e were
the Metal Kings, who served him as lord of them all. There was the Gold
King, all in cloth of gold, with fringes of yellow bullion, most
glittering to see; and there was the Silver King, almost as gorgeous in
a suit of spangled white; and side by side bowed the dark Kings of Iron
and Lead, the one mighty in black, the other sullen in blue; and after
them were the Copper King, gleaming ruddy and brave, and the Tin King,
strutting in his trimmings of gaudy tinsel which looked nearly as well
as silver, but were more economical. And this fine troop of lackey kings
most politely led Thor and Loki into the palace, and gave them of the
best, for they never suspected who these seeming maidens really were.

And when evening came there was a wonderful banquet to celebrate the
wedding. On a golden throne sat Thrym, uglier than ever in his finery of
purple and gold. Beside him was the bride, of whose face no one had yet
caught even a glimpse; and at Thrym's other hand stood Loki, the waiting
maid, for he wanted to be near to mend the mistakes which Thor might
make.

Now the dishes at the feast were served in a huge way, as befitted the
table of giants: great beeves roasted whole, on platters as wide across
as a ship's deck; plum puddings as fat as feather beds, with plums as
big as footballs; and a wedding cake like a snow-capped hay mow. The
giants ate enormously. But to Thor, because they thought him a dainty
maiden, they served small bits of everything on a tiny gold dish. Now
Thor's long journey had made him very hungry, and through his veil he
whispered to Loki, "I shall starve, Loki! I cannot fare on these
nibbles. I must eat a goodly meal as I do at home." And forthwith he
helped himself to such morsels as might satisfy his hunger for a little
time. You should have seen the giants stare at the meal which the dainty
bride devoured!

For first under the silver veil disappeared by pieces a whole roast ox.
Then Thor made eight mouthfuls of eight pink salmon, a dish of which he
was very fond. And next he looked about and reached for a platter of
cakes and sweetmeats that was set aside at one end of the table for the
lady guests, and the bride ate them all. You can fancy how the damsels
drew down their mouths and looked at one another when they saw their
dessert disappear; and they whispered about the table, "Alack! if our
future mistress is to sup like this day by day, there will be poor cheer
for the rest of us!" And t