THRYM STEALS MJOLLNIR

At length it so happened that Thor found an opportunity to steal into Jotunheim and glut his hatred of the Giants. He had lain down to sleep, and when he awoke he missed his hammer. Enraged beyond bounds, he at once sought the advice of Loki, who promised to go out in search of the hammer provided Freyja would lend him her bird plumage. Freyja being willing, Loki flew off to Jotunheim and came into the presence of Thrym, king of the Thursar, who was sitting on a mound braiding gold cords for his dogs and clipping the manes of his horses. “What news among the Æsir? What news among the Elves? And what brings you to Jotunheim alone?” asked Thrym. “There is something wrong somewhere,” Loki answered; “you do not happen to have hidden Thor’s hammer, do you?” “Yes,” retorted Thrym, “I have hidden it eight miles deep in the earth, and no man will get it before he brings me Freyja to wife.” Loki brought the bad news back to Asgard. He then went with Thor to ask Freyja if she would consent to become the wife of Thrym; highly incensed, she gave them a curt “No” for answer. The Æsir accordingly met in conclave to determine what steps were to be taken; no one was able to suggest anything to the purpose until Heimdal proposed that they should dress Thor to take the place of Freyja, decking him out to that end with the Necklace of the Brisings and other appropriate ornaments. Thor pronounced the plan far beneath his dignity but at last gave in; so they dressed him in bridal linen, adorned him with the Necklace of the Brisings, hung jingling keys at his belt, put a kerchief on his head, and wrapped him in the long garments of a woman. Loki, in the habit of a handmaiden, followed in his train. Hitching Thor’s goats to the cart, the two drove off at a pace that split mountains asunder and struck the earth into flames. As they drew near the domain of the Thursar king, Thrym bade the Giants rise to their feet and deck the benches for the coming of the bride. “In my possession are cows with gold horns, black bulls, heaps of treasure, and mounds of jewels,” said Thrym; “Freyja is now my sole desire.” When evening had come, food was borne in before the two guests. Thor by himself ate a whole ox, eight salmon, and all of the delicacies prepared for the women, and washed it all down with three crocks of mead. “Did any one ever see a bride take bigger and harder bites or drink more mead?” asked Thrym. “For eight days on end,” answered Loki, “Freyja has not tasted a morsel, so great has been her longing after Jotunheim.” Thrym now bowed his head beneath the kerchief to kiss the bride; but she shot such piercing glances upon him that he started back. “Why does Freyja look so grim? Her eyes dart fire.” “Eight nights on end,” answered Loki, “Freyja has not slept a wink, so great has been her longing after Jotunheim.” Just at that moment the hideous old grandmother came in and asked for a bridal gift. Thrym gave commands that Mjollnir should be borne in and laid on the bride’s lap so that the wedding might go forward. When Thor once more beheld his hammer, his heart laughed within him. First he slew Thrym, then the old beldame, and thereafter he crushed into atoms all the kindred of the Giants. Thus Thor got his hammer back again after all.