Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore |
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Page vi
... hands , and promises to yield still more abundantly , results fairly comparable with those which spectral analysis has realized in physical science . They have made it their task to trace back the traditional beliefs and popular cus ...
... hands , and promises to yield still more abundantly , results fairly comparable with those which spectral analysis has realized in physical science . They have made it their task to trace back the traditional beliefs and popular cus ...
Page 13
... hand corresponded exactly with that in which it had been so strangely recovered . " Who , then , " exclaims Gervase , " after such evidence as this , will doubt the existence of a sea above this earth of ours , situated in the air or ...
... hand corresponded exactly with that in which it had been so strangely recovered . " Who , then , " exclaims Gervase , " after such evidence as this , will doubt the existence of a sea above this earth of ours , situated in the air or ...
Page 24
... hand . So also did Odin's spear , and the same extremely convenient property was manifested on all ordinary occasions by Thor's lightning club or hammer . It was only in the last storms of autumn that the latter remained buried in the ...
... hand . So also did Odin's spear , and the same extremely convenient property was manifested on all ordinary occasions by Thor's lightning club or hammer . It was only in the last storms of autumn that the latter remained buried in the ...
Page 38
... hands of the churner , gives the stick a rotatory motion amidst the milk , and this produces the sepa- ration of its ... hand of an assistant Brahman . " - Stevenson , Sáma Veda , Pref . VII . Besides the churn , there is another well ...
... hands of the churner , gives the stick a rotatory motion amidst the milk , and this produces the sepa- ration of its ... hand of an assistant Brahman . " - Stevenson , Sáma Veda , Pref . VII . Besides the churn , there is another well ...
Page 40
... hand alone , was slow and laborious , and at best of but uncertain efficacy . A little mechanical contrivance , of the simplest and rudest kind , completely changed the character of the operation . The chark was invented , and from that ...
... hand alone , was slow and laborious , and at best of but uncertain efficacy . A little mechanical contrivance , of the simplest and rudest kind , completely changed the character of the operation . The chark was invented , and from that ...
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Common terms and phrases
Agni ancient appears ARYAN RACE Aryans asvattha Asvins believed besoms Bhrigu bird burning called cattle chark churning clouds colour cuckoo custom dead death demon divine dragon drink earth Easter elves England fern fire Freyja Frodi's furious host German Gervase of Tilbury giant goddess gods golden Greek Grimm haoma hazel heaven heavenly Hindus Holda horses human Indo-European Indra John's kindled king Kuhn latter legend lightning Mannhardt Maruts means milk mountain mythical mythology myths nature needfire night Norse Odin Olaf origin palasa Perchta Pitris plant popular pramantha Prometheus race Ribhus Rig Veda Romans round rowan sacred Sanscrit says Schwartz sieve soma souls springwort stick storm story Thor Thor's thunderbolt tradition tree Varuna Vedic village Vritra werewolf Westf wheel whilst wife wild hunt winds wish-rod witches Woden wolf wood word wren Yama Yggdrasil Zeus
Popular passages
Page 152 - ... and threatened with the loss of the use of the limb.* Against this accident, to which they were continually liable, our provident forefathers always kept a shrew-ash at hand, which, when once medicated, would maintain its virtue for ever. A shrew-ash was made thus : — Into the body of the tree a deep hole was bored with an auger, and a poor devoted shrew-mouse was thrust in alive, and plugged in, no doubt, with several quaint incantations long since forgotten.
Page 153 - In a farm-yard near the middle of this village stands, at this day, a row of pollardashes, which, by the seams and long cicatrices down their sides, manifestly show that, in former times, they have been cleft asunder. These trees, when young and flexible, were severed and held open by wedges, while ruptured children, stripped naked, were pushed through the apertures, under a persuasion that, by such a process, the poor babes would be cured of their infirmity.
Page 183 - Two Hazel Nuts I threw into the Flame, And to each Nut I gave a Sweet-heart's Name. This with the loudest Bounce me sore amaz'd, That in a Flame of brightest Colour blaz'd. As blaz'd the Nut, so may thy Passion grow, For 'twas thy Nut that did so brightly glow.
Page 97 - This lady-fly I take from off the grass, Whose spotted back might scarlet red surpass, " Fly, lady-bird, north, south, or east, or west, Fly where the man is found that I love best.
Page 283 - The mountains height, and all the ridges round, Yet not one trace of living wight discerns, Nor knows, o'erawed, and trembling as he stands, To what, or whom, he owes his idle fear, To ghost, to witch, to fairy, or to fiend ; But wonders, and no end of wondering finds.
Page 157 - For the purpose of regeneration, it is directed to make an image of pure gold of the female power of nature ; in the shape either of a woman or of a cow. In this statue the person to be regenerated is enclosed and dragged through the usual channel. As a statue of pure gold and of proper dimensions would be too expensive, it is sufficient to make an image of the sacred Yoni, through which the person to be regenerated .is to pass.
Page 283 - To wake the bounding stag, or guilty wolf, There oft is heard, at midnight, or at noon, Beginning faint, but rising still more loud, And nearer, voice of hunters, and of hounds, And horns, hoarse-winded, blowing far and keen :— Forthwith the hubbub multiplies ; the gale Labours with wilder...
Page 68 - They kindle a fire, and dress a repast of eggs and milk in the consistence of a custard. They knead a cake of oatmeal, which is toasted at the embers against a stone.
Page 115 - ... corpse. The late Mr Ritson found an illustration of this dirge in a MS. of the Cotton Library, containing an account of Cleveland, in Yorkshire, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was kindly communicated to the Editor by Mr Frank, Mr...
Page 51 - They extinguished every fire in every house within sight of the hill ; the wheel was then turned from east to west over the nine spindles, long enough to produce fire by friction. If the fire were not produced before noon, the incantation lost its effect.