George Webbe Dasent

“ Asa-garth holy;
Met him there Thorr,
Moody in mid-yard,
And this was the speech
He first of all spoke:
X.
“Hast thou thy errand’s toil
Taken in vain?
Utter aloft now
All thy long story;
Often a sitting man’s
Mind misses something,
And lying men’s stories
Are lengthened with lies.” ”

“ The Norse gods (As, pl. Æsir, gen. pl. Asa) dwelt in As-garth, a high burg in the midst of the earth; round them lived the race of men in Manheim, or Manhome. All round Manheim rolled the great sea, and beyond that sea, and below the earth, was Iötunheim, Etinhome, Ogreland, the abode of the huge Giants of Frost and Snow, who were at perpetual feud with gods and men, and ever watchful to do them mischief. One of the chiefest and hugest of these giants was Thrym, who, while Thorr was asleep, contrived to steal his hammer ”

“ They speedily sate,
And for the Ogres all
Ale was brought out;
One ox all alone,
Salmons eight, also,
Together with dainties
Dished up for the women—
These—and three butts of mead
Sif’s husband [8] bolted. ”