The ash Ygdrasill is the holiest of all trees ; its ever- green boughs embrace the whole world. Ygdrasill springs from three roots. One root is in Hvergelmer, in Niflheim, and the bark of this root is gnawed by the dragon Nidhogg, and all his reptile brood. The second root is in Jotunheim, over the well of tlie wise giant, Mimer. In this well lies concealed Odin's eye, which he gave in pa>vn for a drink from the fountain, and every morning Mimer drinks from his glittering horn the mead that flows over Odin's pawn. The third root of Ygdrasill is among the asas in heaven; and beneath this root is the sacred fountain of Urd. Here dwell the three norns, or fates : Urd (the Past), Verdande (the Present), and Skuld (the Future). They nurse the tree Ygdrasill by sprinkling it every morning with the pure water of Urd's fountain. These norns preside over the births and determine the destinies of men. Their mes- sengers (both good ones and bad ones), accompany man from the cradle to the grave, and are the authors of men's ibrtuncs and misfortunes. Nothing can change the fiat of the norm. Urd and Verdande weave the web of man's life, and stretch it from east to west, and Skuld tears it to pieces.
In the topmost bough of the ash Ygdrasill sits an eagle that is very knowing, and between the eagle's eyes sits a hawk, by name Vedfolner. A squirrel, whose name is Ratatosk, runs up and down the tree, seeking to cause strife between the eagle and the ser- pent Nidhogg. Four stags leap about beneath the branches of the tree, and feed on its buds. Their names are Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, and Durathror. But there are so many serpents with Nidhogg in the foun- tain Hvergelmer that no tongue can count them. The dew that falls from Yggdrasil upon the earth men call honey-dew, and it is the food of bees. Finally, two swans swim in Urd's fountain, and are the parents of the race of swans. Thus all tribes of nature partake of this universal tree.
Odin (or Allfather) is the highest and oldest of the gods, or asas, and from him the race of asas is descend- ed. His hall is the famous Walhalla, to which he in- vites all men bitten by weapons or fallen in battle. The daily amusement of his invited guests is to ride out everj' morning to fight and slay each other, but in the evening they quicken again into life and ride home to Walhalla, where they are nourished by the flesh of the boar Stehrimner, and where valkyries (maids who pick up those fallen in the battle-field) wait upon them with bowls flowing with mead. B3" the side of Odin stand two wolves, Gere and Freke; on his shoulders are perched two ravens, Huginn (reflection) and Muninn (memory), who every day fl}"- out and bring back to their master messages from all parts of the Avorld; and he rides a gray eight-footed horse, by name Sleipner. Odin has a famous ring called Draupner, which was made for
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him by skilful dwarf^J, and as he speeds forth to the Seld of battle he wears a golden helmet and resplendent armor. His names are about two hundred in number, for the various peoples among whom he came never called liim bj- the same name. Odin is the god of poetry, the associate of Saga (history), and the invent- or of runes (the Norse alphabet). His name comes down to us in the name of the fourth day of the week, Wednesday (Odin's-day).
Next to Odin is Thor. He is a son of Odin and Odin's wife Jord (Earth). He is the strongest of the gods; his dwelling is Thrudvang, as before stated, and his hall the magniticent Bilskirner. All thralls come to him after death. Thor rides in a chariot, which is drawn by two goats, named Tanngujost and Tanngris- ner; hence he is called Oku-Thor (chariot-Thor). He is also called JJloiide, or the bellowing thunderer. The mountains thunder and are rent in twain, and the earth is wrapped in flames beneath his thundering chariot. When he girds himself with Megingjarder, his belt of strength, and puts on his steel gloves, his strength is redoubled. He is frequently in conflict with the giants, ■who tremble at his huge hammer, Mjolner, which was forged for him by skilful dwarfs. His wife is Sif, whose locks are golden. The boy Thjalfe, and girl Roskva, are his servants, and accompany him on all his wonder- ful exploits. Thor is the father of Magne (strength) and of Mode (courage), and he is the stepfather of Ull. He is frequently called the protector of Asgard and Midgard, and is generally interpreted as a spring god. The fifth day of the week, Thursday (Thor's-day), is named after him. His most celebrated adventures are his duel with Heungner, his visit to Geirrod, his visit to Skrymer, his fishing for the Midgard -serpent, and his slaying of Thrym.
Buldur is a son of Odin and Frigg. He is so fair that rays of light seem to issue from him. He is the favorite of both gods and men, and the comforter of those who are in trouble. His wife is Nanna, and his dwelling is Breidablik, where nothing impure can come. Baldur is the mildest, the wisest, and the most eloquent of all the gods, and his nature is such that the judg- ment he has pronounced can never be altered.