Northern mythology

NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 43
into the vessels. But Suttung was then so close at his
heels, that he nearly overtook him, thereby causing
of the mead to go in another direction ;
some
but this not being
noticed, every one partook of it that would. This is called
the poetasters' portion.
Odm gave Suttung's mead to the
^sir, and to those who can compose good verses ; therefore
is the skaldic art called Odin's booty, Odin's find, and
his drink, and his gift, and the drink of the ^sir^
Of the Abduction and Restoration of Idun.—On
this subject there are two compositions, one in Ssemund's
Edda (Hrafna-galdur O^ins, or Odin's Ravens' Song),
further mention of which, on account of its obscurity,
and consequent lack of interest to the general reader, is
here omitted; the other is in Snorri's Edda, and is as
follows.
The iEsir, Odin, Loki and Hoenir, once set out from
home, and took their way over mountains and desert places,
where they suffered from want of food ;
but on descending
into a valley, they perceived a herd of oxen, one of which
they slaughtered for the purpose of boiling it.
A'\Tien they
thought it was done enough they looked at it, but it was
not boiled through. Some time after, they looked at it
again, and still it was not done. While talking the matter
over, and wondering what could be its cause, they heard a
voice above them, in
the branches of an oak, and looking
up, perceived an eagle of no small dimensions, which said
to them, " If ye will give me a bellyful of the ox, it shall
soon be boiled." They promised that they would ; whereupon
the eagle descended from the tree, placed himself on
the boiled carcase, and forthwith snatched up, for his part,
one of the thighs and both shoulders. Seeing this, Loki
waxed wroth, and seizing a huge pole, thrust it with all
his might at the eagle, which nevertheless effected its
1 Bragarse^ur, 57, 58. Havam. Str. 14, 15, lOG-112. RunatalsK 0'5.
Str. 3.