ABSTRACT
AMONG the Eastern Götar is a very large fresh-water lake called Vättern, 1 about which a good deal has been said above, with a pleasant, longish island at its very centre, containing two parish churches; under one of them is found a cavern, immeasurably deep, with a long underground entrance and exit. Only for vain display and curiosity do men go down into this cavern, equipped with lighted lamps and balls of twine to enable them to find their way back. Their chief purpose in doing this is to gaze at a certain wizard named Gilbert 2 who, by means of magic, from which sprang his own ruin, was in very ancient times overcome and bound fast by his master, Kettil, 3 to whom he had ventured to be insolent. It was done like this: a small staff, engraved with certain Gothic or Russian characters, was thrown towards him by his master and when Gilbert caught it in his hands he remained fettered and unable to move. Nor could he free himself when he applied his teeth to it, for it was as if they were stuck together with an adhesive pitch, nor with his feet when, on the crafty advice of his master, he tried to use them.
Lake Vättern Visinesö island
Cavern
Gilbert, the bound wizard Kettil
Crafty advice
