re
they who dispense the ages of men; they are called Norn[=a]s, that
is, Fates. But there are indeed very many others besides these, who
assist at the birth of every child, to determine his fate. Some are
of celestial origin; others descend from the Genii, and others from
the dwarfs.' * * * *

'GANGLER proceeds, desiring to know something more concerning the
Ash. HAR replied: 'What I have farther to add concerning it is,
that there is an eagle perched upon its branches, who knows a
multitude of things, but he hath between his eyes a sparrow-hawk
(_qui Vederloefner vocatur_). A squirrel runs up and down the Ash,
sowing misunderstanding between the eagle and the serpent, which
lies concealed at its root. Pour stags run across the branches of
the tree, and devour its rind. There are so many serpents in the
fountain whence spring the rivers of hell, that no tongue can
recount them, as is said in these verses:

'_Fraxinus Ygdrasil plura patitur,
Quam ullus mortalium
Cogitatione assequi valeat.
Cervus depascitur inferius (rectius cacumen)
Sed circa latera putrescit.
Nidhoggius_ (the serpent) _arrodit subtus._'

'The Destinies, who reside near the fountain of the Past, draw up
water thence, with which they bedew the Ash, to prevent its
branches from growing withered and decayed. Of so purifying a
nature is that water, that whatever it touches becomes as white as
the film which is within an egg.

'Fraxinum novi stantem,
Vocatem Ygdrasil
Proceram et sacram albe luto,
Hinc venit ros,
Qui in valles cadit,
Stat super virente
Urdar fonte.'

'Men call this the honey-dew, and it is the food of bees. There are
also in this fountain two swans, which have produced all the birds
of that species.'

Does the reader care to know the meaning of all this? It is hardly worth
while, since to those who feel its grotesque poetry quite enough of the
symbolism is already revealed. But let the plodding German FRIEDREICH
'have his say.' 'The name of the Ash, Yggdrasil,' he tell us, 'signifies
God's Horse, from YGGR, a name of the god Odin, and _drasil_, the poetic
term for a horse. With this name one hath GOD'S rule over all things,
since he ruleth them even as a rider controls his steed, and by
_Yggdrasil_ is consequently signified the almighty power of GOD. The Ash
is the Universe, i