CANTO VIII.

THOR VISITS THE GIANT HYMIR.

Thor, though vex’d in mind, his anger Prudently resolv’d to hide; Thus to be the butt of mock’ry To the giants gall’d his pride: Vengeful thoughts his heart corroding Urge him ’gainst that lawless crew; Down to Ocean’s deepest cavern He would fain his foes pursue.

Now to Odin’s throne ascending In his brazen armour clad, Low with filial reverence bending, To Alfader thus he said: “Force ’gainst giants naught availeth; Wisdom too must bear its part: Father! from thy cup of science Grant one drop to cheer my heart!”

Quaffing now from wisdom’s beaker, New conceptions fill his brain: Naught this time to Lok his comrade Of his plan will Thor explain. Sole his bold career pursuing, Think! what joy his bosom feels, Proudly Dovre’s lofty pine-tops Crushing with his chariot wheels.

Now the rocky cave approaching, Near the vast white-foaming sea, Where for ages Midgard’s serpent Coil’d amidst the sea-weed lay; When he view’d it put in motion Treach’rously the billow blue; Swell’d his heart with deep emotion; Glances proud towards heaven he threw.

Monster vile! thou shall no longer (Thus in thought discourse he holds) The affrighted earth encircle With thy venom-swelter’d folds. Thou shalt cease thy hateful pastime, Hurling seamen down to Ran: Thor shall crush thee; from thy fury Thor shall free the race of man.

Now the god assumes the figure Of a youthful rustic clown: Where the whirlwind eddies howling, There he throws his helmet down. Like a rock well planed and hollow’d, Crested with a grove of pine, Thus the brazen helm and horse-hair Glitt’ring in the sunbeam shine.

Now his beard he doff’d, and threw it On a rock; a bush to view, There it lay: himself moved onward, Changed to swain in kirtle blue. Dext’rous was the transformation; Who could now the Asar know? Heimdal view’d the change with pleasure, Perch’d on Bifrost’s radiant bow.

Giant Hymir’s rocky dwelling Thor proceeded now to find, With red cheeks and locks so yellow Streaming ’fore the morning wind: Round his waist his belt fast girded Show’d like strip of crimson wool: Thus the Asa, arm’d with cunning, Giants shall no more befool.

Like an axe he bore his hammer, Trudging o’er the dusty plain; Scarce can he disguise his fierceness, Scarce his vengeful thoughts restrain. Entering in a gloomy cavern Near the rustling waterfall, In his morning dream indulging, There he found the giant tall.

Crown’d with dusky hair, his forehead Seem’d a sea-weed-cover’d rock; Hard his loins and tough his fibres, Like the trunk and roots of oak: In his mouth, which wide extended Show’d like cavern vast and dark, Glared three rows of frightful grinders Like the teeth of rav’nous shark.

Near this cave a fertile meadow Varies with the rugged scene: Flowers of divers hues contrasting With the dew-clad grass so green: Lambkins frisk and bleat delighted, Nibbling leaves from ev’ry thorn; There in richest clover revel Oxen fat with crumpled horn.

Now the giant woke, and casting Round his eyes of fiery hue, In a corner Thor discovered, Like a weak-limb’d lad to view. “Ha! who into Hymir’s dwelling Rashly dares to force his way? Wretched stripling! for thy boldness Thou with loss of life shall pay.”

Then the stripling, nothing daunted: “Here I stand with conscience clear; Time doth all conditions level; Nought is to be gain’d by fear. Though before I never trembled, Now I well may feel alarm: Sure, a chief so strong and mighty Will not deign a boy to harm?

“Much doth it become a giant Magnanimity to show! Nought would it, O chief! avail thee, Should my blood in torrents flow: Why then should I feel down-hearted? Thou wouldst but despise me more; Thinkst thou, I have left my courage At my father’s cottage-door?

“Pale to turn and fear exhibit Baseness proves, and naught avails; See the hedgehog, who a pris’ner In his bristly castle quails: Naught he deems himself in safety, Though his quills erect he rears; Still to peace and joy a stranger, E’en the slightest noise he fears.

“Not so acts the little sparrow, Far more delicate and weak; Though not cased in mail, in ev’ry Cleft and nook he shows his beak; Mark, his bold, advent’rous spirit Ne’er from danger keeps aloof; Frank and free, he often perches Twitt’ring on the peasant’s roof.

“Here I stand, a simple sparrow, In the giant’s dark abode; Sure the mighty eagle will not Deign to shed a sparrow’s blood! Coarsest food, naught else I ask thee; Crumbs, that from thy table fall; And whene’er thou goest a fishing, I will aid thy net to haul.”

Then the giant, loudly laughing, Stretch’d his lip from ear to ear: “Him, who thus implores my pity Slay I will not; do not fear!” Much he laugh’d to hear a story Told in such a simple strain, And his laugh so wild and boist’rous Made the forest ring again.

Then said he: “In th’ early morning Rudely blows the northern blast; Here thou’rt from its force protected, Couch’d within this cavern vast. But when sitting in the fragile Bark on the tempestuous sea, If thy sprightliness and courage There stand by thee, we shall see.”

“Since my nerve thou doubtest, giant,” Thor replied, “No more delay! Put me quickly on the trial; Hast thou any bait, I pray?” “Friend, the bait that best will suit thee In my garden thou wilt find; There doth many a caterpillar Round the bushes crawl and wind.

“But if on the leaf thou findest None, of other means I know: Take thy spade and dig yon barrow, Worms enough thou’lt find, I trow! Take thy shirt-pin off and bend it; Lo! a fish-hook hast thou strait. Then thou art prepared for fishing; I myself use eels for bait.”

“Ha! the worm shall not escape me,” Angry Thor replied, “I know; Round my arm in anguish writhing, It shall perish by my blow. Come, no more delay! allow me But to take what suits me best.” “Go and do so,” said the giant; Off the stripling sets in haste;

To the meadow straight he hies him, Where the giant’s cattle stood; There full butt a bull ferocious Barr’d his way in threat’ning mood. Now with levell’d horns he rushes On the youth his rage to wreak; Thor, its head with both hands seizing, Tore it from the bleeding neck!

With the head upon his shoulder Of the proudly-horned bull, Thor came running ’cross the meadow, High in glee, of courage full. With the greatest ease he bore it, And he needs must run in haste, For the giant had already Hoisted in his boat the mast.

When the giant on the shoulder Of the youth the bull’s head view’d, Loud he praised his strength and courage, Much admired his hardihood. Launching now the sloop for fishing, Each the oar with ardour plies, While the keel with noise and creaking Through the dark blue billow flies.

Then thought Aukthor: To the serpent Could I once approach as nigh, So that I could thrust my Miölner Into his ferocious eye, This would give me greater pleasure, Than to hear the clash of arms, Or to gaze in proud Valhalla On the bright Valkyrior’s charms.

All the world’s distress and mis’ry[39] From that serpent fell proceeds: Couch’d in ambush, on the vitals Of th’ affrighted earth he feeds: From his fangs all dire diseases He to plague mankind distils; And his venom in vast globules Sea and land with havock fills.

When a man by ling’ring sickness Tortured, feels th’ approach of death; When he, during life’s last struggle, Faint and fev’rish pants for breath; When the wife reads in her husband’s Sunken eye his last farewell; Then his scales the serpent shaking Hisses with enjoyment fell.

When the mother views with anguish At her breast her dying child, Which but lately, like an apple, Blooming grew in autumn mild; When the child will suck no longer, When life’s strength is vanish’d quite; Joyous then the serpent rises, Loudly hissing in the night.

When man’s brain in death is frozen, Loud he testifies his joy; Shakes his scales, when from the topmast Falls the luckless sailor boy. When a constant swain his darling Maiden on the pyre beholds, Foams the ocean, where the serpent Coils itself in endless folds.

All the serpents foul and frightful, That infest the lab’ring earth, Are engender’d by that monster From the froth it vomits forth: From it springs the fatal boa On the distant southern shores, Which insatiate still with hunger Oft the biggest ox devours.

Now this snake in motion spiral Twines itself the trees around; Now to catch the heedless cattle, Steals along the swampy ground. Those of lesser growth with equal Malice their bright hues display, And with eyes deceitful gleaming Askur’s hapless offspring slay.

Beautiful with rings encircled Are their skins like flowers to view, Vying oft in brilliant colour With the rose and violet’s hue: Vapours poisonous exuding Under hedges oft they lie; And the birds upon the branches Fascinate with magic eye.

Fenris certainly is frightful, Friend of the malignant night; Oft he hurls men down to Helheim, From the steep cliff’s dizzy height: Oft he guides the midnight robber, Steel excites him to employ, And whene’er the robber murders, Fenris howls with frantic joy.

’Gainst the forest-king the lion He the tiger fell begot: Formerly the bear suck’d honey, Guileless in his mossy grot. Next engender’d he th’ hyæna, Lynx, and fox, to plunder given; And ’gainst these the bear and lion Are to endless contest driven.

Fenris, when a wounded body He perceives at midnight hour, Makes it carrion; but this serpent Hath a far more dang’rous power: I will, therefore, quick destroy it; Man shall cease to be its prey: Thor shall Askur’s race deliver From their fiercest enemy.

Blest with health and strength to Freya[40] Shall they mount to realms on high! And when they become too numerous, Let them fight and bravely die! They should ne’er give way to hatred, Even where the sword decides: Wrath becomes not gallant warriors, Whom the voice of honour guides.

They shall move in ranks to battle. No sea-serpent cause them fear; There like merry youths and lusty, Enter on their bright career: Manfully rush on each other, Wave the sword, the pennon spread, And in fair and open combat Joy their generous blood to shed.

Then when blood streams forth in torrents Thor in arms shall tread the sky, And ’midst thunder’s crash and lightning Summon them to Valhall high: There admitted ’mongst the Asar Shall they quaff delicious mead, While with heavenly harpings Bragur Chaunts aloud each glorious deed.

Thus the Asa thought, and onward ’Gan to row with all his might; With his oar he made the billow Fly before him foaming white. Fired with anger, he continued On with furious zeal to row: Streams of brine in spray dissolving Down his back and shoulders flow.

Now the boat half fill’d with water, Giant Hymir cried in wrath, “Hold! I bid thee! row no longer! We shall swamp, and perish both.” “Nay,” said Thor, “let us go farther! Soon we’ll make a glorious cast;” But the giant stamp’d with passion, Leaning ’gainst the quiv’ring mast.

“If thou rowest any further,” Said the giant, “we shall reach Just the spot, where Jormundgardur His enormous length doth stretch.” “As for me, I fear no serpents,” Thor replied, the fisher good; “Boiling wave and howling tempest Only serve to cool my blood.”

Now he lifts with all his vigour Up the giant’s anchor vast, Fixes the bull’s head upon it, To his belt then makes it fast: One end fasten’d to his body, Now it serves him as a line; Overboard he throws the anchor, Trusting to his skill divine.