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Ragnarockur, or the Twilight of the Gods. The second, which after the renovation of all things was to be their eternal abode, was named Gimle, that is, the Palace covered with Gold, the description of which we have seen above, where the just were to enjoy delights for ever. It was the same as to the place of punishments; they distinguished two of those, of which the first named Niflheim[1], was only to continue to the renovation of the world, and the second that succeeded it, was to endure forever. This last was named Nastrond[2]; and we have seen in the description of the end of the world, what idea was entertained of it by the ancient Danes. With regard to the two first places, the Valhalla and Niflheim, they are not only distinguished from the others, in being only to endure till the conflagration of the world, but also in that they seem rather intended to reward violence than virtue, and rather to stifle all the social affections than to deter men from crimes. Those only, whose blood had been shed in battle, might aspire to the pleasures which Odin prepared for them in Valhalla. The pleasures which they expected after death, shew us plainly
