"Yes, that is like honey, and he who eats of it can go for days without any other nourishment. Nor can I imagine why he was so stingy as to withhold the best."
Still the youth did not know what to say.
"Better try it," continued Loki. "That long leg-bone there is just full of sweetness."
"Oh no," said Thialfi, involuntarily lowering his voice to the same pitch. "He forbade us to break any of them."
"What nonsense. Why should you be so careful of that rubbish? You saw yourself what he did to the living animals: how could he really mind after that if just one picked bone were a little chipped? You'll never have another chance to taste such fare as only those in Asgard know."
"I don't like to," whispered the boy. "He might be angry."
"Angry! He'll never know. Why should he poke about and find a piece at the bottom of the pile? And if he should notice it, it would simply be an accident that might have happened a dozen times already."
Thialfi hesitated.
"It makes no difference to me, of course," went on
the tempter. "But I don't see why you should be deprived of the best part when it can't possibly hurt anybody to take it. Besides, I've heard you were a wonderful runner, and I have an idea that the one who tastes of that marrow will find his powers marvellously increased."