In Lokasenna (Loki’s quarrel) in the Poetic Edda, Ægir had invited the gods for a feast at which he served home-brewed ale. Ægir and his daughters had brewed the ale in a giant cauldron. Ægir’s servants welcomed the guests. Many of the gods were there, but not Thor because he was in Jotunheim. Bright gold lit the hall, cups filled themselves with ale, and the place was peaceful. Many of the guests praised Ægir’s servants. Loki could not bear that and killed one of the servants. The gods were angered and chased him into the forest, and then returned to their drinking.
Later, Loki returned and found one of the other servants outside. He asked what the gods were talking about at the feast, and was told that they were discussing their weapons and their great skill at war, and that Loki was not welcome. But Loki entered anyhow and demanded a seat. Bragi (the god of poetry) says that the gods will refuse to make room for Loki at the feast, but Loki then called on Odin and reminds him that long ago when Loki and Odin blended blood, Odin vowed that they would always drink together. Odin asks his son Vidar to give up his seat for Loki and pour him some ale. But before Loki drank, he toasted the gods and pointedly excludes Bragi. Bragi offered him a sword, a horse and gold to placate him, but Loki insulted his courage, and then proceeded to insult the other gods present. Insults were traded back and forth until Thor arrived and threatened Loki four times to be quiet or the might of Mjölnir would break every bone in Loki’s body. Loki then states that he had said what he wanted to the gods, but now he would leave, as he was convinced that Thor would kill.
Loki left and hid in the Franang waterfall, but there he was captured by the gods and bound with the guts of his son beneath a poisonous snake. Sigun, Lokis’s wife, sat there beside him holding a bowl which caught the venom that dripped down. But when the bowl was full, she had to carry it outside, and meanwhile the venom dripped on Loki. Then he struggled so hard that the whole earth shook, and that is what people now call earthquakes.
Ægir was cursed by Loki that he would never again hold a feast in his hall. “May all that is here, everything you own, fall to the flames and drag you down with it!”
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