I’m minding my own business, wandering around the Internet when I am smacked in the eyes by an interesting blog title – “Dwarf begone! Five early medieval ways to rid yourself of dwarfs” (https://thijsporck.com/2020/05/03/dwarf-begone/)

I believe it is the worst kept secret that I tend to be easily earwormed, and an even worse kept one that a “song” called Diggy, Diggy hole is particular effective as a weaponised version. (I recommend the Wind Rose version if you need to check it out) I was amused, then, to read:

“The charm [found among the Lacnunga, instructs one to take seven little wafers like the ones people use to worship; i.e. the Host] and write down the names of seven saints (Maximianus, Malcus, Johannes, Martinianus, Dionysius, Constantinus and Serafion – the names of the Christian saints collectively known as the Seven Sleepers)] further instructs that a virgin must hang these wafers around the neck of the patient and that you are to sing a particular song, “ærest on þæt wynstre eare, þænne on þæt swiðre eare, þænne bufan þæs mannes moldan” [first into the left ear, then into the right ear, then on top of the patient’s head]. This ritual is to be repeated for three days in a row”

So earworm a man to rid him of a dwarf – Interesting! Why would a medieval person have wanted to do such a thing?

“The Old English word for dwarf, dweorg, could also denote “fever, perhaps high fever with delirium and convulsions” [Dictionary of Old English, s.v. dweorg]”

The blogpost offers the following as the generally accepted translation of Harley MS 585, fol. 167v

Here came a spider-creature crawling in;
His web was a harness held in his hand.
Stalking, he said that you were his steed.
Then he threw his net around your neck,
Reining you in. Then they both began
To rise from the land, spring from the earth.
As they leapt up, their limbs grew cool.
Then the spider-dwarf’s sister jumped in,
Ending it all by swearing these oaths:
No hurt should come to harm the sick,
No pain to the patient who receives the cure,
No harm to the one who sings this charm.

Amen. Let it be done. ] (Trans. Williamson 2017, p. 1075)

I LOVE the image of a shady “spiderwiht” (awesome word) attempting to ride a man and making him writhe and convulse with fever as a result.

I was also amused at the idea of using a skull fragment to inscribe the runes “DEAD IS DWERG” on as a talisman against dwarves, but, you know, I love my household, I’m sure I would never resort to such things..

Rights Holder: Norfolk County Council
CC License: By-SA – https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/751600

It’s an interesting article. I’ll shut up now. No singing here, no, uh uh…. brothers of the mine.. damnnnnnnnn