re didst thou learn words than which I never heard more
irritating?

_Harbard_.

44. From men I learned them, from ancient men, whose home is in the
woods.

_Thor_.

45. Thou givest certainly a good name to grave-mounds, when thou
callest them, homes in the woods.

_Harbard_.

46. So speak I of such a subject.

_Thor_.

47. Thy shrewd words will bring thee evil, if I resolve the sound to
ford. Louder than a wolf thou wilt howl, I trow, if of my hammer thou
gettest a touch.

_Harbard_.

48. Sif has a gallant at home; thou wilt anxious be to find him:
thou shalt that arduous work perform; it will beseem thee better.

_Thor_.

49. Thou utterest what comes upmost, so that to me it be most
annoying, thou dastardly varlet! I believe thou art lying.

_Harbard_.

50. I believe I am telling truth. Thou art travelling slowly; thou
wouldst have long since arrived, hadst thou assumed another form.

_Thor_.

51. Harbard! thou wretch! rather is it thou who hast detained me.

_Harbard_.

52. I never thought that a ferryman could the course of Asa-Thor
retard.

_Thor_.

53. One advice I now will give thee: row hither with thy boat; let
us cease from threats; approach the sire of Magni.

_Harbard_.

54. Go farther from the sound, the passage is refused thee.

_Thor_.

55. Show me then the way, if thou wilt not ferry me across the
water.

_Harbard_.

56. That's too little to refuse. 'Tis far to go; 'tis to the stock
an hour, and to the stone another; then keep the left hand way, until
thou reachest Verland; there will Fiorgyn find her son Thor, and
point out to him his kinsmen's ways to Odin's land.

_Thor_.

57. Can I get there to-day?

_Harbard_.

58. With pain and toil thou mayest get there, while the sun is up,
which, I believe, is now nigh.

_Thor_.

59. Our talk shall now be short, as thou answerest with scoffing
only. For refusing to ferry me I will reward thee, if another time we
meet.

_Harbard_.

60. Just go to where all the powers of evil may have thee.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 36: Giantesses, witches, etc.]

THE JOURNEY OR LAY OF SKIRNIR.

Frey, son of Niord; had one day seated himself in Hlidskialf, and was
looking over all regions, when turning his eyes to Jotunheim, he there
saw a beautiful girl, as she was passing from her father's dwelling to
her bower. Thereupon he became greatly troubled in mind. Frey's
attendant was named Skirnir; him Niord desired to spe