The prose Edda begins with “The deluding of Gylfi,” an ancient king of Sweden.  He was renowned for his wisdom and love of knowledge, and determined to visit Asgard, the home of the AEsir, to learn something of the wisdom of the gods.  They, however, foreseeing his coming, prepared various illusions to deceive him.  Among other things, he saw three thrones raised one above another.

“He afterwards beheld three thrones raised one above another, with a man sitting on each of them.  Upon his asking what the names of these lords might be, his guide answered:  ’He who sits on the lowest throne is a king; his name is Har (the High or Lofty One); the second is Jafnhar (i.e. equal to the High); but he who sitteth on the highest throne is called Thridi (the Third).’  Har, perceiving the stranger, asked him what his errand was, adding that he should be welcome to eat and drink without cost, as were all those who remained in Hava Hall.  Gangler said he desired first to ascertain whether there was any person present renowned for his wisdom.

   “‘If thou art not the most knowing,’ replied Har, ’I fear thou wilt
   hardly return safe.  But go, stand there below, and propose thy
   questions; here sits one who will be able to answer them.’

   “Gangler thus began his discourse:  ’Who is the first, or eldest of the
   gods?’

   “‘In our language,’ replied Har, ’he is called Alfadir (All-Father, or
   the Father of All); but in the old Asgard he had twelve names.’

   “‘Where is this God?’ said Gangler; ’what is his power? and what hath
   he done to display his glory?’

   “‘He liveth,’ replied Har, ’from all ages, he governeth all realms, and
   swayeth all things great and small.’

   “‘He hath formed,’ added Jafnhar, ’heaven and earth, and the air, and
   all things thereunto belonging.’

“‘And what is more,’ continued Thridi, ’he hath made man, and given him a soul which shall live and never perish, though the body shall have mouldered away, or have been burnt to ashes.  And all that are righteous shall dwell with him in the place called Gimli, or Vingolf; but the wicked shall go to Hel, and thence to Niflhel, which is below, in the ninth world.’”

Of the creation of the world the Eddas thus speak:  In the day-spring of the ages there was neither seas nor shore nor refreshing breeze; there was neither earth below nor heaven above.  The whole was only one vast abyss, without herb and without seas.  The sun had no palace, the stars no place, the moon no power.  After this there was a bright shining world of flame to the South, and another, a cloudy and dark one, toward the North.  Torrents of venom flowed from the last into the abyss, and froze, and filled it full of ice.  But the air oozed up through it in icy vapors, which were melted into living drops by a warm breath from the South; and from these came