Page:Norse mythology or, the religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index.djvu/110

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The Sun, dismayed, hastened in clouds to hide,
Heimdal turned his head aside;
Thor was humbled in his pride.

The knife prevails, far down beneath the main,
The serpent, spent with toil and pain,
To the bottom sank again.

The giant fled, his head 'mid rocks to save,
Fearfully the god did rave,
With his lightnings tore the wave.

To madness stung, to think his conquest vain,
His ire no longer could contain,
Dared the worm to rise again.

His radiant form to its full height he drew,
And Mjolner through the billows blue
Swifter than the fire-bolt flew.

Hoped, yet, the worm had fallen beneath the stroke;
But the wily child of Loke
Waits her turn at Ragnarok.

His hammer lost, back wends the giant-bane,
Wasted his strength, his prowess vain;
And Mjolner must with Ran remain.


THE DWARFS.

Loke sat and thought, till his dark eyes gleam
  With joy at the deed he'd done;
When Sif looked into the crystal stream,
  Her courage was well-nigh gone

For never again her soft amber hair
  Shall she braid with her hands of snow;
From the hateful image she turned in despair,
  And hot tears began to flow.

In a cavern's mouth, like a crafty fox,
  Loke sat 'neath the tall pine's shade,
When sudden a thundering was heard in the rocks,
  And fearfully trembled the glade.