A hall I know standing Far from the sun On the strand of dead bodies. Drops of venom Fall through the loop-holes. Of serpents' backs The hall is made.
There shall wade Through heavy streams Perjurers And murderers.
There tortures Nidhug The bodies of the dead.[71]
[Footnote 71: Elder Edda: The Vala's Prophecy, 40, 41.]
58. Then said Ganglere: Do any gods live then? Is there any earth or heaven? Har answered: The earth rises again from the sea, and is green and fair. The fields unsown produce their harvests. Vidar and Vale live. Neither the sea nor Surfs fire has harmed them, and they dwell on the plains of Ida, where Asgard was before. Thither come also the sons of Thor, Mode and Magne, and they have Mjolner. Then come Balder and Hoder from Hel. They all sit together and talk about the things that happened aforetime,--about the Midgard-serpent and the Fenris-wolf. They find in the grass those golden tables which the asas once had. Thus it is said:
Vidar and Vale Dwell in the house of the gods, When quenched is the fire of Surt. Mode and Magne Vingner's Mjolner shall have When the fight is ended.[72]
[Footnote 72: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner's Lay, 51.]
In a place called Hodmimer's-holt[73] are concealed two persons during Surt's fire, called Lif and Lifthraser. They feed on the morning dew. From these so numerous a race is descended that they fill the whole world with people, as is here said:
Lif and Lifthraser Will lie hid In Hodmimer's-holt. The morning dew They have for food. From them are the races descended.[74]
[Footnote 74: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner's Lay, 45.]
But what will seem wonderful to you is that the sun has brought forth a daughter not less fair than herself, and she rides in the heavenly course of her mother, as is here said:
A daughter Is born of the sun Ere Fenrer takes her. In her mother's course When the gods are dead This maid shall ride.[75]
[Footnote 75: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner's Lay, 47.]
And if you now can ask more questions, said Har to Ganglere, I know not whence that power came to you. I have never heard any one tell further the fate of the world. Make now the best use you can of what has been told you.
59. Then Ganglere heard a terrible noise on all sides, and when he looked about him he stood out-doors on a level plain. He saw neither hall nor burg. He went his way and came back to his kingdom, and told the tidings which he had seen and heard, and ever since those tidings have been handed down from man to man.