that from my dwellings and fields shall to thee ever
cold counsels come.

_Loki_.

52. Milder wast thou of speech to Laufey's son, when to thy bed thou
didst invite me. Such matters must be mentioned, if we accurately must
recount our vices.

Then came Sif forth, and poured out mead for Loki in an icy cup,
saying:

53. Hail to thee, Loki! and this cool cup receive, full of old mead:
at least me alone, among the blameless AEsir race, leave stainless.

He took the horn, drank, and said:

54. So alone shouldst thou be, hadst thou strict and prudent been
towards thy mate; but one I know, and, I think, know him well, a
favoured rival of Hlorridi, and that is the wily Loki.

_Beyla_.

55. The fells all tremble: I think Hlorridi is from home journeying.
He will bid be quiet him who here insults all gods and men.

_Loki_.

56. Be silent, Beyla! Thou art Byggvir's wife, and with much evil
mingled: never came a greater monster among the AEsir's sons. Thou art
a dirty strumpet.

Thor then came in and said:

57. Silence, thou impure being! My mighty hammer, Miollnir, shall
stop thy prating. I will thy head from thy neck strike; then will thy
life be ended.

_Loki_.

58. Now the son of earth is hither come. Why dost thou chafe so,
Thor? Thou wilt not dare do so, when with the wolf thou hast to fight,
and he the all-powerful father swallows whole.

_Thor_.

59. Silence, thou impure being! My mighty hammer, Miollnir, shall
stop thy prating. Up I will hurl thee to the east region, and none
shall see thee after.

_Loki_.

60. Of thy eastern travels thou shouldest never to people speak,
since in a glove-thumb thou, Einheri! wast doubled up, and hardly
thoughtest thou wast Thor.

_Thor_.

61. Silence, thou impure being! My mighty hammer, Miollnir, shall
stop thy prating: with this right hand I, Hrungnir's bane, will smite
thee, so that thy every bone be broken.

_Loki_.

62. 'Tis my intention a long life to live, though with thy hammer
thou dost threaten me. Skrymir's thongs seemed to thee hard, when at
the food thou couldst not get, when, in full health, of hunger dying.

_Thor_.

63. Silence, thou impure being! My mighty hammer, Miollnir, shall
stop thy prating. Hrungnir's bane shall cast thee down to Hel, beneath
the gratings of the dead.

_Loki_.

64. I have said before the AEsir, I have said before the AEsir's sons,
that which my mind suggested: but for thee alone will I go out;
because I know