Northern mythology

NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 65
from the ground. For it was not a cat, as tliou didst
imagine, it was in fact the Midgard^s serpent^ which encircles
the whole world.
It had barely length enough for
its head and tail to touch, in its circle round the earth, and
thou didst raise it so high that it almost reached heaven.
Thy wrestling with Elli was also a great miracle ; for
there never has been one, nor ever will be, if he be so old
as to await Elli, that she will not cast to the earth. We
must now part, and it will be best for both that thou dost
not pay me a second visit. I can again protect my city
by other spells, so that thou wilt never be able to effect
aught against me.^^
On hearing these w^ords, Thor raised his hammer, but
when about to hurl it, Utgarda-Loki was no longer to be
seen ; and on turning towards the city, with the intention
of destroying it, he saw a spacious and fair plain, but no
cityi.
Of Thor and the Midgard^s Serpent.— Shortly
after his journey to Jotunheim, Thor, in the guise of a
youth, departed from Midgard, and came one evening to
a giant's named Hymir, where he passed the night. At
dawn the giant rose, dressed himself, and made ready to
row out to sea and fish. Thor also rose, di-essed himself
in haste, and begged of Hymir that he might accompany
him. But Hymir answered, that he would be of little or
no use to him, as he was so diminutive and young "
; and,'*
added he, " thou wilt die of cold, if I row out as far and
stay as long as I am wont to do." Thor told him that he
could row well, and that it was far from certain which of
the two would first desire to reach land again. He was,
moreover, so angry with
the giant, that he almost longed
to give him a taste of the hammer ; he, however, suppressed
his wrath, intending to prove his strength in some other
1 Gylf. 45-47. Lokaglepsa, Str. 59, 60, 62. Hymiskv. Str. 37. Harbar«slj.
Str. 26.