THE BEGUILING OF GYLFI
81
- Surtr fares from southward with switch-eating flame;
- On his sword shimmers the sun of the war-gods;
- The rocks are falling, and fiends are reeling,
- Heroes tread Hel-way, heaven is cloven.
- Then to the Goddess a second grief cometh,
- When Odin fares to fight with the Wolf,
- And Beli's slayer, the bright god, with Surtr;
- There must fall Frigg's beloved.
- Odin's son goeth to strife with the Wolf,—
- Vídarr, speeding to meet the slaughter-beast;
- The sword in his hand to the heart he thrusteth
- Of the fiend's offspring; avenged is his Father.
- Now goeth Hlödyn's glorious son
- Not in flight from the Serpent, of fear unheeding;
- All the earth's offspring must empty the homesteads,
- When furiously smiteth Midgard's defender.
- The sun shall be darkened, earth sinks in the sea,—
- Glide from the heaven the glittering stars;
- Smoke-reek rages and reddening fire:
- The high heat licks against heaven itself.
And here it says yet so:
- Vígrídr hight the field where in fight shall meet
- Surtr and the cherished gods;
- An hundred leagues it has on each side:
- Unto them that field is fated."
LII. Then said Gangleri: "What shall come to pass