Editing Norns (section)

===''Prose Edda''===
In the part of Snorri Sturluson's ''[[Prose Edda]]'' which is called ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', [[Gylfi]], the [[king of Sweden]], has arrived at [[Valhalla]] calling himself [[Gylfi|Gangleri]]. There, he receives an education in [[Norse mythology]] from what is [[Odin]] in the shape of three men. They explain to Gylfi that there are three primary Norns, but also many others of various races, [[æsir]], elves and dwarves:

::A hall stands there, fair, under the [[Yggdrasil|ash]] by the well, and out of that hall come three maids, who are called thus: Urdr, Verdandi, Skuld; these maids determine the period of men's lives: we call them Norns; but there are many norns: those who come to each child that is born, to appoint his life; these are of the race of the gods, but the second are of the [[Elf]]-people, and the third are of the kindred of the [[Norse dwarves|dwarves]], as it is said here:

:::Most sundered in birth
:::I say the Norns are;
:::They claim no common kin:
:::Some are of Æsir-kin,
:::some are of Elf-kind,
:::Some are [[Dvalinn]]'s daughters.

::Then said Gangleri: "If the Norns determine the weirds of men, then they apportion exceeding unevenly, seeing that some have a pleasant and luxurious life, but others have little worldly goods or fame; some have long life, others short." Hárr said: "Good norns and of honorable race appoint good life; but those men that suffer evil fortunes are governed by evil norns."<ref name="Gylfi">[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/pre/pre04.htm ''Gylfaginning''] in translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (1916), at Sacred Texts.</ref>

The three main norns take water out of the well of Urd and water Yggdrasil:

::It is further said that these Norns who dwell by the Well of Urdr take water of the well every day, and with it that clay which lies about the well, and sprinkle it over the Ash, to the end that its limbs shall not wither nor rot; for that water is so holy that all things which come there into the well become as white as the film which lies within the egg-shell,--as is here said:
:::I know an Ash standing
:::called Yggdrasill,
:::A high tree sprinkled
:::with snow-white clay;
:::Thence come the dews
:::in the dale that fall--
:::It stands ever green
:::above Urdr's Well.
::That dew which falls from it onto the earth is called by men honey-dew, and thereon are bees nourished. Two fowls are fed in Urdr's Well: they are called Swans, and from those fowls has come the race of birds which is so called."<ref name="Gylfi"/>
[[File:Faroe stamp 431 The Norns and the Tree.jpg|thumb|...''and the youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride[s] ever to take the slain and decide fights.'' Faroese stamp by [[Anker Eli Petersen]] depicting the Norns (2003).]]
Snorri Sturluson furthermore informs the reader that the Norn of present, Skuld, is also a [[valkyrie]], taking part in the selection of warriors from the slain:
::These are called Valkyrs: them Odin sends to every battle; they determine men's feyness and award victory. [[Gunnr|Gudr]] and [[Róta]] and the youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride ever to take the slain and decide fights.<ref name="Gylfi"/>