THE TWENTY-FOURTH FABLE. T Of Thialfe's Art. HEN the king asked, 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 must exert himself, if he would come off conqueror. He then arose and conducted Thialfe to a 'snowy' plain, giving him a young man named Hugo (Spirit or Thought) to difpute the prize of swiftness with him. But this Hugo so much outstript Thialfe, that in returning to the barrier whence they set out, they met face to face. Then says 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 present cried out, that there had been a fufficient trial of skill in this kind of exercise. VOL. II. 17 1 ( THE TWENTY-FIFTH FABLE. Of the Trials that Thor underwent. T HEN the king asked THOR, in what art He would chuse 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 customs of the court*. This the cupbearer filled to the brim, and presented to Thor, whilst the king spake thus: Whoever is a good drinker, will empty that horn at a fingle 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 thirsty, 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 these degenerate days. The ancient Danes were great Topers. T. + The Drinking Vessels 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 second draught of it: but when he withdrew the cup from his mouth, in order to look in, he could scarcely perceive any of the liquor gone. To it he went again with all his might, but fucceeded no better than before. At last, 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 resolved to attempt it no more, but gave back the horn. I now fee plainly, fays the king, that thou art not quite so stout as we thought thee; but art thou willing to make any more trials? I am sure, says Thor, such draughts as I have been drinking, would not have been reckoned small 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 confists in only lifting my Cat from the ground; nor should I have mentioned it, if I had not already observed, 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 silver, &c. In York-Minster is preserved one of these ancient Drinking Vessels, composed of a large Elephant's Tooth, of its natural dimensions, ornamented with sculpture, &c. See Drake's Hift. ! 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, says 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, says Thor, let me fee who will wrestle with me. The king looking round him, says, I fee no body here who would not think it beneath him to enter the lifts with you; let somebody, however, call hither my nurse Hela (i. e. Death) to wrestle with this God Thor: she hath thrown to the ground many a better man than he. Immediately a toothless old woman entered the hall. This is she, says the king, with whom you must wrestle *. I cannot, 'says Jafnhar,' give you all the particulars of this conteft, only in general, that the more vigoroufly Thor affailed her, the more immoveable she stood. At length the old woman had recourse to stratagems, and Thor could not keep his feet so steadily, but that she, by a violent struggle, brought him upon one knee. Then the king came to them and ordered them to desist: adding, there now remained no body in his court, whom he could ask with honour to condescend to fight with Thor. * I here follow the Latin Version of Goranson, rather than the French of M. Mallet. т. THE THE TWENTY-SIXTH FABLE. The Illufions accounted for. THOR HOR paffed the night in that place with his companions, and was preparing to depart thence early the next morning; when the king ordered him to be sent for, and gave him a magnificent entertainment. After this he accompanied him out of the city. When they were just going to bid adieu to each other, the king afked Thor what he thought of the fuccess of his expedition. Thor told him, he could not but own that he went away very much ashamed and disappointed. It behoves me then, says the king, to discover now the truth to you, fince you are out of my city; which you shall never re-enter whilst I live and reign. And I affure you, that had I known before-hand, you had been so strong and mighty, I would not have fuffered you to enter now. But I enchanted you by my illufions; first of all in the foreft, where I arrived before you. VOL. II. And K |