When Thor reflected on the gross impositions which Utgardelok had practised on him, he was apprehensive, and not without reason, that gods and men would take him for a fool. To vindicate his merits, he ventured again to visit Utgard, and without Loke, whose honour he justly suspected. This time he would, like them, change his form, and he obtained from Odin, in the shape of ointment, power that would enable him to do so. Leaving behind his car and his goats— O’er Dovre’s ridge[77] he strode, For cliff nor torrent slack’d; The tall pines, where he trode, Like field of stubble crack’d. Sneehattan’s peak of snow, And Jotunfieldt he past, Then sought the plains below, And the sea reach’d at last; He mark’d in curling wreath The dull wave roll away, And saw where, far beneath, The serpent, brooding, lay. His heart with hope beat high, His voice shook as he spake, Turning to Heaven his eye, “No more, accursed snake,” Quoth he: “in giant bend Earth prison’d shalt thou keep, Nor struggling sea-man send To fell Ran’s cavern deep.” “But being now resolved to proceed with caution, he began by changing his form. Throwing his ponderous helmet on the ground, it became a rock covered with pines. Next, from his cloven chin, He tore the bushy beard; Which, cast in the ravine, A thorny copse appear’d. A smooth-faced peasant boy He stood, in wadmel[78] blue, White Heimdall smiled for joy The cunning wile to view. Now straight to Hymir’s grot He hies, a simple hind, His flaxen ringlets float Wild in the morning wind; His belt, by magic cheat, A woollen girdle seem’d, Art with like art to meet, No shame the Aser deem’d. Miölner, as woodman’s axe, Athwart his arm he bare, His courage high ’gan wax At thought of vengeance near. In moss-lined cavern deep, Lull’d by a torrent’s play, Taking his morning sleep, At length the giant lay.”