Skuld

She, the Valkyrie, saw from afar coming, ready to ride to the gods' people.

Skuld held a shield, Skogul was second, then Gunn, Hild Gundul, and Geir Skogul.

Now are enumerated Harriet's maidens, the Valkyrie, ready over the earth to ride.

She that war remembers the first on earth, when Golvig they with lances pierced, and in the high one's hall her burnt, thrice burnt, thrice brought her forth, oft not seldom, yet she still lives.

But tell me, said Gangler, does fire burn over Bifrost? That, replied Thor, which thou seest red in the bow is burning fire, for the Frost Giants and the Mountain Giants would go up to heaven by that bridge if it were easy for everyone to walk over it.

There are in heaven many goodly homesteads, and none without a celestial ward.

Near the fountain, which is under the ash, stands a very beauteous dwelling, out of which go three maidens, named Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld.

These maidens fix the lifetime of all men, and are called Norns.

I know an ash standing, Yggdrasil hight, a lofty tree laved with limpid water; thence come the dews into the dales that fall: ever stands it green over Urd's fountain.

Thence come maidens much knowing, three from the hall which under that tree stands: Urd hight the one, the second Verdandi, and on a table they graved, Skuld the third; laws they established, life allotted to the sons of men, destinies pronounced.

Alone she sat without when came that ancient dread, Asia's prince, and in his eyes she gazed.

"Of what wouldst thou ask me? Why temptest thou me, Odin? I know all where thou thine eye didst sink in the pure well of Mim." "Mim drinks mead each morn from Vafathadir's pledge.

Understand ye yet or what?" The chief of hosts gave her rings and necklace, useful discourse, and a divining spirit: wide and far she saw o'er every world.

She, the Valkyrer, saw from afar coming, ready to ride to the gods' people.

Skuld held a shield, Skogul was second, then Gunn, Hild, Gundul, and Geirskogel.

Now are enumerated Harient's maidens, the Valkyrer, ready over the earth to ride.