Once, God Almighty came to visit
Adam and Eve. They received him with joy, and showed him everything they had
in the house. They also brought their children to him, to show him, and these
He found promising and full of hope. Then He asked Eve whether she had no
other children than these whom she now showed him. She said "None." But it
so happened that she had not finished washing them all, and, being ashamed
to let God see them dirty, had hidden the unwashed ones. This God knew well,
and said therefore to her, "What man hides from God, God will hide from man."
These unwashed children became forthwith invisible, and took up their abode
in mounds, and hills, and rocks. From these are the elves descended, but we
men from those of Eve's children whom she had openly and frankly shown to
God. And it is only by the will and desire of the elves themselves that men
can ever see them.
Note : In Northern traditions
Elves and similar supernatural creatures are frequently referred to as the
"Hidden-Ones". This tale seeks to explain this term which is far older than
the advent of Christianity in Northern Europe. - Shaun D. L. Brassfield-Thorpe
Once a traveller lost his way,
and he knew not whither to turn or what to do. At last, after wandering about
for some time, he came to a hut, which he had never seen before; and on his
knocking at the door, an old woman opened it, and invited him to come in,
which he gladly did. Inside, the house seemed to be a clean and good one.
The old woman led him to the warmest room, where were sitting two young
and beautiful girls. Besides these, no one else was in the house. He was well
received and kindly treated, and having eaten a good supper was shown to bed.
He asked whether one of the girls might stay with him, as his companion for
the night, and his request was granted. And now wishing to kiss her, the traveller
turned towards her, and placed his hand upon her; but his hand sank through
her, as if she had been of mist, and though he could well see her lying beside
him, he could grasp nothing but the air. So he asked what this all meant,
and she said, "Be not astonished, for I am a spirit. When the devil, in times
gone by, made war in heaven, he, with all his armies, was driven into outer
darkness. Those who turned their eyes to look after him as he fell, were also
driven out of heaven; but those who were neither for nor against him, were
sent to the earth and commanded to dwell there in the rocks and mountains.
These are called elves and hidden people. They can live in company with none
but their own race. They do either good or evil, which they will, but what
they do they do thoroughly. They have no bodies as you other mortals, but
can take a human form and be seen of men when they wish. I am one of these
fallen spirits, and so you can never hope to embrace me." To this fate the
traveller yielded himself, and has handed down to us this story.
Source: Jón Arnason, Icelandic
Legends, translated by George E. J. Powell and Eiríkur Magnússon (London:
R. Bentley, 1864). Translation adapted slightly here.