OF THE HORSE SLEIPNIR.

43.  “Thou mad’st mention,” said Gangler, “of the horse Sleipnir.  To whom does he belong, and what is there to say respecting him?”

“Thou seemest to know nothing either about Sleipnir or his origin,” replied Har, “but thou wilt no doubt find what thou wilt hear worthy of thy notice.  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, in the space of three half years, a residence so well fortified that they should be perfectly safe from the incursion of the Frost-giants, and the giants of the mountains, even although they should have penetrated within Midgard.  But he demanded for his reward the goddess Freyja, together with the sun and moon.  After long deliberation the AEsir agreed to his terms, provided he would finish the whole work himself without ony 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, called 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 AEsir with astonishment, and they saw clearly that the horse did one half more of the toilsome work than his master.  Their bargain, however, had been concluded in the presence of witnesses, and confirmed by solemn oaths, for without these precautions a giant would not have thought himself safe among the AEsir, especially when Thor returned from an expedition he had then undertaken towards the east against evil demons.

“As the winter drew to a close the building was far advanced, and the bulwarks were sufficiently high and massive to render this residence impregnable.  In short, when it wanted but three days to summer the only part that remained to be finished was the gateway.  Then sat the gods on their seats of justice and entered into consultation, inquiring of one another who among them could have advised to give Freyja away to Jotunheim, or to plunge the heavens in darkness by permitting the giant to carry away the sun and moon.  They all agreed that no one but Loki, the son of Laufey, and the author of so many evil deeds, could have given such bad counsel, and that he should be put to a cruel death if he did not contrive some way or other to prevent the artificer from completing his task and obtaining the stipulated recompense.  They immediately proceeded to lay hands on Loki, who, in his fright, promised upon oath that let it cost him what it would, he would so manage matters that the man should lose his reward.  That very night, when the artificer went with Svadilfari for building stone, a mare suddenly