登陆注册
25531700000138

第138章

There is another deity who is described as the calumniator of the gods and the contriver of all fraud and mischief. His name is Loki. He is handsome and well made, but of a very fickle mood and most evil disposition. He is of the giant race, but forced himself into the company of the gods, and seems to take pleasure in bringing them into difficulties, and in extricating them out of the danger by his cunning, wit, and skill. Loki has three children. The first is the wolf Fenris, the second the Midgard serpent, the third Hela (Death). The gods were not ignorant that these monsters were growing up, and that they would one day bring much evil upon gods and men. So Odin deemed it advisable to send one to bring them to him. When they came he threw the serpent into that deep ocean by which the earth is surrounded. But the monster has grown to such an enormous size that holding his tail in his mouth he encircles the whole earth. Hela he cast into Niffleheim, and gave her power over nine worlds or regions, into which she distributes those who are sent to her; that is, all who die of sickness or old age. Her hall is called Elvidnia. Hunger is her table, Starvation her knife, Delay her man, Slowness her maid, Precipice her threshold, Care her bed, and Burning-anguish forms the hangings of her apartments. She may easily be recognized for her body is half flesh-color and half blue, and she has a dreadfully stern and forbidding countenance.

The wolf Fenris gave the gods a great deal of trouble before they succeeded in chaining him. He broke the strongest fetters as if they were made of cobwebs. Finally the gods sent a messenger to the mountain spirits, who made for them the chain called Gleipnir. It is fashioned of six things, viz., th noise made by the footfall of a cat, the beards of women, the roots of stones, the breath of fishes, the nerves (sensibilities) of bears, and the spittle of birds. When finished it was as smooth and soft as a silken string. But when the gods asked the wolf to suffer himself to be bound with this apparently slight ribbon, he suspected their design, fearing that it was made by enchantment.

But Tyr (the sword god), to quiet his suspicions, placed his hand in Fenris' mouth. Then the other gods bound the wolf with Gleipnir. But when the wolf found that he could not break his fetters, and that the gods would not release him, he bit off Tyr's hand, and he has ever since remained one-handed.

HOW THOR PAID THE MOUNTAIN GIANT HIS WAGES

Once on a time, when the gods were constructing their abodes and had already finished Midgard and Valhalla, a certain artificer came and offered to build them a residence so well fortified that they should be perfectly safe from the incursions of the Frost giants and the giants of the mountains. But he demanded for his reward the goddess Freya, together with the sun and moon. The gods yielded to his terms provided he would finish the whole work himself without any one's assistance, and all within the space of one winter. But if anything remained unfinished on the first day of summer he should forfeit the recompense agreed on. On being told these terms the artificer stipulated that he should be allowed the use of his horse Svadilfari, and this by the advice of Loki was granted to him. He accordingly set to work on the first day of winter, and during the night let his horse draw stone for the building. The enormous size of the stones struck the gods with astonishment, and they saw clearly that the horse did one half more of the toilsome work than his mater. Their bargain, however, had been concluded, and confirmed by solemn oaths, for without these precautions a giant would not have thought himself safe among the gods, especially when Thor should return from an expedition he had then undertaken against the evil demons.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 四侠闯异世

    四侠闯异世

    同宿舍的四名学生相约秦山看日出,为省门票的他们再从后门爬山路程中意外发现巨型千年灵芝,然而在摘取的过程中四人纷纷坠入悬崖……醒来后的吴迪发现自己已转世投胎,但却保留了记忆,其他三人是否也穿越到了异世,四人是否能在异世相聚,吴迪陷入了迷茫之中……
  • 新时期青少年公民与公德读本

    新时期青少年公民与公德读本

    社会公德是社会生活中最简单、最起码、最普通的道德规则,是维持社会全体公民在交往和生活中的行为规则。青少年作为新时期的公民,要明白权利与义务是对等的,享有权利的同时要具有尽义务的意识。《新时期青少年公民与公德读本》重点阐述了青少年作为中华人民共和国公民应享有的公民权利与义务,以及应遵循的社会公德等。
  • 逆天重生:邪王的倾世狂妃

    逆天重生:邪王的倾世狂妃

    21世纪,最为杰出妖孽的杀手组织首领云倾梦,在站到世界顶峰之时无聊之余,独闯亚马逊,得到了随梦镯,结果魂穿异世。且看她云倾梦怎样在异世闯出一番天地。可是,她怎么会惹到了那个人。可恶,不要粘着我了,我跟你不熟。
  • 吸血鬼生活实录

    吸血鬼生活实录

    你们知道么,吸血鬼这种神奇的生物,其实是可以家养的哦!只要提供给她一个小窝(棺材),足够的口粮(血液),他们就会像宠物一样安心被你饲养,当然,这种宠物属于脾气极差的那一类,千万不要妄想去挑战他们的领地权和饮食权等等权利,要不然你一定会死的很难看,除非你认为干尸很萌。不能被公开的绝密档案——一个少年的吸血鬼生态观察日记。好吧,其实也就是叼丝少年和血族少女之间的爆笑都市同居轻喜剧日常而已。
  • 杜尔雷的秘密

    杜尔雷的秘密

    在G市,杜尔雷是一种神一般的存在,她组织了一个庞大而又神秘的组织——XRose。所有人辅助着她追杀在市内出现的不明生物。她的宗旨则是,拦路虎死。
  • 全城戒备

    全城戒备

    “我喜欢鲜血的味道,喜欢骨肉碎裂的声音,因为它们深深地刺激我的味蕾,让我变得贪恋;我更喜欢听人们临死时绝望的惨叫,它让我热血沸腾,让我感到前所未有的兴奋,让我欲罢不能……”他,并不是我,他,只不过是我体内的一个恶魔;我始终认为,世界上最令人恐惧的不是人心,而是人们临死时那面目可憎的嘴脸!何谓逍遥?亦正亦邪,那才是真正的逍遥!何谓正义?心之所向,那才是真正的正义【各位,新书,请多多砸票收藏,多多支持冷月,多谢各位了。】
  • 八旗海盗

    八旗海盗

    清朝末年,外忧内患。太平天国的失败激起了更多的起义,孙四一伙便是如此。孙四一伙由老实,厚道到阴险毒辣。孙四一伙的大起大落,
  • 夫君个个都好坏

    夫君个个都好坏

    狗血般的穿越,成为柳家二少奶奶,“我是你的夫君,你说我干嘛?”男人低声呢喃,而第三日,她被千夫所指‘贱人’,她不明白,继续忍。第N日,她被指责红杏出墙,她忍无可忍,决定卷铺盖走人。顺便拐走大量的金银钱财。混蛋,还来招惹她做什么?!
  • 恶毒女配要洗白:毒女不好当

    恶毒女配要洗白:毒女不好当

    穿越了!竟然还穿到一本穿越文里跟穿越女主抢男主无脑+恶毒的女配。这玩笑开的有点大了!为了本人能够安度晚年,平平安安,一帆风顺。本人决定,防水防火防男主!PS.珍爱生命,远离男主!穿越女配VS穿越女主的较量!
  • 叶宝妈咪

    叶宝妈咪

    “叶西啊!这两个男人为什么跟我长得那么像?”六岁的小叶宝指着杂志封面上的两个男人问道。叶西一瞥,脸上闪过一丝不自然,“那个……儿子啊!这个世界是很奇妙的,总有些长得相似的人,这很正常的。”宝宝,原谅妈咪不能告诉你,那两个男人中有一个就是你爹地,而那俩男人,又是兄弟……“哦!这个我知道!”叶西开心的看着对自己万分理解的儿子,又看着儿子指了指两个男人中面目较冷的那个说道:“妈咪跟这个男人也有些像,这样就叫……夫妻相,对不对?”“……”叶西一头黑线,鬼才跟那个家伙有夫妻相!就算要像,也该是旁边的那个嘛!不过他们本来就是兄弟,那也就同理可得了吧?咳……小叶宝看着正沉浸在无尽幻想中的妈咪,灵动的大眼睛里闪过一丝不该属于孩童的狡黠,忖道:爹地啊!看来你不怎么讨妈咪喜欢哦……