THE TWENTY-FOURTH FABLE.

TH

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 swiftness with him. But this Hugo fo much outftript Thialfe, that in returning to the barrier whence they set out, they met face to face. Then fays the Ring; Another trial, and you may perhaps exert yourself better. They therefore ran a second 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. I 7

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THE TWENTY-FIFTH FABLE.

Of the Trials that Thor underwent.

T

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 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 set 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 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 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 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, fuch draughts as I have been drinking, would not have been reckoned small among the Gods: but what new trial have you to propofe? 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 fculpture, &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, 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 muft 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 ftood. 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 condefcend to fight with Thor.

* I here follow the Latin Verfion of Goranson, rather than the French of M. Mallet. T.

THE

THE TWENTY-SIXTH FABLE.

THO

The Illufions accounted for.

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 fent 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 fuccefs of his expedition. Thor told him, he could not but own that he went away very much ashamed and difappointed. It behoves me then, fays the king, to difcover now the truth to you, fince you are out of my city; which you fhall never re-enter whilft I live and reign. And I affure you, that had I known before-hand, you had been fo ftrong and mighty, I would not have fuffered you to enter now. But I enchanted you by my you by my illufions; firft of all in the foreft, where I arrived before you. And

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