Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland. Jeremiah Curtin
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Название: Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland
Автор: Jeremiah Curtin
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Документальная литература
isbn: 4064066061500
isbn:
The reason is of ancient date why myths have come, in vulgar estimation, to be synonymous with lies ; though true myths—and there are many such—are the most comprehensive and splendid statements of truth known to man.
A myth, even when it contains a universal principle, expresses it in a special form, using with its peculiar personages the language and accessories of a particular people, time, and place; persons to whom this particular people, with the connected accidents of time and place, are familiar and dear, receive the highest enjoyment from the myth, and the truth goes with it as the soul with the body. But another people, to whom all things connected with this myth are unknown and incredible, regard it as absurd and untrue—that is, if they consider it at all. This people, however, have a myth of the same character, and perhaps containing the same principle, as that expressed in the first myth, and they are as much attached to it as the first people are to theirs. This phenomenon is repeated all over the world. And for each people in a certain state of development the myths and beliefs of their neighbors are untrue, because the personages and actions in them are not identical with their own, though expressing in most cases identical things in a different way.
It is only when we come to examine them in the light of the general principle which they contain, each in its own special form, that myths reveal the truth that is in them. When thus treated they become an object of vast interest, and a source of unceasing delight to the mind.
The time, perhaps, may not be so distant when, on the basis of correct information, the erroneous opinions on myths and mythology now held by most men will be reversed—a thing quite possible in this America of ours, where the printed word is so far reaching and so strong.
Jeremiah Curtin.
Hoopa Valley, Humboldt County,
California, 1889.
THE SON OF THE KING OF ERIN AND THE GIANT OF LOCH LÉIN.[1]
On a time there lived a king and a queen in Erin, and they had an only son. They were very careful and fond of this son; whatever he asked for was granted, and what he wanted he had.
When grown to be almost a young man the son went away one day to the hills to hunt. He could find no game—saw nothing all day. Towards evening he sat down on a hillside to rest, but soon stood up again and started to go home empty-handed. Then he heard a whistle behind him, and turning, saw a giant hurrying down the hill.
The giant came to him, took his hand, and said: "Can you play cards?"
"I can indeed," said the king's son.
"Well, if you can," said the giant, "we 'll have a game here on this hillside."
So the two sat down, and the giant had out a pack of cards in a twinkling. "What shall we play for?" asked the giant.
"For two estates," answered the king's son.
They played: the young man won, and went home the better for two estates. He was very glad, and hurried to tell his father the luck he had.
Next day he went to the same place, and did n't wait long till the giant came again.
"Welcome, king's son," said the giant. "What shall we play for to-day?"
"I 'll leave that to yourself," answered the young man.
"Well," said the giant, "I have five hundred bullocks with golden horns and silver hoofs, and I 'll play them against as many cattle belonging to you."
"Agreed," said the king's son.
They played. The giant lost again. He had the cattle brought to the place; and the king's son went home with the five hundred bullocks. The king his father was outside watching, and was more delighted than the day before when he saw the drove of beautiful cattle with horns of gold and hoofs of silver.
When the bullocks were driven in, the king sent for the old blind sage (Sean dall Glic), to know what he would say of the young man's luck.
"My advice," said the old blind sage, "is not to let your son go the way of the giant again, for if he plays with him a third time he 'll rue it."
But nothing could keep the king's son from playing the third time. Away he went, in spite of every advice and warning, and sat on the same hillside.
He waited long, but no one came. At last he rose to go home. That moment he heard a whistle behind him, and turning, saw the giant coming.
"Well, will you play with me to-day?" asked the giant.
"I would," said the king's son, "but I have nothing to bet."
"You have indeed."
"I have not," said the king's son.
"Have n't you your head?" asked the giant of Loch Léin, for it was he that was in it.
"I have," answered the king's son.
"So have I my head," said the giant; "and we 'll play for each other's heads."
This third time the giant won the game; and the king's son was to give himself up in a year and a day to the giant in his castle.
The young man went home sad and weary. The king and queen were outside watching, and when they saw him approaching, they knew great trouble was on him. When he came to where they were, he would n't speak, but went straight into the castle, and would n't eat or drink.
He was sad and lamenting for a good while, till at last he disappeared one day, the king and queen knew not whither. After that they did n't hear of him—did n't know was he dead or alive.
The young man after he left home was walking along over the kingdom for a long time. One day he saw no house, big or little, till after dark he came in front of a hill, and at the foot of the hill saw a small light. He went to the light, found a small house, and inside an old woman sitting at a warm fire, and every tooth in her head as long as a staff.
She stood up when he entered, took him by the hand, and said, "You are welcome to my house, son of the king of Erin." Then she brought warm water, washed his feet and legs from the knees down, gave him supper, and put him to bed.
When he rose next morning he found breakfast ready before him. The old woman said: "You were with me last night; you 'll be with my sister to-night, and what she tells you to do, do, or your head 'll be in danger. Now take the gift I give you. Here is a ball of thread: do you throw it in front of you before you start, and all day the ball will be rolling ahead of you, and you 'll be following behind winding the thread into another ball."
He obeyed the old woman, threw the ball down, and followed. All the day he was going up hill and down, across valleys and open places, keeping the ball in sight and winding the thread as he went, till evening, when he saw a hill in front, and a small СКАЧАТЬ