ABODE OF THE NORNIR. 387 



In Fafnismal, Sigurd asks the following question of 

 Fafnir : 



Sif/urd. Fafnir. 



Tell me, Fafnir, Very different bora 



As thou art said to be wise I think the Nornir are; 



And know many things well, 'I'hey own not kin together, 



Who are the maidens Some are Asar-born, 



That are helping in need Others are Alfar-born, 



And deliver mothers of children ? Others are daughters of Dvalin. 1 



(Fafnismal.) 



Atli says to his wife Gudrun : 



The Noruir have just Gudrun. 



Roused me It forebodes fire 



With forebodings of evil ; When one dreams of iron ; 



I want thee to read them. The anger of woman 



Methought that thou, Means pride and sorrow ; 



Gudrun, Gjuki's daughter, I shall have to bum thee 2 



Didst thrust me through Against sickness, 



With a poisoned sword. Heal thee and help thee, 



Though I hate thee. 



(Gudriiuarkvida, 11.) 



" Gangleri said : ' If the Nornir rule the fates of men, they 

 deal them out very unevenly, for some have a happy and rich 

 life, while others have little property or praise some a long 

 life, some a short one.' Har replied : ' Good Nornir, and of 

 good kindred, forecast a happy life ; but when men have evil 

 fates, the evil Nornir cause it ' ' (Gylfaginning, c. 15). 



The water with which the Nornir watered the ash Ygg- 

 drasil was considered holy. 



" Further it is told that the Nornir who live at Urd's well 

 take water out of it every day, and also the clay which lies 

 round it, and pour it over the ash-tree that the branches may 

 not dry up or grow rotten. This water is so holy that every- 

 thing which comes into the \vell grows white like the film called 

 skjatt which lies next to the eggshell. The dew which falls 

 thence on the earth is called honey-dew, and the bees feed on it. 

 Two birds live in Urd's well, called swans, and from them has 

 sprung the kin of birds with this name " (Gylfaginning, c. 16). 



The Valkyrias were the maids of Odin, and were sent by him 

 to determine the issue of battle, and choose those who were to 



1 



Grimnismal, gives a somewhat simi- 



2 Burn a spot on the skin as a cure. 



lar account. 



2 c 2 



