[8] Except perhaps among the Scotch Highlanders. See Campbell’s ‘Tales,’ Preface to vol. i. [↑]
[9] See remarks in Preface to Campbell’s ‘Tales of the West Highlands,’ vol. i. p. c. Dr. Dasent’s ‘Popular Tales from the Norse,’ pp. xliv, xlv, &c. [↑]
[10] It has been observed to me that these words furnish a remarkable, because unconscious, parallel to the well-known dictum of Minucius Felix, on the mythical exploits of the old heathen gods and heroes, ‘Quæ si facta essent fierent; quia fieri non possunt ideò nec facta sunt.’ [↑]
[11] (‘And they burnt her to death in the public square.’) [↑]
[12] ‘Don’t marry or set out on a journey on a Friday or Tuesday;’ and under the two heads brought under the rime, any other undertaking is equally proscribed: some servants, for instance, dislike going to a new situation on those days. [↑]
[13] In the story of ‘Filagranata,’ infra, pp. 6 et seq., he is divested in a marked manner of the individuality and importance attaching to his part in the corresponding versions of other countries. [↑]
[14] The Rev. Alfred White told me, however, an English story of the sort, picked up from a countryman in Berkshire. The Magpie was one day building her nest so neatly, and whispering to herself after her wont as she laid each straw in its place, ‘This upon that, this upon that,’ when the Woodpigeon came by. Now the Woodpigeon was young and flighty, and had never learnt how to build a nest; but when she saw how beautifully neat that of the Magpie looked, she thought she would like to learn the art. The busy Magpie willingly accepted the office of teaching her, and began a new one on purpose. Long before she was half through, however, the flighty Woodpigeon sang out, ‘That’ll doooo!’ The Magpie was offended at the interruption, and flew away in dudgeon, and that’s why the Woodpigeon always builds such ramshackle nests. Told well; the ‘This upon that!’ and the ‘That’ll do!’ takes just the sound of the cry of each of the birds named. [↑]