ldly into the great hall, and stood up before the
wonder-stricken guests at the table. When the Asa-folk saw who it was
that had darkened the doorway, and was now in their midst, a painful
silence fell upon them, and all their merriment was at an end. And Loki
stretched himself up to his full height, and said to them,--

"Hungry and thirsty come I to AEgir's gold lit hall. Long and rough was
the road I trod, and wearisome was the way. Will no one bid me welcome?
Will none give me a seat at the feast? Will none offer me a drink of the
precious mead? Why are you all so dumb? Why so sulky and stiff-necked,
when your best friend stands before you? Give me a seat among you,--yes,
one of the high-seats,--or else drive me from your hall! In either case,
the world will never forget me. I am Loki."

Then one among the Asa-folk spoke up, and said, "Let him sit with us.
He is mad; and when he slew Funfeng, he was not in his right mind. He is
not answerable for his rash act."

But Bragi the Wise, who sat on the innermost seat, arose, and said,
"Nay, we will not give him a seat among us. Nevermore shall he feast
or sup with us, or share our good-fellowship. Thieves and murderers we
know, and will shun."

This speech enraged Loki all the more; and he spared not vile words,
but heaped abuse without stint upon all the folk before him. And by main
force he seized hold of the silent Vidar, who had come from the forest
solitudes to be present at the feast, and dragged him away from the
table, and seated himself in his place. Then, as he quaffed the foaming
ale, he flung out taunts and jeers and hard words to all who sat around,
but chiefly to Bragi the Wise. Then he turned to Sif, the beautiful wife
of Thor, and began to twit her about her golden hair.

"Oh, how handsome you were, when you looked at your bald head in the
mirror that day! Oh, what music you made when your hands touched your
smooth pate! And now whose hair do you wear?"

And the wretch laughed wickedly, as he saw the tears welling up in poor
Sif's eyes.

Then suddenly a great tumult was heard outside. The mountains shook
and trembled; and the bottom of the sea seemed moved; and the waves,
affrighted and angry, rushed hither and thither in confusion. All the
guests looked up in eager expectation, and some of them fled in alarm
from the hall. Then the mighty Thor strode through the door, and up
to the table, swinging his hammer, and casting wrathful glances at the
Mis