'GANGLER proceeds, desiring to know something more concerning the Ash. HAR replied: 'What I have farther to add concerning it is, that there is an eagle perched upon its branches, who knows a multitude of things, but he hath between his eyes a sparrow-hawk (_qui Vederloefner vocatur_). A squirrel runs up and down the Ash, sowing misunderstanding between the eagle and the serpent, which lies concealed at its root. Pour stags run across the branches of the tree, and devour its rind. There are so many serpents in the fountain whence spring the rivers of hell, that no tongue can recount them, as is said in these verses: '_Fraxinus Ygdrasil plura patitur, Quam ullus mortalium Cogitatione assequi valeat. Cervus depascitur inferius (rectius cacumen) Sed circa latera putrescit. Nidhoggius_ (the serpent) _arrodit subtus._' 'The Destinies, who reside near the fountain of the Past, draw up water thence, with which they bedew the Ash, to prevent its branches from growing withered and decayed. Of so purifying a nature is that water, that whatever it touches becomes as white as the film which is within an egg. 'Fraxinum novi stantem, Vocatem Ygdrasil Proceram et sacram albe luto, Hinc venit ros, Qui in valles cadit, Stat super virente Urdar fonte.' 'Men call this the honey-dew, and it is the food of bees. There are also in this fountain two swans, which have produced all the birds of that species.'