The Wayland-Dietrich Saga
How Giant Wade took his son Wayland to learn Smith-
craft from Mimer, and later from two Dwarves; and
how Wade came by his death.
The giant Wade dwelt in peace apart
In Seeland, in the courts (1) his father gave,
Which lay in that part now called Blekingen, (2)
And was content, nor coveted the fame
Of Sea-king or of warrior. In truth
Folk deemed him but a dollard, yet meseems
His life was happy and he harmed no man,
For all the evil things men said of him........
He made a wondrous boat, (3) in which he sailed
To many countries far beyond our ken......
At least 'twas rumoured so, though some men said
He used it but for fishing now and then.
But little need had he of boat in truth,
Who was so tall that he could wade most seas
As other men ford streams. One day he brought
A maiden home with him to be his wife,
But from whence come none knew, till it leaked out
That she was Greipa, (4) Geirod her dread Sire,
Who ruled the northern realms of snow and frost,
And aye was reckoned stingy by his guests
And hard to deal with......Neighbours shook their heads
And whispered that she came of evil stock........
Men loved not giants' kin in Danish lands.......
What e'er her race she bare him a fair son
Whom he named Wayland. Other sons she bore
In their due season, of whom Egil one
And Slagfeder (5) another. These three boys
Dwelt with their parents until Greipa died,
At which time Wayland was a lad of nine.
Of stature great, but not of giant's height
Was Wayland ever, and in his first youth
Goodly to look on; till he older grew,
When somewhat grim and hard of face was he,
Distrustful of his fellows, and a man
More feared than loved if the old tales be true.
Now Wade (6) willed that he should learn a craft.
Of Mimer had he heard, the famous Smith,
Who at that time in Hunland's borders dwelt,
How that of all men he was the most skilled.
Then went forth Wade from his house, and took
With him his eldest son, and came to where
Lies Grœna Sound 'tween Seeland and mainland;
But ne'er a ship saw he nor any boat
That now would serve his purpose; his own skiff
He had not with him; long he waited there,
But seeing that none came, he took the boy
And waded through the Sound, though it was deep,
With Wayland on his shoulders. The two came
Without mischance to Swabian-wald, and there
Wade gave Wayland into Mimer's hand
To teach him smithcraft and to work in ore.......
So left the lad, and to his Seeland home
Betook himself the same way that he came.
Later he brought his younger sons to learn
Something of smithcraft also, but in truth
Egil learnt little else save how to shoot
As never man shot yet with his long bow;
And Slagfeder, whom some have called Finn,
And others, Helferich, in later days,
Was cunning in all arts, but chiefly learnt
The lore of herbs and simples......As a leech
He was far-famed in after years, yet he
Was also a bold hunter and a man
Not all unskilled in warfare.
So these three
Dwelt for a while with Mimer; but it chanced
That after Sigurd came there, when he grew
Into a child of turbulent rough mood,
That Wayland and his brethren had no peace.
They dared not harm the boy, old Mimer's pet,
Nor might they thole (7) his wayward insolence,
Who daily struck them in his wantonness.
They sent word to their father of their plight,
Who brought them thence to Seeland once again.
Then for a twelvemonth Wayland stayed at home,
Pleasing all folk by his great skilfulness;
And at this time he was just fifteen years,
Having with Mimer for five winters dwelt.
Then Wade heard of other Smiths well famed,
Whose names were Eggerich (8) and Eckenrich,
Who dwelt in a great mountain that is named
Kallava, (9) on the mainland lieth it........
Some folk Ballofa call the place..........These Smiths
Were of the dwarf kin and right skilled were they,
Knowing far better than most dwarves or men
How to forge iron; and weapons could they make
And wondrous arms; byrnies and swords and helms;
Also in gold and silver work excelled,
And made rare jewelry and every thing
That can be forged they knew how best to make.
So Wade brought young Wayland to the strand,
In Wade's boat they sailed across the Sound,
And to the mountain through the waste lands came
Without adventure, so far as I know.
The giant hailed the dwarves and spake with them;
"Here," quoth he, "Little Men, bring I my son,
Wayland by name, who is a skilful lad
And knows a little of your craft; will ye
Teach him yet more and that right thoroughly,
Nor spare your blows an he prove obstinate;
But feed him well and he'll not do amiss......
Keep him twelve months and teach him all your arts......
Now tell me how much gold ye'll charge for this?
I'll not be sparing an ye teach him well."
Quoth the two dwarves by mouth of elder one,
"Leave ye the boy, though we care not o'ermuch
To take such hulking fellow, yet for once
We will consent, and ye pay down a mark
Of purest gold, to keep him for a year.
But see ye come on this day twelvemonth here
To fetch thy son"........ So thus it was agreed.
And Giant Wade back to Seeland fared.
Wayland stayed with the dwarves and worked right hard,
Learning much new and practising the old,
Till he was able very soon to forge
Whate'er they gave him quite as well as they.
Now at this time came Alberich the Dwarf,
Who ruled o'er Alfenheim. He came to see
His vassal elves and to collect his fees......
And he much favoured Wayland at that time,
Teaching him secrets unknown to these dwarves.
He meant to take young Wade's son one day
Back to the Caucasus and keep him there,
Hid in the mountain Glockensachsen (10) called
Forging for ever.......For he thought his work
Would soon surpass that of all dwarves and men,
So wondrous was the skill that Wayland shewed.
But not a word said Alberich to these dwarves,
Nor yet to Wayland of his secret plan,
Which never came to pass, as ye shall hear,
In Wayland's youth, though later it is thought
In his old age the Master-Smith went forth
Far from the haunts of mortal men to dwell
In the black Elfenland with Alberich......
There in that mountain, hidden in deep caves
Beneath the earth, still toils old Wayland Smith......
And wandering goatherds in the Caucasus,
Who hear faint ringing as of silver bells,
Or clanging of an anvil, whisper low
That faery smiths are working down below.
E'en in the days of Wayland's youth the lad
Was famous for his knowledge of the craft,
And the two elves, though envious, prized his skill.
So when his father came to fetch him home
According to his compact, the two dwarves
Were all unwilling to let Wayland go.
Quoth they, "Leave us the lad another year,
For he is handy and doth serve us well.
We'll e'en give back thy golden mark to thee
Rather than lose our prentice; what is more,
We'll make a bargain, Giant Wade, now......
We'll teach thy son yet further of our craft;
Its inmost mysteries the lad shall learn."
Quoth Wade right well pleased, "Then he shall stay
For one year longer," but the cunning dwarves,
Regretting that their prentice cost them dear,
And all unwilling that he should go free
To spoil their reputation by his skill,
Yet anxious for his service for that year,
Said unto Wade by the elder's mouth,
"Stay, Giant, not so fast, hear first our rede......
We will do all as we have now agreed
On one condition only, and that is,
That if ye come not by the appointed day
To fetch your son, then ye shall give us leave
To cut his head off. But of course thou'lt come,
'Tis but a safeguard and an empty form."
Quoth Wade, "Done, your terms I'll not forget."
He took his leave, but ere he left he called
His son unto his side and bade him come
Outside the mountain cave, which, when he did,
Said Wade hastily and low, "My son,
See here my sword," ungirding as he spake,
"I'll set it in this bog-myrtle well hid."
He thrust it deep into the swampy ground......
"If by some unseen chance I come not here
At the appointed time as I am pledged,
For the Gods only know what may befall,
Though naught but death shall hinder me therefrom,
These knavish dwarves will claim to take thy life.....
Then take this sword and guard thee manfully
As I have taught thee, son......For better so
Than to be murdered by these elves, I trow.
I can well trust thee, Wayland, to shew fight,
For I should wish my kinsmen then might say
That I have reared a son and not a girl.......
Not that I owe them much who have shunned me,
But for my father's sake, lad, fight ye well......
Yet can I no wise think but that I'll come
On the appointed day to fetch thee home."
They gripped each other's hands and parted thus,
The father and the son, and Wade went
Home unto Seeland, but young Wayland came
Within the mountain to the dwarves and learnt
E'en half as much again as he had known,
So that ere the year passed the clever lad
Knew all that they did and could outdo them......
Yet humbly served he them and loyally,
And if they child or smote him, answered not,
But bore their discipline right patiently......
And they thought his work good, yet jealous grew
Of his great skill, thinking within themselves,
As day by day their malice did increase,
That by some means not long should he enjoy
The profits of his cleverness, for they
Hoped his pledged life would ere long pay the cost.
Now when the twelvemonth to its end drew near,
Wade would go to fetch his son again,
For long the way, nor would he break his bond
By coming after the right day had passed.
Thus he left home and travelled night and day,
But now the entrance to the cave was shut,
The mountain closed to him, nor any came
To answer his loud summons, nor could he
Contrive to force an entry, 'spite his strength.
So cunningly the dwarves kept it concealed;
Thus must he wait in patience till the elves
Should open to him of their own free will.
But by his rapid journey he was tired,
Footsore and very weary, and he lay
Down 'neath the shadow of a mighty cliff,
Close to the mountain's foot, so fell asleep
The monstrous giant, who no weakling was,
Lay sprawled at his full length and loudly snored,
So that long distance off he could be heard.
Then knew the dwarves that Viking's son had come,
But Wayland knew not, who at that time worked
Where roared the fiercest furnace.......Naught he heard
Save rushing of the flames and clink of iron
And his great hammer on the anvil stone.
Now came it on to rain, and rained so hard
That all the cliff's top loosened, which the dwarves
Being aware of, in their malice went
Climbing up a small fissure, and came forth
Just on the topmost edge of that high cliff,
With pickaxes and shovels..........Wickedly
They loosened yet more earth, until at last
A heavy landslide followed their ill work,
And a huge rock fell hurtling to the plain,
Followed by a great mass of earth and clay,
With trees and stones and dust and the turf crust,
Mingled with water pouring from a spring,
Which with a thundering clattering roar and rush
Fell on the sleeping giant, so that he
Lost there his life, and his soul hurried thence
Bewildered, blundering, right unwillingly
To Hela's Halls. But his huge body lay
Buried beneath some thirty tons of earth,
Quite hidden from all eyes.........Such was his end.
When dawned the appointed day the cunning dwarves
Flung open wide the mountain door to see
If Giant Wade came to claim his son.
Wayland went forth to be the first to greet
His well-loved father, but saw ne'er a man.
He went to the hill side, and there perceived
Where a fresh portion of the cliff had slipped;
Yet at the first thought nothing of this thing.
But when the hour grew late and still no sign
Of Wade near or far, in the lad's mind
Sudden the thought flashed "Maybe he lies there,
Beneath that horrid mound of fresh turned clay,
That is in truth like to a monstrous grave."
By hidden ways, behind the shrubs concealed,
Climbing aloft, he saw the marks of feet
Quite close to the new cliff edge, and he saw
Dwarves' footprints were they.......Here was dropped a pick......
Then he felt sure that there had been foul play,
And thought on vengeance.......Swiftly came he down,
Remembering what his father said to him
Before they parted. He the bog-bush found
Where Wade his his sword, but naught could see.........
The sword had vanished utterly........The lad
Thought evil would befall him, his sire slain,
And he himself doomed to a speedy death........
Yet, not despairing, he searched once again,
And saw at last the pommel's knob just shew
Above the earth wherein it was sunk deep;
So sprang he to it and the blade drew forth.
With joy he looked upon the sword and thought,
"Why need I fear the worst when I have thee?"
Beneath his deerskin smock he hid the blade,
Lest any see the gleam and guess him armed;
So strolled back to the cave's mouth, where he saw
The two dwarves standing, who looked all around,
With mocking grins writhing their ugly mouths.......
Without a pause he went up to that one,
Whose name was Eggerich I have been told,
Who was the elder and the grimmer elf;
Out flashed his father's sword and with one blow
He killed the dwarf, then swift the other smote
That Eckenrich fell on his brother dead,
Ere they were well aware of what befell.
Then Wayland went within and took of all
As he thought best........Such gold and silver, gems
And forge-work as he might. On a strong horse
That the dwarves kept there, a fine handsome beast
Of strength and beauty, well-trained to obey,
He loaded up the spoil.........Then, not content,
With ease he shouldered such a burden that
Few save a giant's son had tackled it..........
So he set forth to seek his boyhood's home
And find his brothers, leading the good horse.
Notes:
1. Country estates, or farmsteads. [Back]
2. In South Sweden, then part of Denmark. [Back]
3. Chaucer, Marchantes' Tale, T. 9298 (180): cf. Chambers' Widsith, pp. 95-100.
[Back]
4. Cf. Rydberg, Teut. Myth., pp. 630, 646. Greipa = mother of Thjasse, another
name of Wayland. [Back]
5. Known also as Finn. [Back]
6. Thidrek's Saga, ed. Bertelsen, 84 (57) to 91 (61). [Back]
7. bear. [Back]
8. Cf. Grimm Deutsche Heldensage, 3rd Ed., 302 note 1. These names
are probably variants of Elberich or Alberich. In the Thidrek's Saga their names
are not given. [Back]
9. Thidrek's Saga, ed. Bertelsen 84a (58). [Back]
10. See Anhang des Heldenbuch; cf. Grimm D. Heldensage, 3rd Ed.,
p. 217, 326. [Back]
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