NORSE COSMOGONY. 



in course of time were also deified, and to whom, as well as to 

 Odin, sacrifices were offered. 



Within the walls of Midgard, which encircled Asgard, was 

 Mannheim, 1 where Odin's adherents dwelt, and hence the 

 name of their country. 



" They gave them clothes and names ; the men they called 

 Ash, and the women Embla. From them all mankind is 

 descended, and a dwelling-place was given them under 

 Midgard. In the next place the sons of Bor made for them- 

 selves, in the middle of the world, a burgh which is called 

 Asgard, and which we call Troja (there dwelt the gods of 

 their race), and thence resulted many tidings and adventures, 

 both on earth and in the sky. In Asgard is a place called 

 Hlidskjalf, and when Odin seats himself there in the high seat 

 he sees all over the whole world, and w r hat every man is doing, 

 and he knew all things that he saw. His wife was Frigg, and 

 she was the daughter of Fjorgvin, and from their offspring are 

 descended the race which we call Asar, who inhabited Asgard 

 the ancient, the realm that surrounds it, and all that race are 

 known to be gods, and for that reason Odin is called Allfather " 

 (Later Edda). 



After Midgard had been built for the sons of men, there is 

 a golden age on the Ida-voll (plain of movement). Altars and 

 hearths were raised by the Asar, showing that w : ork is con- 

 ducive to happiness. 



They played chess on the grass-plot ; 



The Asar met, They were cheerful; 



Who raised ou the Idavoll They did not lack 



Altars and high temples ; Anything of gold 



They laid hearths, Until three 



They wrought wealth, Very mighty 



They shaped tongs, Thurs maidens came (Nornir) 



And made tools. From Jotunheim. 



Then followed a great battle between the Asar and their 

 neighbours, the Vanir. The Asar seem to have been at first 

 defeated, but afterwards made peace. This fight is the most 

 obscure part of the whole of Voluspa. 



That fight remembers she 

 First in the world, 



When they pierced 

 frullveig 2 with spears, 



1 Mannheimar (always in plural mann- 

 /icimar, the singular is mannheirri) means 

 homes of men. 



- The word Gullv-i'/ is only found as a 

 compound word this once in the liter- 

 ature of the North. Gull = gold; veig 



