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Strait from the widely moist’ned earth
A teeming giant took his birth.
But quickly[1] sparks of fire flew
From southern climes—a wonder new—
And gave to winter's driving sleet
The animating power of heat.
A teeming giant took his birth.
But quickly[1] sparks of fire flew
From southern climes—a wonder new—
And gave to winter's driving sleet
The animating power of heat.
- ↑ “But quickly.”—The writer of the Voluspa thus describes the phenomenon of creation—In the day-spring of ages, says he, there was neither sea nor shore, nor refreshing breezes. The whole was only one vast abyss, without herb and without seed. The Sun had then no palace: the Moon was ignorant of her power. Towards the south there was a luminous and burning world: from this world flowed out incessantly into the Abyss that laid towards the north torrents of sparkling fire; which, in proportion as they removed far away from their source, congealed as they fell into the Abyss, and so filled it with scum and ice. A warm breath coming from the south, melted the vapours arising from this chaos, and formed of them living drops; whence was born the giant Ymer or Aurgelmer. It is reported that whilst he slept, an extraordinary sweat under his arm-pits produced a male and female; whence sprung the race of the giants; a race evil and corrupt as well as their author.
