Verðandi

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 Asier'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.

Through these shall Thor wade every day as he fares to the doomstead under Yggdrasil's ash, else the Aesir Bridge would be in flames, and boiling hot would become the holy waters.' 'But tell me,' said Gangler, 'does fire burn over Bifrost?' 'That,' replied Har, '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.