Once upon a time, Thor, with his servant Thialfi, and accompanied by Loki, set out on a journey to the giant's country. Thialfi was of all men the swiftest of foot. He bore Thor's pack, containing their provisions. When night came on they found themselves in an immense forest, and searched on all sides for a place where they might sleep for the night, and at last came to a very large hall, with an entrance that took the whole breadth of one end of the building. Here they lay down to sleep, but towards midnight were alarmed by an earthquake which shook the whole building. Thor, rising up, called on his companions to seek with him a place of safety. On the right they found an adjoining chamber, into which the others entered, but Thor remained at the doorway with his mallet in hand, prepared to defend himself against whatever might happen. A terrible groaning was heard during the night, and at dawn of day Thor went out and found lying near him a huge giant, who slept and snored in the way that alarmed them so. It is said that for once Thor was afraid to use his mallet, and as the giant soon woke up, Thor contented with himself with simply asking his name.
"My name is Skrymir," said the giant, "but I need not ask thy name, for I know that thou art the god Thor. But what has become of my glove?" Thor then perceived that what they had taken overnight for a hall was the giant's glove, and the chamber where his two companions had sought refuge was the thumb. Skrymir then proposed that they sat down to eat their breakfast, and when they had done, Skrymir packed all the provisions into one pack, threw it over his shoulder, and strode on before them, taking such tremendous strides that they were having a hard time trying to keep up with him. So they traveled the whole day, and at dusk Skrymir chose a place for them to sleep for the night under a large oak tree. Skrymir then told them he would lie down to sleep. "But take the pack," he added, "and prepare your supper."
Skrymir soon fell asleep and began to snore strongly; but when Thor tried to open the pack, he found the giant had tied it up so tight he could not untie a single knot. At last Thor became upset, and grasping his mallet with both hands he struck a furious blow on the giant's head. Skrymir, awakening, merely asked whether a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had eaten and were ready to go to sleep. Thor answered that they were just going to sleep, and so saying went and laid himself down under a tree. But sleep came not that night to Thor, and when Skrymir snored again so loud that the forest echoed with the noise, he arose, and grasping his mallet launched it with such force at the giant's skull that it made a deep dint in it. Skrymir, awakening, cried out, "What's the matter? Are there any birds perched on this tree? I felt some moss from the branches fall on my head. How fares it with you, Thor?" But Thor went away hastily, saying that he had just then awoke, and that as it was only midnight, there was still time for sleep. He, however, resolved that if he had an opportunity of striking a third blow, it should settle all matters between them. A little before daybreak he perceived that Skrymir was again fast asleep, and again grasping his mallet, he dashed it with such violence that it forced its way into the giant's skull up to the handle. But Skrymir sat up, and stroking his cheek said, "An acorn fell on my head. What! Are you awake, Thor? I think it's time for us to get up and dress ourselves; but you don't have a long way before you reach city called Utgard. I have heard you whispering to one another that I am not a man of small dimensions; but if you come to Utgard you will see there many men much taller than I. Therefore, I advise you, when you get there, not to make too much of yourselves, for the followers of Utgard-Loki will not brook the boasting of such little fellows as you are. You must take the road that leads eastward, mine lies northward, so we must part here."
He then threw his pack over his shoulders and turned away from them into the forest, and Thor had no wish to stop him or to ask for any more of his company.
Thor and his companions proceeded on their way, and towards noon reached a city standing in the middle of a plain. It was so lofty that they were obliged to bend their necks back in order to see the top of it. On arriving they entered the city, and seeing a large palace before them with the door wide open, they went in, and found a number of men of prodigious stature, sitting on benches in the hall. Going further, they came before the king, Utgard-Loki, whom they saluted with great respect. The king, regarding them with a scornful smile, said, "If I do not mistake myself, that youth yonder must be the god Thor." Then addressing himself to Thor, he said, "Perhaps you may be more than you appear to be. What are the feats that you and your fellows deem yourselves skilled in, for no one is permitted to remain here who does not, in some way or another, excel all other men?"
"That will indeed be a feat," said Utgard-Loki, "if you perform what you promise."
He then ordered one of his men who was sitting at the farther end of the bench, and whose name was Logi, to come forward and try his skill with Loki. A trough filled with meat having been set on the hall floor, Loki placed himself at one end, and Logi at the other, and each of them began to eat as fast as he could, until they met in the middle of the trough. But it was found that Loki had only eaten the flesh, while his adversary had devoured both flesh and bone, and the trough as well. All the company therefore judged that Loki was vanquished.
Part 2