THE THIRTIETH FABLE.

A

The Flight of Loke.

T length the Gods being exafperated against LOKE, he was obliged to fly and hide himself in the mountains: there he built him a house open on four fides, whence he could fee every thing that paffed throughout the world. Often in the day time, he concealed himself in the shape of a Salmon within the waters of a river, where he employed himself in foreseeing and preventing whatever ftratagems the Gods might employ to catch him there. One day, as he was in his house, he took thread or twine, and made nets of it, like those which fishermen have fince invented. In the mean time, ODIN having discovered, from the height of his all-commanding throne, the place whither Loke had retired, repaired thither with the other Gods. But Loke being aware of their approach, threw his net with all speed into the fire, and ran

to

to conceal himfelf in the river. As foon as the Gods got there, Kuafer, who was the most distinguished among them all for his quickness and penetration, traced out in the hot embers, the veftiges and remains of the net which had been burnt, and by that means found out Loke's invention, Having made all the other Gods remark the fame thing, they fet themfelves to weave a net after the model which they faw imprinted in the afhes. This net, when finifhed, they threw into the water of the river in which Loke had hid himself. Thor held one end of the net, and all the Gods together laid hold of the other, thus jointly drawing it along the ftream. Nevertheless, Loke concealing himself between two stones, the net paffed over him without taking him; and the Gods only perceived that fome living thing had touched the meshes. They caft it in a fecond time, after having tied fo great a weight to it, that it every where raked the bottom of the ftream. But Loke faved himself by fuddenly mounting up to the top of the water, and then plunging in again, in a place where the tiver formed a cataract, The Gods betook themselves afresh towards that place, and divided into two bands: Thor walking in the water followed the net, which they dragged thus to the very margin of the fea.

Then

Then Loke perceived the danger that threat ned him, whether he faved himself in the fea; or whether he got back over the net. However, he chofe the latter, and leaped with all his might over the net: but Thor running after him, caught him in his hand: but for all this, being extremely flippery, he had doubtlefs efcaped, had not Thor held him faft by the tail; and this is the reason why Salmons have had their tails ever fince fo fine and thin.

THE

THE THIRTY-FIRST FABLE.

L

The Punishment of Loke.

OKE being thus taken, they dragged him without mercy into a cavern. The Gods alfo feized his children, Vali and Nari: the first being changed by the Gods into a favage beaft, tore his brother in pieces and devoured him. The Gods made of his inteftines cords for Loke, tying him down to three sharp ftones; one of which preffed his shoulder, the other his loyns; and the third his hams. These cords were afterwards changed into chains of iron. Befides this, Skada fufpended over his head a ferpent, whofe venom falls upon his face, drop by drop. At the fame time his wife, Siguna, fits by his fide, and receives the drops as they fall, into a bason, which she empties as often as it is filled. But while this is doing, the venom falls upon Loke, which. makes him howl with horror, and twist his body about with fuch violence, that all the earth is fhaken with it; and this produces what men call Earth-quakes. There

will Loke remain in irons till the last day of the darkness of the Gods.

REMARKS ON THE THIRTY-FIRST FABLE.