that was good and holy in the life of the gods; and so it came to pass that wlien the golden age had ceased, when thirst for gold (Gulveigj, when sin and crime had come into the world, he was too good to live in it. As in Genesis fratricide (Cain and Abel) followed upon the eating of the forbidden fruit, and the loss of paradise; so, when the golden age (paradise) had ended among the asas, Loke (the serpent) brought fratricide (Hoder and Balder) among the gods; themselves and our ancestors regarded fratricide as the lowest depth of moral depravity. After the death of Balder
Brothers slay brothers,
Sisters' children
Shed each other's blood,
Hard grows the world.
Sensual sin waxes huge.
There are sword-ages, ax-ages —
Shields are cleft in twain, —
Storm-ages, murder-ages,
Till the world falls dead.
And men no longer spare
Or pity one another.
Upon the whole we may say that a sun-myth first represents the death of the day at sunset, when the sky is radiant as if dyed in blood. In the flushing morn light wins its victory again. Then this same myth becomes transferred to the death and birth of summer. Once more it is lifted into a higher sphere, while still holding on to its physical interpretation, and is applied to the world year. Finally, it is clothed with ethical attributes, becomes thoroughly anthropomorphized, and typifies the good and the evil, the virtues and vices (light and darkness), in the character and life of gods
