I have just made the acquaintance of the Old Icelandic Hávamál. Among other things, it’s a source of wisdom-verses. The originator of the wisdom related here is Odin himself. Here’s W.H. Auden’s translation in alliterative verse.
Carolyne Larrington points us to stanzas 54-56:
Not trusting this guy until I know where the other raven is.
It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart.It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace.
The three verses all start with the same two lines, which are a maxim. 1 The third and fourth lines explicate the maxim, slightly.
I know someone these might apply to. Let’s match these up with our friend Samwise Gamgee. We know from his name that he’s one of the middle-wise. How does that work out for him? His lore is not deep — he knows just enough to write silly songs about trolls. [LR 1.12.069] He is certainly deft at all he does. He’s a good cook, even by hobbit standards [LR4.04.027] and the restoration of the Shire after Sharkey’s depredations is largely his work. [LR 6.09.021] He’s not good at thinking, but he knows that. “Think, if you can!” is good practice for the half-wise. [LR 2.10.097] Can he sleep in peace? Like a log. [LR1.07.037]
So this supernatural being who looks like an old man in shabby grey robes drafts a medium-wise person to accompany Frodo. That’s the beginning of Sam’s relationship with Gandalf. He can be forgiven for wondering who this old guy actually is. Though by the time they get to Moria, Sam is sure Gandalf isn’t Odin. [LR 2.04.039] The role of Anglo-Saxon Merlin is still open, of course.2.
I searched all kinds of places around the World-Wide Web for someone who’s noticed this before, but came up blank. I guess it’s either too obvious or not significant enough to be included in a journal paper. Which means it ought to be perfect for a blog post.
Notes
- For some reason, I don’t like calling them “gnomes”. Maybe because they don’t stand around in the garden.
- Juliette Wood, “In Our Time” @ 29:10
Stephen Winter
That last paragraph is a challenge to me, Jo. But the truth is that I have learned much from this post and don’t feel ready to write about this yet. It is only very recently that I have learned that Samwise means half-wit or perhaps middle-wise. I love that idea. Auden became a great enthusiast for Tolkien’s work. What a journey from gay insurrectionist to wise old man he took through his life. I have known some English Literature academics who hate the fact that he did not remain young and dangerous.
So my gratitude to you for giving me much to think about here and I fully intend to do that; to think.
Joe
I suppose the academics’ loss can be my gain.