CANTO IV.

THOR ARRIVES AT UTGARD.

When Utgard now before him lay, The chief seem’d well content: Its site hemm’d in by mountains grey, Its towers, its vast extent Excite his wonder: at the gate A chosen band of warriors sat, All clad in armour shining, With cheek on hand reclining.

Down from the walls they cast a look, And at his hammer sneer: The shield of each was granite rock, A huge pine trunk each spear! But while on Thor they look askance, And view him closer still advance, They shout, his efforts braving, On high their lances waving.

And now to giant Skrymur’s wand Thor needs must have recourse; He snatches it from Tialfe’s hand, And strikes the gate with force. The bars and bolts receded straight, And open flew the massive gate, On creaking hinges wheeling, A wondrous scene revealing!

Young Roska now was like to swoon, When viewing with dismay Abodes, where cliffs in arches hewn Exclude the light of day. And strange to all appears the sight Of walls of alabaster bright In Utgard-Lok’s vast dwelling, The giant fire-compelling.

No solar beam hath ever shone Within this mansion wide, Where seated on his marble throne Reigns Utgard-Lok in pride. Around their sovereign scornful stand In triple rank a numerous band; Cuirasses bright of iron Their bodies stout environ.

When Utgard’s haughty chief beheld The glance of Thor severe, His quiv’ring lip too plain reveal’d Signs ill-suppress’d of fear. His muscles were of marble grey, Nor sense nor feeling they betray; With eyes like rubies glaring, On Thor he fix’d them staring.

Still fogs and darkness reign’d: anon Lok utter’d accents strange; A blow his brazen shield upon Now caused the scene to change. Then flames burst from the vaulted dome, And play’d around the spacious room, A varied light displaying, O’er gold and silver straying!

In motion seem’d the arches all; Then Lok: “That trembling roof Behold! twill crush ye, should it fall; ’Twere best ye keep aloof.” Struck with these words Thor rais’d his eyes, And view’d above him with surprize A moving rock appalling, Which threaten’d instant falling.

Intrepid thus he spoke: “Let that, Which can’t itself sustain, Fall down! thy rocks may crush me flat; Thy warning I disdain.” And now down fell the pond’rous mass, And roll’d along the cavern’s base, Afar its fragments scatt’ring, With awful din and clatt’ring!

And lo! exuding from the ground A poisonous vapour grey, Like billow, roll’d the hall around; But all at once to stay Its course at Aukthor’s feet it seem’d, And in a circle ’bout him steam’d; But naught he fear’d, when gazing On all those sights amazing.

Then Thor: “In vain to cause my death Thy rolling rocks conspire; And naught avail to quench my breath Thy poisonous vapours dire: From noble Frigga’s womb I spring, My sire is Odin, puissant king In lofty Asgard dwelling, All other gods excelling.”

Then Utgard Lok with accent grum: “I know the reason well, That brings thee to these realms of gloom, Where swarthy giants dwell: I know thy lineage and thy blood, Yet laugh to scorn the Asar brood, Thy hammer’s force despising, And naught thy merit prizing.

“Thou boastest of thy strength sublime And all thou canst effect; We giants still fore Arild’s time Were giants, recollect! Before the Asar we held sway, Before thou, Thor, hadst seen the day; Before thy hammer’s glory Had furnish’d theme for story.

“Let me our earliest records trace! Before the world’s creation There was a vast and empty space;[27] Therein no vegetation. Ice, snow, and fog from Niffelheim Lay northward; south from Muspelheim Proceeded sparks of fire, That warmth and growth inspire.

“Against the frost i’ th’ vast abyss Winds from the south now came; They mix’d; then matter dropp’d, and this One solid heap became: Now cold ’gainst fire, and fire ’gainst cold Long struggled hard the palm to hold; But fire remain’d victorious: Thence Ymer sprang the glorious!

“Him we acknowledge as the sire Of our gigantic brood: E’en ye our towering size admire, With strength immense endow’d. At that time thy earth-shaking car Did not exist, presumptuous Thor! “Let me,” quoth Thor, “this history Expound and all its mystery!

“The wond’rous facts I now relate. Than I none better knows: Alfader gave the word; and strait The cow Audumbla rose! She lick’d the frost from the hard mass; Thence sprang the noble Asar race From solid strength descended, With warm blood ever blended.

“With matter cold mix’d genial flame; Then Bure sprang to life; After him Bor; a giant dame[28] He carried off as wife: This pair combined in high degree Strength, beauty, grace, and symmetry; His birth from their embraces Each Asa proudly traces;

“The Alfs and Vaner too: in fine Whate’er in Heimkringlas Is found most precious, rare, and fine, Was join’d to build our race. The finest oaks must flourish tall, Be fell’d, and cut in faggots small, When fuel we require To feed the nuptial pyre.

“Therefore, that first ye saw the light, Ye giants proud! ’tis true; Yet Bor, our ancestor, in fight Your hero did subdue: Ymer could not the force withstand Of Bor; he perish’d by his hand; That giant so presuming In his own blood lay fuming.

“Then down into the deep abyss Bor Ymer’s body cast; This form’d the Earth’s vast edifice; His blood the Ocean vast; The mountains from his bones arise; His brains compose the cloudy skies, And still continue dreaming, With constant changes teeming.

“Then all around and up and down The eye-brows thick he spread, And lo! from these the lofty town Of Midgard lifts its head! The scull was next spread out, and bent To build the heavenly firmament, Which Freya tinged with azure, The fav’rite hue of pleasure.

“Now Bor in haste from Muspelheim Took many sparks, and threw them High ’midst the firmament sublime, And there ye still may view them: There still they glow with brilliant light; There still, as they revolve, excite, Above their heads and under Their feet, the Asar’s wonder.

“Now Bor and Bure fell’d two trees, Which grew by the sea-shore; A man and woman’s form to these Was given by mystic lore: From the strong oak the man was made; The fragrant rose produced the maid, In grace and beauty shining, All hearts to love inclining;

“Askur and Embla hight: and lo! Bure this couple led To Midgard’s city: from those two The human race proceed: There still they dwell and multiply, And render to the Asar high Their constant adoration, With many a rich oblation.

“Full well can I this hist’ry trace. And every fact relate, What time befel the giant race Destruction and defeat: Bergelmer only and his wife, Saved on a wreck, escaped with life: From them thy giant nation Derives its generation.

“To dwell in caverns ’neath the earth We Asar have compell’d ye: Why boast ye then your earlier birth, Since thus we gods have quell’d ye? Spite of your spells and magic song, Ye dwell perforce these rocks among: At night alone ye rally, And forth on mischief sally.

“As noxious herbs and weeds incline To spread afar their roots, Fraud, rapine, evil to enshrine, Such are your main pursuits! Ye think once more in arms to try Your strength against our dynasty; Your boasts are out of season; Ye’ll bitter rue your treason.

“For not content with mischief done To Askur’s sons of earth, Ye’ve dared to wreak your malice on Upsala’s sacred hearth. Down have ye cast the temple’s walls, And this aloud for vengeance calls; Ye’ve quench’d the sacred fire: Tremble for Odin’s ire!”

His eye shot flames as thus he spoke, His nostrils breath’d disdain; Proud and contemptuous was the look He cast on Utgard’s train: His brazen armour’s brilliant sheen Made every Jotun quake, I ween; Himself stood calm, defending His right with soul unbending.

The wild flames caused him no affright, Which all around him shone; Sudden a stream, as silver bright, Rush’d like a torrent down: It near’d his feet, and fain would go Beyond, but, stopping, ceased to flow, As if with fear congealing At Aukthor’s look repelling.

At length the giant king rejoin’d, While fear assail’d his heart: “I would not, that with angry mind Thou shouldst from hence depart: Then tarry here with us awhile, And on our pastime deign to smile! This realm, trust my assertion, Can furnish rare diversion.

“We’ll enter on a course of games, When ye’ve repose enjoy’d, Such as a noble race beseems Of hate and envy void. In such a combat we can well Prove, without wrath, who most excel In wit, strength, or invention, In generous contention.

To this proposal Thor agreed: Lok rising from his throne His guests with courteous gesture led Into a wide saloon. Golden its walls; of marble neat The table rests on golden feet: There stand with liquor glowing Carbuncle cups o’erflowing.

Loud through the echoing rocks around The various metals clang! Cascades of quicksilver resound A strange and wizard twang! Now Thor sat down with conscious pride, His three companions by his side, Their minds, without misgiving, To joy and pleasure giving.