story:



Regin's Story.



When the earth was still very young, and men were feeble and
few, and the Dwarfs were many and strong, the Asa-folk were
wont oft-times to leave their halls in heaven-towering
Asgard in order to visit the new-formed mid-world, and to
see what the short-lived sons of men were doing. Sometimes
they came in their own godlike splendor and might; sometimes
they came disguised as feeble men-folk, with all man's
weaknesses and all his passions. Sometimes Odin, as a
beggar, wandered from one country to another, craving
charity; sometimes, as a warrior clad in coat of mail, he
rode forth to battle for the cause of right; or as a
minstrel he sang from door to door, and played sweet music
in the halls of the great; or as a huntsman he dashed
through brakes and fens, and into dark forests, and climbed
steep mountains in search of game; or as a sailor he
embarked upon the sea, and sought new scenes in unknown
lands. And many times did men-folk entertain him unawares.

Once on a time he came to the mid-world in company with
Hoenir and Loki; and the three wandered through many lands
and in many climes, each giving gifts wherever they went.
Odin gave knowledge and strength, and taught men how to read