Thor said he would row as far out as ever Hymir wanted, and he thought
he might not be the first to want to row back. While he said this he was
in such a rage that he had much to do to keep himself from throwing the
hammer at once at the giant's head, but he calmed himself thinking that
he might soon try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what bait he
should use, but Hymir told him to look out for himself. Then Thor went
up to a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir, and capturing the largest bull,
called Himinbrjot, he wrung off its head, and went with it to the
sea-shore. Hymir launched the skiff, and Thor, sitting down in the
after-part, rowed with two oars so that Hymir, who rowed in the
fore-part, wondered to see how fast the boat went on. At length he said
they had arrived at the place where he was accustomed to fish for flat
fish, but Thor told him they had better go on further. So they rowed
till Hymir cried out that if they proceeded further they might be in
danger from the Midgard serpent. In spite of this, Thor said he would
row further, and so he rowed on, disregarding Hymir's words. When he
laid down his oars, he took out a very strong fishing line to which was
a no less strong hook. On this he fixed the bull's head and cast it over
into the sea. The bait soon reached the ground, and then truly Thor
deceived the Midgard serpent no less than Utgard-Loki deceived Thor when
he gave him the serpent to lift in his hand. The Midgard serpent gaped
wide at the bait, and the hook stuck fast in his mouth. When the worm
felt this he tugged at the hook so that Thor's hands were dashed against
the side of the boat. Then Thor got angry, and, collecting to himself
all his divine strength, he pulled so hard that his feet went through
the bottom of the boat and down to the sea's bottom. Then he drew the
serpent up on board. No one can be said to have seen an ugly sight who
did not see that. Thor threw wrathful looks on the serpent, and the
monster staring at him from below cast out venom at him. The giant
Hymir, it is said, turned pale when he saw the serpent, quaked, and,