12. "But the sun," said Gangler, speeds at such a rate as if she
feared that some one was pursuing her for her destruction."
"And well she may," replied Har, "for he that seeks her is not far
behind, and she has no way to escape than to run before him."
"But who is he," asked Gangler, "that causes her this anxiety?"
"There are two wolves," answered Har; "the one called Skoll pursues
the sun, and it is he that she fears, for he shall one day overtake
and devour her; the other, called Hati, the son of Hrodvitnir, runs
before her, and as eagerly pursues the moon that will one day be
caught by him."
"Whence come these wolves?" asked Gangler.
"A hag," replied Har, "dwells in a wood, to the eastward of Midgard,
called Jarnvid, (the Iron Wood,) which is the abode of a race of
witches called Jarnvidjur. This old hag is the mother of many gigantic
sons, who are all of them shaped like wolves, two of whom are the
wolves thou askest about. There is one of that race, who is said to be
the most formidable of all, called Managarm: he will be filled with
the life-blood of men who draw near their end, and will swallow up the
moon, and stain the heavens and the earth with blood. Then shall the
sun grow dim, and the winds howl tumultuously to and fro."