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Poetic Edda

They fell each other,  and fare from the fight
 All healed full soon to sit."

  Othin spake:
42. "Twelfth answer me now  how all thou knowest
 Of the fate that is fixed for the gods;
Of the runes of the gods  and the giants' race
 The truth indeed dost thou tell,
 (And wide is thy wisdom, giant!)"

  Vafthruthnir spake:
43.[1] "Of the runes of the gods  and the giants' race
 The truth indeed can I tell,
 (For to every world have I won;)
To nine worlds came I,  to Niflhel beneath,
 The home where dead men dwell."

  Othin spake:
44.[2] "Much have I fared,  much have I found,
 Much have I got of the gods:
What shall live of mankind  when at last there comes
 The mighty winter to men?"

  Vafthruthnir spake:
45.[3] "In Hoddmimir's wood  shall hide themselves
 Lif and Lifthrasir then;

  1. ↑ Nine worlds: cf. Voluspo, 2. Niflhel: "Dark-Hell."
  2. ↑ The mighty winter: Before the final destruction three winters follow one another with no intervening summers.
  3. ↑ Snorri quotes this stanza. Hoddmimir's wood: probably

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