Allwise the Dwarf

Allwise the Dwarf

Allwise the Dwarf once by his cunning wiles entrapped the Heroes into a promise that they would give him the beautiful Freya for his wife, and he set out from his cavern home for Asgard that he might claim fulfilment of the promise. Before leaving he gave orders to his servant dwarfs that they should deck the place against his return with the bride.

Now the Heroes of Asgard finding that they had been tricked into making a promise which they did not intend marvelled how they might spare themselves the fulfilling of it. Thor at length suggested that as Allwise would visit Asgard by night, and as he could not bear the sunlight, they should keep him engaged in talk until the sun rose, and what is more he offered to do this himself, and so when the dwarf reached the city of the Heroes it was Thor whom he first encountered, and who hailed him thus: “What fellow art thou? Why art thou pale as if thou hadst come from among the dead? Surely thou art but a sorry bridegroom.”

Then answered the dwarf: “Allwise my name is; I dwell in a cavern beneath the earth, and I am come to fetch my bride for the Heroes will not break their plighted word.”

“I will break it,” said Thor firmly, “for Freya is my ward, and I was not of those who made the promise to you. It is needful that I should hallow the weddings of the Heroes.”

“Who is this fellow,” said Allwise the dwarf scornfully, “who claims to control the fair-beaming maid?”

“Thor is my name,” answered the Hero wrathfully, “I am Longbeard’s son. I have travelled far. Without my will thou shalt never have the maid, or make this match.”

“I would rather have thy good will; I would sooner win than want the snow-white maid.”

“The maiden’s love shall not be denied to thee, thou wise guest,” said Thor with guile, “if thou canst tell me all that I want to know.”

“That can I do,” answered the dwarf confidently.

“Tell me, then, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Earth, which lies about the sons of men, called by all different beings that are?”

“It is ‘Earth’ among men; ‘Field’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Way’; the Giants call it ‘Ever-green’; the Elfs call it ‘Growing,’ and the High Gods call it ‘Clay.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is Heaven called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Heaven’ among men; ‘Warmer’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Wind-woof’; the Giants call it ‘High-home’; the Elfs call it ‘Fair-roof’; and Dwarfs ‘Drip-hall.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Moon that all men see called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Moon’ among men; ‘Mylin’ among the Heroes; ‘Whirling-Wheel’ in Hell; ‘Hastener’ by the Giants; ‘Sheen’ by the Dwarfs; while the Elfs call it ‘Year-teller.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Sun that all men see called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Sol’ among men; ‘Sun’ among the Heroes; the Dwarfs call it ‘Day’s-child’; the Giants call it ‘Ever-glow’; ‘Fair-wheel’ the Elfs; and ‘All-Sheer’ the sons of the Anses.”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how are the clouds that are mingled with shadows called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Sky’ among men; ‘Shower-boder’ among the Heroes; ‘Wind-floe’ among the Wanes; ‘Wet-boder’ among the Giants; ‘Weather-main’ among the Elfs; and in Hell they call it ‘Helm-of-Darkness.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Wind, that travels so far, called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Wind’ among men; ‘Waverer’ among the Heroes; ‘Whooper’ among the Giants; the Elfs call it ‘Soft-Gale’; in Hell they call it ‘Whistle-Gust.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Calm that rests called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Calm’ it is called among men; ‘Lee’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Wind-slack’; the Giants call it ‘Sultry’; the Elfs ‘Soul-of-Day’; and the Dwarfs ‘Day’s Rest.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, what is the Main which men row over called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Sea’ among men; ‘Level’ among the Heroes; ‘Wave’ among the Wanes; ‘Sound-ham’ among the Giants; the Elfs call it ‘Sea-blink,’ and the Dwarfs call it ‘Deep.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is ‘Fire’ that burns before the sons of men called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Fire’ among men; and ‘Fire’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Wavy;’ ‘Greedy’ the Giants; ‘Furnace fire’ the Dwarfs; and in Hell they call it ‘Destroyer.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Wood that grows before the sons of men called by all the beings that are?”

“It is ‘Wood’ among men; ‘Wield-fire’ among the Heroes; in Hell it is ‘Cliff-wrack’; Giants call it ‘Firewood’; the Elfs ‘Fair-foliage’; and the Wanes call it ‘Wand.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is Night, Norwis’ daughter, called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Night’ among men; ‘Newl’ among the Heroes; ‘Unlight’ the Giants; ‘Sleep-joy’ the Elfs; and the Dwarfs call it ‘Sleep-fairy.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Seed that the sons of men sow called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Bigg’ among men; ‘Barley’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Waxth’; ‘Oat’ the Giants; the Elfs ‘Lees-staff’; in Hell it is ‘Blight.’”

“Tell me, Allwise, for methinks thou, Dwarf, knowest the whole history of mankind, how is the Ale the sons of men drink called by all the beings that are?”

“‘Ale’ among men; ‘Beer’ among the Heroes; the Wanes call it ‘Draught’; ‘Clear-lees’ the Giants; in Hell it is ‘Mead’; while the Dwarfs call it ‘Good cheer!’”

“Now,” said Thor, “I never on one man’s tongue saw more of the olden words, but with great wiles, oh, Allwise, hast thou been beguiled, for the Day is upon thee, Dwarf; the hall is full of sunshine.”

It was even as Thor said the day had come, and with it the Dwarf who had been kept in close talk without guessing why was suddenly turned into a figure of stone, and the Heroes were relieved of their rash promise to send the beautiful Freya from Asgard as wife of the dark-loving Allwise.

The Scandinavian Dwarf having resumed his place, Oberon turned to his Queen and said that her Nymphidia had given them all a very pretty little song, perhaps some of her attendants had stories they would like to tell.

“Of course they have,” replied Titania, and turned to the fairies immediately about her throne, saying, “now who shall it be?”

Quick, as befitted her name, was the first to respond with, “If a very short story will do I can tell one,” and Pink almost in the same breath said “I can tell one if a very short one will do.”

Titania stopped the others who would have offered also, and said, “Quick and Pink shall tell them, then.”

At once Quick took her place, and when all the fairy kingdom was attentive began to tell about