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Lokasenna

servants Byggvir and Beyla[1]. Many were there of the gods and elves.

Ægir had two serving-men, Fimafeng and Eldir[2]. Glittering gold[3] they had in place of firelight; the ale came in of itself; and great was the peace. The guests praised much the ability of Ægir's serving-men. Loki might not endure that, and he slew Fimafeng. Then the gods shook their shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest, and thereafter set to drinking again. Loki turned back, and outside he met Eldir. Loki spoke to him:

1. "Speak now, Eldir,  for not one step Farther shalt thou fare;What ale-talk here  do they have within, The sons of the glorious gods?"
  Eldir spake:2. "Of their weapons they talk,  and their might in war, The sons of the glorious gods;From the gods and elves  who are gathered here No friend in words shalt thou find."
  Loki spake:3. "In shall I go  into Ægir's hall, For the feast I fain would see;
  1. ↑ Byggvir and Beyla: not mentioned elsewhere in the poems; Freyr's conspicuous servant is Skirnir, hero of the Skirnismol.
  2. ↑ Fimafeng ("The Swift Handler") and Eldir ("The Man of the Fire"): mentioned only in connection with this incident.
  3. ↑ Glittering gold: Ægir's use of gold to light his hall, which was often thought of as under the sea, was responsible for the phrase "flame of the flood," and sundry kindred phrases, meaning "gold."

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