that thou wilt fight.

65. Oegir! thou hast brewed beer; but thou never shalt henceforth a
compotation hold. All thy possessions, which are herein, flame shall
play over, and on thy back shall burn thee.

After this Loki, in the likeness of a salmon, cast himself into the
waterfall of Franangr, where the AEsir caught him, and bound him with
the entrails of his son Nari; but his other son, Narfi, was changed
into a wolf. Skadi took a venomous serpent, and fastened it up over
Loki's face. The venom trickled down from it. Sigyn, Loki's wife, sat
by, and held a basin under the venom; and when the basin was full,
carried the venom out. Meanwhile the venom dropped on Loki, who shrank
from it so violently that the whole earth trembled. This causes what
are now called earthquakes.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 41: The events related in this strophe are probably a mere
perversion, by the poet, of what we know oL Niord's history.]

THE LAY OF FIOLSVITH.

1. From the outward wall he saw one ascending to the seat of the
giant race.

_Fiolsvith_.

Along the humid ways haste thee back hence, here, wretch! is no place
for thee.

2. What monster is it before the fore-court standing, and hovering
round the perilous flame? Whom dost thou seek? Of what art thou in
quest? Or what, friendless being! desirest thou to know?

_Wanderer_.

3. What monster is that, before the fore-court standing, who to the
wayfarer offers not hospitality? Void of honest fame, prattler! hast
thou lived: but hence hie thee home.

_Fiolsvith_.

4. Fiolsvith is my name; wise I am of mind, though of food not
prodigal. Within these courts thou shalt never come: so now, wretch!
take thyself off.

_Wanderer_.

5. From the eye's delight few are disposed to hurry, where there is
something pleasant to be seen. These walls, methinks, shine around
golden halls. Here I could live contented with my lot.

_Fiolsvith_.

6. Tell me, youth; of whom thou art born, or of what race hast
sprung.

_Wanderer_.

7. Vindkald I am called, Varkald was my father named, his sire was
Fiolkald.

8. Tell me, Fiolsvith! that which I will ask thee, and I desire to
know: who here holds sway, and has power over these lands and costly
halls?

_Fiolsvith_.

9. Menglod is her name, her mother her begat with Svaf, Thorin's
son. She here holds sway, and has power over these lands and costly
halls.

_Vindkald_.

10. Tell me, Fiolsvith! etc., what the grate is called,