Gimlé

Gangleri asked: “What was the beginning, how did things begin, what was before?”

Tall answers: “As is said in Völuspá, the prophecy of the Volva:”

Ár var alda það er ekki var, vara sandur né sær né svalar unnir; jörð fannst eigi né upphiminn, gap var Ginnunga, en gras ekki.”

As the ages began what is, was not, no sand nor sea or cooling waves; no earth was found or sky above, emptiness was young, and of grass was none.

Then Astall says: “Earlier, Niflheimur was made. Many ages before the creation of earth, and there in its middle lies a well named Hvergelmir. From there rivers flow so named:Svöl, Gunnþrá, Fjörm, Fimbulþul, Slíður og Hríð, Sylgur og Ylgur, Víð, Leiftur. Gjöll is the one closest to the gates of Hel.”

Then Third says: “First, though, was the world in the south named Múspell. It is bright and hot, burning with fire, impassable to strangers and those not native to the land. Surtur is the one so named who stands on Múspell’s border, guarding the land. His sword is flaming and as the world ends he will go out, make war against and triumph over the gods. And he will burn the whole world with fire. So is said in Völuspá:

Surtur fer sunnan með svigalævi, skín af sverði sól valtíva; grjótbjörg gnata, en gífur rata, troða halir helveg, en himinn klofna

Surtur comes from the south wielding fire The gods’ swords shine, like suns in the darkness Mountains collapse into rubble And fiends shall fall Man walks the road to ruin as the sky splits in two