[58]. Sir Walter Scott has supposed that this mythological account of the duergar bears a remote allusion to real history, having an ultimate reference to the oppressed Fins, who, before the arrival of the invaders, under the conduct of Odin, were the prior possessors of Scandinavia. The followers of this hero saw a people, who knew how to work the mines of the country better than they did; and, therefore, from a superstitious regard, transformed them into spirits of an unfavourable character, dwelling in the interior of rocks, and surrounded with immense riches.—Border Minstrelsy, v. ii. p. 179.
[59]. It is said that, in Orkney, they were often seen clad in complete armour.—Brand’s description of Orkney. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1701. p. 63.
[60]. In Germany, probably for similar reasons, the dwarfs have acquired the name of elves—a word, observes Mr. Douce, derived from the Teutonic of helfin, which etymologists have translated juvare.
[61]. Minstrelsy of the Scottish border, vol. ii. page 215.
[62]. Before dismissing this subject of fairies, I shall slightly advert to the strange blending which took place of Grecian and Teutonic fables. “We find,” says Sir Walter Scott, “the elves accordingly arrayed in the costume of Greece and Rome, and the fairy queen and her attendants transformed into Diana and her nymphs, and invested with their attributes and appropriate insignia.” Mercury was also named by Harsenet, in the year 1602, the prince of the fairies.
[63]. “He would chafe exceedingly,” says Scot, “if the maid or good wife of the house, having compassion of his nakedness, laid ani cloths for him besides his messe of white bread and milke, which was his standing fee. For in that case he saith, what have we here? Hempton hamten, here will I never more tread nor stampen.”
[64]. Bellus speaks with contempt of this petty instance of malevolence to the human race: “stones are thrown down from the air,” he remarks, “which do no harm, the devils having little strength, and being mere scarecrows.” So much for the origin of meteoric stones.
[65]. See Hibbert’s Philosophy of Apparitions.
[66]. Grellman’s History of the Gipsies.
[67]. Grellman’s opinion seems extremely plausible, that they are of the lowest class of Indians, called suders, and that they left India when Timur Bag ravaged that country in 1408 and 1409, putting to death immense numbers of all ranks of people.