Byggvir

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 Alfheim, 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])

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])

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])

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])

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]

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])

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]

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])