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field。 Utgard Loke called a young man named Huge； and bade him run with Thjalfe。 Thjalfe runs his best； at three several attemptsaccording to received Saga customs；but is of course beaten in the race。
〃Then asked Utgard Loke of Thor； what were the feats that he would attempt corresponding to the fame that went abroad of him？ Thor answered that he thought he could beat any one at drinking。 Utgard Loke said； 'Very good；' and bade his cup…bearer bring out the horn from which his courtiers were accustomed to drink。 Immediately appeared the cup…bearer； and placed the horn in Thor's hand。 Utgard Loke then said； 'that to empty that horn at one pull was well done； some drained it at twice； but that he was a wretched drinker who could not finish it at the third draught。' Thor looked at the horn； and thought that it was not large； though it was tolerably long。 He was very thirsty； lifted it to his mouth； and was very happy at the thought of so good a draught。 When he could drink no more； he took the horn from his mouth； and saw； to his astonishment； that there was little less in it than before。 Utgard Loke said： 'Well hast thou drunk； yet not much。 I should never have believed but that Asar…Thor could have drunk more； however； of this I am confident； thou wilt empty it at the second time。' He drank again； but when he took away the horn from his mouth； it seemed to him that it had sunk less this time than the first； yet the horn might now be carried without spilling。
〃Then said Utgard Loke： 'How is this； Thor？ If thou dost not reserve thyself purposely for the third draught； thine honour must be lost； how canst thou be regarded as a great man； as the Aesir look upon thee； if thou dost not distinguish thyself in other ways more than thou hast done in this？'
〃Then was Thor angry； put the horn to his mouth； drank with all his might； and strained himself to the utmost； and when he looked into the horn it was now somewhat lessened。 He gave up the horn； and would not drink any more。 'Now；' said Utgard Loke； 'now is it clear that thy strength is not so great as we supposed。 Wilt thou try some other game； for we see that thou canst not succeed in this？' Thor answered： 'I will now try something else； but I wonder who； amongst the Aesir； would call that a little drink！ What play will you propose？'
〃Utgard Loke answered： 'Young men think it mere play to lift my cat from the ground； and I would never have proposed this to Aesir Thor； if I did not perceive that thou art a much less man than I had thought thee。' Thereupon sprang an uncommonly great grey cat upon the floor。 Thor advanced； took the cat round the body； and lifted it up。 The cat bent its back in the same degree as Thor lifted； and when Thor had lifted one of its feet from the ground； and was not able to lift it any higher； said Utgard Loke： 'The game has terminated just as I expected。 The cat is very great； and Thor is low and small； compared with the great men who are here with us。'
〃Then said Thor： 'Little as you call me； I challenge any one to wrestle with me； for now I am angry。' Utgard Loke answered； looking round upon the benches： 'I see no one here who would not deem it play to wrestle with thee： but let us call hither the old Ella； my nurse； with her shall Thor prove his strength； if he will。 She has given many one a fall who appeared far stronger than Thor is。 On this there entered the hall an old woman； and Utgard Loke said she would wrestle with Thor。 In short； the contest went so； that the more Thor exerted himself； the firmer she stood； and now began the old woman to exert herself； and Thor to give way； and severe struggles followed。 It was not long before Thor was brought down on one knee。 Then Utgard Loke stepped forward； bade them cease the struggle； and said that Thor should attempt nothing more at his court。 It was now drawing towards night； Utgard Loke showed Thor and his companions their lodging； where they were well accommodated。
〃As soon as it was light the next morning； up rose Thor and his companions； dressed themselves； and prepared to set out。 Then came Utgard Loke； and ordered the table to be set； where there wanted no good provisions； either meat or drink。 When they had breakfasted； they set out on their way。 Utgard Loke accompanied them out of the castle； but at parting he asked Thor how the journey had gone off； whether he had found any man more mighty than himself？ Thor answered； that the enterprise had brought him much dishonour； it was not to be denied； and that he must esteem himself a man of no account； which much mortified him。
〃Utgard Loke replied： 'Now will I tell thee the truth； since thou art out of my castle； where； so long as I live and reign； thou shalt never re…enter； and whither； believe me； thou hadst never come if I had known before what might thou possessest； and that thou wouldst so nearly plunge us into great trouble。 False appearances have I created for thee； so that the first time when thou mettest the man in the wood it was I； and when thou wouldst open the provision…sack； I had laced it together with an iron band； so that thou couldst not find the means to undo it。 After that thou struckest at me three times with the hammer。 The first stroke was the weakest； and it had been my death had it hit me。 Thou sawest by my castle a rock； with three deep square holes； of which one was very deep： those were the marks of thy hammer。 The rock I placed in the way of the blow； without thy perceiving it。
〃'So also in the games； when thou contendedst with my courtiers。 When Lopt made his essay； the fact was this： he was very hungry； and ate voraciously； but he who was called Loge； was FIRE； which consumed the trough as well as the meat。 And Huge （mind） was my THOUGHT with which Thjalfe ran a race； and it was impossible for him to match it in speed。 When thou drankest from the horn； and thoughtest that its contents grew no less； it was； notwithstanding； a great marvel； such as I never believed could have taken place。 The one end of the horn stood in the sea； which thou didst not perceive； and when thou comest to the shore thou wilt see how much the ocean has diminished by what thou hast drunk。 MEN WILL CALL IT THE EBB。
〃'Further；' said he； 'most remarkable did it seem to me that thou liftedst the cat； and in truth all became terrified when they saw that thou liftedst one of its feet from the ground。 For it was no cat； as it seemed unto thee； but the great serpent that lies coiled round the world。 Scarcely had he length that his tail and head might reach the earth； and thou liftedst him so high up that it was but a little way to heaven。 That was a marvellous wrestling that thou wrestledst with Ella （old age）； for never has there been any one； nor shall there ever be； let him approach what great age he will； that Ella shall not overcome。
〃'Now we must part； and it is best for us on both sides that you do not often come to me； but if it should so happen； I shall defend my castle with such other arts that you shall not be able to effect anything against me。'
〃When Thor heard this discourse he grasped his hammer and lifted it into the air； but as he was about to strike he saw Utgard Loke nowhere。 Then he turned back to the