Northern mythology

18 NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS.
Of all the beings that live in the imagination of the
Norwegian peasantry, the Nisse is that of whose existence
they are the most thoroughly convinced. Though belonging
to the dwarf-race, he nevertheless differs from the
dwarfs by his sprightliness and well-proportioned figure,
as well as by his sojourn in houses and barns, for which
his predilection is so strong, that he cannot endure a removal
; for he will then forsake the family, and take their
good luck with him. It is this partiality to old tofts that
has obtained for him the names of Toft-vsette, Tomtevsette^,
and Gardbo.
Neither in the Eddas nor the Sagas is there any mention
of the Nisse. Akin to him are, the Niagriusar of the
Fseroe isles, who are described as diminutive, with red
caps, and bringers of luck; also the Swedish Tomtegubbe.
They frequently dwell in the high trees that are planted
round the house, on which account care should be taken
not to fell them, particularly the more ancient ones.
Many
a one has paid for his disregard herein by an incurable
disease^.
THE WERWOLF.
That there were persons who could assume the form of
a wolf or a bear (Huse-bjorn), and again resume their
own, is a belief as wide-spread as it is ancient. This property
is either imparted by TroUmen, or those possessing
it are themselves Trolls. In the Volsunga Saga we have
very early traces of this superstition^.
THE MARA (QV.^LDRYTTERINDE).
The Mara (Eng. mare, in nightmare) belongs to the same
family with the Vardogl, Draug'*, etc.
In appearance she
resembles a most beautiful woman, but in acts the most
1 Toft and tomt are synonymous, and signify the space on which a
messuage has stood.
2 Arudt, iii. 15.
•'
See vol. i. p. 93, and note ^
'
lb. p. 113.