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RELIGION. THE NORNIR AND VALKYRIAS. 



Skuld, the future, represented the growth, the shooting 

 forward, and was an inseparable part of the triad. 



" There stands a fine hall under the ash, near the well, and 

 from that hall come three maidens, who are named Urd, 

 Verdandi, and Skuld. These forecast the lives of men, and are 

 called Nornir. 



In Vafthriidnismal, Odin asks Yafthriidnir 



Much have I travelled, 



Much have I tried, 



Many powers have I known ; 



Who are the maidens 



That soar over the sea ; 



The wise-minded ones travel. 



In Voluspa, Heid the sybil, in her vision 



Thence come three maidens, 1 



Knowing many things, 



Out of the hall 



Which stands under the tree ; 



One was called Urd, 



Another Verdandi, 



The third Skuld ; 



They carved on wood tablets, 



They chose lives, 



They laid down laws 



For the children of men, 



They chose the fates of men. 



They disturbed the peace 



golden age of the gods. 







The Asar met, 



of the 



Who raised on the Idavb'll 2 

 Altars and high temples ; 

 They laid hearths, 

 They wrought wealth, 

 They shaped tongs, 

 And made tools. 



They played chess on the grass-plot ; 



They were cheerful ; 



They did not lack 



Anything of gold 



Until three 



Very mighty 



Thurs maidens came 



From Jotunheim. 



" But there are other Nornir who come to every one that 

 is born, to shape his life. Some are of the kindred of the 

 gods, others of Alfar kin, and some of Dvergar kin " (Gylfa- 



gmnmg, 



c. 15). 



Vafthrudnir. 



Three great rivers 

 Fall over the field 



Of the maidens of Mogthrasir. 

 They are the only destinies 

 That are in the world, 

 Though they dwell with Jotnar. 



In time the number of Nornir seems to have increased. 



1 These three maidens came from 

 Jotunheim, the home of the Jotnar ; 

 here they are no doubt meant to desig- 

 nate the three Nornir, who came and 

 disturbed the peace of the golden age by 

 establishing past, present, and future, 



i.e., change, fluctuation, development, 

 and growth. 



2 Idavoll, ida, movement ; voll, plain. 

 This stanza tells of the golden age when 

 the Asavs were happy and lacked nothing. 



