Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
Literature -- Collections
"We have a very trifling game here," answered Utgard-Loki, "in which
we exercise none but children. It consists in merely lifting my cat
from the ground; nor should I have dared to mention such a feat to
Asa-Thor, if I had not already observed that thou art by no means what
we took thee for."
As he finished speaking, a large gray cat sprang on the hall floor.
Thor, advancing, put his hand under the cat's belly, and did his
utmost to raise him from the floor; but the cat, bending his back,
had--notwithstanding all Thor's efforts--only one of his feet lifted
up; seeing which, Thor made no further attempt.
"This trial has turned out," said Utgard-Loki, "just as I imagined it
would; the cat is large, but Thor is little in comparison with our
men."
"Little as ye call me," answered Thor, "let me see who amongst you
will come hither, now I am in wrath, and wrestle with me."
"I see no one here," said Utgard-Loki, looking at the men sitting on
the benches, "who would not think it beneath him to wrestle with thee:
let somebody, however, call hither that old crone, my nurse Elli, and
let Thor wrestle with her if he will. She has thrown to the ground
many a man not less strong and mighty than this Thor is."
A toothless old woman then entered the hall, and was told by
Utgard-Loki to take hold of Thor. The tale is shortly told. The more
Thor tightened his hold on the crone the firmer she stood. At length,
after a very violent struggle, Thor began to lose his footing, and was
finally brought down upon one knee. Utgard-Loki then told them to
desist, adding that Thor had now no occasion to ask any one else in
the hall to wrestle with him, and it was also getting late. He
therefore showed Thor and his companions to their seats, and they
passed the night there in good cheer.
The next morning, at break of day, Thor and his companions dressed
themselves and prepared for their departure. Utgard-Loki then came
and ordered a table to be set for them, on which there was no lack of
either victuals or drink. After the repast Utgard-Loki led them to the
gate of the city, and on parting asked Thor how he thought his journey
had turned out, and whether he had met with any men stronger than
himself. Thor told him that he could not deny but that he had brought
great shame on himself. "And what grieves me most," he added, "is that
ye call me a man of little worth."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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