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The Story - 2

Thor held his temper and offered to wrestle with anyone who would stand against him, and a toothless old crone accepted the challenge. Thor placed his arms about the woman and tried to pull her towards him but she refused to budge. Thor scratched his head and tried again. Still he could not move her. Next he pushed her hard then shouldered her, still she stood like a rock. Then with mad rushes Thor attempted to throw the frail woman to the floor, but in spite of his best efforts he could not succeed and was in turn lucky to stay upright himself when she wrestled with him.
In great shame he departed the palace.
Outside the gates he was surprised to see the king ride up to him. "Mighty Thor," said the king taking him by the shoulder, "when you attempted to empty the drinking horn you preformed a feat so marvellous, that had I not seen it myself, I should never have believed it. At the end of the horn lay the sea itself, and when you come to the shore you will see how much the waters have fallen away.

Then terror overcame everyone when you lifted the cat's paw from the ground, for that cat is the serpent that encircles the earth, and the whole world shuddered when its hold was loosened.

To stand against the old crone for so long was marvellous, for it was indeed old age with whom you wrestled, and no man may conquer her. It was not the prowess of the frost giants that overcame you Thor, it was their magic."
Thor, in wrath at being so tricked, reached for his hammer, but when he would have thrown it, the king of the giants had disappeared. Thor returned to his mountain peak and continued to beat his hammer for the world but with ever-increasing sadness. The fifth day of the week is still called 'Thor's day' after this strong god.

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