While they were mustering their forces, Odin once more rode down to
the Urdar fountain, where, under the toppling Yggdrasil, the Norns
sat with veiled faces and obstinately silent, their web lying torn at
their feet. Once more the father of the gods whispered a mysterious
communication to Mimir, after which he remounted Sleipnir and rejoined
the waiting host.

The Great Battle

The combatants were now assembled on Vigrid's broad plain. On one side
were ranged the stern, calm faces of the AEsir, Vanas, and Einheriar;
while on the other were gathered the motley host of Surtr, the grim
frost giants, the pale army of Hel, and Loki and his dread followers,
Garm, Fenris, and Ioermungandr, the two latter belching forth fire and
smoke, and exhaling clouds of noxious, deathly vapours, which filled
all heaven and earth with their poisonous breath.

"The years roll on,
The generations pass, the ages grow,
And bring us nearer to the final day
When from the south shall march the fiery band
And cross the bridge of heaven, with Lok for guide,
And Fenris at his heel with broken chain;
While from the east the giant Rymer steers
His ship, and the great serpent makes to land;
And all are marshall'd in one flaming square
Against the Gods, upon the plains of Heaven."

Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).

All the pent-up antagonism of ages was now let loose in a torrent
of hate, each member of the opposing hosts fighting with grim
determination, as did our ancestors of old, hand to hand and face to
face. With a mighty shock, heard above the roar of battle which filled
the universe, Odin and the Fenris wolf came into impetuous contact,
while Thor attacked the Midgard snake, and Tyr came to grips with
the dog Garm. Frey closed with Surtr, Heimdall with Loki, whom he
had defeated once before, and the remainder of the gods and all the
Einheriar engaged foes equally worthy of their courage. But, in spite
of their daily preparation in the heavenly city, Valhalla's host was
doomed to succumb, and Odin was amongst the first of the shining
ones to be slain. Not even the high courage and mighty attributes
of Allfather could withstand the tide of evil as personified in the
Fenris wolf. At each succeeding moment of the struggle its colossal
size assumed greater proportions, until finally its wide-open jaws
embraced all the space between heaven and earth, and the foul monster