ANCIENT ICELANDIC FABLE. 
131 
ly over the earth, because the Great Serpent, changed 
into a spectre, gains the shore. The ship Nagel- 
fara is set afloat: this vessel is constructed of the 
nails of dead men; for which reason great care 
should be taken not to die with unpared nails ; for he 
who dies so, supplies materials towards the building 
of that vessel, which Gods and men will wish were 
finished as late as possible. The giant Rymer is 
the pilot of this vessel, which the sea, breaking over 
its banks, wafts along with it. The wolf Fenris , ad¬ 
vancing, opens his enormous mouth; his lower jaw 
reaches to the earth, and his upper jaw to the heav¬ 
ens, and would reach still farther, were space itself 
found to admit of it. The burning fire flashes out 
from his eyes and nostrils. The Great Serpent vom¬ 
its forth floods of poison, which overwhelm the air 
and the waters. This terrible monster places him¬ 
self by the side of the wolf. In this confusion the 
heaven shall cleave asunder; and by this breach 
the Genii of Fire enter on horseback. Surtur is at 
their head : before and behind him sparkles a bright, 
glowing fire. His sword outshines the sun itself. 
The army of these Genii, passing on horseback over 
the bridge of heaven, break it in pieces: thence 
they direct their course to a plain, where they are 
joined by the wolf Fenris and the Great Serpent. 
Thither also repair Loke and the giant Rymer , and 
with them all the giants of the Frost, who follow 
Loke even to death. The Genii of Fire march first 
in battle array, forming a most brilliant squadron on 
this plain, which is a hundred degrees square on 
every side. During these prodigies, Heimdal , the 
door-keeper of the Gods, rises up; he violently 
sounds his clanging trumpet to awaken the Gods, 
who instantly assemble. Then Odin repairs to the 
fountain of Misnis to consult what he ought to do, 
he and his army. The great Ash Tree of Ydrasil is 
shaken ; nor is anything in heaven or earth ex- 
