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The Sea Battle

Illustration by Arthur Rackham

This glorious illustration from Rackham was inspired by a tale within the Norse Edda of Snorri Sturluson. The variant

by Buchheim that is associated with the Rackham illustration follows:

Those pondered deeply how he could avenge himself on the giants for the deceptions

practised on him in Utgard, and so recover his honour. He assumed the form of a youth,

and went forth to visit one of the frost giants named Hymir, who gave him shelter for

the night. When it was dawn, the giant arose, and prepared to go forth and catch fish in

the sea. Thor offered to accompany him, but the giant shook his head.

"Little help should I have from thee," he said; "thou art too small and young to be aught

but a hindrance to me. Long shall I be away, and thou would'st find it bitter cold."

"Be not afraid," returned Thor. "It remains to be seen which of us will first desire to return.

What bait shall we take?"

Hymir told him to choose his own bait, whereupon he went to the giants' herds, slew the

biggest ox, and tore off his head. Then he joined Hymir in the boat and rowed, so that the

latter wondered at his strength. At length, the giant said they had reached his usual fishing

ground, but Thor desired to go further out to sea. After a time Hymir ceased rowing.

"It is not safe to go further," said he, "lest we chance upon the Midgard snake."

Thor said they must not stop yet, and rowed with all his might, while Hymir sat in sullen

silence. At last Thor stopped rowing, and baited a mighty line with the ox's head, for it

was not small fish that he meant to catch that day.

The Midgard snake lay at the bottom of the ocean. When the tempting bait dangled before

it, it raised its head, and snapped at it, and the hook caught in the snake's mouth. Then it

grew mad with rage and terror, and pulled and tugged at the line, so that Thor was flung

to the bottom of the boat. Now his wrath awoke, and with his wrath his strength grew.

His feet went through the boat, and he stood on the sea bottom. The snake struggled and

fought, lashing the water, so that the sea grew wild and tumultuous, that waves dashed

high, and great was the turmoil, but Thor never let go, and slowly, slowly, he raised the

monster out of the water. Its horrible eyes were fixed on him; it breathed forth venom

against him, but little cared the mighty god, as he stood there straining every muscle.

With pale face and sinking heart the giant watched the deadly struggle; he saw ho the boat

filled with water, and his courage failed him, so that he grew faint with terror.

Thor heeded him not, but, raising his hammer, prepared to slay the enemy of the gods, but

Hymir rushed forward and cut through the line. The earth groaned and shuddered, the

rocks burst asunder, the abyss howled, as swiftly the great snake sank through the waters to

its lair at the bottom of the sea, and there it lay till its hour had come, and with it the hour

of Thor, the strong god.

Terrible was the wrath of Thor; few there were who cared to face him when his anger

came upon him. The giant sat and said no word. Then Thor struck him a blow, so that he

fell into the water, while he himself waded to the shore. Hymir managed to save himself,

but ere long he and all his kin perished at the hands of the slayer of giants.

The illustration

Complete Image	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: AR SB SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 10 x 15" sheet Code: AR SB 10x15 Price: US$50.00
	Reproduction on 18 x 24" sheet Code: AR SB 18x24 Price: US$150.00

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The tale included in the Norse Edda of Snorri Sturluson

As recorded by Sturluson, the tale of 'The Fishing of Thor' is retold by Hárr thus:

It is not unknown, though one be not a scholar, that Thor took redress for this journey

of which the tale has but now been told; and he did not tarry at home long before he

made ready for his journey so hastily that he had with him no chariot and no he-goats

and no retinue. He went out over Midgard in the guise of a young lad, and came one

evening at twilight to a certain giant's, who was called Hymir. Thor abode as guest there

overnight; but at dawn Hymir arose and clothed himself and made ready to row to sea

a-fishing. Then Thor sprang up and was speedily ready, and asked Hymir to let him row

to sea with him. But Hymir said that Thor would be of little help to him, being so small

and a youth, 'And thou wilt freeze, if I stay so long and so far out as I am wont.' But

Thor said that he would be able to row far out from land, for the reason that it was not

certain whether he would be the first to ask to row back. Thor became so enraged at

the giant that he was forthwith ready to let his hammer crash against him; but he forced

himself to forbear, since he purposed to try his strength in another quarter. He asked

Hymir what they should have for bait, but Hymir bade him get bait for himself. Then

Thor turned away thither where he, saw a certain herd of oxen, which Hymir owned;

he took the largest ox, called Himinbrjotr, and cut off its head and went therewith to

the sea. By that time Hymir had shoved out the boat.

Thor went aboard the skiff and sat down in the stern-seat, took two oars and rowed;

and it seemed to Hymir that swift progress came of his rowing. Hymir rowed forward

in the bow, and the rowing proceeded rapidly; then Hymir said that they had arrived

at those fishing-banks where he was wont to anchor and angle for flat-fish. But Thor

said that he desired to row much further, and they took a sharp pull; then Hymir said

that they had come so far that it was perilous to abide out farther because of the

Midgard Serpent. Thor replied that they would row a while yet, and so he did; but

Hymir was then sore afraid. Now as soon as Thor had laid by the oars, he made ready

a very strong fishing-line, and the hook was no less large and strong. Then Thor put the

ox-head on the hook and cast it overboard, and the hook went to the bottom; and it

is telling thee the truth to say that then Thor beguiled the Midgard Serpent no less than

Útgarda-Loki had mocked Thor, at the time when he lifted up the Serpent in his hand.

The Midgard Serpent snapped at the ox-head, and the hook caught in its jaw; but when

the Serpent was aware of this, it dashed away so fiercely that both Thor's fists crashed

against the gunwale. Then Thor was angered, and took upon him his divine strength,

braced his feet so strongly that he plunged through the ship with both feet, and dashed

his feet against the bottom; then he drew the Serpent up to the gunwale. And it may be

said that no one has seen very fearful sights who might not see that: bow Thor flashed

fiery glances at the Serpent, and the Serpent in turn stared up toward him from below

and blew venom. Then, it is said, the giant Hymir grew pale, became yellow, and was

sore afraid, when he saw the Serpent, and how the sea rushed out and in through the

boat. In the very moment when Thor clutched his hammer and raised it on high, then

the giant fumbled for his fish-knife and hacked off Thor's line at the gunwale, and the

Serpent sank down into the sea. Thor hurled his hammer after it; and men say that he

struck off its head against the bottom; but I think it were true to tell thee that the

Midgard Serpent yet lives and lies in the encompassing sea. But 'Thor swung his fist and

brought it against Hymir's ear, so that he plunged overboard, and Thor saw the soles

of his feet. And Thor waded to land.

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