The Byse.[1](#xd32e1697)
by Herman Hofberg · from Swedish fairy tales
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Adapted Version
Hans was a farmer. He lived in a small house. One day, Hans needed to fix his fence. He worked on his farm. He fixed a wooden fence. The fence was very old. It kept his animals safe. Hans used wood and tools. He worked very hard. He liked his work. The sun was warm.
Hans needed more wood. He needed thin sticks. These sticks were for the fence. He looked for willow twigs. He walked to the green woods. The woods were next door. Hans walked over a small line. He went into the woods. He looked for good sticks. He wanted strong sticks. He walked a little way. He looked carefully.
Hans walked in the woods. He saw an old man. The man sat on a log. He looked very tired. His head was down. His face was in his hands. The man was very quiet. Hans felt surprised. He stopped walking. Hans looked at the man. The man did not move. He seemed very sad. He sat very still. He did not make a sound.
Hans felt very surprised. He did not know the man. Hans walked closer. He spoke a question. "Who are you?" Hans asked. His voice was soft. He waited for an answer. Hans wondered about him. He stood very still. The old man did not look up.
The Quiet Wanderer spoke. His voice was quiet. He did not lift his head. "I am a wanderer," he said. He spoke very slowly. He sounded very tired. He did not look at Hans.
Hans felt more surprised. "How long do you walk?" Hans asked him. The Quiet Wanderer spoke again. "Three hundred years!" he said. Hans's eyes were wide. That was a very long time. Hans could not believe it. He stood very still. He thought about the number. It was a big number.
Hans thought about it. He looked at the old man. "Is it hard to walk so long?" Hans asked. "Is it hard to keep going? Do you get tired?" Hans waited for him.
The Quiet Wanderer spoke. He did not lift his head. "It is not hard for me," he said. "I love the green woods. I love the tall trees. I like the small plants. So, it is not hard. I like to walk here."
Hans nodded his head. He thought about the woods. "Very well," Hans said. "You can go on then. Keep walking. You love the woods. That is good. I understand."
Hans finished his words. A sound came. It was like a bird. A bird flew very fast. The Quiet Wanderer was gone. He just vanished. Hans looked all around. Was he in the ground? Was he in the air? Hans did not know. He felt much surprise. He stood very still. He saw nothing. The man was not there. He disappeared quickly. Hans went home. He thought about the Quiet Wanderer. He thought it was good to be happy at home. It was a very strange day in the woods.
Original Story
The Byse.1
A peasant of Svalings, in the parish of Gothem, by the name of Hans, was, one spring day, employed in mending a fence which divided two meadows. It chanced he required a few more willow twigs for bands, whereupon he sprang over the fence to cut them in a neighbor’s grove. Entering the thicket, what was his surprise at seeing an old man sitting upon a stump, bowed forward, his face buried in his hands. His astonishment uncontrollable, Hans broke out:
“Who are you?”
“A wanderer,” replied the old man without lifting his head.
“How long have you been a wanderer?” inquired the peasant.
“Three hundred years!” answered the old man.
Still more astonished, the peasant again asked:
“Is it not hard to travel thus?”
“It has never been so hard to me,” replied the old man, “for I love the woods.”
“Very well, go on then,” said Hans.
Hardly were the words uttered than the peasant heard a sound like that from a wild bird startled to wing, and the old man had vanished so suddenly that Hans could not say whether he had sunk into the earth or gone into the air.
1 In Götland a Byse is the spirit of one who in life was continually on the move around his possessions, or was so covetous of worldly goods that even perjury did not deter him from acquiring property unjustly. ↑
Story DNA
Moral
Unchecked greed and a restless spirit can lead to an eternal, unfulfilling existence.
Plot Summary
Hans, a peasant, is mending a fence when he ventures into a neighbor's grove for willow twigs. There, he encounters a mysterious old man sitting with his face in his hands. Upon questioning, the old man reveals he has been a wanderer for three hundred years, loving the woods despite his endless journey. When Hans tells him to 'go on then,' the old man vanishes instantly, leaving Hans astonished and bewildered by the encounter with what is implied to be a Byse, a spirit of greed and restlessness.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to awe
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects local Swedish folklore and beliefs about the consequences of certain moral failings, particularly greed and restlessness, manifesting as a specific type of supernatural entity.
Plot Beats (10)
- Hans, a peasant, is mending a fence in Svalings.
- He needs more willow twigs and crosses into a neighbor's grove.
- Inside the grove, he finds an old man sitting on a stump, face in hands.
- Hans, surprised, asks the old man who he is.
- The old man replies he is a wanderer.
- Hans asks how long he has wandered, and the old man says 'Three hundred years!'
- Hans asks if it's hard to travel like that.
- The old man replies it's not hard because he loves the woods.
- Hans tells the old man to 'go on then'.
- The old man vanishes instantly with a sound like a startled bird, leaving Hans unable to tell if he went into the earth or air.
Characters
Hans ★ protagonist
A sturdy, practical man of average height and build, accustomed to physical labor. His hands would be calloused from farm work, and his face weathered from exposure to the elements.
Attire: Typical 19th-century Swedish peasant attire: a coarse linen or wool shirt, sturdy homespun trousers in a muted color like grey or brown, a simple leather belt, and practical leather boots or wooden clogs. He might wear a simple vest or jacket over his shirt.
Wants: To complete his daily tasks and maintain his property. He is driven by the practicalities of peasant life.
Flaw: His curiosity can lead him to engage with potentially dangerous or supernatural entities.
He experiences a brief encounter with the supernatural, which leaves him astonished but does not fundamentally change his character, serving more as an anecdote.
Curious, direct, practical, and somewhat blunt. He is not easily intimidated but is capable of astonishment.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult male peasant standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a weathered, tanned face, short practical brown hair, and direct brown eyes. He wears a coarse cream linen shirt, sturdy dark grey homespun trousers, a simple brown leather belt, and practical brown leather boots. He holds a small, well-worn axe in his right hand. His expression is one of practical curiosity. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Byse ◆ supporting
An old man, deeply bowed forward, giving the impression of immense age and weariness. His form is somewhat indistinct, suggesting a spectral or ethereal quality, though initially appearing solid.
Attire: Indistinct, perhaps appearing as tattered, ancient clothes that blend with the forest environment, possibly in muted greens, browns, and greys, suggesting a timeless, worn appearance rather than specific garments.
Wants: Driven by an ancient curse or compulsion to wander, a consequence of his past covetousness. He loves the woods, which makes his endless journey bearable.
Flaw: Bound by his past actions, condemned to eternal wandering.
He remains unchanged, a static figure representing a consequence of past misdeeds, serving as a supernatural encounter for Hans.
Mysterious, ancient, weary, and solitary. He seems resigned to his eternal wandering.
Image Prompt & Upload
An ancient male figure, deeply hunched over, sitting on a weathered tree stump, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. His face is completely obscured, buried in his gnarled, ancient hands. He appears to wear indistinct, tattered garments in muted forest greens and browns, blending into the environment. His hair, if visible, is long, wispy, and grey. His posture conveys immense weariness and sorrow. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Meadow Fence Line
A rustic fence, likely constructed from rough-hewn timber posts and horizontal rails, dividing two open meadows. One meadow is where Hans was working, the other leads to a neighbor's grove. The ground is grassy, suggesting early spring with new growth.
Mood: Mundane, industrious, leading to the unexpected
Hans is mending the fence, then crosses it to find willow twigs, initiating the encounter.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy, weathered wooden fence, typical of rural Gotland, stretches across a gently rolling green meadow. The grass is vibrant with new spring growth, and scattered wildflowers dot the landscape. Beyond the fence, a dense thicket of trees, including willows, begins to rise, partially obscuring the view into the deeper woods. Soft morning sunlight casts long shadows across the field. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Neighbor's Willow Grove Thicket
A dense thicket within a neighbor's grove, specifically mentioned for its willow trees. The ground likely has fallen leaves or undergrowth, and the light would be dappled and filtered by the canopy. A prominent tree stump serves as a seat.
Mood: Mysterious, ancient, secluded, slightly eerie
Hans discovers the Byse sitting on a stump here and has his conversation with the ancient spirit.
Image Prompt & Upload
A secluded, dense thicket of willow trees in a Gotland grove, with their slender branches and new spring leaves creating a natural, interwoven canopy. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor, which is covered in a mix of damp earth and last year's fallen leaves. In the center, a large, weathered tree stump, covered in moss and lichen, sits prominently. The air feels still and ancient. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
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