The Prose Edda
"How should Idunn be periphrased? Thus: by calling her Wife of Bragi, and Keeper of the Apples; and the apples should be called Age-Elixir of the Æsir. Idunn is also called Spoil of the Giant Thjazi, according to the tale that has been told before, how he took her away from the Æsir. Thjódólfr of Hvin composed verses after that tale in the Haustlöng:
How shall I make voice-payment Meetly for the shield-bridge . . . . . . . Of the war-wall Thórleifr gave me? I survey the truceless faring Of the three gods strife-foremost, And Thjatsi's, on the shining Cheek of the shield of battle.
The Spoiler of the Lady Swiftly flew with tumult To meet the high god-rulers Long hence in eagle-plumage; The erne in old days lighted Where the Æsir meat were bearing To the fire-pit; the Giant Of the rocks was called no faint-heart.
The skilful god-deceiver To the gods proved a stern sharer Of bones: the high Instructor Of Æsir, helmet-hooded, Saw some power checked the seething; The sea-mew, very crafty, Spake from the ancient tree-trunk; Loki was ill-willed toward him.
The wolfish monster ordered Meili's Sire to deal him Food from the holy trencher: The friend of Him of Ravens To blow the fire was chosen; The Giant-King, flesh-greedy, Sank down, where the guileless Craft-sparing gods were gathered.
The comely Lord of All Things Commanded Loki swiftly To part the bull's-meat, slaughtered By Skadi's ringing bow-string, Among the folk, but straightway The cunning food-defiler Of the Æsir filched-the quarters, All four, from the broad table.
And the hungry Sire of Giants Savagely ate the yoke-beast From the oak-tree's sheltering branches,— That was in ancient ages,— Ere the wise-minded Loki, Warder of war-spoil, smote him, Boldest of foes of Earth-Folk, With a pole betwixt the shoulders.
The Arm-Burden then of Sigyn, Whom all the gods in bonds see, Firmly forthwith was fastened To the Fosterer of Skadi; To Jötunheim's Strong Dweller The pole stuck, and the fingers Of Loki too, companion Of Hœnir, clung to the pole's end.
The Bird of Blood flew upward (Blithesome in his quarry) A long way off with Loki, The lither God, that almost Wolf's Sire was rent asunder; Thor's friend must sue for mercy, Such peace as he might purchase To pray: nigh slain was Loptr.
Then Hymir's Kinsman ordered The crafty god, pain-maddened, To wile to him the Maiden Who warded the Æsir's age-cure; Ere long the necklace-robber, Brísinga's thief, lured slyly The Dame of Brunnakr's brooklet Into the Base One's dwelling.
At that the steep slope-dwellers No sorrow felt; then Idunn Was from the south, by giants New-stolen, come among them. All Ingvi-Freyr's high kindred, Hoary and old, to council :Hasted; grewsome of fashion And ugly all the gods were. . . . . . . . This heard I, that the Staunch Friend Of Hœnir—oft thereafter With wiles he tricked the Æsir— Flew, in hawk-wings hidden; And the vile Sire of Giants, Vigorous Wing-Plume-Wielder, Hurtled on eagle-pinion After the hawk-shaped Loki.
Swiftly the gods have kindled A fire; and the sovereign rulers Sustained the flame with shavings: Scorched was the flying giant,-- He plunged down in mid-soaring: 'Tis pictured on the giant's Sole-bridge, the shield which, painted With stories, Thórleifr gave me.]
"This is the correct manner of periphrasing the Æsir: To call each of them by the name of another, and to designate him in terms of his works or his possessions or his kindred.