Northern mythology

204 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
A people that raised their thoughts to beings higher than
heaven and earth, must naturally, at the same time, believe
in the cessation of that heaven and earth. Before
the gods existed there were higher powers, from whose
breath all creation drew life. These could annihilate their
own work, though its nobler part might not pass away,
which is as imperishable as themselves. To these ideas
leads also the consideration of nature herself. The circumvolution
on a small scale is repeated on a larger ; the
darkness of night and the light of day are a reduced repetition
of the interchange of winter and summer, and both
amplified are prefigurations of the destruction and renewal
of all nature. This time or age is brought forth like every
other, and must, therefore, like every other, pass away;
but as the year is renewed, in like manner shall time also
be renewed. In the myth of Baldur's death with its conclusion,
the birth of Vali, the idea of Ragnarock is
so evident,
that the one cannot well be conceived without drawing
with it the presence of the other. The death of
summer is a presage of the downfall of the gods, which
begins with the great, severe winter (fimbul-vetr). All
nature is described as agitated by the storms of autumn,
snow drifts, frost prevails, fire struggles in its bonds, and
the earth is filled with conflict. The powers of darkness
unite with the super-celestial spirits, and fire and water
desolate the world. The sun and moon were also created,
and they shall be swallowed by the pursuing wolves.
But a new earth shoots forth, a new human race appears,
a new sun beams in the heaven. Of the moon there is
no more mention, for there will be no more night. The
noblest of the gods return to their pristine innocence and
joy. The nature that had until then prevailed is perished
with Odin, but Vidar and Vali live, imperishable nature
survives and blooms like the ever-youthful year. Baldur
and Hod live peaceably together, there is no longer strife