The movable starry heaven is not the only, nor is it the highest, canopy stretched over all that has been mentioned above. One can go so far to the north that even the horizon of the starry heavens is left in the rear. Outside, the heavens Andlánger and Vidblainn support their edges against Jormungrund (Gylfag., 17). All this creation is supported by the world-tree, on whose topmost bough the cock Vidofner glitters.
(Continuation of Part IV in Volume III.)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] S. Bugge, Sæmund. Edda, xxvi. Thorl. Jónsson's Edda, Snorra St., viii.
[2] Looking simply at the form, the strophe may also be translated in the following manner: "Tell me, Fjolsvinn, what I ask of you, and what I wish to know. Who of the ásmegir made what I saw within the castle wall?" Against this formal possibility there are, however, several objections of facts. Svipdag would then be asking Fjolsvinn who had made that which he once in the past had seen within a castle wall without informing Fjolsvinn in regard to which particular castle wall he has reference. It also presupposes that Svipdag knew that the ásmegir had made the things in question which were within the castle wall, and that he only wished to complete his knowledge by finding out which one or ones of the ásmegir it was that had made them. And finally, it would follow from Fjolsvinn's answer that the dwarfs he enumerates are sons of Asas. The formal possibility pointed out has also a formal probability against it. The gen. pl. ásmaga has as its nearest neighbour gard, not hverr, and should therefore be referred to gard, not to hverr, even though both the translations gave an equally satisfactory meaning so far as the facts related are concerned; but that is not the case.
[3] I follow the text in most of the manuscripts, of which Bugge has given various versions. One manuscript has in the text, another in the margin, Lidscialfr, written in one word (instead of lithsci alfr). Of this Munch made Lidskjalfr. The dative loki from lok, a gate (cp. luka loka, to close, enclose) has been interpreted as Loki, and thus made the confusion complete.
[4] Thar (in the assembly of the gods) var Modsognir mæstr um ordinn dverga allra.
Sol heitir med monnom,
enn sunna med godum,
kalla dvergar Dvalin's leika
eyglo iotnar,
alfar fagra hvel
alscir asa synir.
[6] Cp. also Gylfag., 9, in regard to Odin: Ok fyrir thvi má hann heita Allfodr, at hann er fadir alra godanna ok manna ok alls thess, er af honom ok hans krapti var fullgjört.