"Tells how the drudging goblin sweat,
To earn his cream-bowl duly set,
When in one night ere glimpse of morn,
His shadowy flail has thrashed the corn,
That ten day-lab'rers could not end:
Then lies him down the lubber-fiend,
And stretched out all the chimney's length,
Basks at the fire his hairy strength,
And cropfull out of doors he flings,
Ere the first cock his matin rings."
Another noted characteristic of this fairy is mentioned in the fine old song of Ben Johnson's:—
"When house or hearth doth sluttish lye,
I pinch the maidens black and blue;
The bed-clothes from the bed pull I,
And lay them naked all to view.
Twixt sleepe and wake
I do them take
And on the key-cold floor them throw:
If out they cry
Then forth I fly,
And loudly laugh out, ho! ho! ho!"
The hobgoblin is one of the widest-spread forms of fairy belief. In England it is also termed Boggard, Puck, Robin Goodfellow, and Robin Hood; it is the Brownie of Scotland; the Cluricaune, Luricaune, Leprochaune, &c., of Ireland; the Kobold of Germany; the Servant of Switzerland; the Nis of Denmark and Norway; the Niägruiser of the Feroes; the Tomt-gubbe, or Tont, of Sweden; the Phynnoderee of the Isle of Man; the Monaciello of Naples; the Duende of Spain; the Lutin, or Gobelin, of France; and the Para of Finland appears to have some affinity with it.
The derivation of some of the principal names of this fairy is also of interest. From the Sclavonic Bôg, signifying God, come the words boggard and boggart; the Scottish Bogle, a hill-fairy; and probably, also, the words Bug-bear and Bugaboo; and from the Icelandic Puki, an evil spirit, come the English Puke, a devil, as also Puck; the Friesland Puk; the German Putz, or Butz; the Devonshire Pixie; the Irish Pouke; the Welsh Pwcca, and the words big and bug,—all names of certain varieties of the fairy-belief, and having the signification of an evil spirit.
Certain forms of pagan worship would appear to have been perpetuated unmodified in Christian countries even to the present time. A remarkable and singular illustration of this is found in Ireland.
Off the north-west coast of that kingdom are situated the islands of Inniskea, containing a population of about 400 human beings. Nominally the inhabitants are Christians, and under Roman Catholic tuition; in reality, they observe the ancient forms of Irish clan government, and are idolaters, worshipping rocks and stones. Their chief god is a stone idol termed Nee-vougi, which has been preserved from time immemorial. It is clothed in homespun flannel, which arises from the custom of its votaries offering portions of their dress when addressing it. These fragments are sewed upon it by an old woman who has charge of the idol, and who officiates as priestess. It is invoked, among other things, to dash helpless ships upon the coast, and to calm the sea in order that the fishing may be successful.[30]
The adoration of rocks and stone pillars is one of the most ancient forms of idolatry on record. It probably took its origin from the custom of erecting stone pillars as a memorial, and consecrating them as altars on any extraordinary event or occasion. The earliest mention of this custom is found in Genesis (cxxviii, v. 10):—
"And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took up the stone he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
"And he called the name of that place Beth-El ... saying ... this stone which I have set up for a pillar shall be God's house."