WAYLAND The smith god of the Anglo-Saxons, Wayland and his two brothers married swan princesses, and lived in peaceuntil one day Wayland's wife left him, and Nidud, the king, captured Wayland and sethim to work on his island kingdom, fashioning wonderful items for him and hisfamily. To ensure that the smith did not escape, the king had his men cut the sinews ofWayland's legs, thus crippling him.