FEAST GIVEN BY JEGIR. 405 



The Asar wanted to get a kettle large enough for them all, 

 and sent Thor to the jotun Hymir to get it from him. Thor 

 went, and we have from the Later Edda the story about his 

 fishing for the serpent with Hymir. He came back with the 

 kettle after having slain many Jotnar. 



ir, who is also called G-ymir, had made ale for the 

 Asar when he had got the large cauldron which has been 

 told of. To that feast came Odin and his wife Frigg. Thor 

 did not come, for he was in Austrveg (eastern lands). 8if, 

 Thor's wife, Bragi and his wife Idun were there. Tyr was 

 there ; he had only one hand. The Fenris-wolf tore off his 

 hand when he was tied. Njord and his wife Skadi, Frey 

 and Freyja, Vidar, Odin's son, Loki, Beyggvir and Beyla, 

 the servants of Frey, were there. Many Asar and Alfar 

 were there. ^3Egir had two servants, Fimafeng and Eldir; 

 shining gold was used instead of lights there ; the ale 

 carried itself ; there was a great peace-place (grida stad) '' 

 (Lokasenna). 



" A man is called ^Egir, or Hler ; he lived on the island 

 now called Hlesey (Lsesso on the Kattegat) ; he was very skilled 

 in witchcraft. He went on a journey to Asgard ; when the Asar 

 knew this he was well received, but with many ocular de- 

 lusions. In the evening, when they were going to drink, Odin 

 had swords carried into the hall ; they were so bright that 

 they shone, and no other light was used while they sat 

 drinking. Then the Asar went to their feast, and the twelve 

 Asar who were to be judges sat down in high-seats. Their 

 names are : Thor, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Heimdall, Bragi, Vidar, 

 Vali, Ull, Hoanir, Forseti, Loki. Also the Asynjur : Frigg, 

 Freyja, Gefjon, Idun, Gerd, Sigun, Fulla, Nanna. ^Egir 

 thought that all looked splendid there. The walls were all 

 covered over with fine shields, the mead was strong, and much 

 of it was drunk " (Bragarcedur). 



" Why is gold called the fire of ^Egir ? The following tale 

 is told of it. -SCgir, as has been told, had been invited 

 to a feast in Asgard, and when he was ready to go home he 

 invited Odin and all the Asar to visit him in three months. 

 On that journey went Odin, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Bragi, Vidar, 

 Loki, and the Asynjur Frigg, Freyja, Gefjon, Skadi, Idun, Sif. 

 Thor was not there ; he had gone to the eastern lands to slay 

 Troll. When the gods had seated themselves, .ZEgir had 

 lysigull (light gold, bright gold) brought in on the floor of 

 the hall, which lighted up and brightened the hall like fire, as 



