a blow with his hammer which knocked him overboard; but Hymir,
undismayed, waded ashore, and met the god as he returned to the
beach. Hymir then took both whales, his spoil of the sea, upon his
back, to carry them to the house; and Thor, wishing also to show his
strength, shouldered boat, oars, and fishing tackle, and followed him.

Breakfast being disposed of, Hymir challenged Thor to prove his
strength by breaking his beaker; but although the thunder-god
threw it with irresistible force against stone pillars and walls,
it remained whole and was not even bent. In obedience to a whisper
from Tyr's mother, however, Thor suddenly hurled the vessel against
the giant's forehead, the only substance tougher than itself, when it
fell shattered to the ground. Hymir, having thus tested the might of
Thor, told him he could have the kettle which the two gods had come
to seek, but Tyr tried to lift it in vain, and Thor could raise it
from the floor only after he had drawn his belt of strength to the
very last hole.

"Tyr twice assayed
To move the vessel,
Yet at each time
Stood the kettle fast.
Then Modi's father
By the brim grasped it,
And trod through
The dwelling's floor."

Lay of Hymir (Thorpe's tr.)

The wrench with which he finally pulled it up did great damage to the
giant's house and his feet broke through the floor. As Tyr and Thor
were departing, the latter with the huge pot clapped on his head in
place of a hat, Hymir summoned his brother frost giants, and proposed
that they should pursue and slay their inveterate foe. Turning round,
Thor suddenly became aware of their pursuit, and, hurling Mioelnir
repeatedly at the giants, he slew them all ere they could overtake
him. Tyr and Thor then resumed their journey back to AEgir, carrying
the kettle in which he was to brew ale for the harvest feast.

The physical explanation of this myth is, of course, a thunder storm
(Thor), in conflict with the raging sea (the Midgard snake), and the
breaking up of the polar ice (Hymir's goblet and floor) in the heat
of summer.

The gods now arrayed themselves in festive attire and proceeded
joyfully to AEgir's feast, and ever after they were wont to celebrate
the harvest home in his coral caves.

"Then Vans and AEsir, mighty gods,
Of earth and air, and Asgard, lords,--
Advancing with each goddess fair,
A brilliant retinue most rare,--
Attending mighty Odin,