Thor of Asgard

There rode the mighty of Asgard, Thor,
His journey across the plain,
And there his hammer of gold he lost,
And sought so long in vain.

'Twas then the mighty of Asgard, Thor,
His brother his bidding told;
"Up thou and off to the Northland Fell,
"And seek my hammer of gold."

He spake, and Loki, the serving man,
His feathers upon him drew,
And launching over the salty sea
Away to the Northland flew.

He stopp'd, as he cross'd the castle yard,
To cloak him in scarlet pall,
And greeted the hideous Thusser king,
And enter'd his lofty hall.

"Welcome, Loki, thou serving man!
"Right heartily welcome here!
"Now tell me how matters at Asgard stand,
"And how in the country near."

"In castle at Asgard all is well,
"And eke in the country near,
"But Thor has his golden hammer miss'd,
"And therefore am I come here."

"Hark thou my words! No more shall Thor
"His hammer again behold;
"For fifteen fathoms and forty deep
"It's buried beneath the mould.

"His hammer no more gets Thor again
"From under the solid earth,
"Till mine is the maiden Fredensborg,
"And all that ye all are worth."

He spake, and Loki, the serving man,
His feathers upon him drew,
And back again over the salty sea
To Thor with his answer flew.

He stopp'd, as he cross'd the castle-yard,
To wrap him in scarlet cloak,
And up to the castle chamber went,
And thus to his brother spoke.

"Thy hammer thou gettest again no more
"From under the solid earth,
"Unless thou givest. him Fredensborg
"And all that we all are worth."

"Nay!" answer'd the haughty Fredensborg,
And spake from her bench so bold;
"Nay, give me even a Christian man,
"But not that lothely Trold."

"Then let us our aged father take,
"And comb him and dress him well,
"And bear him in guise of a maiden fair
"Away to the Northland Fell."

They brought her to court, the blooming bride,
And into the banquet hall,
And largess there with an open hand
Was dealt to the minstrels all.

They took her, the young and bashful bride,
To sit on her bridal chair,
And forward stepp'd the Thusser king
Himself to serve the fair.

A whole ox-carcase the maid ate up,
And thirty sides of swine,
And took to her meat seven hundred loaves,
Before she would taste of wine.

A whole ox-carcase the maid ate up,
Her loaves and her bacon first,
And then twelve barrels of ale she drank,
Before she could quench her thirst.

The Thusser king, as he paced the floor,
His hands on his bosom beat;
"Who then, and whence is the youthful bride,
"So monstrous a meal can eat?"

And smiling beneath his scarlet cloak,
Thus Loki, the page, replied;
"Seven days it is since she tasted food
"For longing to be thy bride."

Then brought eight champions, stout and strong,
The hammer upon a tree,
And heav'd it up for the youthful bride,
And laid it across her knee.

Uprose from her seat that tender bride,
Her hammer she took in hand,
And, only the sober truth to tell,
She brandished it like a wand.

The first she slew was the Thusser king,
So lothely and fierce and tall;
She came indeed to the wedding feast!
She slaughter'd them great and small.

"And now" said Loki the wily page,
"'Tis time that we all retire,
"And home to our country bend our steps,
"And comfort our widow sire."