23 chapters
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23 chapters
Preface.
Preface.
T he various Collections of Household and Legendary Tales of different countries which have appeared of late years sufficiently attest the popular interest which attaches to these curious and venerable relics of bygone days. Even such eminent scholars as the Messrs. Grimm have not thought it beneath them to devote their time and research to the task of collecting the old fireside Stories and Legends of Germany; and the result of their labours is a volume of tales of remarkable interest and attra
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Breton Legends. The Three Wayfarers.
Breton Legends. The Three Wayfarers.
The youth was touched with compassion; but Mylio, who waited at a little distance, cried out mockingly, “You are not going to believe the first pitiful story told you by the roadside! It is just this woman’s trade to sit here and cheat travellers of their money.” “Hush, hush, my brother,” answered Tonyk, “in the name of God; you only make her weep the more. Do not you see that she is just the age and figure of our own dear mother, whom may God preserve.” Then stooping towards the beggar-woman, h
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The Legend of Saint Galonnek.
The Legend of Saint Galonnek.
But, far from that, the owner of the house bade him rise and go away. Galonnek then went to the door of the next house, and received the same inhospitable order; and so on from door to door throughout the village. And from the expression every where used to him, zevel , this village was afterwards called Plouzevel, literally, people who said, Get up . The saint was preparing to stretch his weary limbs by the roadside, when he perceived a cabin which he had not yet noticed, and drew near the door
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The Korils of Plauden.
The Korils of Plauden.
Guilcher instantly perceived that the instrument he held in his hand acted as a charm against the power of the Korigans; and he and his wife passed unmolested through the very midst of them. This was a hint to every body. From that day forward it became a universal custom to take out the little fork of an evening; and thus armed, any one might cross the heaths and valleys without fear of hindrance. But Benead was not satisfied with having rendered this service to the Bretons; he was an inquisiti
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The Blessed Mao.
The Blessed Mao.
Turning these thoughts in his mind, Mao slackened his pace, and at last sat himself down under the shade of an old oak-tree, where he fell asleep. But behold, in his sleep, a holy man appeared suddenly before him, clad in shining raiment, who thus spoke: “I am the poor beggar Stevan, for whom you purchased a consecrated grave. The Blessed Virgin Mary, whom I endeavoured to serve while on earth, now reckons me amongst her court, and has vouchsafed to me the privilege of bringing you good news. Th
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Keris.
Keris.
This town then stood upon the very spot now covered by the Bay of Douarnénèz. It was so large and so beautiful, that when the people of old times were seeking for a title worthy of the capital of France, they could find nothing better than to call it Par-is, that is to say, The like of Is . It was lower than the sea itself, and was defended from all fear of inundation by huge dikes, with doors to open occasionally and let the tide in or out. Grallon’s daughter, the Princess Dahut, carried the si
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The Stones of Plouhinec.
The Stones of Plouhinec.
However, wearing as he did the garb of a mendicant, he was welcomed by the farmer to the fireside; a three-legged stood was placed at his disposal, and he received a portion with the guests. When the beggar had done eating and drinking, he asked for a night’s lodging, and Bernèz showed him his way into the stable, where a bald old ass and sorry ox were already established. The beggar stretched himself down between the two to share their warmth, and rested his head upon a pillow of turf. But just
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Teuz-a-pouliet;1 or, the Dwarf.
Teuz-a-pouliet;1 or, the Dwarf.
“I do not see you,” replied Jégu. “Look closely, and you will see me in the midst of the reeds, under the form of a beautiful green frog. I take successively whatever form I like, unless I prefer making myself invisible.” “But can you not show yourself under the usual appearance of your kind?” “No doubt, if that will please you.” With these words the frog leaped on one of the horses’ backs, and changed himself suddenly into a little dwarf, with bright green dress and smart polished gaiters, like
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The Spectre Laundresses.
The Spectre Laundresses.
At last the road divided, giving him his choice of two ways homeward; the one longer about, but safer, under the blessing of God, the other more direct, but haunted by spirits. Many a one in passing by that way had heard noises and seen sights that could be only told of in a cheerful assembly, and within arm’s-length of the holy-water stoup. But Wilherm feared nothing; so he struck at once into the shorter path, at a pace that made his heavy shoes ring against the stones. Neither moon nor stars
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Robin Redbreast.
Robin Redbreast.
With all speed she started off to look for her cow, but to her dismay it was nowhere to be found upon the common. In vain she called aloud, in vain she beat the bushes, in vain she went down into each hollow where the rainwater had formed a pool. At last she heard her mother’s voice, calling her, as if some great misfortune had happened. All in a fright, she ran up to her, and there, at the edge of the heath, on the way homeward, she found the widow beside all that remained of the poor cow,—her
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Note.
Note.
1 The Breton name for Vannes, Gwen-ed , signifies literally White Wheat. 2 This form of declaring war, preserved by tradition, is curious, and, as far as we know, peculiar to Brittany. Amongst the ancient Romans they cast upon the enemy’s territory a javelin scorched at the fire; in the middle ages the iron gauntlet was thrown, or the finger was gnawed; the savages of North America sent, like the Scythians, bundles of arrows, the number of which indicated that of the combatants; but burning stra
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The Groac’h of the Isle of Lok.1
The Groac’h of the Isle of Lok.1
Sadly troubled was the poor girl at this resolve, and she said all she could to dissuade him from it; but Houarn, who was a determined young fellow, would not be withheld. “The birds,” said he, “fly hither and thither till they have found a field of corn, and the bees till they meet with flowers that may yield them honey; is it for man to be less reasonable than the winged creatures? I also will go forth on my quest; what I want is but the price of a little cow and a lean pig. If you love me, Be
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The Four Gifts.
The Four Gifts.
“What matters fortune!” replied the fermière , scandalised. “What! have you come to such a length as to despise the wealth that God has given us? May all the saints take pity on us! Since this is the case, you bold-faced thing, I forbid you ever to speak again to Dénès; and if I catch him at this farm again, it will be the worse for you both; and meanwhile go you down to the washing-place, and wash the linen, and spread it out to dry upon the hawthorn; for since you’ve had one ear turned towards
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The Palace of the Proud King.
The Palace of the Proud King.
The all-powerful hazel-wand may be discovered hanging in the furthest hall of this magnificent abode; but those who seek it must make haste, for as the final stroke of midnight sounds upon the ear, the passage closes once again, to open no more until the following Pentecost. Skoarn had well remembered all the tale of the old beggar at the Cross of Yar, and for this reason he treads at such unwonted hour the sands of the Lew-Dréz. At length a sharp stroke came dashing from the belfrey of St. Mich
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The Piper.
The Piper.
But the women all exclaimed, “Don’t tempt God, Lao. God has put some things in this world of which it is better to be ignorant, and others which we ought to fear. Leave the Korigans alone to dance about their granite dwellings.” “To dance!” cried Lao. “Then the Korigans have pipers too?” “They have the whistling of the wind across the heath, and the singing of the night-bird.” “Well, then,” said the mountaineer, “I am determined that to-day at least they shall have Christian music. I will go acr
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The White Inn.
The White Inn.
But the landlord rubbed his forehead and looked grieved; for he could not let the traveller sleep in the red chamber. “Since I have been at the White Inn,” said he at last, “only two men have ever occupied that room; and on the morrow, black as had been their hair the night before, they rose with it snow-white.” The traveller looked full at the landlord. “Then your house is haunted by the spirits from another world?” asked he. “It is,” faltered the landlord. “Then God and the Blessed Virgin be m
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Note on the Tale of “Peronnik the Idiot.”
Note on the Tale of “Peronnik the Idiot.”
He continues onwards, meeting by chance Arthur, whom he follows to court; but the day after his arrival a lady clad in black appears to him, and warmly blames him for being the cause of the fisher-king’s sufferings. “His wound,” said she, “has become incurable, because thou didst not question him.” The knight, wishing to repair his fault, seeks in vain to find once more the king’s palace; he is repulsed as by an invisible hand, until the moment when he resolves to go and find a saintly hermit, t
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ST JOSEPH’S ASCETICAL LIBRARY.
ST JOSEPH’S ASCETICAL LIBRARY.
Anglican Difficulties. New and Enlarged Edition. 7s. 6d. Lectures on Catholicism in England. Fourth Edition , with Notes. Price 7s. Sermons to Mixed Congregations. New Edition. 7s. Occasional Sermons. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, with additions, 6s. Verses on Various Occasions , now Collected for the First Time. Fcap. 8vo, Third Edition, price 5s. The Dream of Gerontius. Ninth Edition. 6d.; cloth, 1s. Loss and Gain. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 4s....
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WORKS BY DR NEWMAN.
WORKS BY DR NEWMAN.
1. Life of Henri Dorie, Martyr. Translated by Lady Herbert. Price 1s. 6d.; cloth, 2s. 2. Theophane Venard , Martyr in Tonquin. 2s.; cloth elegant, 3s. 3. Life of Bishop Bruté. Edited by Lady Herbert. 2s.; cloth elegant, 3s. 4. Life of Monseigneur Berneux , Bishop and Martyr. 2s.; cloth elegant, 3s. Lectures on Certain Portions of the Earlier Old Testament History. By Philip G. Munro. Price 3s. 6d. The Prophet of Carmel: A Series of Practical Considerations upon the History of Elias in the Old Te
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FOREIGN MISSIONARY SERIES.
FOREIGN MISSIONARY SERIES.
The Russian Clergy. Translated from the French of Father Gagarin, S.J., by Ch. du Gard Makepeace, M.A. Price 5s. Catholic Worship: A Manual of Popular Instruction on the Ceremonies and Devotions of the Church. By Very Rev. Canon Oakeley. Second Edition. Price 1s. The Book of the Holy Rosary. Demy 8vo. A Popular Doctrinal Exposition of its Fifteen Mysteries, mainly conveyed in Select Extracts from the Fathers, with an Explanation of their Corresponding Types in the Old Testament. Embellished with
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WORKS BY HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER.
WORKS BY HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER.
Homeward: A Tale of Redemption. Second Edition. Price 3s. 6d. God in His Works: A Course of Five Sermons, Preached at the Pro-Cathedral, Kensington. Cloth, price 2s. 6d. The Beloved Disciple; or, St John the Evangelist. In one Vol., neat cloth, price 3s. 6d. Septem: Seven Ways of Hearing Mass. Fifth Edition. Price 2s.; bound, red edges, 2s. 6d; calf, 4s. Cheap Edition, 1s. A French Translation of Septem. Price 1s. 6d. Great Truths in Little Words. Third Edition. Neat cloth, price 3s. 6d. * The E
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NEW AND REVISED EDITIONS OF THE WORKS OF THE REV. FATHER RAWES, O.S.C.
NEW AND REVISED EDITIONS OF THE WORKS OF THE REV. FATHER RAWES, O.S.C.
* Devotions for the Souls in Purgatory. Second Edition. Price 8d. Hymns, Original , &c. Neat cloth, price 1s; Cheap Edition, 6d. * Or in one vol. , VISITS AND DEVOTIONS, neat cloth, 3s. Fenelon’s Reflections for every Day in the Month. Translated by the Rev. Dr. Fletcher. Cloth, price 1s. BURNS & OATES, 17 and 18 PORTMAN STREET....
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Corrections
Corrections
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