From Bishop Percy’s translation of the “Younger Edda.”

“I MUST now ask,” said Gangler, “which is the path leading from earth to heaven.”

  “That is a senseless question,” replied Har, with a smile of derision. “Hast thou not been told that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven, and called it Bifröst? Thou must surely have seen it; but, perhaps, them callest it the rainbow. It is of three hues, and is constructed with more art than any other work. But, strong though it be, it will be broken to pieces when the sons of Muspell, after having traversed great rivers, shall ride over it.”

  “Methinks,” said Gangler, “the gods could not have been in earnest to erect a bridge so liable to be broken down, since it is in their power to make whatever they please.”

  “The gods,” replied Har, “are not to be blamed on that account; Bifröst is of itself a very good bridge, but there is nothing in nature that can hope to make resistance when the sons of Muspell sally forth to the great combat.”

  “What did All-Father do after Asgard was made?” demanded Gangler.

  “In the beginning,” answered Har, “he appointed rulers, and bade them judge with him the fate of men, and regulate the government of the celestial city. They met for this purpose in a place called Idavoll, which is in the centre of the divine abode. Their first work was to erect a court or hall wherein are twelve seats for themselves, besides the throne which is occupied by All-Father. This hall is the largest and most magnificent in the universe, being resplendent on all sides, both within and without, with the finest gold. Its name is Gladsheim. They also erected another hall for the sanctuary of the goddesses. It is a very fair structure, and called by men Vingolf. Lastly they built a smithy, and furnished it with hammers, tongs, and anvils, and with these made all the other requisite instruments, with which they worked in metal, stone, and wood, and composed so large a quantity of the metal called gold that they made all their movables of it. Hence that age was named the Golden Age. This was the age that lasted until the arrival of the women out of Jotunheim, who corrupted it.

  “Then the gods, seating themselves upon their thrones, distributed justice, and bethought them how the dwarfs had been bred in the mold of the earth, just as worms are in a dead body. It was, in fact, in Ymir’s flesh that the dwarf’s were engendered, and began to move and live. At first they were only maggots, but by the will of the gods they at length partook both of human shape and understanding, although they always dwell in rocks and caverns.

  “Modsognir and Durin are the principal ones. As it is said in the ‘Vöuspá’:—