Gerd will ne’er by force be led
To grace a conqueror’s hateful bed;
But this I trow, with main and might
Gymer shall meet your boast in fight.
SKIRNER:
Behold this bright and slender wand,
Unsheathed and glittering in my hand!
Slain by its edge your sire shall lie,
That giant old is doomed to die.
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: