As sure as Fenris howls, I swear
Thy punishment shall dreadful be.”
Now rising slow with blushing cheek,
And forehead bleeding, Loptur spoke:
“Why, cruel! on thy comrade wreak
Thy vengeance for a harmless joke?
’Twas but in jest; since ’twas agreed
That all we do should be in sport,
Why not in word as well as deed
With temper bear a sly retort?