that for a moment her robe covered up the great bride-cup. Then she gathered herself together slowly, and, smiling, passed up the cup. Asmund lifted it to his lips and drank deep.
He would have no more to do with Groa now, but he could not be rid of her; and, notwithstanding her evil doings, he still loved Swanhild. But Groa grew thin with spite and rage, and wandered about the place glaring with her great black eyes, and people hated her more and more.
Look where lies her luckless husband, Bolder sea-king ne'er swung sword! Asmund, keep the kirtle-wearer, For last night the Norns were crying, And Groa thought they told of thee: Yea, told of thee and babes unborn. "How knowest thou my name?" asked Asmund. "The sea-mews cried it as the ship sank, thine and others and they shall be heard in story." "Ay," she answered, "fey and fair."
"Would that I could not believe it!" she answered. "Would that I could think it was but an evil dream! But alas! Nay, I will prove it. Suffer that I summon Koll, the Icelander, who was my mother's thrall Groa who now is dead, for I have that tidings also. He saw something of this thing, and he will bear me witness." "Call the man," said Atli sternly.
"For this cause," said Eric; "because it seems that Asmund the Priest wearies of Groa the Witch, and would take another wife, and I wish to draw the bands between us tighter, if it may befall so." "Groa will take it ill," said Saevuna. "Things cannot be worse between us than they are now, therefore I do not fear Groa," he answered.
Since this matter of the greasing of Eric's wrestling-shoes great loathing of Groa had come into Asmund's mind, and he bethought him often of those words that his wife Gudruda the Gentle spoke as she lay dying, and grieved that the oath which he swore then had in part been broken.
He asked whence she came, and she answered: "Out of the Swan's Bath." Next, he asked her where were her kin. But, pointing to the dead man, she said that this alone was left of them. "Who was the man, then?" said Asmund the Priest. She laughed again and sang this song: Groa sails up from the Swan's Bath, Death Gods grip the Dead Man's hand.
Red was that marriage-feast at which sat Unna, my kinswoman, and Asmund, thy father redder shall be the feast where sit Gudruda, thy sister, and Ospakar! The wolf howls at thy door, Björn! the grave-worm opens his mouth! trolls run to and fro upon thy threshold, and the ghosts of men speed Hellwards! Ill were the deeds of Groa worse shall be the deeds of Groa's daughter!
Gudruda stood foremost, and Groa was next to her. Now Koll filled as before, and it was a great cup of gold that he filled. Asmund rose to call the toast, and with him all who were in the hall. Koll brought up the cup, and handed it, not to Asmund, but to Groa; but there were few who noted this, for all were listening to Asmund's toast and most of the guests were somewhat drunken.
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