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In Norse mythology, Byggvir was one of Freyr's servants and the husband of Beyla. The only surviving source which mentions him and his wife is Lokasenna (the flyting of Loki). They were most-likely elves since they reside at Freyr's farm in Álfheim, and also being that Freyr is the lord of Álfheim and Lokasenna says that they were among the gods and elves. His task is to take care of the world-mill and its grist.
Loki and Byggvir have a quarrel, and Loki abuses him for telling gossip to Freyr and makes fun of his weak build:
Stanza 43:
- Byggvir qvaþ:
- «Veiztv, ef ec øþli ettac
- sem Ingvnar-Freyr
- oc sva selict setr,
- mergi smera ma/lþa ec
- þa meíncráco
- oc lemþa alla i liþo.» [1])
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- Byggvir spake:
- Had I birth so famous
- as Ingunar-Freyr,
- And sat in so lofty a seat,
- I would crush to marrow
- this croaker of ill,
- And beat all his body to bits." (Bellow's translation[2])
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Stanza 44:
- Loci qvaþ:
- «Hvat er þat iþ litla,
- er ec þat la/ggra sec
- oc snapvist snapir;
- at eyrom Freys
- mvnðv e vera
- oc vnd kvernom klaca.» [3])
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- Loki spake:
- "What little creature
- goes crawling there,
- Snuffling and snapping about?
- At Freyr's ears ever
- wilt thou be found,
- Or muttering hard at the mill."(Bellow's translation[4])
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Stanza 45:
- Beyggvir qvaþ:
- «Beyggvir ec heíti,
- enn mic braþan qveþa
- goð a/ll oc gvmar:
- þvi em ec her hroðvgr,
- at drecca Hroptz megir
- allir a/l saman.» [5]
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- Byggvir spake:
- "Byggvir my name,
- and nimble am I,
- As gods and men do grant;
- And here am I proud
- that the children of Hropt
- Together all drink ale." (Bellow's translation[6])
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Stanza 46:
- Loci qvaþ:
- «Þegi þv, Byggvir!
- þv kvnnir aldregi
- deila meþ monnom mat;
- oc þic i fletz strá
- finna ne mattv,
- þa er vago verar.»[7]
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- Loki spake:
- "Be silent, Byggvir!
- thou never couldst set
- Their shares of the meat for men;
- Hid in straw on the floor,
- they found thee not
- When heroes were fain to fight."(Bellow's translation[8])
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see also:
