THE LAY OF HARBARD
Thor.
25. Unequally thou wouldst divide the folk among the Æsir, if thou but hadst the power.
Harbard.
26. Thor has strength overmuch, but courage none; from cowardice and fear, thou wast crammed into a glove, and hardly thoughtest thou wast Thor. Thou durst not then, through thy terror, either sneeze or cough, lest Fialar it might hear.
Thor.
27. Harbard, thou wretch! I would strike thee dead, could I but stretch my arm across the sound.
Harbard.
28. Why wouldst thou stretch thy arm across the sound, when there is altogether no offence? But what didst thou, Thor?
Thor.
29. In the east I was, and a river I defended, when the sons of Svarang me assailed, and with stones pelted me, though in their success they little joyed: they were the first to sue for peace. What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
Harbard.
30. I was in the east, and with a certain lass held converse; with that fair I dallied, and long meetings had. I that gold-bright one delighted; the game amused her.
Thor.
31. Then you had kind damsels there?
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