Page:The Prose Edda (1916 translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur).pdf/56

 wolves?" Hárr answered: "A witch dwells to the east of Midgard, in the forest called Ironwood: in that wood dwell the troll-women, who are known as Ironwood-Women. The old witch bears many giants for sons, and all in the shape of wolves; and from this source are these wolves sprung. The saying runs thus: from this race shall come one that shall be mightiest of all, he that is named Moon-Hound; he shall be filled with the flesh of all those men that die, and he shall swallow the moon, and sprinkle with blood the heavens and all the lair; thereof shall the sun lose her shining, and the winds in that day shall be unquiet and roar on every side. So it says in Völuspá:


 * Eastward dwells the Old One
 * in Ironwood,
 * And there gives birth
 * to Fenrir's brethren;
 * There shall spring of them all
 * a certain one,
 * The moon's taker
 * in troll's likeness.


 * He is filled with flesh
 * of fey men.
 * Reddens the gods' seats
 * with ruddy blood-gouts;
 * Swart becomes sunshine
 * in summers after,
 * The weather all shifty.
 * Wit ye yet, or what?"

XIII. Then said Gangleri: "What is the way to heaven from earth?" Then Hárr answered, and laughed aloud: "Now, that is not wisely asked; has it not been told thee, that the gods made a bridge from earth, to heaven, called Bifröst? Thou must have seen it; it may be that ye call it 'rainbow.' It is of three colors, and very strong, and made with cunning and with more magic art than other works of craftsmanship. But strong as it is, yet must it be broken, when the sons of Múspell shall go forth harrying