letters from high latitudes-第19章

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ishable　heaven　of　its　Asgaardthat　One　undivided　Deity；　at　whose　approach　the　pillars　of　Walhalla　were　to　fall；　and　Odin　and　his　peers　to　perish；　with　all　the　subtle　machinery　of　their　existence；　while　manhimself　immortalwas　summoned　to　receive　at　the　hands　of　the　Eternal　All…Father　the　sentence　that　waited　upon　his　deeds。　It　is　true　this　purer　system　belonged　only　to　the　early　ages。　As　in　the　case　of　every　false　religion；　the　symbolism　of　the　Scandinavian　mythology　lost　with　each　succeeding　generation　something　of　its　transparency；　and　at　last　degenerated　into　a　gross　superstition。　　But　traces　still　remained；　even　down　to　the　times　of　Christian　ascendency；　of　the　deep；　philosophical　spirit　in　which　it　had　been　originally　conceived；　and　through　its　homely　imagery　there　ran　a　vein　of　tender　humour；　such　as　still　characterises　the　warm…hearted；　laughter…loving　northern　races。　Of　this　mixture　of　philosophy　and　fun；　the　following　story　is　no　bad　specimen。　　＇Footnote：　The　story　of　Thor's　journey　has　been　translated　from　the　Edda　both　by　the　Howitts　and　Mr。　Thorpe。＇

Once　on　a　time　the　two　OEsir；　Thor；　the　Thunder　god；　and　his　brother　Lopt；　attended　by　a　servant；　determined　to　go　eastward　to　Jotunheim；　the　land　of　the　giants；　in　search　of　adventures。　Crossing　over　a　great　water；　they　came　to　a　desolate　plain；　at　whose　further　end；　tossing　and　waving　in　the　wind；　rose　the　tree　tops　of　a　great　forest。　After　journeying　for　many　hours　along　its　dusty　labyrinths；　they　began　to　be　anxious　about　a　resting…place　for　the　night。　〃At　last；　Lopt　perceived　a　very　spacious　house；　on　one　side　of　which　was　an　entrance　as　wide　as　the　house　itself；　and　there　they　took　up　their　night…quarters。　At　midnight　they　perceived　a　great　earthquake；　the　ground　reeled　under　them　and　the　house　shook。

〃Then　up　rose　Thor　and　called　to　his　companions。　　They　sought　about；　and　found　a　side　building　to　the　right；　into　which　they　went。　Thor　placed　himself　at　the　door；　the　rest　went　and　sat　down　further　in；　and　were　very　much　afraid。

〃Thor　kept　his　hammer　in　his　hand；　ready　to　defend　them。　Then　they　heard　a　terrible　noise　and　roaring。　　As　it　began　to　dawn；　Thor　went　out；　and　saw　a　man　lying　in　the　wood　not　far　from　them；　he　was　by　no　means　small；　and　he　slept　and　snored　loudly。　Then　Thor　understood　what　the　noise　was　which　they　heard　in　the　night。　He　buckled　on　his　belt　of　power；　by　which　he　increased　his　divine　strength。　At　the　same　instant　the　man　awoke；　and　rose　up。　It　is　said　that　Thor　was　so　much　astonished　that　he　did　not　dare　to　slay　him　with　his　hammer；　but　inquired　his　name。　He　called　himself　Skrymer。　'Thy　name；'　said　he；　'I　need　not　ask；　for　I　know　that　thou　art　Asar…Thor。　But　what　hast　thou　done　with　my　glove？'

〃Skrymer　stooped　and　took　up　his　glove；　and　Thor　saw　that　it　was　the　house　in　which　they　had　passed　the　night；　and　that　the　out…building　was　the　thumb。〃

Here　follow　incidents　which　do　not　differ　widely　from　certain　passages　in　the　history　of　Jack　the　Giant　Killer。　Thor　makes　three　several　attempts　to　knock　out　the　easy…　going　giant's　brains　during　a　slumber；　in　which　he　is　represented　as　〃snoring　outrageously；〃and　after　each　blow　of　the　Thunder　god's　hammer；　Skrymer　merely　wakes　upstrokes　his　beardand　complains　of　feeling　some　trifling　inconvenience；　such　as　a　dropped　acorn　on　his　head；　a　fallen　leaf；　or　a　little　moss　shaken　from　the　boughs。　　Finally；　he　takes　leave　of　them；points　out　the　way　to　Utgard　Loke's　palace；　advises　them　not　to　give　themselves　airs　at　his　court；as　unbecoming　〃such　little　fellows〃　as　they　were；　and　disappears　in　the　wood；　〃and〃as　the　old　chronicler　slyly　adds〃it　is　not　said　whether　the　OEsir　wished　ever　to　see　him　again。〃

They　then　journey　on　till　noon；　till　they　come　to　a　vast　palace；　where　a　multitude　of　men；　of　whom　the　greater　number　were　immensely　large；　sat　on　two　benches。　〃After　this　they　advanced　into　the　presence　of　the　king；　Utgard　Loke；　and　saluted　him。　He　scarcely　deigned　to　give　a　look；　and　said　smiling：　'It　is　late　to　inquire　after　true　tidings　from　a　great　distance；　but　is　it　not　Thor　that　I　see？　Yet　you　are　really　bigger　than　I　imagined。　What　are　the　exploits　that　you　can　perform？　For　no　one　is　tolerated　amongst　us　who　cannot　distinguish　himself　by　some　art　or　accomplishment。'

〃'Then；'　said　Lopt；　'I　understand　an　art　of　which　I　am　prepared　to　give　proof；　and　that　is；　that　no　one　here　can　dispose　of　his　food　as　I　can。'　Then　answered　Utgard　Loke：　'Truly　this　IS　an　art；　if　thou　canst　achieve　it；　which　we　will　now　see。'　He　called　from　the　bench　a　man　named　Loge　to　contend　with　Lopt。　They　set　a　trough　in　the　middle　of　the　hall；　filled　with　meat。　Lopt　placed　himself　at　one　end　and　Loge　at　the　other。　Both　ate　the　best　they　could；　and　they　met　in　the　middle　of　the　trough。　Lopt　had　picked　the　meat　from　the　bones；　but　Loge　had　eaten　meat；　bones；　and　trough　altogether。　All　agreed　Lopt　was　beaten。　Then　asked　Utgard　Loke　what　art　the　young　man　（Thor's　attendant）　understood？　Thjalfe　answered；　that　he　would　run　a　race　with　any　one　that　Utgard　Loke　would　appoint。　There　was　a　very　good　race　ground　on　a　level　field。　Utgard　Loke　called　a　young　man　named　Huge；　and　bade　him　run　with　Thjalfe。　Thjalfe　runs　his　best；　at　three　several　attemptsaccording　to　received　Saga　customs；but　is　of　course　beaten　in　the　race。

〃Then　asked　Utgard　Loke　of　Thor；　what　were　the　feats　that　he　would　attempt　corresponding　to　the　fame　that　went　abroad　of　him？　Thor　answered　that　he　thought　he　could　beat　any　one　at　drinking。　Utgard　Loke　said；　'Very　good；'　and　bade　his　cup…bearer　bring　out　the　horn　from　which　his　courtiers　were　accustomed　to　drink。　Immediately　appeared　the　cup…bearer；　and　placed　the　horn　in　Thor's　hand。　　Utgard　Loke　then　said；　'that　to　empty　that　horn　at　one　pull　was　well　done；　some　drained　it　at　twice；　but　that　he　was　a　wretched　drinker　who　could　not　finish　it　at　the　third　draught。'　Thor　looked　at　the　horn；　and　thought　that　it　was　not　large；　though　it　was　tolerably　long。　He　was　very　thirsty；　lifted　it　to　his　mouth；　and　was　very　happy　at　the　thought　of　so　good　a　draught。　When　he　could　drink　no　more；　he　took　the　horn　from　his　mouth；　and　saw；　to　his　astonishment；　that　there　was　little　less　in　it　than　before。　　Utgard　Loke　said：　'Well　hast　thou　drunk；　yet　not　much。　　I　should　never　have　believed　but　that　Asar…Thor　could　have　drunk　more；　however；　of　this　I　am　confident；　thou　wilt　empty　it　at　the　second　time。'　He　drank　again；　but　when　he　took　away　the　horn　from　his　mouth；　it　seemed　to　him　that　it　had　sunk　less　this　time　than　the　first；　yet　the　horn　might　now　be　carried　without　spilling。

〃Then　said　Utgard　Loke：　'How　is　this；　Thor？　If　thou　dost　not　reserve　thyself　purposely　for　the　third　draught；　thine　honour　must　be　lost；　how　canst　thou　be　regarded　as　a　great　man；　as　the　Aesir　look　upon　thee；　if　thou　dost　not　distinguish　thyself　in　other　ways　more　than　thou　hast　done　in　this？'

〃Then　was　Thor　angry；　put　the　horn　to　his　mouth；　drank　with　all　his　might；　and　strained　himself　to　the　utmost；　and　when　he　looked　into　the　horn　it　was　now　somewhat　lessened。　He　gave　up　the　horn；　and　would　not　drink　any　more。　'Now；'　said　Utgard　Loke；　'now　is　it　clear　that　thy　strength　is　not　so　great　as　we　supposed。　Wilt　thou　try　some　other　game；　for　we　see　that　thou　canst　not　succeed　in　this？'　Thor　answered：　'I　will　now　try　something　else；　but　I　wonder　who；　amongst　the　Aesir；　would　call　that　a　little　drink！　What　play　will　you　propose？'

〃Utgard　Loke　answered：　'Young　men　think　it　mere　play　to　lift　my　cat　from　the　ground；　and　I　would　never　have　proposed　this　to　Aesir　Thor；　if　I　did　not　perceive　that　thou　art　a　much　less　man　than　I　had　thought　thee。'　Thereupon　sprang　an　uncommonly　great　grey　cat　upon　the　floor。　　Thor　advanced；　took　the　cat　round　the　body；　and　lifted　it　up。　The　cat　bent　its　back　in　the　same　degree　as　Thor　lifted；　and　when　Thor　had　lifted　one　of　its　feet　from　the　ground；　and　was　not　able　to　lift　it　any　higher；　said　Utgard　Loke：　'The　game　has　terminated　just　as　I　expected。　　The　cat　is　very　great；　and　Thor　is　low　and　small；　compared　with　the　great　men　who　are　here　with　us。'

〃Then　said　Thor：　'Little　as　you　call　me；　I　challenge　any　one　to　wrestle　with　me；　for　now　I　am　angry。'　Utgard　Loke　answered；　looking　round　upon　the　benches：　'I　see　no　one　here　who　would　not　deem　it　play　to　wrestle　with　thee：　but　let　us　call　hither　the　old　Ella；　my　nurse；　with　her　shall　Thor　prove　his　strength；　if　he　will。　She　has　given　many　one　a　fall　who　appeared　far　stronger　than　Thor　is。　On　this　there　entered　the　hall　an　old　woman；　and　Utgard　Loke　said　she　would　wrestle　with　Thor。　In　short；　the　contest　went　so；　that　the　more　Thor　exerted　himself；　the　firmer　she　stood；　and　now　began　the　old　woman　to　exert　herself；　and　Thor　to　give　way；　and　severe　struggles　followed。　It　was　not　long　before　Thor　was　brought　down　on　one　knee。　　Then　Utgard　Loke　stepped　forward；　bade　them　cease　the　struggle；　and　said　that　Thor　should　attempt　nothing　more　at　his　court。　It　was　now　drawing　towards　night；　Utgard　Loke　showed　Thor　and　his　companions　their　lodging；　where　they　were　well　accommodated。

〃As　soon　as　it　was　light　the　next　morning；　up　rose　Thor　and　his　companions；　dressed　themselves；　and　prepared　to　set　out。　Then　came　Utgard　Loke；　and　ordered　the　table　to　be　set；　where　there　wanted　no　good　provisions；　either　meat　or　drink。　When　they　had　breakfasted；　they　set　out　on　their　way。　Utgard　Loke　accompanied　them　out　of　the　castle；　but　at　parting　he　asked　Thor　how　the　journey　had　gone　off；　whether　he　had　found　any　man　more　mighty　than　himself？　Thor　answered；　that　the　enterprise　had　brought　him　much　dishonour；　it　was　not　to　be　denied；　and　that　he　must　esteem　himself　a　man　of　no　account；　which　much　mortified　him。

〃Utgard　Loke　replied：　'Now　will　I　tell　thee　the　truth；　since　thou　art　out　of　my　castle；　where；　so　long　as　I　live　and　reign；　thou　shalt　never　re…enter；　and　whither；　believe　me；　thou　hadst　never　come　if　I　had　known　before　what　might　thou　possessest；　and　that　thou　wouldst　so　nearly　plunge　us　into　great　trouble。　False　appearances　have　I　created　for　thee；　so　that　the　first　time　when　thou　mettest　the　man　in　the　wood　it　was　I；　and　when　thou　wouldst　open　the　provision…sack；　I　had　laced　it　together　with　an　iron　band；　so　that　thou　couldst　not　find　the　means　to　undo　it。　After　that　thou　struckest　at　me　three　times　with　the　hammer。　The　first　stroke　was　the　weakest；　and　it　had　been　my　death　had　it　hit　me。　Thou　sawest　by　my　castle　a　rock；　with　three　deep　square　holes；　of　which　one　was　very　deep：　those　were　the　marks　of　thy　hammer。　The　rock　I　placed　in　the　way　of　the　blow；　without　thy　perceiving　it。

〃'So　also　in　the　games；　when　thou　contendedst　with　my　courtiers。　When　Lopt　made　his　essay；　the　fact　was　this：　he　was　very　hungry；　and　ate　voraciously；　but　he　who　was　called　Loge；　was　FIRE；　which　consumed　the　trough　as　well　as　the　meat。　And　Huge　（mind）　was　my　THOUGHT　with　which　Thjalfe　ran　a　race；　and　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　match　it　in　speed。　When　thou　drankest　from　the　horn；　and　thoughtest　that　its　contents　grew　no　less；　it　was；　notwithstanding；　a　great　marvel；　such　as　I　never　believed　could　have　taken　place。　The　one　end　of　the　horn　stood　in　the　sea；　which　thou　didst　not　perceive；　and　when　thou　comest　to　the　shore　thou　wilt　see　how　much　the　ocean　has　diminished　by　what　thou　hast　drunk。　MEN　WILL　CALL　IT　THE　EBB。