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two goats reaffumed their wonted form, only that one of them now halted upon one of his hind legs. The God feeing this, immediately judged that the peasant, or one of his family, had handled the bones of this goat too roughly. Enraged at their folly, he knit his eye-brows, rolled his eyes, and feizing his mace, grafped it with fuch force, that the very joints of his fingers were white again. The peasant trembling, was afraid of being ftruck down by one of his looks; he therefore, with his children, made joint fuit for pardon, offering whatever they poffeffed in recompence of any damage that had been done. Thor at laft fuffered himself to be appeafed, and was content to carry away with him Thialfe and Rafka. Leaving then his He-Goats in that place, he fet out on his road for the country of the Giants; and coming to the margin of the fea, fwam across it, accompanied by Thialfe, Raska, and Loke. The first of these was an excellent runner, and carried Thor's wallet or bag. When they had made fome advance, they found themfelves in a vaft plain, through which they marched all day, till they were reduced to great want of provifions, When night approached, they fearched on all fides for a place to fleep in, and at last, in the dark, found the house of a certain Giant; the gate

of which was fo large, that it took up one whole fide of the manfion. Here they paffed the night; but about the middle of it were alarmed by an earthquake, which violently fhook the whole fabrick. Thor, rifing up, called upon his companions to feek along with him fome place of fafety. On the right they met with an adjoining chamber, into which they entered; but Thor remained at the entry, and whilst the others, terrified with fear, crept to the fartheft corner of their retreat, he armed himself with his mace, to be in readiness to defend himself at all events. Meanwhile they heard a terrible noife and when the morning was come, Thor went out, and obferved near him a man of enormous bulk, who fnored pretty loud. Thor found that this was the noife which had fo difturbed him. He immediately girded on his Belt of Prowefs, which hath the virtue of increasing strength: but the Giant awaking; Thor affrighted, durft not lanch his mace, but contented himself with asking his name. My name is Skrymner, replied the other; as for you, I need not inquire whether you are the God Thor: pray, tell me, have not you picked up my Glove? Then prefently ftretching forth his hand. to take it up, Thor perceived that the houfe wherein they had paffed the night,

5

was

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was that very Glove; and the chamber, was only one of its fingers. Hercupon Skrymner asked, whether they might not join companies; and Thor confenting, the Giant opened his cloak-bag, and took out fomething to eat.. Thor and his companions having done the fame, Skrymner would put both their wallets together, and laying them on his fhoulder, began to march at a great rate. At night, when the others were come up, the Giant went to repose himself under an oak, fhewing Thor where he intended to lie, and bidding him help himself to victuals out of the wallet. Meanwhile he fell to fnore ftrongly. But what is very incredible, when Thor came to open the wallet, he could not untie one fingle knot. Vexed at this, he feized his mace, and lanched it at the Giant's head. He awaking, asks, what leaf had fallen upon his head, or what other trifle it could be. Thor pretended to go to fleep under another oak; but observing about midnight that Skrymner fnored again, he took his mace and drove it into the hinder part of his head. The Giant awaking, demands of Thor, whether fome fmall grain of duft had not fallen upon his head, and why he did not go to fleep. Thor answered, he was going; but prefently after, refolving to have a third blow

at

at his enemy, he collects all his force, and lanches his mace with fo much violence against the Giant's cheek, that it forced its way into it up to the handle. Skrymner awaking, flightly raises his hand to his cheek, faying, Are there any birds perched upon this tree? I thought one of their feathers had fallen upon me. Then he added,

you,

What keeps you awake, Thor? I fancy it is now time for us to get up, and dress ourfelves. You are now not very far from the city of Utgard, I have heard you whifper to one another, that I was of a very tall ftature; but you will fee many there much larger than myself. Wherefore I advise when you come thither, not to take upon you too much; for in that place they will not bear with it from fuch little men as you *. Nay, I even believe, that best way is your to turn back again; but if you ftill perfift your refolution, take the road that leads eaftward; for as for me, mine lies to the north. Hereupon he threw his wallet over his fhoulder, and entered a foreft. I never could hear that the God Thor wished him a good journey; but proceeding on his way along with his companions, he perceived,

in

*To conceive the force of this raillery, the Reader must remember that THOR is reprefented of gigantic fize, and as the ftouteft and strongest of the Gods. The HERCULES of the northern nations. P.

- about

about noon, a city fituated in the middle of a vaft plain. This city was fo lofty, that one could not look up to the top of it, without throwing one's head quite back upon the fhoulders. The gate-way was clofed with a grate, which Thor never could have opened; but he and his companions crept through the bars. Entering in, they faw a large palace, and men of a prodigious ftature. Then addreffing themfelves to the king, who was named Utgarda-Loke, they faluted him with great refpect. The king having at laft difcerned them, broke out into fuch a burst of laughter, as difcompofed every feature of his face. It would take up too much time, fays he, to afk you concerning the long journey you have performed; yet if I do not mistake, that little man whom I fee there, fhould be Thor: perhaps indeed he is larger than he appears to me to be; but in order to judge of this, added he, addreffing his difcourfe to Thor, let me see a specimen of those arts by which you are distinguifhed, you and your companions; for no body is permitted to remain here, unless he understand fome art, and excel in it all other men. LOKE then faid, that his art confifted in eating more than any other man in the world, and that he would challenge any one at that kind of combat. It must

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