2. _Muspelheim_, the world of Surtur and his fiery genii, which lay far below Liosalfaheim. This world was _perhaps_ uncreated and _perhaps_ will not be destroyed. 3. _Asgard_ (Aser-yard), or _Godheim_, the residence of the Aser, or gods; the starry firmament, which lay far below Muspelheim. 4. _Vanaheim_, the residence of the Vanir or spirits of air: it was also called _Vindheim_, the home of the winds. Its position was the atmosphere below Asgard. 5. _Midgard_ (mid-yard), so called because it was the middle world, between Gimlè above, and Nifleheim below. It was also called _Manheim_, from its being the home of men. 6. _Utgard_ (outer-yard), or _Jotunheim_, the home of the giants, lay beyond the vast sea which, according to the Scandinavian cosmography, encompasses Midgard. Midgard and Utgard are horizontal with each other. 7. _Swartalfaheim_, the home of the black elves or dwarfs, the spirits of darkness, is situated in the bowels of the earth. 8. _Helheim_, the palace of Hela, the goddess of death, lower far than Swartalfaheim, and the abode of all, however good, who die a natural death. 9. _Nifleheim_, the world of mist, the lowest of all the worlds. It contains the poisonous fountain and rivers in which the bad are to be punished. Of these worlds six are to perish,—perhaps seven, for there is some doubt as to Muspelheim. The virtuous are to enjoy an eternity of happiness in Gimlè; the wicked an eternity of punishment in Nifleheim. GIMLE AND MUSPELHEIM Defy description. None of the Valas, none of the gods, none of the giants or dwarfs who boasted of their having seen these nine worlds, have left us any record of either. The former, indeed, must have been inaccessible to all created intelligences; but Liosalfaheim was esteemed less holy. Why Muspelheim was placed so near to Gimlè has not been satisfactorily explained; but we may infer that Surtur and his subjects, ministers of evil as they were, were only the instruments of the unknown power. In one account, they are said to be placed there to forbid the ascent of any hostile foot to the pure realms so far above them. MIDGARD AND UTGARD. The notion entertained of Midgard by the Scandinavians was, that it is round; that it is entirely encompassed by a vast sea; and that at the extremity of this sea begins Utgard, the abode of the giant race descended from Bergelmer and his wife. No better description of Utgard can be given than that which has been already given in the mysterious voyages of Gorm and Thorkill.[23] We will, however, have frequent occasion to revert to the same subject.