Eastward in the Ironwood The old one sitteth, And there bringeth forth Fenrer’s fell kindred. Of these, one, the mightiest, The moon’s devourer, In form most fiend-like, And filled with the life-blood Of the dead and the dying, Reddens with ruddy gore The seats of the high gods. Then shall the sunshine Of summer be darkened, And fickle the weather. Conceive ye this or not? The gods set Evening and Midnight, Morning and Noon, Forenoon and Afternoon, to count out the year. There were only two seasons, summer and winter; hence spring and fall must be included in these two. The father of summer is called Svasud (the mild), who is such a gentle and delicate being, that what is mild is from him called sweet (_sváslegt_). The father of winter has two names, Vindlone and Vindsval (the wind-cool); he is the son of Vasud (sleet-bringing), and, like all his race, has an icy breath and is of grim and gloomy aspect. Whence come the winds, that are so strong that they move the ocean and fan fire to flame, and still are so airy that no mortal eye can discern them? Answer: In the northern extremity of the heavens sits a giant called Hræsvelger (corpse-swallower), clad with eagles’ plumes. When he spreads out his wings for flight, the winds arise from under them. Which is the path leading from earth to heaven? The gods made a bridge from earth to heaven and called it Bifrost (the vibrating way). We have all seen it and call it the rainbow. It is of three hues and constructed with more art than any other work. But though strong it be, it will be broken to pieces when the sons of Muspel, after having traversed great rivers, shall ride over it. There is nothing in nature that can hope to make resistance when the sons of Muspel sally forth to the great combat. Now listen to the Elder Edda on some of these subject. In the lay of Grimner: Skol the wolf is named That the fair-faced goddess To the ocean chases; Another Hate is called, He is Hrodvitner’s son: He the bright maid of heaven shall precede. In the Völuspá: Then went the powers all To their judgment seats, The all-holy gods, And thereon held council: To night and to the waning moon Gave names; Morn they named And mid-day, Afternoon and eve, Whereby to reckon years. In the lay of Vafthrudner: