The Junior Classics, Volume 2: Folk Tales and Myths — John Shaqi
The Junior Classics, Volume 2: Folk Tales and Myths
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 2: Folk Tales and Myths
Children's literature; Mythology -- Juvenile literature; Tales -- Juvenile literature
As soon as Asa Thor rose in the morning he took his hammer, Miölnir,
in his hand, and held it over the goat-skins as they lay on the floor,
whispering runes the while. They were dead skins with dry bones on them
when he began to speak; but as he said the last word, Thialfi, who was
looking curiously on, saw two live goats spring up and walk toward the
chariot, as fresh and well as when they brought the chariot up to the
door, Thialfi hoped. But no; one of the goats limped a little with his
hind leg, and Asa Thor saw it. His brow grew dark as he looked, and for a
minute Thialfi thought he would run far, far into the forest, and never
come back again; but one look more at Asa Thor’s face, angry as it was,
made him change his mind. He thought of a better thing to do than running
away. He came forward, threw himself at the Asa’s feet, and, confessing
what he had done, begged pardon for his disobedience. Thor listened, and
the displeased look passed away from his face.
“You have done wrong, Thialfi,” he said, raising him up; “but as you have
confessed your fault so bravely, instead of punishing you, I will take
you with me on my journey, and teach you myself the lesson of obedience
to the Æsir which is, I see, wanted.”
Roska chose to go with her brother, and from that day Thor had two
faithful servants, who followed him wherever he went.
The chariot and goats were now left behind; but, with Loki and his two
new followers, Thor journeyed on to the end of Manheim, over the sea,
and then on, on, on in the strange, barren, misty land of Jötunheim.
Sometimes they crossed great mountains; sometimes they had to make their
way among torn and rugged rocks, which often, through the mist, appeared
to them to wear the forms of men, and once for a whole day they traversed
a thick and tangled forest.
In the evening of that day, being very much tired, they saw with pleasure
that they had come upon a spacious hall, of which the door, as broad as
the house itself, stood wide open.
“Here we may very comfortably lodge for the night,” said Thor; and they
went in and looked about them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account