FOR COLLECTING AND PRINTING
RELICS OF POPULAR ANTIQUITIES, &c.
ESTABLISHED IN
THE YEAR MDCCCLXXVIII.
OF
THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY
BY
M. GASTER, Ph.D.
VICE-PRESIDENT AND SOMETIME PRESIDENT OF THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY
VICE-PRESIDENT AND SOMETIME PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ETC., ETC.
“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;
And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.”
Job xii. 7.
Published for the Folk-Lore Society by
SIDGWICK & JACKSON, LTD., 3 ADAM ST., ADELPHI, W.C.
1915
The right of translation and reproduction
is reserved to the author
To
Her Majesty
Queen Elisabeth of Rumania
“Carmen Sylva”
To Whom the Soul of the Rumanian People is as an Open Book
A Page of that Book
Is
By Gracious Permission
Dedicated
PREFACE.
“Neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled, they are gone.” The forests are silent, over hill and dale hangs a black pall; beast and bird are in hiding; the voices are hushed. But before they have disappeared, following in the track of others, I have endeavoured to catch the hum of the bee, the twitter of the bird, the chirp of the cricket, the song of the dying swan, and all the tales which beasts and birds and little beetles tell their young before they go to sleep ere the flash of the glow-worm flits across the darkness of the forest.
I have followed up to their lairs the ferocious wolf, the cantankerous dog, the sly fox and the wise hedgehog, have listened to the lark and to the nightingale, and paid homage to little king wren. Who knows how much longer they will disport themselves in the fields and forests of Rumania, where the hoofs of the horses, the feet of the marching men, the shout of battle and the thunder of the guns have silenced—let us hope only for a while—the voice of the dumb creatures, who still speak so eloquently to him who knows their language and understands the cunning spell of their hidden wisdom. It is as if I had gathered flowers from the field of the Rumanian popular imagination. They are fresh from the field, and the dew still hangs upon them like so many diamonds, flashing in the light of popular poetry; nay, sometimes a few specks of the original soil are still clinging to the roots. I have not pressed them between the leaves of this book. I have handled them tenderly. It has been a work of love, the dreamy fancies of youth, the solace of maturer age. Peradventure one or the other may be taken out and planted anew in the nurseries of the West, where they may blossom and grow afresh. They might bring with them the breath of the open field, the perfume of the forest. They might conjure up the time when the nations were still young and lived in the great Nursery of Nature. If one could only bring to the nations of the West for awhile a glimpse of the time of their youth! In my wanderings through these enchanted fields I have tried to find whence the seeds have come, whose hands have sown them, and what spiritual wind and weather have fostered their growth, whether the rain of heaven or the fountains of the deep have watered the roots, what sun has shone upon them, what fiery blast has made these flowers wither and die.
Such as they are, then, they are offered in love to the English people.
I have to thank Mr. S. L. Bensusan, who in true friendship, with admirable skill and with untiring zeal has helped me to remove the boulders, to level the ground, to plan the beds and to trim the edges; Miss C. S. Burne, whose keen sympathy, unerring eye and deft hand have helped to weed the tares and group the flowers; my son Vivian, who with loving care and gentle touch has brushed away the dead leaves that had fallen on the green sward, and last, but not least, the Folk-Lore Society, which has granted me a niche in its great Pantheon. It is indeed no small honour to be in the company of the gods.
M. G.
In the month when
“smale fowles maken melodie.”
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Introduction 1
I.
Why is the Bee black, and why is it making Honey? How did the Bee outwit the Devil? 61
I. B.
How did the Bee outwit the Mole? 67
II.
III.
Why is the Bee black, and why has it a Narrow Waist? 71
IV.
Why does the Little Worm glow? 73
V.
Why does the Little Worm glow? 75
VI.
Why does the Little Worm glow? 76
VII.
Why is the Wolf ferocious? 79
VIII.
Why do the Eyes of the Wolf glow and his Hair bristle? 82
IX.
Why does the Wolf run after the Devil? 84
X.
Why the Goat’s Knees are bare 86
XI.
Why did Noah get drunk? 90
XII.
God and the Lamb 94
XIII.
The Hart and the making of the World 95
XIV.
Why is the Fly called the Devil’s Horse? 97
XV.
The Devil stealing the Sun 99
XVI.
Why is it called the Bull-Fly? 102
XVII.
Why is the Saw-Fly red? 104
XVIII.
Why does the Saw-Fly live in Stables? 108
XIX.
Why is the Lady-Bird dainty? 110
XX.
Why does the Gad-Fly sting the Cattle? 114
XXI.
Why does the Fly of Kolumbatsh poison the Cattle? 117
XXII.
Why is there a Worm in the Apple? 122
XXIII.
Why are the Locusts voracious? 124
XXIV.
Why does the Grasshopper run to and fro? 127
XXV.
Another Story of the Grasshopper 129
XXVI.
Why does the Nun Beetle cover its Face? 130
XXVII.
Why is the
XXVIII.
Why is the Wasp the Gipsies’ Bee? 135
XXVIII. A.
Another Version of the Wasp Legend 137
XXIX.
Why does the Hornet live in Smoky Places? 138
XXX.
Why is the Hornet so spiteful? 139
XXX. A.
Hornet Charm 140
XXXI.
Why has the Woodpecker such a Long Beak and why does it peck at the Trees? 141
XXXII.
Why has the Pelican a Big Pouch under its Beak? 143
XXXIII.
Why does the Titmouse get into the Pumpkin? 146
XXXIV.
Why has the Nightingale a Drab Colour? 148
XXXV.
Why has the Nightingale Twelve Tunes and why does the Turtle-Dove coo? 149
XXXVI.
Why is the Nightingale the Songster of the King? 151
XXXVII.
Why does the Thrush hide in the Tree? 153
XXXVIII.
Why has the Partridge a Mottled Colour? 155
XXIX.
Why has the Thistle-Finch Ruffled Feathers? 156
XL.
Why has the Bullfinch a Red Breast and a Big Mouth? 158
XLI.
Why does the Hoopoe feed on Droppings? 160
XLII.
Why is the Wagtail called the Gipsies’ Bird? 161
XLIII.
Why is the Hoopoe such a Dirty Bird? 162
XLIV.
Why does the Cuckoo lead a Restless Life? 164
XLV.
Why is the Cuckoo silent in the Winter? 168
XLVI.
The Story of the Crow and its Ugly Fledglings 170
XLVII.
Why is there enmity between the Crow and the Hawk? 172
XLVII. A.
Crow Charms 175
XLVIII.
Why does the Heron drink only Rain-Water? 176
XLIX.
L.
Why can the Mole not come out on the High Road? 179
LI.
Why has the Tortoise a Round Back? 180
LII.
Why have the Fish no Feet? 182
LIII.
Why do the Plover fly singly? 183
LIV.
Why does the Spider hang on a Thread? 184
LIV. A.
Why are the Spider and the Mouse accursed? 186
LV.
Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast? 188
LVI.
Why does the Frog shrivel up at Death? 190
LVII.
Why does the Silkworm spin a Thin Thread? 192
LVIII.
Why is it right to kill a Sparrow? 195
LIX.
Why should the Oak Tree not boast? 196
LX.
Why does the Mosquito live in the Well? 199
LXI.
Why does the Mosquito feed on Blood? 200
LXII.
Why does the Fly eat the Cherry? 202
LXIII.
Why has the Butterfly Rings on its Wings? 203
LXIV.
Why does the Cricket chirp? 205
LXV.
Why do the Ants feed the Cricket? 206
LXVI.
Why do Cats and Dogs fight? 208
LXVII.
Why do Cats eat Mice? 210
LXVII. A.
Another Version 213
LXVIII.
Why does a Cat sit on the Doorstep in the Sun? 214
LXIX.
Why does the Fly settle on the Dead? 215
LXX.
Why is the Foot of Man arched? 216
LXXI.
Why has a Snake no Tail? and why do Fleas suck Human Blood? 218
Charms against Fleas and other House Vermin 221
LXXIII.
Charms against Bugs 223
LXXIV.
Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”? 225
LXXV.
Why does a Wagtail wag its Tail? 228
LXXVI.
Why has the Hoopoe a Tuft? 229
LXXVII.
Why does the Eagle live on Raw Meat? 231
LXXVIII.
Why has the Lark a Tuft? 236
LXXIX.
Why is the Tuft of the Lark dishevelled? 238
LXXX.
Why do Larks fly towards the Sun? 240
LXXX. A.
The Story of the Lark 243
LXXXI.
The Wooing of the Sister of the Sun 245
LXXXII.
The Wooing of a Fairy 247
LXXXIII.
Where did the Swan come from? 249
LXXXIV.
The Swan Maiden, the Bird of Heaven and the Crown of Paradise 256
LXXXV.
Why does the Duck feed on Refuse? 259
LXXXVI.
Why has the Stork no Tail? 263
LXXXVII.
Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast? 267
LXXXVIII.
Why does the Swallow live in Hot Places? 273
LXXXIX.
Why is the Dove a Homing Bird? 275
XC.
Why does the Raven feed on Carcases? 278
XCI.
Why is the Ant cut in the Middle? 281
XCII.
Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”? 284
XCIII.
Why does the Armenian love the Dirty Hoopoe? 288
XCIV.
The Story of the Partridge, the Fox and the Hound 290
XCV.
XCVI.
The Story of the Lark and the taming of Women 296
XCVII.
The Story of the Turtle Dove and its love for its Mate 299
XCVIII.
Why does the Wren hide himself? 300
XCIX.
Why is there no King over the Birds? 302
C.
The Story of King Log and King Stork 304
CI.
The Story of the Stork and Little Tomtit 305
CII.
The Story of the Flea and the Gnat 306
CIII.
The Story of the Gnat, the Lion, and the Man 307
CIV.
The Story of the Gnat and the Buffalo 310
CV.
The Story of the Town Mouse and the Field Mouse 311
CVI.
The Story of the Hare and the Frogs 314
CVII.
Why does the Buffalo walk slowly and tread gently? 315
CVIII.
The Story of the Pointer and the Setter 317
CIX.
The Story of the Rat and his Journey to God 318
CX.
The Story of the Seven-Witted Fox and the One-Witted Owl 320
CXI.
The Story of the Fox and his Bagful of Wits and the One-Witted Hedgehog 322
CXII.
The Story of the Peasant, the Snake, and King Solomon 325
CXIII.
The Story of the Dog and the Snake and the cure of Headache 327
CXIV.
The Story of the Horse, the Lion, and the Wolf 329
CXV.
The Marriage of Tom and the Vixen 332
CXVI.
The Story of Man and his Years 336
CXVII.
The Judgment of the Soul of Man, accused and defended by Beast and Birds 339
CXVIII.
The Pilgrimage of the Soul after Death 341
CXIX.
APPENDIX I.
RUMANIAN INCANTATIONS AGAINST THE ILLNESSES OF ANIMALS.
I.
Against the Illness of Poultry 349
II.
Charm for a Cow against the Evil Eye 350
III.
Charm for a Suckling Calf 350
IV.
Charm for a Cow against Snake-Bite 351
V.
Charm against Evil Eye 351
VI.
Charm against Evil Eye 351
VII.
Charm against Worms in Beasts 352
VIII.
Against Worms 353
IX.
Charm against Snake-Bite 353
X.
Charm if bitten by a Weasel 354
APPENDIX II.
THREE STORIES FROM ARKIR.
The Rumanian Version of the Story of Ahikar 355
APPENDIX III.
ANIMAL STORIES FROM THE HEBREW ALPHABET OF BEN SIRA.
I.
Why were Flies created which live only One Day? 357
II.
Why did God create Wasps and Spiders which are of no use? 357
III.
Why has the Ox no Hair on his Nose? 359
IV.
Why does the Cat eat Mice more than any other Creeping Thing? 359
V.
Why does the Ass mix his Water with that of other Asses, and smell the Dung? 360
VI.
Why does the Dog fight the Cat? 360
VII.
Why is it that the Dog recognises his Master and the Cat does not? 362
VIII.
Why is there a Seam in the Mouth of the Mouse? 362
IX.
Why does the Raven hop in its Walk? 363
X.
Why does the Raven mate differently from any other Bird? 364
XI.
Why are there no Counterpart to the Fox and the Weasel among
Index 369