MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOGONY. 



Odin. 



Ifing is the river called 

 That parts the land 

 Between the sons of Jotnar and the 

 gods ; 



Open shall it flow 



All the days of the world ; 



No ice will come on it. 



From Vafthrudnismal we learn of the origin of Bergelinir 

 who was born before the Creation. 



It is an important question which are the most ancient 

 people the Asar, or the ancient kinsmen of Ymir ? 



Odin. 



Tell me . . . 

 Who of the Asar, 

 Or of the sons of Ymir, 

 Was the oldest in early days ? 



Vafthrudnir. 

 Numberless winters 

 Before the earth was shaped 

 Was Bergelinir born. 

 Thrudgelmir 

 Was his father 

 And Orgelniir his grandfather. 



Odin. 



Tell me . . . 



Whence first Orgelmir came 

 Among the sons of Jotnar, 

 Thou wise Jotun. 



I 'afthrudnir. 



From Elivagar 1 



Spurted drops of poison 



Which grew into a Jotun ; 



Thence are our kin 



All sprung ; 



Hence they are always too hideous. 



Odin. 



Tell me . . . 

 How that strong Jotun 

 Begat children 

 As he had not beheld a gyrj ? 2 



Vafthrudnir. 

 In the armpit 



Of the Hrim-thursar, it is said, 

 Grew a maiden and a son ; 

 Foot begat with foot 

 Of that wise Jotun 

 A six-headed son. 



Odin. 

 Tell me ... 



What thou earliest rememberest, 

 Or knowest farthest back ; 

 Thou art an all-wise Jotun. 



Vafthrudnir. 

 Numberless winters 

 Ere the earth was shaped 

 Was Bergelmir born ; 

 The first I remember 

 Is when that wise Jotuu 

 Was laid in the flour-bin. 3 



In due course Ymir was slain by Odin. Vili, and Ve, the 

 three sons of Bor, who was himself a Jotun, and therefore of 

 the same kin as Ymir. Having slain Ymir, the sons of Bor 



1 Elivagar, the streams flowing from j the boat is called in which he saved his 

 the well Hvergelmir in Niflheim froze I life as is seen by what follows. lu the 

 into a Jotun. 



2 i.e., a Jotun woman. 



lay of Hyndla we read : 



A kind of trough used for flour; so 



" All Jotnar came from Vmir." 



