Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

One of the signs that Ragnarok and the fall of the world are at hand, is that the
mighty ash Yggdrasil trembles, and that a fettered giant-monster thereby gets loose from
its chains. Which monster this is, whether it is Garm, bound above the Gnipa cave, or
some other, we will not now discuss. The astonishment and confusion caused by these
events among all the beings of the world, are described in the poem with but few words,
but they are sufficient for the purpose, and well calculated to make a deep impression
upon the hearers. Terror is the predominating feeling in those beings which are not
chosen to take part in the impending conflict. They, on the other hand, for whom the
quaking of Yggdrasil is the signal of battle for life or death, either arm themselves amid a
terrible war-cry for the battle (the giants - gnýr allur Jötunheimur), or they assemble to
hold the last council (the Aesir - æsir eru á þingi), and then rush to arms.
Two classes of beings are mentioned as seized by terror - the dwarves, who stood
breathless outside of their stone-doors, and those beings which are á Helvegum. Helvegir
may mean the paths or ways in Hel: there, are many paths, just as there are many gates
and many rivers. Helvegir may also mean the regions, districts in Hel (cp. Austrvegr,
Suðrvegr, Norvegr; and Alvíssmál 10, according to which the Vanir call the earth vegir,
ways). The author may have used the word in either of these senses or in both, for in this
case it amounts to the same. At all events it is stated that the inhabitants in Hel are
terrified when Yggdrasil quakes and the unnamed giant-monster gets loose.
Skelfur Yggdrasils
askur standandi,
ymur ið aldna tré,
en jötunn losnar;
hræðast allir
á Helvegum,
áður Surtar þann
sefi gleypir.
Yggdrasil's ash
standing shakes,
the old tree trembles,
and the giant gets loose;
All are frightened
on the Helways (in Hel's
regions),
before Surt's spirit (or kinsman)
swallows him (i.e. the giant).