But, beyond comparison, the most inexplicable of all the epithets applied to this divinity is Lycæus; which, though—as has been the case, you perceive, in every subject yet discussed—it can be explained only in the Irish!—yet, even there, it opposes some difficulties to discourage, but not more than what give way to sagacity and to perseverance.
At Glendalough, in the county Wicklow, one of the proudest abodes of Budhism, are found, amongst other sculptures, upon the dilapidated ruins, those which you see opposite.
The wolf is the most frequent in the multitude of those hieroglyphics. His character is exhibited in more attitudes than one—and all mysteriously significant of natural designs.
In one place you observe his tail gracefully interwoven with the long hair of a young man’s head. That represents the youth Apollo, controlling by his efficacy—alias, the sun’s genial rays—the most hardened hearts, and so revolutionising the tendency of the inborn system, as from antipathy often to produce affection and love!
Of this illustration, the practical proof is afforded in Bakewell’s Travels in the Tarentaise, to the following purpose, viz.:—
“By way of enlivening the description of the structure of animals, he (M. de Candolle, Lecturer on Natural History at Geneva), introduced many interesting particulars respecting what he called leur morale, or their natural dispositions, and the changes they underwent when under the dominion of man. Among other instances of the affection which wolves had sometimes shown to their masters, he mentioned one which took place in the vicinity of Geneva. A lady, Madame M——, had a tame wolf, which seemed to have as much attachment to its mistress as a spaniel. She had occasion to leave home for some weeks; the wolf evinced the greatest distress after her departure, and at first refused to take food. During the whole time she was absent, he remained much dejected: on her return, as soon as the animal heard her footsteps, he bounded into the room in an ecstasy of delight; springing up, he placed one paw on each of her shoulders, but the next moment he fell backwards and instantly expired.”
Elsewhere you discern two wolves unmercifully tearing at a human head! And this is symbolical of a species of disease, of which there is published an account in a work called The Hospitall of Incurable Fooles, translated from the Italian by Todd, to the following effect, viz.:—
“Amongst these humours of Melancholy, the phisitions place a kinde of madnes, by the Greeks called Lycanthropia, termed by the Latines Insania Lupina, or Wolves furie: which bringeth a man to this point (as Attomare affirmeth), that in Februarie he will goe out of the house in the night like a wolfe, hunting about the graves of the dead with great howling: and plucke the dead men’s bones out of the sepulchres, carrying them about the streets, to the great fear and astonishment of all them that meete him: And the foresaide author affirmeth, that melancholike persons of this kinde have pale faces, soaked and hollow eies, with a weak sight, never shedding one tear to the view of the world,” etc.