‘How should one refer to the sky?’
‘By calling it Ymir’s head and hence the giant’s skull, the burden or heavy load on the dwarves, the helmet of the dwarves West, East, South and North, the land of the sun, moon, heavenly bodies, constellations and winds, or the helmet or house of the air, of the earth and of the sun.’
‘How should the earth be referred to?’
‘Call it the flesh of Ymir, the mother of Thor, the daughter of Onar, the bride of Odin, the rival concubine of Frigg, Rind and Gunnlod, the mother-in-law of Sif, the floor or footing of the hall of the winds, the sea trodden on by animals, the daughter of Night or the sister of Aud and Day.’
‘How should the sea be referred to?’
‘By calling it the blood of Ymir, the visitor to the gods, the husband of Ran, the father of the daughters of Ægir whose names are Himinglaeva, Dufa, Blodughadda, Hefring, Udr, Hronn, Bylgja, Bara and Kolga, by calling it the land of Ran, and of the daughters of Ægir, and of ships or of the names of sea-going vessels, and of the keel, and of the prow, and of planks and seams, and of fish and of ice, and calling it the way and routes taken by sea kings, likewise the ring of the islands, house of sands and seaweed and rocky islets, or the land of fishing gear, sea birds and the following wind.’
‘How should the sun be referred to?’
‘By calling it the daughter of Mundilfoeri, the sister of the Moon, the wife of Glen and the fire of the heavens and the air.’
‘How should the wind be referred to?’
‘By calling it the son of Fornjot, the brother of Ægir and of fire, the breaker of timber, and the enemy, destroyer, hound, or wolf of timber, of the sail or of rigging for the sail.’
‘How should fire be referred to?’
‘By calling it the brother of the wind and of Ægir, the ruination and destroyer of timber and of houses, the undoing of Half and the sun of houses.’
‘How should winter be referred to?’
‘By calling it the son of Vindsval, the mortal foe of snakes and the season of blizzards.’
‘How should summer be referred to?’
‘By calling it the son of Svasud, respite for snakes and growing time for men.’