d
mid the people hurled it: that was the first warfare in the world.

29. Then went the powers all to their judgment-seats, the all-holy
gods, and thereon held council: who had all the air with evil mingled?
or to the Joetun race Od's maid had given?

30. There alone was Thor with anger swollen. He seldom sits, when
of the like he hears. Oaths are not held sacred; nor words, nor
swearing, nor binding compacts reciprocally made.

31. She knows that Heimdall's horn is hidden under the heaven-bright
holy tree. A river she sees flow, with foamy fall, from Valfather's
pledge. Understand ye yet, or what?

32. East sat the crone, in Iarnvidir, and there reared up Fenrir's
progeny: of all shall be one especially the moon's devourer, in a
troll's semblance.

33. He is sated with the last breath of dying men; the god's seat he
with red gore defiles: swart is the sunshine then for summers after;
all weather turns to storm. Understand ye yet, or what?

34. There on a height sat, striking a harp, the giantess's watch,
the joyous Egdir; by him crowed, in the bird-wood, the bright red
cock, which Fialar hight.

35. Crowed o'er the AEsir Gullinkambi, which wakens heroes with the
sire of hosts; but another crows beneath the earth, a soot-red cock,
in the halls of Hel.

36. I saw of Baldr, the blood-stained god, Odin's son, the hidden
fate. There stood grown up, high on the plain, slender and passing
fair, the mistletoe.

37. From that shrub was made, as to me it seemed, a deadly, noxious
dart. Hoedr shot it forth; but Frigg bewailed, in Fensalir, Valhall's
calamity. Understand ye yet, or what?

38. Bound she saw lying, under Hveralund, a monstrous form, to Loki
like. There sits Sigyn, for her consort's sake, not right glad.
Understand ye yet, or what?

39. Then the Vala knew the fatal bonds were twisting, most rigid,
bonds from entrails made.

40. From the east a river falls, through venom dales, with mire and
clods, Slid is its name.

41. On the north there stood, on Nida-fells, a hall of gold, for
Sindri's race; and another stood in Okolnir, the Joetuns beer-hall
which Brimir hight.

42. She saw a hall standing, far from the sun, in Nastroend; its
doors are northward turned, venom-drops fall in through its apertures:
entwined is that hall with serpents' backs.

43. She there saw wading the sluggish streams bloodthirsty men and
perjurers, and him who the ear beguiles of another's wife. There
Nidhoegg sucks the cor