aboard his bark along with him, when he went a fishing. The Giant answered, that a little puny ftripling like him, could be of no ufe to him; but would be ready to die of cold, when they should reach the high feas, whither he ufually went. Thor affured him that he feared nothing; and asked him what bait he intended to fifh with. Eymer bade him to look out for fomething. Thor went up to a herd of cattle which belonged to the Giant, and feizing one of the oxen, tore off his head with his own hands; then returning to the bark where Eymer was, they fate down together. Thor placed himfelf in the middle of the bark, and plied both his oars at once: Eymer, who rowęd alfo at the prow, faw with furprize how fwiftly Thor drove the boat forward, and told him, that by the land-marks on the coafts, he discovered that they were come to the most proper place to angle for flat fish. But Thor affured him that they had better go a good way further: accordingly they continued to row on, till at length Eymer told him if they did not ftop, they would be in danger from the great Serpent of Midgard. Notwithstanding this, Thor perfifted in rowing further, and spite of the Giant, was a great while before he would lay down his oars. Then taking out a fishing line extremely ftrong, he fixed to

it the ox's head, unwound it, and caft it into the fea. The bait reached the bottom, the Serpent greedily devoured the head, and the hook ftuck faft in his palate. Immediately the pain made him move with fuch violence, that Thor was obliged to hold fast with both his hands by the pegs which bear against the oars: but the ftrong effort he was obliged to make with his whole body, caufed his feet to force their way through the boat, and they went down to the bottom of the fea; whilft with his hands, he violently drew up the Serpent to the fide of the veffel. It is impoffible to exprefs the dreadful looks that the God darted at the Serpent, whilst the monster, raifing his head, fpouted out venom upon him in the meantime the Giant Eymer feeing, with affright, the water enter his bark on all fides, cut with his knife the ftring of the fishing-line, juft as Thor was going to strike the Serpent with his mace. Upon this the monfter fell down again to the bottom of the fea: nevertheless, fome add that Thor darted his mace after him, and bruifed his head in the midst of the waves. But one may affert with more certainty, that he lives ftill in the waters *.

Then

*We fee plainly in the above fable the origin of those vulgar opinions entertained in the north, and which

Pon

Then Thor ftruck the Giant a blow with his fift, nigh the ear, and throwing his head into the sea, waded afterwards on foot to land.

Pontoppidan has recorded, concerning the CRAKEN, and that monstrous Serpent, defcribed in his History of NORWAY,

T.

THE

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH FABLE.

C

Of Balder the Good.

ERTAINLY, fays Gangler, this was a very great victory of THOR's. The dream which BALDER had one night, replies Har, was fomething fill more remarkable. This God thought that his life was in extreme danger: wherefore, telling his dream to the other Gods, they agreed to conjure away all the dangers with which Balder was threatened. Then FRIGGA exacted an oath of Fire, Water, Iron and other Metals, as alfo of Stones, Earth, Trees, Animals, Birds, Diseases, Poison and Worms, that none of them would do any hurt to Balder (A). This done, the Gods, together with Balder himself, fell to diverting themselves in their grand affembly, and Balder stood as a mark at which they threw, fome of them darts, and some stones, while others ftruck at him with a fword. But whatever they could do, none of them could

in

could hurt him; which was confidered as a great honour to Balder. In the meantime, LOKE, moved with envy, changed his fhape into that of a ftrange old woman, and went to the palace of Frigga. That Goddess feeing her, asked if she knew what the Gods were at prefent employed about their affembly. The pretended old woman anfwered, That the Gods were throwing darts and ftones at Balder, without being able to hurt him. Yes, faid Frigga, and no fort of arms, whether made of metal or wood, can prove mortal to him: for I have exacted an oath from them all. What, faid the woman, have all fubftances then fworn to do the fame honours to Balder? There is only one little fhrub, replied Frigga, which grows on the western fide of Valhall, and its name is Miftiltein, (the Miffeltoe ;) of this I took no oath, because it appeared to me too young and feeble. As foon as Loke heard this, he yanished, and refuming his natural shape, went to pluck up the fhrub by the roots, and then repaired to the affembly of the Gods. There he found HODER ftanding apart by himself, without partaking of the fport, because he was blind. Loke came to him, and asked him, Why he did not alfo throw fomething at Balder, as well as the reft? Because I am blind,

6'