Gylfaginning The Deluding of Gylfi Page Two Back to Page One Back to Source Texts Index

Then Gangleri asked: 'What did All-father set about doing, once Asgarð was built?' High One replied: 'At first he appointed rulers who, along with him, were to control the destinies of men, and decide how the stronghold should be governed. That was in the place called Iðavöll (plain that renews itself or plain of activity) in the middle of the stronghold. Their first task was to build a temple in which there were seats for the twelve of them, apart from the high-seat of the All-father. That is the largest and best dwelling on earth; outside and in it is like pure gold; it is called Glaðsheim (Radiant Home). They built another hall that was the sanctuary of the goddesses, and it was a very beautiful building; it is called Vingólf. Next they laid the hearth of a forge and then made hammer and tongs and an anvil, and thence forward all other tools, and went on to work in metals and stone and wood, and also in gold, so abundantly that all their household utensils and furniture were of gold. That age was called the Golden Age before it was spoiled by the arrival of the women who came from Giantland.' 'Then the gods seated themselves on their thrones and held counsel, and remembered how dwarfs had quickened in the earth and under the soil like maggots in flesh. The dwarfs had first emerged and come to life in Ymir's flesh, and at that time were maggots. But by the decree of the gods they acquired human understanding and the appearance of men, although they lived in the earth and in rocks. Móðsognir was the most famous, and next to him Dunn. As it says in the Sibyl's Vision: "All the gods sought then their judgment-seats, powers that are supreme decided how dwarfs should be brought into being from bloody surf and the legs of Bláin (Ymir’s bones). There many dwarfs resembling men they made in earth as Durin said." And the sibyl gives these as their names: Nýi, Niði, Norðri (North), Suðri (South), Austri (East), Vestri (West), Althjóf, Dvalin (one lying in a trance), Nár (corpse), Náin, Niping, Dáin, Bifur, Báfur, Bömbör, Nori, Óri, Ónar, Óin, Mjöðvitnir (mead wolf), Vig and Gandálf (elf of the wand), Vinndálf (wind elf), Thorin (bold one), Fili, Kili, Fundin (found one), Vali, Thrór, Thróin, Thekk (pleasant one), Lit, Vit, Nýr (new one), Nýráð, Rekk, Rásvið (wise in advice). And these too are dwarfs and they live in rocks, but the above-mentioned live in the earth: Draupnir, Dólgthvari (battle stock), Haur, Hugstari, Hleðólf, Glóin, Dóri, Óri, Dúf, Aridvari, Heptifili, Hár (tall one), Svíar. The following, however, came from Svarin's grave-mound to Aurvangar in Jöruvellir, and from these have sprung Lovar; their names are Skirvir, Virvir, Skafið, Ái, Álf; Ingi, Eikinskjaldi, Fal, Frosti, Fjð, Ginnar (enticer).' Then Gangleri asked: 'Where is the chief place or sanctuary of the gods?' High One replied: 'It is by the ash Yggdrasil. There every day the gods have to hold a court.' Then Gangleri asked: 'in what way is that place famous?' Then Just-as-high said: 'The ash is the best and greatest of all trees; its branches spread out over the whole world and reach up over heaven. The tree is held in position by three roots that spread far out; one is among the Æsir, the second among the frost ogres where once was Ginnungagap, and the third extends over Niflheim, and under that root is the well Hvergelmir; but Níðhögg (striker that destroys) gnaws at the root from below. Under the root that turns in the direction of the frost ogres lies the spring of Mímir, in which is hidden wisdom and understanding; Mímir is the name of the owner of the spring. He is full of wisdom because he drinks from the spring out of the horn Gjöll. All-father came there and asked for a single drink from the spring, but he did not get it until he had given one of his eyes as a pledge. As it says in the Sibyl's Vision: "I know for certain Óðin where you concealed your eye, in the famous spring of Mímir; mead he drinks every morning from the pledge of the Father-of-the-slain. Do you know any more or not?" 'The third root of the ash tree is in the sky, and under that root is the very sacred spring called the Spring of Urð (destiny). There the gods hold their court of justice. The Æsir ride up to that place every day over the bridge Bifröst, which is also known as the Bridge of the Æsir. The names of the horses of the gods are as follows: Sleipnir is the best, Óðin owns him, he has eight legs; the second is Glað (shining one); the third, Gyllir; the fourth, Glen; the fifth, Skeiðbrimir (fast galloper); the sixth, Silfrintopp (silver forelock); the seventh, Sinir (strong of sinew); the eighth, Gils; the ninth, Falhófnir (shaggy forelock); the tenth, Gulltopp (golden forelock); the eleventh, Léttfet (lightfoot). Baldr's horse was burned with him, and Thór walks to the court wading through the rivers that have these names: Körmt and Örmt and both the Kerlaugar: these must Thór wade through every day, when he goes to give judgment at Yggdrasil's ash, since the Bridge of the Æsir is flaming with fire; the sacred waters glow.' Then Gangleri asked: 'Does fire burn over Bifröst?' High One replied: 'The red you see in the rainbow is flaming fire. If it were possible for all who wanted to go over Bifröst to do so, the frost ogres and cliff giants would scale heaven. There are many beautiful places in heaven, and they are all under divine protection. There is a beautiful hall near the spring under the ash tree, and from it come three maidens whose names are Urð, Verðandi, Skuld.(past, present and future) These maidens shape the lives of men, and we call them Norns. There are, however, more Norns, those that come to every child that is born in order to shape its life, and these are beneficent, others belong to the family of the elves and a third group belongs to the family of the dwarfs, as it says here: Of different origins are the Norns, I think, not all of one kindred; some come from Æsir-kin, some from the elves and some are the daughters of Dvalin.' Then Gangleri said: 'If the Norns decide the fates of men, they appoint very unequal destinies for them; for some have a good and abundant life, but others have little wealth or fame. Some have a long life and others a short one.' High One said: 'The good Norns who come from good stock shape good lives, but those who meet with misfortune owe it to the evil Norns.' Then Gangleri asked: 'In what other way is the ash tree remarkable?" High One said: 'There is a great deal to tell about it. In the branches of the ash sits an eagle, and it is very knowledgeable, and between its eyes sits a hawk called Veðrfölnir. (weather bleached one) A squirrel called Ratatosk (gnaw tooth) springs up and down the ash tree and conveys words of abuse exchanged between the eagle and Níðhögg. Four harts leap about the branches of the ash and eat the shoots; these are their names: Dáin, Dvalin, Duneyr, Durathrór. And along with Níðhögg in Hvergelmir there are so many serpents that no tongue can count them. As it says here: "The ash Yggdrasil endures more pain than men perceive, the hart devours it from above and the sides of it decay, Níðhögg is gnawing from below." It is said: "There are more serpents under the ash Yggdrasil than fools imagine, Góin (living deep in earth) and Móin (dweller on a moor) Grafvitnir's (grave wolf's) sons, Grábak (grey back) and Grafrölluð (field burrower) Ófnir and Sváfnir, I think that they will destroy for ever that ash-tree's branches." 'It is said further that the Norns who live near the spring of Urð draw water from the spring every day, and along with it the clay that lies round about the spring, and they besprinkle the ash so that its branches shall not wither or decay. But that water is so sacred that everything that comes into the spring becomes as white as the film (which is called "skin") that lies within the egg-shell. As it says here: "I know an ash-tree known as Yggdrasil, tall tree and sacred besprent with white clay, thence come the dews that fall in the dales; it stands ever green over Urð's spring." 'The dew which falls from it to the earth is called honey-dew by men, and the bees feed on it. Two birds are nourished in the spring of Urð; they are called swans, and from them have come the birds of this name.' Then Gangleri said: 'You have a great deal to tell concerning heaven. Are there any other important places besides the spring of Urð?' High One answered: 'There are many magnificent places there. There is one called Alfheim, and there live the people called the light elves, but the dark elves live down in the earth and they are unlike the others in appearance and much more so in character. The light elves are fairer than the sun to look upon, but the dark elves, blacker than pitch. Then there is Breiðablik (gleaming far and wide), there is no place there more beautiful. There is also one called Glitnir (radiant place), and its walls and posts and pillars are of red gold, but its roof is silver. Further there is that place called Himinbjörg (mount of heaven); it is at heaven's end by the bridge-head where Bifröst joins heaven. There is, moreover, a great dwelling called Valaskjálf (hall of the slain) owned by Óðin, which the gods built and roofed with pure silver. The high seat known as Hliðskjálf is there in this hall, and when All-father sits on this seat he sees over the whole world. In the southern end of heaven is the most beautiful hall of all, brighter than the sun; it is called Gimlé; it shall stand when both heaven and earth have passed away, and good and righteous men will inhabit that place for all time. As it says in the Sibyl's Vision: "I know where stands a hall brighter than sunlight better than gold in Lee-of-flame, Gimlé; hosts of the righteous shall it inherit, live in delight everlastingly."' Then Gangleri asked: 'What will protect this place when Surt's Fire is burning heaven and earth?' High One replied: 'It is said that there is another heaven to the south of and above this one and it is called Andlang; (outstretched) and there is yet a third heaven above 'these ones which is called Viðbláin, wide blue and we think that this place (Gimlé) is there. At present, however, we think that it is inhabited only by white elves.' Continue... ____________________________________________________________________________ Gylfaginning Page 3 Page 1 Page 4 Page 5 Back to Top Back to Source Texts Index Back to Woden's Harrow Home