indeed be owned, replied the king, that you are not wanting in dexterity, if you are able to perform what you promife. Come then, let us put it to the proof. At the fame time he ordered one of his courtiers who was fitting on a fide-bench, and whose name was Loge (i. e. Flame) to come forward, and try his fkill with Loke in the art they were speaking of. Then he caused a great tub or trough full of provifions to be placed upon the bar, and the two champions at each end of it: who immediately fell to devour the victuals with fo much eagerness, that they presently met in the middle of the trough, and were obliged to defift. But Loke had only eat the flesh of his portion; whereas the other had devoured both flesh and bones. All the company therefore adjudged that Loke was vanquifhed.

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THE TWENTY-FOURTH FABLE.

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· Of Thialfe's Art.

HEN the king afked, what that

young man could do, who accompanied Thor. THIALFE answered, That in running upon scates, he would difpute the prize with any of the courtiers. The king owned, that the talent he spoke of was a very fine one; but that he muft exert. himself, if he would come off conqueror. He then arofe and, conducted Thialfe to a fnowy' plain, giving him a young man. named Hugo (Spirit or Thought) to difpute the prize of fwiftnefs with him. But this Hugo fo much outftript Thialfe, that in returning to the barrier whence they fet out, they met face to face. Then fays the king; Another trial, and you may perhaps exert yourself better. They therefore ran a fecond course, and Thialfe was a full bow-fhot from the boundary, when Hugo arrived at it. They ran a third time; but Hugo had already reached the goal, before Thialfe had got half way. Hereupon all who were prefent cried out, that there had been a fufficient trial of skill in this kind of exercise.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH FABLE.

Of the Trials that Thor underwent.

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HEN the king afked THOR, in what art He would chufe to give proof of that dexterity for which he was fo famous. Thor replied, That he would conteft the prize of Drinking with any perfon belonging to his court. The king confented, and immediately went into his palace to look for a large Horn, out of which his courtiers were obliged to drink when they had committed any trespass against the cuftoms of the court*. This the cupbearer filled to the brim, and presented to Thor, whilft the king fpake thus: Whoever is a good drinker, will empty that horn at a single draught; fome perfons make two of it; but the most puny drinker of all can do it at three. Thor looked at the horn, and was aftonished at its length +; however, as he was very thirfty, he fet it to his mouth, and without drawing breath, pulled

* Our modern Bachanals will here obferve, that punishing by a Bumper is not an invention of thefe degenerate days. The ancient Danes were great Topers.

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The Drinking Veffels of the northern Nations were the Horns of animals, of their natural length,

only

pulled as long and as deeply as he could, that he might not be obliged to make a fecond draught of it: but when he withdrew the cup from his mouth, in order to look in, he could fcarcely perceive any of the liquor gone. To it he went again with all his might, but fucceeded no better than before. At laft, full of indignation, he again fet the horn to his lips, and exerted himself to the utmost to empty it entirely: then looking in, he found that the liquor was a little lowered: upon this, he refolved to attempt it no more, but gave back the horn. I now fee plainly, fays the king, that thou art not quite fo ftout as we thought thee; but art thou willing to make any more trials? I am fure, fays Thor, such draughts as I have been drinking, would not have been reckoned fmall among the Gods: but what new trial have you to propose? We have a very trifling game, here, replied the king, in which we exercise none but children: it confifts in only lifting my Cat from the ground; nor fhould I have mentioned it, if I had not already obferved, that you are by no means what we took you for. Immediately a large iron-coloured Cat leapt into the middle of the hall.

only tipt with filver, &c. In York-Minfter is preferved one of thefe ancient Drinking Veffels, compofed of a large Elephant's Tooth, of its natural dimenfions, ornamented with sculpture, &c. Drake's Hift.

See

Thor

Thor advancing, put his hand under the Cat's belly, and did his utmost to raise him. from the ground; but the Cat bending his back, had only one of his feet lifted up: The event, fays the king, is just what I forefaw; the Cat is large, but Thor is little in comparison of the men here. Little as I am, fays Thor, let me fee who will wreftle with me. The king looking round him, fays, I fee no body here who would not think it beneath him to enter the lifts with you; let fomebody, however, call hither my nurfe Hela (i. e. Death) to wrestle with this God Thor: fhe hath thrown to the ground many a better man than he. Immediately a toothlefs old woman entered the hall. This is fhe, fays the king, with whom you must wrestle *. must wrestle *. I cannot, fays

.

Jafnhar,' give you all the particulars of this conteft, only in general, that the more vigorously Thor affailed her, the more immoveable fhe stood. At length the old woman had recourfe to ftratagems, and Thor could not keep his feet fo fteadily, but that fhe, by a violent ftruggle, brought him upon one knee. Then the king came to them and ordered them to defift: adding, there now remained no body in his court, whom he could ask with honour to conde→ fcend to fight with Thor.

I here follow the Latin Verfion of Goranfon, rather than the French of M. Mallet.

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