The Three Destinies
It has been said that the norns among us are unknowable, prevailing... and myriad.
I
Behold, the twilight standard-bearer
By whose feet hereafter ends!
Harmony dispelled in terror,
Wrath and ruin, favored friends!
In my eyes is fate surrendered,
From my hands all torment brought;
Futures trodden, ruin rendered
Fostering what peace forgot!
Wither sunlight, wither morning,
Fertilize the growing gloom!
Witness now: disaster storming,
Breathe destruction’s wry perfume!
II
Muse of every song and season
From whose light all brilliance drawn—
Come and see the source of reason
Shining in the silver dawn!
By my sheild is faith protected
From my lance will hope revolve
Watch your courage, now erected,
Emanate with new resolve!
Onward freedom and devotion
On to join the rising sun!
Firmament to distant ocean
Order’s anthem has begun!
III
Destiny, the living crossroad
Good and evil’s boulevards—
I direct the futures followed,
I arrange and deal the cards.
Readily the dark may ramble
Brilliant may the morning be,
Both restrained by chance and gamble
Neither sovereign, never free.
Will you rally or surrender?
Will you honor what’s at stake?
Tragedy to favored splendor,
I decide what’s there to take.
There stands a beautiful hall near the fountain beneath the ash. Out of it come three maids, whose names are Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld. These maids shape the lives of men, and we call them norns. There are yet more norns, namely those who come to every man when he is born, to shape his life, and these are known to be of the race of gods; others, on the other hand, are of the race of elves, and yet others are of the race of dwarves. As is here said:
Far asunder, I think,
The norns are born,
They are not of the same race.
Some are of the asas,
Some are of the elves,
Some are daughters of Dvalin.
Then said Ganglere: If the norns rule the fortunes of men, then they deal them out exceedingly unevenly. Some live a good life and are rich; some get neither wealth nor praise. Some have a long, others a short life.
Har answered: Good norns and of good descent shape good lives, and when some men are weighed down with misfortune, the evil norns are the cause of it.
—Gylfaginning, from the Prose Edda
This is excellent. Absolutely magical.
What a trip! Wonderful