Page:Norse mythology or, the religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index.djvu/181

 of him who sent the heat, these drops quickened into life and were shaped into the likeness of a man. His name was Ymer, but the frost-giants called him Aurgelmer. Ymer was not a god; he was bad (evil, illr), as were all his kind. When he slept, he fell into a sweat, and from the pit of his left arm waxed a man and a woman, and one of his feet begat with the other a son, from whom descend the frost-giants, and therefore Ymer is called the old frost-giant (Rhimthurs). Thus the Elder Edda, in the lay of Vafthrudner:

Countless winters Ere earth was formed, Was born Bergelmer; Thrudgelmer Was his sire, His grandsire Aurgelmer.

From Elivagar Sprang venom drops, Which grew till they became a giant; But sparks flew From the south-world: To the ice the fire gave way.

Under the armpit grew, 'Tis said, of Rhimthurs, A girl and boy together; Foot with foot begat, Of that wise giant, A six-headed son.

SECTION III. THE ORIGIN OF THE COW AUDHUMBLA AND THE BIRTH OF THE GODS.

On what did the giant Ymer live, is a pertinent question. Here is the answer: The next thing, when the rime had been resolved into drops, was that the