feu de la Saint-Jean des mannes ou des paniers en osier contenant des
animaux, chats, chiens, renards, loups. Au siècle dernier même dans
plusieurs villes c'était le maire ou les échevins qui faisaient mettre
dans un panier une ou deux douzaines de chats pour brûler dans le feu de
joie. Cette coutûme existait aussi à Paris, et elle n'y a été supprimée
qu'au commencement du règne de Louis XIV."--Gaidoz, _Esquisse de la
Religion des Gaulois_, 21.
[114] In the West-end of London there is a house where No. 13 is
cancelled, and the house re-numbered 15A for the very same reason. The
people are _comme il faut_, and consider themselves educated.
[115] Plover.--_Notes and Queries_ 4th S. viii. 268. On the Lancashire
Moors there is a tradition that the plovers contain the souls of those
Jews who assisted at the Crucifixion.
[116] Hungarian saying: "To speak snakes and frogs after a man," to say
everything that is bad about him.
[117] Or dig.
[118] I (writes a Magyar friend) have seen a youth use this stuff to
produce a beard and moustache, and the whole of his skin was covered
with ugly sores.
[119] German name, Himmelbrandt, Wollkraut, Königskerre; French,
bouillon blanc, molène.
[120] The superstitions marked * have been in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
quite lately.
[121] The small heap of soil thrown up by ants.
[122] The modern custom is to lift the glass and say "Isten éltesse!"
("may God let you live.")
[123] The Finnish reformer, Michael Agricola, in his preface to the 1551
edition of the Finnish Psalms, prepared by him, mentions the idols and
sacrifices of the old Finns. The passage relating to this matter is in
verses, and especially of the _Carialians_ he says the following:
"_Egres_ creates them peas, beans, and carrots, cabbage, flax, and hemp;
_Köndös_ guards their cleared grounds and ploughed fields as they
superstitiously believe; and when they finished their spring-sowing,
then they drank Ukko's Cup."
"Kuin kevä-kylvä kylvettiin
Silloin Ukon malja juottiin."
[124] "Wie Thor's cleinne trank man Ukko zu ehren volle Schale." _Mythol
Vorr_ xxviii. In Sweden, as toasts, the only word they mention is
"skål," cup; this is a meagre reminder of "Thor's Schåle."
[125] Not Tokay; that is German. We have a hazy recollection that one of
the Popes--it may have been Sylvester II. (A.D. 1000) or Pio Nono--upon
receiving a small cask of Tokaj wine, exclaimed "Talc vinum summum
pontificem decet!" or words to this effect.
[126] "Áldomás," from "áldani" (Latin offerre and benedicere)
hence--"sacrificium" and "benedictio." Cf. "Ultemaš"--"preces" in
Cheremiss. In the district of Hradist in Moravia, "oldomaš
pit"--"áldoma's drink." In modern Magyar the word "áldozni" is used for
to sacrifice. Whether the Magyar and Finnish Ukko are the same, or
whether it is a mere coincidence, we are not prepared to say. Hunfalvy
makes much of it.
[127] Ukkon-pohar-felmutato volt.
[128] In modern times the bargain is first settled and the "liquor"
comes afterwards, _tout comme chez nous_ in England.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface v
Introduction vii
Contents lxx
TALES AND NOTES.
I.--Prince Csihan 1
Notes 303
II.--Stephen the Murderer 7
Notes 306
III.--The Lamb with the Golden Fleece 13
Notes 312
IV.--Fisher Joe 15
Notes 313
V.--Luck and Bliss 22
Notes 317
VI.--The Lazy Cat 23
VII.--Handsome Paul 25
Notes 317
VIII.--The Travels of Truth and Falsehood 36
Notes 322
IX.--The Hunting Princes 39
Notes 324
X.--The Lazy Spinning Girl 46
Notes 330
XI.--The Envious Sisters 49
Notes 335
XII.--Knight Rose 54
Notes 339
XIII.--Prince Mirkó 59
Notes 344
XIV.--The Student who was forcibly made King 76
Notes 354
XV.--The Children of the Two Rich Men 80
Notes 355
XVI.--The Hussar and the Servant Girl 83
Notes 360
XVII.--My Father's Wedding 86
Notes 360
XVIII.--The Baa-Lambs 90
Notes 361
XIX.--Fairy Elizabeth 95
Notes 362
XX.--The Three Princes 110
Notes 373
XXI.--The Three Dreams 117
Notes 375
XXII.--Csabor Ur 123
Notes 380
XXIII.--The Devil and the Three Slovák Lads 126
Notes 383
XXIV.--The Count's Daughter 127
Notes 383
XXV.--The Speaking Grapes 131
Notes 383
XXVI.--The Three Oranges 133
Notes 386
XXVII.--The Youngest Prince 137
Notes 387
XXVIII.--The Invisible Shepherd Lad 141
Notes 387
XXIX.--The Three Princesses 144
Notes 388
XXX.--Cinder Jack 149
Notes 389
XXXI.--The Three Brothers 152
Notes 391
XXXII.--The Three Valuable Things 155
Notes 392
XXXIII.--The Little Magic Pony 157
Notes 392
XXXIV.--The Beggars' Present 161
Notes 394
XXXV.--The World's Beautiful Woman 163
Notes 395
XXXVI.--The Girl without Hands 182
Notes 397
XXXVII.--The King and the Devil 188
Notes 397
XXXVIII.--The Three Princes, &c. 196
Notes 399
XXXIX.--The Widower and his Daughter 207
Notes 401
XL.--The Wishes 217
Notes 402
XLI.--The Two Orphans 220
Notes 402
XLII.--The Wonderful Frog 224
Notes 404
XLIII.--The Devil and the Red Cap 225
Notes 405
XLIV.--Jack Dreadnought 228
Notes 405
XLV.--The Secret keeping Little Boy 232
Notes 406
XLVI.--Shepherd Paul 244
Notes 407
XLVII.--The Pelican 250
Notes 409
XLVIII.--The Girl with the Golden Hair 262
Notes 413
XLIX.--The Lover's Ghost 278
Notes 416
L.--Snake Skin 282
Notes 417
LI.--The Fairies' Well 288
Notes 418
LII.--The Crow's Nest 298
Notes 418
LIII.--Woman's Curiosity 301
Notes 421
Index 423
MAGYAR FOLK-TALES.
PRINCE CSIHAN (NETTLES).
There was once--I don't know where, at the other side of seven times
seven countries, or even beyond them, on the tumble-down side of a
tumble-down stove--a poplar-tree, and this poplar-tree had sixty-five
branches, and on every branch sat sixty-six crows; and may those who
don't listen to my story have their eyes picked out by those crows!
There was a miller who was so proud that had he stept on an egg he would
not have broken it. There was a time when the mill was in full work, but
once as he was tired of his mill-work he said, "May God take me out of
this mill!" Now, this miller had an auger, a saw, and an adze, and he
set off over seven times seven countries, and never found a mill. So his
wish was fulfilled. On he went, roaming about, till at last he found on
the bank of the Gagy, below Martonos, a tumble-down mill, which was
covered with nettles. Here he began to build, and he worked, and by the
time the mill was finished all his stockings were worn into holes and
his garments all tattered and torn. He then stood expecting people to
come and have their flour ground; but no one ever came.
One day the twelve huntsmen of the king were chasing a fox; and it came
to where the miller was, and said to him: "Hide me, miller, and you
shall be rewarded for your kindness." "Where shall I hide you?" said the
miller, "seeing that I possess nothing but the clothes I stand in?"
"There is an old torn sack lying beside that trough," replied the fox;
"throw it over me, and, when the dogs come, drive them away with your
broom." When the huntsmen came they asked the miller if he had seen a
fox pass that way. "How could I have seen it; for, behold, I have
nothing but the clothes I stand in?" With that the huntsmen left, and in
a little while the fox came out and said, "Miller, I thank you for your
kindness; for you have preserved me, and saved my life. I am anxious to
do you a good turn if I can. Tell me, do you want to get married?" "My
dear little fox," said the miller, "if I could get a wife, who would
come here of her own free will, I don't say that I would not--indeed,
there is no other way of my getting one; for I can't go among the
spinning-girls in these clothes." The fox took leave of the miller, and,
in less than a quarter of an hour, he returned with a piece of copper in
his mouth. "Here you are, miller," said he; "put this away, _you will
want_ it ere long." The miller put it away, and the fox departed; but,
before long, he came back with a lump of gold in his mouth. "Put this
away, also," said he to the miller, "as you will need it before long."
"And now," said the fox, "wouldn't you like to get married?" "Well, my
dear little fox," said the miller, "I am quite willing to do so at any
moment, as that is my special desire." The fox vanished again, but soon
returned with a lump of diamond in his mouth. "Well, miller," said the
fox, "I will not _ask_ you any more to get married; I will get you a
wife myself. And now give me that piece of copper I gave you." Then,
taking it in his mouth, the fox started off over seven times seven
countries, and travelled till he came to King Yellow Hammer's. "Good
day, most gracious King Yellow Hammer," said the fox; "my life and death
are in your majesty's hands. I have heard that you have an unmarried
daughter. I am a messenger from Prince Csihan, who has sent me to ask
for your daughter as his wife." "I will give her with pleasure, my dear
little fox," replied King Yellow Hammer; "I will not refuse her; on the
contrary, I give her with great pleasure; but I would do so more
willingly if I saw to whom she is to be married--even as it is, I will
not refuse her."
The fox accepted the king's proposal, and they fixed a day upon which
they would fetch the lady. "Very well," said the fox; and, taking leave
of the king, set off with the ring to the miller.
"Now then, miller," said the fox, "you are no longer a miller, but
Prince Csihan, and on a certain day and hour you must be ready to start;
but, first of all, give me that lump of gold I gave you that I may take
it to His Majesty King Yellow Hammer, so that he may not think you are a
nobody."
The fox then started off to the king. "Good day, most gracious king, my
father. Prince Csihan has sent this lump of gold to my father the king
that he may spend it in preparing for the wedding, and that he might
change it, as Prince Csihan has no smaller change, his gold all being in
lumps like this."
"Well," reasoned King Yellow Hammer, "I am not sending my daughter to a
bad sort of place, for although I am a king I have no such lumps of gold
lying about in my palace."
The fox then returned home to Prince Csihan. "Now then, Prince Csihan,"
said he, "I have arrived safely, you see; prepare yourself to start
to-morrow."
Next morning he appeared before Prince Csihan. "Are you ready?" asked
he. "Oh! yes, I am ready; I can start at any moment, as I got ready
long ago."
With this they started over seven times seven lands. As they passed a
hedge the fox said, "Prince Csihan, do you see that splendid castle?"
"How could I help seeing it, my dear little fox." "Well," replied the
fox, "in that castle dwells your wife." On they went, when suddenly the
fox said, "Take off the clothes you have on, let us put them into this
hollow tree, and then burn them, so that we may get rid of them." "You
are right, we won't have them, nor any like them."
Then said the fox, "Prince Csihan, go into the river and take a bath."
Having done so the prince said, "Now I've done." "All right," said the
fox; "go and sit in the forest until I go into the king's presence." The
fox set off and arrived at King Yellow Hammer's castle. "Alas! my
gracious king, my life and my death are in thy hands. I started with
Prince Csihan with three loaded wagons and a carriage and six horses,
and I've just managed to get the prince naked out of the water." The
king raised his hands in despair, exclaiming, "Where hast thou left my
dear son-in-law, little fox?" "Most gracious king, I left him in
such-and-such a place in the forest." The king at once ordered four
horses to be put to a carriage, and then looked up the robes he wore in
his younger days and ordered them to be put in the carriage; the
coachman and footman to take their places, the fox sitting on the box.
When they arrived at the forest the fox got down, and the footman,
carrying the clothes upon his arm, took them to Prince Csihan. Then said
the fox to the servant, "Don't you dress the prince, he will do it more
becomingly himself." He then made Prince Csihan arise, and said, "Come
here, Prince Csihan, don't stare at yourself too much when you get
dressed in these clothes, else the king might think you were not used to
such robes." Prince Csihan got dressed, and drove off to the king. When
they arrived, King Yellow Hammer took his son-in-law in his arms and
said, "Thanks be to God, my dear future son-in-law, for that He has
preserved thee from the great waters; and now let us send for the
clergyman and let the marriage take place."
The grand ceremony over, they remained at the court of the king. One
day, a month or so after they were married, the princess said to Prince
Csihan, "My dear treasure, don't you think it would be as well to go and
see your realm?" Prince Csihan left the room in great sorrow, and went
towards the stables in great trouble to get ready for the journey he
could no longer postpone. Here he met the fox lolling about. As the
prince came his tears rolled down upon the straw. "Hollo! Prince Csihan,
what's the matter?" cried the fox. "Quite enough," was the reply; "my
dear wife insists upon going to see my home." "All right," said the fox;
"prepare yourself, Prince Csihan, and we will go."
The prince went off to his castle and said, "Dear wife, get ready; we
will start at once." The king ordered out a carriage and six, and three
waggons loaded with treasure and money, so that they might have all they
needed. So they started off. Then said the fox, "Now, Prince Csihan,
wherever I go you must follow." So they went over seven times seven
countries. As they travelled they met a herd of oxen. "Now, herdsmen,"
said the fox, "if you won't say that this herd belongs to the Vasfogu
Bába, but to Prince Csihan, you shall have a handsome present." With
this the fox left them, and ran straight to the Vasfogu Bába. "Good day,
my mother," said he. "Welcome, my son," replied she; "it's a good thing
for you that you called me your mother, else I would have crushed your
bones smaller than poppy-seed." "Alas! my mother," said the fox, "don't
let us waste our time talking such nonsense, the French are coming!"
"Oh! my dear son, hide me away somewhere!" cried the old woman. "I know
of a bottomless lake," thought the fox; and he took her and left her on
the bank, saying, "Now, my dear old mother, wash your feet here until I
return." The fox then left the Vasfogu Bába, and went to Prince Csihan,
whom he found standing in the same place where he left him. He began to
swear and rave at him fearfully. "Why didn't you drive on after me? come
along at once." They arrived at the Vasfogu's great castle, and took
possession of a suite of apartments. Here they found everything the
heart could wish for, and at night all went to bed in peace.
Suddenly the fox remembered that the Vasfogu Bába had no proper abode
yet, and set off to her. "I hear, my dear son," said she, "that the
horses with their bells have arrived; take me away to another place."
The fox crept up behind her, gave her a push, and she fell into the
bottomless lake, and was drowned, leaving all her vast property to
Prince Csihan. "You were born under a lucky star, my prince," said the
fox, when he returned; "for see I have placed you in possession of all
this great wealth." In his joy the prince gave a great feast to
celebrate his coming into his property, so that the people from Bánczida
to Zsukhajna were feasted royally, but he gave them no drink. "Now,"
said the fox to himself, "after all this feasting I will sham illness,
and see what treatment I shall receive at his hands in return for all my
kindness to him." So Mr. Fox became dreadfully ill, he moaned and
groaned so fearfully that the neighbours made complaint to the prince.
"Seize him," said the prince, "and pitch him out on the dunghill." So
the poor fox was thrown out on the dunghill. One day Prince Csihan was
passing that way. "You a prince!" muttered the fox; "you are nothing
else but a miller; would you like to be a house-holder such as you were
at the nettle-mill?" The prince was terrified by this speech of the fox,
so terrified that he nearly fainted. "Oh! dear little fox, do not do
that," cried the prince, "and I promise you on my royal word that I
will give you the same food as I have, and that so long as I live you
shall be my dearest friend and you shall be honoured as my greatest
benefactor."
He then ordered the fox to be taken to the castle, and to sit at the
royal table, nor did he ever forget him again.
So they lived happily ever after, and do yet, if they are not dead. May
they be your guests to-morrow!
STEPHEN THE MURDERER.
There was once, I don't know where, over seven times seven countries, or
even beyond that, a very, very rich farmer, and opposite to him lived
another farmer just as rich. One had a son and the other a daughter.
These two farmers often talked over family matters together at their
gates, and at last arranged that their children should marry each other,
so that in case the old people died the young people would be able to
take possession of the farms. But the young girl could not bear the
young man, although he was very fond of her. Then her parents threatened
to disinherit her if she did not marry as she was bid, as they were very
wishful for the marriage to take place.
On the wedding morning, when they arrived at church, and were standing
before the altar, the bride took the wedding ring and dashed it on the
floor before the clergyman, saying, "Here, Satan, take this ring; and,
if ever I bear a child to this man, take it too!" In a moment the devil
appeared, snatched up the ring, and vanished. The priest, seeing and
hearing all that was done, declined to proceed with the ceremony,
whereupon the fathers remonstrated with him, and declared that if he did
not proceed he would lose his living. The wedding thereupon was duly
celebrated.
As time went by the farmers both died; and the young folks, who couldn't
bear each other before, at last grew very fond of each other, and a
handsome boy was born. When he was old enough he went to school, where
he got on so well that before long his master could teach him no more.
He then went to college, where he did the same as at school, so that his
parents began to think of him taking holy orders. About this time his
father died; and he noticed that every night when he came home from the
college that his mother was weeping: so he asked her why she wept.
"Never mind me, my son," said she; "I am grieving over your father."
"But you never cared much for him," said he; "cheer up, for I shall
soon be a priest." "That's the very thing I'm weeping over," said his
mother; "for just when you will be doing well the devils will come for
you, because when I was married to your father I dashed the wedding-ring
on the ground, saying, 'Here, Satan, take this ring; and if ever I bear
a child to this man take it too.' One fine day, then, you will be
carried off by the devil in the same way as the ring." "Is this indeed
true, mother?" said the student. "It is indeed, my son." With that he
went off to the priest, and said, "Godfather, are these things which my
mother tells me concerning her wedding true?" "My dear godson," replied
the priest, "they are true; for I saw and heard all myself." "Dear
godfather, give me then at once holy candles, holy water, and incense."
"Why do you want them, my son?" asked the priest. "Because," replied the
student, "I mean to go to hell at once, after that lost ring and the
deed of agreement." "Don't rush into their hands," said the priest;
"they will come for you soon enough." But the more the priest talked the
more determined was the student to set off at once for the infernal
regions.
So off he went, and travelled over seven times seven countries. One
evening he arrived at a large forest, and, as darkness set in, he lost
his way and roamed about hither and thither looking for some place to
rest; at last he found a small cottage where an old woman lived. "Good
evening, mother," said he. "Good luck has brought you here, my son,"
said she. "What are you doing out here so late?" "I have lost my way,"
replied the student, "and have come here to ask for a night's lodging."
"I can give you lodging, my son, but I have a murderous heathen son, who
has destroyed three hundred and sixty-six lives, and even now is out
robbing. He might return at any moment, and he would kill you; so you
had better go somewhere else and continue your way in peace, and mind
you take care not to meet him."
"Whether he kill me or not," said the student, "I shall not stir an
inch." As the old woman could not persuade him to go he stayed. After
midnight the son returned, and shouted out loudly under the window,
"Have you got my supper ready?" He then crept in on his knees, for he
was so tall that he could not enter otherwise. As they sat at table he
suddenly saw the student. "Mother, what sort of a guest is that?" said
he. "He's a poor tramp, my son, and very tired." "Has he had anything to
eat?" "No; I offered him food, but he was too tired to eat." "Go and
wake him, and say, 'Come and eat'; because whether he eat or whether he
let the food alone he will repent it."
"Hollo!" said the student, "what is the matter?"
"Don't ask any questions," replied the old woman; "but come and eat."
The student obeyed, and they sat down to supper. "Don't eat much," said
the old woman's son, "because you will repent it if you do eat and you
will repent it if you don't." While they were eating the old woman's son
said, "Where are you going, mate--what is your destination?" "Straight
to hell, among the devils," quoth the student.
"It was my intention to kill you with a blow; but now that I know where
you are going I will not touch you. Find out for me what sort of a bed
they have prepared for me in that place."
"What is your name?"
"My name," said he, "is Stephen the Murderer."
In the morning, when they awoke, Stephen gave the student a good
breakfast, and showed him which way to go. On he travelled till at
length he approached the gates of hell. He then lighted his incense,
sprinkled the holy water, and lighted the holy candles. In a very short
time the devils began to smell the incense, and ran out, crying, "What
sort of an animal are you? Don't come here! Don't approach this place;
or we will leave it at once!"
"Wherever you go," said the student, "I tell you I will follow you; for,
on such and such a date, you carried off from the church floor my
mother's wedding-ring; and if you don't return it and cancel the
agreement, and promise me that I will have no more trouble from you, I
will follow you wherever you go." "Don't come here," cried they; "stop
where you are, and we will get them for you at once."
They then blew a whistle and the devils came hastily out from all
directions, so many you could not count them, but they could not find
the ring anywhere. They sounded the whistle again, and twice as many
came as before, but still the ring was not to be found. They then
whistled a third time, and twice as many more came. One fellow came
limping up, very late. "Why don't you hurry," cried the others; "don't
you see that a great calamity has happened? The ring can't be found.
Turn out everybody's pockets, and on who ever it is found throw him into
the bed of Stephen the Murderer." "Wait a moment," cried the lame one,
"before you throw me into Stephen the Murderer's bed. I would rather
produce three hundred wedding-rings than be thrown into that place:"
whereupon he at once produced the ring, which they threw over the wall
to the student, together with the agreement, crying out that it was
cancelled.
One evening the student arrived back at Stephen the Murderer's. The
latter was out robbing. After midnight, as usual, he returned, and when
he saw the student he woke him, saying, "Get up, let's have something to
eat! And have you been to hell?"
"I have." "What have you heard of my bed?" "We should never have got the
ring," said the student, "if the devils had not been threatened with
your bed." "Well," said Stephen, "that must be a bad bed if the devils
are afraid of it."
They got up the next morning, and the student started for home. Suddenly
it struck Stephen the Murderer that as the student had made himself
happy he ought to do as much for him. So he started after the student,
who, when he saw him coming, was very much afraid lest he should be
killed. In a stride or two Stephen overtook the student. "Stop, my
friend; as you have bettered your lot, better mine, so that I may not go
to that awful bed in hell."
"Well then," said the student, "did you kill your first man with a club
or a knife?" "I never killed anybody with a knife," said Stephen, "they
have all been killed with a club." "Have you got the club you killed the
first man with? Go back and fetch it."