Then the lookout giant stepped down from the top of his mountain, and said that a chariot was bringing two maidens to the door.

“Run, giants, run!” shouted Thrym, in a fever at this news.  “My bride is coming!  Put silken cushions on the benches for a great banquet, and make the house beautiful for the fairest maid in all space!  Bring in all my golden-horned cows and my coal-black oxen, that she may see how rich I am, and heap all my gold and jewels about to dazzle her sweet eyes!  She shall find me richest of the rich; and when I have her—­fairest of the fair—­there will be no treasure that I lack—­not one!”

The chariot stopped at the gate, and out stepped the tall bride, hidden from head to foot, and her handmaiden muffled to the chin.  “How afraid of catching cold they must be!” whispered the giant ladies, who were peering over one another’s shoulders to catch a glimpse of the bride, just as the crowd outside the awning does at a wedding nowadays.

Thrym had sent six splendid servants to escort the maidens:  these were the Metal Kings, who served him as lord of them all.  There was the Gold King, all in cloth of gold, with fringes of yellow bullion, most glittering to see; and there was the Silver King, almost as gorgeous in a suit of spangled white; and side by side bowed the dark Kings of Iron and Lead, the one mighty in black, the other sullen in blue; and after them were the Copper King, gleaming ruddy and brave, and the Tin King, strutting in his trimmings of gaudy tinsel which looked nearly as well as silver, but were more economical.  And this fine troop of lackey kings most politely led Thor and Loki into the palace, and gave them of the best, for they never suspected who these seeming maidens really were.

And when evening came there was a wonderful banquet to celebrate the wedding.  On a golden throne sat Thrym, uglier than ever in his finery of purple and gold.  Beside him was the bride, of whose face no one had yet caught even a glimpse; and at Thrym’s other hand stood Loki, the waiting maid, for he wanted to be near to mend the mistakes which Thor might make.

Now the dishes at the feast were served in a huge way, as befitted the table of giants:  great beeves roasted whole, on platters as wide across as a ship’s deck; plum puddings as fat as feather beds, with plums as big as footballs; and a wedding cake like a snow-capped hay mow.  The giants ate enormously.  But to Thor, because they thought him a dainty maiden, they served small bits of everything on a tiny gold dish.  Now Thor’s long journey had made him very hungry, and through his veil he whispered to Loki, “I shall starve, Loki!  I cannot fare on these nibbles.  I must eat a goodly meal as I do at home.”  And forthwith he helped himself to such morsels as might satisfy his hunger for a little time.  You should have seen the giants stare at the meal which the dainty bride devoured!