[2] An exception is occasionally made in the case of the “Satans,” as the part is almost too fatiguing for girls.
[3] This little wand plays an important part of its own. In many of its uses it resembles the Caduceus of Mercury; a touch from it renders invisible, puts to death, or restores to life at the will of the Satanic possessor. It appears also as given to the hero in many of the “Legends;” cf. pp. 34, 35, above.
[4] An account of the acting of Richard Sans Peur, at Larrau, in June 1864, is given in Macmillan’s Magazine, January, 1865.
[5] Cf. Legends above, p. 151.
[6] This MS. was kindly lent by M. J. Vinson, to whom we have been so often indebted.
[7] Ercilla, the author of the “Araucana,” was however of Basque blood, and Basque names occur frequently among the poets and dramatists of Spain, especially in recent years.
[8] The claim put forth in the “Revista Euskara,” p. 61, April, 1878, may be fully conceded:—”Si; éste es el carácter distintivo de la poesía euskara; su exquisita moralidad. Jamás se encuentra en ella nada que se parezca, ni á una apología del vicio, ni á una excusa del crimen.”
[9] “Cancionero Vasco, acompañado de traducciones castellanas, juicios criticos,” etc., por José Manterola. San Sebastian. 1877–8. Serie I., 2, p. 39.
[10] The reader will remark that there is really no authority for treating these words as proper names. This, however, is the universal interpretation among Basques.
[11] Ibargüen’s words after quoting the song are: “Por este órden referidas yba este cantar contando toda esta historia que habemos dicho atrás en este capítulo de las guerras ceviles que en cinco años Octaviano Cesar Augusto hizo en esta Provincia Cantábrica, y aunque esta hereciat (historical song) tenga otros muy muchos versos rodados tan solamente dellos he tomado los diez e seis primeros, porque los demas estaban carcomidos, y los pongo aquí para el que fuere bascongado, contentándome con solo ellos ebitando largueza importuna de los demás, que el pergamino está muy roñoso e viejo,” cited in the “Cancionero Vasco,” 2, iii., pp. 4, 5.