entle Gods; a hundred rasts it is on every side. That plain is to
them decreed.

_Vafthrudnir._

19. Wise art thou, O guest! Approach the Joetuns bench, and sitting
let us together talk; we will our heads in the hall pledge, guest! for
wise utterance.

_Gagnrad._

20. Tell me first, if thy wit suffices, and thou, Vafthrudnir!
knowest, whence first came the earth, and the high heaven, thou,
sagacious Joetun?

_Vafthrudnir._

21. From Ymir's flesh the earth was formed, and from his bones the
hills, the heaven from the skull of that ice-cold giant, and from his
blood the sea.

_Gagnrad._

22. Tell me secondly, if thy wit suffices, and thou, Vafthrudnir!
knowest, whence came the moon, which over mankind passes, and the sun
likewise?

_Vafthrudnir._

23. Mundilfoeri hight he, who the moon's father is, and eke the
sun's: round heaven journey each day they must, to count years for
men.

_Gagnrad._

24. Tell me thirdly, since thou art called wise, and if thou,
Vafthrudnir! knowest, whence came the day, which over people passes,
and night with waning moons?

_Vafthrudnir._

25. Delling hight he who the day's father is, but night was of Noervi
born; the new and waning moons the beneficent powers created, to count
years for men.

_Gagnrad._

26. Tell me fourthly, since they pronounce thee sage, and if thou,
Vafthrudnir! knowest, whence winter came, and warm summer first among
the wise gods?

_Vafthrudnir._

27. Vindsval hight he, who winter's father is, and Svasud summer's;
yearly they both shall ever journey, until the powers perish.

_Gagnrad._

28. Tell me fifthly, since they pronounce thee sage, and if thou,
Vafthrudnir! knowest, which of the AEsir earliest, or of Ymir's sons,
in days of old existed?

_Vafthrudnir._

29. Countless winters, ere earth was formed, was Bergelmir born;
Thrudgelmir was his sire, his grandsire Aurgelmir.

_Gagnrad._

30. Tell me sixthly, since thou art called wise, and if thou,
Vafthrudnir! knowest, whence first came Aurgelmir, among the Joetun's
sons, thou sagacious Joetun?

_Vafthrudnir._

31. From Elivagar sprang venom drops, which grew till they became a
Joetun; but sparks flew from the south-world: to the ice the fire gave
life.

_Gagnrad_.

33. Tell me seventhly, since thou are called wise, and if thou
knowest, Vafthrudnir! how he children begat, the bold Joetun, as he had
no giantess's company?

_Vafthrudnir_.

33. Under the armpit grew, 'tis s