Alfaleith.org - The Prose Edda

Then said Gangleri: “Where is the chief abode or holy place of the gods?” Hárr answered: “That is at the Ash of Yggdrasill; there the gods must give judgment every day.” Then Gangleri asked:” What is to be said concerning that place?" Then said Jafnhárr: “The Ash is greatest of all trees and best: its limbs spread out over all the world and stand above heaven. Three roots of the tree uphold it and stand exceeding broad: one is among the Æsír; another among the Rime-Giants, in that place where aforetime was the Yawning Void; the third stands over Nifiheim, and under that root is Hvergelmir, and Nídhöggr gnaws the root from below. But under that root which turns toward the Rime-Giants is Mímir's Well, wherein wisdom and understanding are stored; and he is called Mímir, who keeps the well. He is full of ancient lore, since he drinks of the well from the Gjallar-Horn. Thither came Allfather and craved one drink of the well; but he got it not until he had laid his eye in pledge. So says Voluspa:

All know I, Odin,                where the eye thou hiddest,
In the wide-renowned                well of Mímir;
Mímir drinks mead        every morning
From Valfather's wage.                Wit ye yet, or what?

The third root of the Ash stands in heaven; and under [28] that root is the well which is very holy, that is called the Well of Urdr; there the gods hold their tribunal. Each day the Æsir ride thither up over Bifröst, which is also called the Æsir's Bridge. These are the names of the Æsir's steeds: Sleipnir¹ is best, which Odin has; he has eight feet. The second is Gladr,² the third Gyllir,³ the fourth Glenr,⁴ the fifth Skeidbrimir,⁵ the sixth Silfrintoppr,⁶ the seventh Sinir,⁷ the eighth Gísl,⁸ the ninth Falhófnir,⁹ the tenth Gulltoppr,¹⁰ the eleventh Léttfeti.¹¹ Baldr's horse was burnt with him; and Thor walks to the judgment, and wades those rivers which are called thus:

and Örmt and the Kerlaugs twain,
Them shall Thor wade
day when he goes to doom
At Ash Yggdrasill;
the Æsir's Bridge burns all with flame,
And the holy waters howl.”

Then said Gangleri: “Does fire burn over Bifröst?" Hárr ' replied: “ That which thou seest to be red in the bow is burning fire; the Hill-Giants might go up to heaven, if passage on Bifröst were open to all those who would cross. There are many fair places in heaven, and over everything there a godlike watch is kept. A hall stands there, fair, under the ash by the well, and out of that hail come three maids, who are called thus: Urdr,¹² Verdandi,¹³ Skuld;¹⁴ these maids determine the period of men's lives: we call them [29] Norns; but there are many norns: those who come to each child that is born, to appoint his life; these are of the race of the gods, but the second are of the Elf-people, and the third are of the kindred of the dwarves, as it is said here:

Most sundered in birth I say the Norns are;
they claim no common kin:
Some are of Æsir-kin, some arc of Elf-kind,
some are dvalinn's daughters.”

Then said Gangleri: “If the Norns determine the weirds of men, then they apportion exceeding unevenly, seeing that some have a pleasant and luxurious life, but others have little worldly goods or fame; some have long life, others short.” Hárr said: “Good norns and of honorable race appoint good life; but those men that suffer evil fortunes are governed by evil norns.”

1 The Slipper.

2 Bright or Glad.

3. Golden.

4. The Starer.

5. Fleet Courser.

6. Silver-top.

7. Sinewy.

8. Beam, Ray.

9. Hairy—hoof.

10. Gold-top.

11. Light—stepper.

12 Past.

13. Present.

14. Future.

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