THE THIRD NORN
[Catching the rope and throwing the end behind her.
The castle stands
By giants up reared.
With the Gods and the holy
Host of the heroes
Wotan sits in his hall;
And round the walls
Hewn logs are heaped,
High up-piled,
Ready for burning:
The world-ash-tree these were once.
When the wood
Flares up brightly and burns,
In its fire
Shall the fair hall be consumed.
And then shall the high Gods' downfall
Dawn in darkness for aye.
Know ye yet more,
Begin anew winding the rope;
Again I throw it
Back from the north.
Spin and sing, O my sister.
[She throws the rope to the second Norn and the second throws it to the first, who loosens the rope from the bough and ties it on to another.
THE FIRST NORN
[Looking towards the back.
Is it the dawn,
Or the firelight that flickers?
Grief-darkened is my gaze.
The holy past
I can scarce remember,
When Loge burst
Of old into burning fire.
Dost thou know how he fared?
THE SECOND NORN
[Winding the rope which has been thrown to her round the rock again.