ve another, with a
man sitting on each of them. Upon his asking what the names of these
lords might be, his guide answered: 'He who sits on the lowest throne
is a king; his name is Har (the High or Lofty One); the second is
Jafnhar (i.e. equal to the High); but he who sitteth on the highest
throne is called Thridi (the Third).' Har, perceiving the stranger,
asked him what his errand was, adding that he should be welcome to eat
and drink without cost, as were all those who remained in Hava Hall.
Gangler said he desired first to ascertain whether there was any person
present renowned for his wisdom.

"'If thou art not the most knowing,' replied Har, 'I fear thou wilt
hardly return safe. But go, stand there below, and propose thy
questions; here sits one who will be able to answer them.'

"Gangler thus began his discourse: 'Who is the first, or eldest of the
gods?'

"'In our language,' replied Har, 'he is called Alfadir (All-Father, or
the Father of All); but in the old Asgard he had twelve names.'

"'Where is this God?' said Gangler; 'what is his power? and what hath
he done to display his glory?'

"'He liveth,' replied Har, 'from all ages, he governeth all realms, and
swayeth all things great and small.'

"'He hath formed,' added Jafnhar, 'heaven and earth, and the air, and
all things thereunto belonging.'

"'And what is more,' continued Thridi, 'he hath made man, and given him
a soul which shall live and never perish, though the body shall have
mouldered away, or have been burnt to ashes. And all that are righteous
shall dwell with him in the place called Gimli, or Vingolf; but the
wicked shall go to Hel, and thence to Niflhel, which is below, in the
ninth world.'"

Of the creation of the world the Eddas thus speak: In the day-spring of
the ages there was neither seas nor shore nor refreshing breeze; there was
neither earth below nor heaven above. The whole was only one vast abyss,
without herb and without seas. The sun had no palace, the stars no place,
the moon no power. After this there was a bright shining world of flame to
the South, and another, a cloudy and dark one, toward the North. Torrents
of venom flowed from the last into the abyss, and froze, and filled it
full of ice. But the air oozed up through it in icy vapors, which were
melted into living drops by a warm breath from the South; and from these
came the giant Ym