cruel death, if he did not contrive fome way or other to prevent the workman from accomplishing his undertaking, and obtaining the promised reward. Immediately they laid hands on Loke; who in his fright, promifed upon oath to do whatever they defired, let it coft him what it would. That very night, while the architect was employing his horse, as ufual, to convey stones to the place, there fuddenly leaped forth a mare from the neighbouring forest, which allured the horse with her neighings. That animal no fooner faw her, but giving way to his ardour, he broke his bridle, and began to run after the mare. This obliged the workman also to run after his horfe, and thus, between one and the other, the whole night was loft, fo that the progress of the work must have been delayed till next morning. Then the architect perceiving that he had no other means to finish his undertaking, refumed his own proper shape and dimenfions; and the Gods now clearly perceiving that it was really a Giant with whom they had made their contract, paid no longer any regard to their oath *, but

*The Gothic Deities feem to be guided by no very nice principles of Morality, any more than those of the Greeks and Romans. It is needless to observe what a dreadful effect, fuch an example as the above, must have on the conduct of their blind votaries. T.

I

calling

calling the God Thor, he immediately ran to them, and paid the workman his falary by a blow of his mace, which fhattered his head to pieces, and fent him headlong into hell. Shortly after Loke came and reported, that the architect's horse had be got a foal with eight feet. This is the horfe named SLEIPNER, which excels all the horses that ever were poffeffed by Gods or men *.

* In Goranfon's Latin Verfion, the reader will find fome lines that are here omitted.

THE TWENTY-SECOND FABLE.

G

Of the Ship of the Gods.

ANGLER fays to Har, You have told me of a veffel called Skidbladner, that was the best of all fhips. Without doubt, replies Har, it is the best, and most artfully conftructed of any; but the ship Nagelfara is of larger fize. They were Dwarfs who built Skidbladner, and made a prefent of it to Frey. It is fo large, that all the Gods compleatly armed may fit in it at their eafe. As foon as ever its fails are unfurled, a favourable gale arises, and carries it of itself to whatever place it is deftined. And when the Gods have no mind to fail, they can take it into pieces fo fmall, that being folded upon one another, the whole will go into a pocket. This is indeed a very well-contrived veffel, replied Gangler, and there muft doubtless have been a great deal of art and magic employed in bringing it to perfection.

THE TWENTY-THIRD FABLE.

G

Of the God Thor.

ANGLER proceeds, and fays, Did it never happen to THOR in his expeditions to be overcome, either by enchantment or downright force? Har replied to him, Few can take upon them to affirm that ever any fuch accident befel this God; nay, had he in reality been worsted

in any rencounter, it would not be allowable to make mention of it, fince all the world ought to believe, that nothing can refift his power. I have put a question then, fays Gangler, to which none of you can give any anfwer *. Then Jafnhar took up the discourse, and faid; True indeed, there are fome fuch rumours current among us; but they are hardly credible: yet there is one

* The reader will remember that Gangler would have confidered himself as victor in this conteft, if he had propofed any question they could not have anfwered. Vide page 3, 4, &c. I 3

T.

prefent

prefent who can impart them to you; and you ought the rather to believe him, in that having never yet told you a lie, he will not now begin to deceive you with falfe ftories. Come then, fays Gangler interrupting him, I await your explication; but if you do not give fatisfactory answers to the questions I have propofed, be affured I shall look upon you as vanquished. Here then, fays Har, begins the hiftory you defire me to relate:

One day the God THOR fet out with LOKE, in his own chariot, drawn by two He-Goats; but night coming on, they were obliged to put up at a peafant's cottage. The God Thor immediately flew his two He-Goats, and having fkinned them, ordered them to be dreffed for fupper. When this was done, he fat down to table, and invited the peafant and his children to partake with him. The fon of his hoft was named Thialfe, the daughter Rafka. Thor bade them throw all the bonés into the fkins of the goats, which he held extended near the table; but young Thialfe, to come at the marrow, broke with his knife one of the shank bones of the goats. Having paffed the night in this place, Thor arofe early in the morning, and dreffing himself, reared the handle of his mace; which he had no fooner done, than the

two