TREE-WORSHIP 47 



the world, and the topmost ones reached to 

 heaven. The wise eagle — the air — sat on its 

 boughs, and the hawk, Vedfolner — the tranquil 

 ether — was seated between his eyes. The 

 squirrel, Ratatosk — the hail and other atmo- 

 spheric phenomena — running up and down 

 the tree, caused hatred and strife between the 

 eagle and Nidhug. Four stags — the four 

 great winds — leaped about among the branches 

 and ate the buds. Two swans swam in the 

 fountain of Urd ; and everything placed in it 

 became white as an egg-shell film. The Norns 

 drew from it water, with which to sprinkle the 

 tree, so that its branches should never wither, 

 and its leaves ever remain green. From Ygg- 

 drasil fell the honey-dew, the food of the bees. 

 In the beautiful hall, Valhal, were the apples 

 by eating which the gods renewed their youth. 

 Such a myth as this shows even more clearly 

 than the belief that the first man and woman 

 were made from trees, that primitive man 

 must have regarded tree-life in a way that we 

 can only dimly understand. Tom Hood's 



I remember, I remember, 



The fir-trees dark and high ; 

 I used to think their slender tops 



Were close against the sky, 



