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diff --git a/41681-8.txt b/41681-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d66bee7..0000000 --- a/41681-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6127 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Breton Legends, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Breton Legends - Translated from the French - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: December 21, 2012 [EBook #41681] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRETON LEGENDS *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - BRETON LEGENDS. - - Translated from the French. - - - - London - - Burns, Oates, & Co., 17 Portman Street, - and 63 Paternoster Row - - - - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The various Collections of Household and Legendary Tales of different -countries which have appeared of late years sufficiently attest the -popular interest which attaches to these curious and venerable relics -of bygone days. Even such eminent scholars as the Messrs. Grimm have -not thought it beneath them to devote their time and research to the -task of collecting the old fireside Stories and Legends of Germany; -and the result of their labours is a volume of tales of remarkable -interest and attractiveness, distinguished no less for variety and -invention than for pathos, humour, and graceful simplicity. - -Similar Collections have been published from time to time in relation -to other countries (among others, a remarkable one on the Norse -Legends, recently issued); and it seemed to the Editors of the present -volume that the time had arrived when Brittany too might venture to -put forward her claim in this respect to public attention. A selection -of some of the best of the Breton Legends is therefore presented to -the reader in this little volume. - -It may be remarked, that the Breton Legends, though possessing -much that is common to the German and other National Tales, have -yet features peculiar to themselves. They are, we may say, deeply -coloured by the character of the country in which they have their -home. The sea-coast of Brittany, with its rugged rocks and deep -mysterious bays and inlets; the lone country heaths in which stand -the Menhir and Dolmen, with their dark immemorial traditions; the -gray antiquated chateaus with their fosses and turrets,--all impart -a wild and severe character to its legends, and strike the reader -with a kind of awe which he scarcely feels in reading those of other -countries. In addition to this, the way in which the religion of the -Cross, and the doctrines and rites of the Church are interwoven with -the texture of almost every one of the Breton Tales, seems to mark -them off with still greater distinctness, lending them at the same -time a peculiar charm which can hardly fail to commend them to the -sympathies of the religious reader. - -We may add that the moral lessons to be derived from many of these -Legends are as striking as they are ingeniously wrought out. - -The Tales are a translation from the French; and for this the Editors -are indebted to the skill and good taste of a lady, who has entered -most fully into the spirit and feeling of these simple but beautiful -specimens of Legendary Lore. - - - - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Page - The Three Wayfarers 1 - The Legend of St. Galonnek 14 - The Korils of Plauden 31 - The Blessed Mao 47 - The Fate of Keris 63 - The Stones of Plouhinec 74 - Teuz-à-pouliet; or, the Dwarf 84 - The Spectre Laundresses 96 - Robin Redbreast 104 - Comorre 118 - The Groac'h of the Isle of Lok 132 - The Four Gifts 150 - The Palace of the proud King 167 - The Piper 172 - The White Inn 177 - Peronnik the Idiot 182 - Appendix 207 - - - - - - - -BRETON LEGENDS. - -THE THREE WAYFARERS. - - -There dwelt in the diocese of Léon, in ancient times, two young -noblemen, rich and comely as heart could desire. Their names were -Tonyk and Mylio. - -Mylio, the elder, was almost sixteen, and Tonyk just fourteen years -of age. They were both under the instruction of the ablest masters, by -whose lessons they had so well profited that, but for their age, they -might well have received holy orders, had such been their vocation. - -But in character the brothers were very unlike. Tonyk was pious, -charitable to the poor, and always ready to forgive those who had -offended him: he hoarded neither money in his hand nor resentment -in his heart. Mylio, on the other hand, while he gave but his due to -each, would drive a hard bargain too, and never failed to revenge an -injury to the uttermost. - -It had pleased God to deprive them of their father whilst yet in their -infancy, and they had been brought up by their widowed mother, a woman -of singular virtue; but now that they were growing towards manhood, -she deemed it time to send them to the care of an uncle, who lived -at some distance, and from whom they might receive good counsels for -their walk in life, besides the expectation of an ample heritage. - -So one day, after bestowing upon each a new cap, a pair of -silver-buckled shoes, a violet mantle, [1] a well-filled purse, -and a horse, she bade them set forth towards the house of their -father's brother. - -The two boys began their journey in the highest spirits, glad that -they were travelling into a new country. Their horses made such good -speed, that in the course of a few days they found themselves already -in another kingdom, where the trees, and even the corn, were quite -different to their own. There one morning, coming to a cross-road, -they saw a poor woman seated near a wayside cross, her face buried -in her apron. - -Tonyk drew up his horse to ask her what she ailed; and the beggar -told him, sobbing, that she had just lost her son, her sole support, -and that she was now cast upon the charity of Christian strangers. - -The youth was touched with compassion; but Mylio, who waited at a -little distance, cried out mockingly, - -"You are not going to believe the first pitiful story told you by -the roadside! It is just this woman's trade to sit here and cheat -travellers of their money." - -"Hush, hush, my brother," answered Tonyk, "in the name of God; you -only make her weep the more. Do not you see that she is just the -age and figure of our own dear mother, whom may God preserve." Then -stooping towards the beggar-woman, he handed her his purse, saying, - -"Here, my good woman, I can help you but a little; but I will pray -that God Himself may be your consolation." - -The beggar took the purse, and pressed it to her lips; then said -to Tonyk, - -"Since my young lord has been so bountiful to a poor woman, let him -not refuse to accept from her this walnut. It contains a wasp with -a sting of diamond." - -Tonyk took the walnut with thanks, and proceeded on his way with Mylio. - -Ere long they came upon the borders of a forest, and saw a little -child, half naked, seeking somewhat in the hollows of the trees, -whilst he sung a strange and melancholy air, more mournful than the -music of a requiem. He often stopped to clap his little frozen hands, -saying in his song, "I am cold,--oh, so cold!" and the boys could -hear his teeth chatter in his head. - -Tonyk was ready to weep at this spectacle, and said to his brother, - -"Mylio, only see how this poor child suffers from the piercing wind." - -"Then he must be a chilly subject," returned Mylio; "the wind does -not strike me as so piercing." - -"That may well be, when you have on a plush doublet, a warm cloth coat, -and over all your violet mantle, whilst he is wrapped round by little -but the air of heaven." - -"Well, and what then?" observed Mylio; "after all, he is but a -peasant-boy." - -"Alas," said Tonyk, "when I think that you, my brother, might have -been born to the same hard fate, it goes to my very heart; and I -cannot bear to see him suffering. For Jesus' sake let us relieve him." - -So saying he reined in his horse, and calling to him the little boy, -asked what he was about. - -"I am trying," said the child, "if I can find any dragon-flies [2] -asleep in the hollows of the trees." - -"And what do you want with the dragon-flies?" asked Mylio. - -"When I have found a great many, I shall sell them in the town, -and buy myself a garment as warm as sunshine." - -"And how many have you found already?" asked the young nobleman. - -"One only," said the child, holding up a little rushen cage enclosing -the blue fly. - -"Well, well, I will take it," interposed Tonyk, throwing to the boy -his violet mantle. "Wrap yourself up in that nice warm cloak, my -poor little fellow; and when you kneel down to your evening prayers, -say every night a 'Hail Mary' for us, and another for our mother." - -The two brothers went forward on their journey; and Tonyk, having -parted with his mantle, suffered sorely for a time from the cutting -north wind; but the forest came to an end, the air grew milder, -the fog dispersed, and a vein of sunshine kindled in the clouds. - -They presently entered a green meadow, where a fountain sprung; and -there beside it sat an aged man, his clothes in tatters, and on his -back the wallet which marked him as a beggar. - -As soon as he perceived the young riders, he called to them in -beseeching tones. - -Tonyk approached him. - -"What is it, father?" said he, lifting his hand to his hat in -respectful consideration of the beggar's age. - -"Alas, my dear young gentlemen," replied the old man, "you see how -white my hair is, and how wrinkled my cheeks. By reason of my age, I -have grown very feeble, and my feet can carry me no further. Therefore -I must certainly sit here and die, unless one of you is willing to -sell me his horse." - -"Sell thee one of our horses, beggar!" exclaimed Mylio, with -contemptuous voice; "and wherewithal have you to pay for it?" - -"You see this hollow acorn," answered the mendicant: "it contains -a spider capable of spinning a web stronger than steel. Let me have -one of your horses, and I will give you in exchange the acorn with -the spider." - -The elder of the two boys burst into a loud laugh. - -"Do you only hear that, Tonyk?" said he, turning to his brother. "By -my baptism, there must be two calf's feet in that fellow's shoes." [3] - -But the younger answered gently, - -"The poor can only offer what he has." - -Then dismounting, he went up to the old man, and added, - -"I give you my horse, my honest friend, not in consideration of -the price you offer for him, but in remembrance of Christ, who has -declared the poor to be His chosen portion. Take and keep him as your -own, and thank God, in whose name I bestow him." - -The old man murmured a thousand benedictions, and mounting with -Tonyk's aid, went on his way, and was soon lost in the distance. - -But at this last alms-deed Mylio could no longer contain himself, -and broke out into a storm of reproaches. - -"Fool!" cried he angrily to Tonyk, "are you not ashamed of the state -to which you have reduced yourself by your folly? You thought no -doubt that when you had stripped yourself of every thing, I would go -shares with you in horse and cloak and purse. But no such thing. I -hope this lesson at least will do you good, and that, by feeling the -inconveniences of prodigality, you may learn to be more prudent for -the future." - -"It is indeed a good lesson, my brother," replied Tonyk mildly; "and -I willingly receive it. I never so much as thought of sharing your -money, horse, or cloak; go, therefore, on your way without troubling -yourself about me, and may the Queen of angels guide you." - -Mylio answered not a word, but trotted quickly off; whilst his young -brother followed upon foot, keeping him in sight as long as he was -able, without a thought of bitterness arising in his heart. - -And thus they went on towards the entrance of a narrow defile between -two mountains, so lofty that their tops were hidden in the clouds. It -was called the Accursed Strait; for a dreadful being dwelt among -those heights, and there laid wait for travellers, like a huntsman -watching for his game. He was a giant, blind, and without feet; but -had so fine an ear for sound, that he could hear the worm working -her dark way within the earth. His servants were two eagles, which -he had tamed (for he was a great magician), and he sent them forth -to catch his prey so soon as he could hear it coming. So the country -people of the neighbourhood, when they had to thread the dreaded pass, -were accustomed to carry their shoes in their hands, like the girls -of Roscoff going to market at Morlaix, and held their breath lest -the giant should detect their passage. But Mylio, who knew nothing -of all this, went on at full trot, until the giant was awakened by -the sound of horse's hoofs upon the stony way. - -"Ho, ho, my harriers, where are you?" cried he. - -The white and the red eagle hastened to him. - -"Go and fetch me for my supper what is passing by," exclaimed the -giant. - -Like balls from cannon-mouth they shot down the depths of the ravine, -and seizing Mylio by his violet mantle, bore him upwards to the -giant's den. - -At that moment Tonyk came up to the entrance of the defile. He -saw his brother in the act of being carried off by the two birds, -and rushing towards him, uttered a loud cry; but the eagles almost -instantly vanished with Mylio in the clouds that hung over the loftiest -mountain. For a few seconds the boy stood rooted to the spot with -horror, gazing on the sky and the straight rocks that rose above him -like a wall; then sinking on his knees, with folded hands, he cried, - -"O God, the Almighty Maker of the world, save my brother Mylio!" - -"Trouble not God the Father for so small a matter," cried three little -voices close beside him. - -Tonyk turned in amazement. - -"Who speaks? where are you?" he exclaimed. - -"In the pocket of thy doublet," replied the three voices. - -Tonyk searched his pocket, and drew forth the walnut, the acorn, -and the rushen cage, containing the three different insects. - -"Is it you who will save Mylio?" said he. - -"We, we, we," they answered in their various tones. - -"And what can you do, you poor little nobodies?" continued Tonyk. - -"Let us out, and thou shalt see." - -The boy did as they desired; and immediately the spider crept -to a tree, from which she began a web as strong and as shining as -steel. Then mounting on the dragon-fly, which raised her gradually in -the air, she still wove on her silvery network; the several threads -of which assumed the form of a ladder constantly stretching upwards. - -Tonyk mounted step by step on this miraculous ladder, until it brought -him to the summit of the mountain. Then the wasp flew before him, -and led him to the giant's den. - -It was a grotto hollowed in the cliff, and lofty as a -cathedral-nave. The blind and footless ogre, seated in the middle, -swayed his vast body to and fro like a poplar rocked by winds, -singing snatches of a strange song; while Mylio lay on the ground, -his legs and arms tucked behind him, like a fowl trussed for the -spit. The two eagles were at a little distance, by the fireplace, -one ready to act as turnspit, whilst the other made up the fire. - -The noise which the giant made in singing, and the attention he paid -to the preparations for his feast, prevented his hearing the approach -of Tonyk and his three tiny attendants; but the red eagle perceived -the youth, and, darting forward, would have seized him in its claws, -had not the wasp at that very moment pierced its eyes with her diamond -sting. The white eagle, hurrying to its fellow's aid, shared the same -fate. Then the wasp flew upon the ogre, who had roused himself on -hearing the cries of his two servants, and set herself to sting him -without mercy. The giant roared aloud, like a bull in August. But -in vain he whirled around him his huge arms, like windmill-sails; -having no eyes, he could not succeed in catching the creature, and -for want of feet it was equally impossible for him to escape from it. - -At length he flung himself, face downwards, on the earth, to find some -respite from its fiery dart; but the spider then came up, and spun over -him a net that held him fast imprisoned. In vain he called upon the -eagles for assistance: savage with pain, and no longer fearing now they -saw him vanquished, their only impulse was to revenge upon him all the -bitterness of their past long slavery. Fiercely flapping their wings, -they flew upon their former master, and tore him in their fury, as he -lay cowering beneath the web of steel. With every stroke of their beaks -they carried off a strip of flesh; nor did they stay their vengeance -until they had laid bare his bones. Then they crouched down upon the -mangled carcass; and as the flesh of a magician, to say nothing of -an ogre, is a meat impossible of digestion, they never rose again. - -Meanwhile Tonyk had unbound his brother; and, after embracing him with -tears of joy, led him from the cavern to the edge of the precipice. The -dragon-fly and the wasp soon appeared there, harnessed to the little -cage of rushes, now transformed into a coach. They invited the two -brothers to seat themselves within it, whilst the spider placed -herself behind like a magnificent lackey, and the equipage rolled -onwards with the swiftness of the wind. In this way Tonyk and Mylio -travelled untired over meadows, woods, mountains, and villages (for -in the air the roads are always in good order), until they came before -their uncle's castle. - -There the carriage came to ground, and rolled onwards towards the -drawbridge, where the brothers saw both their horses in waiting for -them. At the saddle-bow of Tonyk hung his purse and mantle; but the -purse had grown much larger and heavier, and the mantle was now all -powdered with diamonds. - -Astonished, the youth turned him towards the coach to ask what this -might mean; but, behold, the coach had disappeared; and instead of -the wasp, the spider, and the dragon-fly, there stood three angels -all glorious with light. Awe-struck and bewildered, the brothers sank -upon their knees. - -Then one of the angels, more beautiful and radiant than his fellows, -drew near to Tonyk, and thus spoke: - -"Fear not, thou righteous one; for the woman, the child, and the old -man, whom thou hast succoured were none others than our blessed Lady, -her divine Son, and the holy saint Joseph. They sent us to guard thee -on thy way from harm; and, now that our mission is accomplished, -we return to Paradise. Only remember all that has befallen thee, -and let it serve as an example for ever." - -At these words the angels spread their wings, and soared away like -three white doves, chanting the Hosanna as it is sung in churches at -the Holy Mass. - - - - - - - -THE LEGEND OF SAINT GALONNEK. - - -Saint Galonnek was a native of Ireland, as, indeed, were almost all -the teachers in Brittany of those days, and called himself Galonnus, -being evidently of Roman origin. But after he had left his native land, -and the fame of his good deeds had spread far and wide, the Bretons, -seeing that his heart was like one of those fresh springs of water -that are ever bubbling beneath unfading verdure, changed his name to -Galonnek, which signifies in their language the open-hearted. - -And, in truth, never had any child of God a soul more tenderly -awakened to the sufferings of his fellow-men. No sorrow was beneath his -sympathy; but it was like the sea-breeze, springing with each tide, -never failing to refresh the traveller weary on his way, or to fill -the sails of the humble fishing-boat, and bring it safe to land. - -His father and mother were people of substance, and though themselves -buried in the darkness of paganism, spared not the tenderest solicitude -in the education of their son. He was placed under the instruction -of the most learned masters Ireland could afford, and above all, had -the honour of being a pupil of St. Patrick, then found amongst them -like a nightingale in the midst of wrens, or a beech-tree towering -above the ferns on a common. - -Under his teaching the boy grew up, learning only to regard himself in -the person of God and his neighbours; and with so fervent a love for -souls did the holy apostle of Ireland inspire Galonnek, that at the -age of eighteen he had no higher wish than to cross over to Brittany, -and preach the kingdom of Heaven to sorrowful sinners. - -His father and mother, who had then long since been converted, -desired to throw no hindrance in the way of his accomplishing this -pious work; but embracing him with tears, they bade him God speed, -assured that they should meet again once more before the throne of God. - -Galonnek took his passage in a boat manned by evil-disposed sailors, -whose design was to plunder him; but when they discovered that -the holy youth was possessed of nothing but an iron crucifix and -a holly-staff, they turned him out upon the coast of Cornouaille, -where they abandoned him, helpless and without provisions. - -Galonnek walked about a long time, not knowing where he was, but -perfectly tranquil in his mind, certain that he was in his Master's -kingdom. The sea that roared behind him, the birds that warbled in -the bushes, and the wind murmuring in the leaves, all spoke alike to -him, each with its own peculiar voice, the name of that Master whose -creatures and subjects they were. - -He came at length, towards evening, to a part of the country lying -between Audierne and Plougastel-des-Montagnes, and there finding -a village, he seated himself on the doorstep of the first house, -awaiting an invitation to enter. - -But, far from that, the owner of the house bade him rise and go -away. Galonnek then went to the door of the next house, and received -the same inhospitable order; and so on from door to door throughout -the village. And from the expression every where used to him, zevel, -this village was afterwards called Plouzevel, literally, people who -said, Get up. - -The saint was preparing to stretch his weary limbs by the roadside, -when he perceived a cabin which he had not yet noticed, and drew near -the door. - -It was the dwelling of a poor widow, possessed only of a few acres -of barren land, which she had no longer strength to till. But if the -fruits of her land were little worth, those of her heart were rich and -plentiful. So tenderly generous was her charity, that if any one asked -her for a draught of goat's milk, she would give him cream; and if one -begged for cream, she would have been ready to bestow the goat itself. - -She received Galonnek as if he had been her dearly-beloved son, long -absent, and supposed dead. She ministered to him of the best she had, -listening with devotion to his holy teaching; and having already -charity, the very key of true religion, she was ready to embrace with -all her heart the faith of Christ. So early as the very next morning -she begged the grace of baptism; and Galonnek, seeing that the love -of her neighbours had already made her a Christian in intention, -consented to bestow it. But water was wanted at the moment of the -ceremony; and St. Galonnek going out, took a spade, and digging for -a few moments in the old woman's little courtyard, there sprung out -an abundant fountain; and he said, - -"By the aid of this water your barren land will become fertile meadows -covered with rich grass, and you will be able to feed as many cows -in your new pastures as you have now goats browsing on your heath." - -This miracle began to open the eyes of the villagers; and they gave -permission to Galonnek to take up his abode in a forest which stretched -in those days from Plouzevel to the sea-shore. There the holy disciple -of St. Patrick built himself a hut of turf and boughs. - -One day whilst praying in this oratory, he heard the hoofs of a -runaway horse; and leaving his devotions to see what was the matter, -he saw a knight thrown from his horse amidst the thicket. - -Galonnek ran to his assistance; and having with much difficulty -carried him to his hermitage, he began to bathe his wounds, to dress -them with leaves for want of ointment, and to bind them up with strips -torn from his own gown of serge. - -Now it chanced that this knight was the Count of Cornouaille himself; -and he was found presently by the attendants, whom he had outstripped, -peacefully sleeping on the saint's bed of fern. But behold, when -he awakened, that saint's prayers had stood instead of remedies, -and all his wounds were healed. - -And whilst all stood astonished at this miracle, St. Galonnek said -gently, - -"Do not be so much surprised; for if by faith mountains may be moved, -why should not charity heal death itself?" - -The count, filled with wonder and delight, declared that the whole -forest should become the property of the man who had done so much -for him; and not that only, but that he should have as much good -meadow-land as could be enclosed within the strips he had torn from -his gown to bind the wounds, each strip being reduced to single -threads. Thus Galonnek became the owner of a whole parish; and a -proverb arose, which is still current in those parts, That it is -with the length of a benefit received one must measure the field -of gratitude. - -Yet Galonnek was none the richer, notwithstanding the noble liberality -of the count. All the income of his estate was given to the poor, -whilst he still lived on in his leafy hermitage. But as many young men -were attracted from the neighbourhood by his reputation for holiness -and learning, he built many other cells beside his own; and thus from -his school in that solitary glade the light of the Gospel went forth -in time through all the length and breadth of the country. - -It was amidst the perfume of wild-flowers, beside the murmuring brook, -that Galonnek taught his pupils. He would teach them to understand -somewhat of the providence of God by making them observe the tender -care with which the little birds prepare a downy nest for offspring -yet unborn. He would point out to their attention how the earth yields -moisture to the roots of trees, how the trees become a dwelling-place -for thrushes and for finches, and how these again make musical the -forest with their cheerful strains, to illustrate the advantage and -necessity of mutual benevolence and brotherly love. And when need was -to stimulate their efforts or their perseverance, he would lead them -to behold the ant, unwearied in her toil, or the constant woodpecker -whose tiny bill achieves the scooping of an oak. - -But this teaching did not confine him in one place; and wherever he -went his presence was as that of a star in the midst of darkness. - -Now in those days the inhabitants of Brittany still exercised the -right of wrecking, or in other words, reserved to themselves the -privilege of plundering any unfortunate vessels thrown upon their -coasts. They spoke of the sea as a cow given to their ancestors by -God, and that brought forth every winter for their benefit; thus they -looked on shipwrecks as a positive blessing. - -One night, during a heavy storm, as Galonnek was returning to his -forest from the sick-bed of a poor man, he saw the dwellers on the -coast leading a bull along the rocks. His head was bound down towards -his fore-legs, and a beacon-light was fastened to his horns. The -crippled gait of the animal gave an oscillating motion to the light, -which might be well mistaken at a distance for the lantern of a ship -pitching out at sea, and thus deceive bewildered vessels, uncertain -in the tempest of their course, into the notion of yet being far from -shore. Already one thus treacherously beguiled was on its way to -ruin, and might be seen close upon the rocks, its full white sails -gleaming through the night; another moment and it would have been -aground among the breakers. - -Galonnek rushed amidst the peasants, extinguished the false beacon, -and reproached them for such treachery. But they would not listen to -him, and prepared to rekindle the light. Then the saint cried, - -"By all your hopes in this world and the next, have done! for it is -your own brethren and children that you are drawing to destruction." - -And whilst they stood uncertain, God kindled up the sky with flashing -lightning; and beholding the vessel as if it had been noonday, they -saw that it was indeed a Breton ship. - -Terrified by the dangers to which they had exposed themselves, they -all fell down at the saint's feet; the women kissed the hem of his -garment with floods of tears, as if his hands had rescued their sons -from the depths of the sea, and all with one voice exclaimed, - -"But for him we should have become the murderers of our friends -and neighbours." - -"Alas, those whom you have already lured to death were equally your -neighbours and your friends," replied St. Galonnek; "for we are -all descended from Adam, and have been ransomed by the blood of the -same God." - -The peasants, deeply moved, perceived their guilt, and promised to -renounce this custom of their fathers. - -Much about the same time, the country of Pluguffant was ravaged -by a dragon, which devoured whole flocks with their shepherds and -dogs. In vain had the most courageous men banded themselves together -to destroy it. The ferocious monster had put them all to flight; and -now nobody dared to stir out of doors to lead his cattle to water, -or go and work in the fields. As soon as Galonnek knew this sad state -of things, he set out for the court of the Count of Cornouaille, -and asked there which knight was the most valiant before God and -man. Every voice declared him to be Messire Tanguy de Carfor, who -had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre, and killed more than a -thousand Saracens with his own hand. - -Galonnek desired him to gird on his sword and armour, and to come and -fight the dragon, which God had given him a mission to destroy. Carfor -instantly armed himself, and accompanied the saint to the monster's -den, from which he came out, howling frightfully at their approach. - -Carfor hesitated in spite of himself at so unwonted an appearance; -but Galonnek said to him, - -"For your soul's sake, messire, have confidence in God, and you shall -kill this monster as easily as a gadfly." - -Thus encouraged, the knight advanced to the attack, and with scarce an -effort pierced the dragon three times through with his sword, whilst -the saint called upon the three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. - -Galonnek also freed the country from many other scourges, such as -wolves, reptiles, and mosquitoes with fiery stings; and being now old -enough to receive holy orders, he was ordained by St. Pol; and built -a little chapel beside his oratory, where every day he celebrated Mass. - -Meanwhile the leafy cells around him multiplied so fast, that at -last they were united in a monastery, called by Galonnek Youlmad, -or the house of good desires. - -He was engaged in drawing up a rule for this monastery, when he was -interrupted by a disturbing rumour which arose in the neighbourhood. - -It was said that a woman clothed in red, and with a ghastly -countenance, had taken passage in a fishing-boat from Crozon. She -landed near Poullons; and when questioned as to her name on departing, -she had replied that she was called the Lady of Pestilence. And, in -fact, it came to pass, that within a very few days both men and animals -were smitten with a contagious disease, which carried them off after a -few hours' illness. So great was the mortality, that wood sufficient -for the coffins could not be found; and for want of grave-diggers, -the corpses were laid to rest in furrows hollowed by the plough. - -Those who were well off gathered all their effects together in wagons, -and harnessing all the horses they possessed, drove away at full -speed to the mountains, which the pallid woman had not passed. But the -poorer people, who had no means of conveyance, and were unwilling to -leave their little all, awaited their doom at home, like sheep lying -down to rest around the butcher's door. - -In this extremity, however, they were not abandoned by Galonnek. He -went from hut to hut, carrying aid or consolation. Linen for shrouds -and wood for coffins might indeed be wanting; but he swathed the -fever-spotted dead in leafy twigs, and bore them in his own arms -to consecrated earth, laying them down tenderly as sleeping infants -in their cradle-bed. Then planting a branch of yew, and another of -blossoming broom, he entwined them in the form of a cross, and set -them as an emblem on the grave; the yew symbolising the sorrow which -underlies the whole course of life, and the blossoming broom the -transitory joys which gleam across it. And it is said, that when at -last the pestilence was stayed, these holy crosses covered a space of -three days' journey. So many generous and pious acts had spread the -fame of Galonnek both far and wide, and all Cornouaille was inflamed -with devotion. Persons came from all parts to the convent of Good -Desires to listen to his teaching, to ask his prayers, and to offer him -gifts; but these the saint only accepted for the purposes of charity. - -"The priest," he used to say, "is only as a canal, which serves to -carry water from overflowing streams to arid barren plains." - -Another of his sayings was, "God has given us two hands; one with -which to receive His good treasures, and the other to administer the -same to those who need." - -And thus, although the neighbouring nobles had loaded him with -presents, his monastery and church were radiant only with his good -actions. He was accustomed to sleep upon an osier hurdle, and wore -nothing better than a gown of faded serge. But all this external -poverty threw out with stronger lustre the brightness of his hidden -worth; and Galonnek was like one of those caskets made of earth or -bark, in which are treasured rubies and carbuncles. - -The see of Cornouaille becoming vacant, Galonnek was summoned with -one voice to fill it. He was anxious to refuse; but St. Pol himself -came to find him out, and said to him that God's stars have no right -to conceal themselves in the grass, but must take their places in -the firmament. Then St. Galonnek resigned himself; but when the -moment came for leaving the turfen oratory, where he had spent the -best part of his life, his heart became so heavy that he burst into -tears, and cried aloud, "Alas, how shall I become worthy of the new -office which my brethren impose upon me?" Then, falling on his knees, -he prayed most fervently until God put strength into his heart. When -he arose, he took the humble chalice he had been accustomed to use, -his sole possession, save the memory of his good deeds, and went on -foot to the capital of Cornouaille, where he was consecrated Bishop. - -Here began for St. Galonnek a new life of courage and self-denial. He -had to fight for the poor against the rich, for the weak against -the mighty. When his friends and disciples beheld him engage, all -unprotected, in these dangerous struggles, even the most courageous -were at times dismayed; but Galonnek would say with a smile, "Fear not, -my friends, their weapons cannot touch me. God Himself has forged -for me a breastplate with the tears of the sorrowful, the miseries -of the poor, and the despair of the oppressed. Behind this armour I -can feel no hurt. Blows can only do us mischief by glancing across us -at any of those who have taken up our cause; for from our very heart -distils a balsam that can heal as they come all the wounds inflicted -from without." - -Moved by the sight of so much virtue, many powerful noblemen, who had -hitherto persisted in idolatry, came to ask of Galonnek instruction and -the grace of baptism; but he would only grant this favour in reward for -some good work. If any one had sinned, and came to seek for absolution, -Galonnek would give him for a penance some virtuous action to perform, -some charitable service to his fellow-men. He taught them to regard -God as the surety for recompenses merited but not received, to invest -their lives in Paradise, to break every tie which holds the soul in -bondage, that it may spring forward with unfettered flight in the -love of God and man. - -About this time the Count of Cornouaille died, and was succeeded by -his son Tugduval. He was a conceited, vain-glorious youth, who could -not endure the least contradiction, and had not yet lived long enough -to find that life is an instrument on which the first chords we strike -are invariably false. - -So unjust had he shown himself in many instances to the townspeople -and gentry, that they banded together and drove him from the city. But -Tugduval asked assistance from the Count of Vannes, and soon returned -with an army to which the rebels could offer no resistance. Multitudes -were slain in battle, and the survivors taking refuge in the city, -were besieged there by the count. - -He rode round the city-walls, like a hungry wolf parading a sheepfold, -swearing never to forgive one of the rebels, or those who had given -them shelter. - -So battering-rams were brought, and raised against the walls; and -when once a passage was forced, he mounted his war-horse, and ordering -every soldier to take a naked sword in one hand, and a lighted torch -in the other, he rushed at their head into the affrighted city. - -But Galonnek had seen the terror of the conquered people, who only -looked for fire and sword; and coming out of the cathedral, with -all his priests in procession, bearing crosses and all their sacred -relics, he came the first to meet Tugduval, his bald head uncovered, -and his chalice in his hand. - -The young count, astonished, checked his horse; but Galonnek went -straight up to his saddle-bow, there paused, and said in a gentle -voice, "If any will devour the flock, he must begin by slaying the -shepherd. I am here at your mercy, and am ready to purchase with my -blood forgiveness for the rest." - -At the sight of this holy old man, whom he had early been taught -to reverence, and at that voice which had always sounded like a -benediction, Tugduval felt his rage dissolve away; and letting fall -his sword, he bent over his horse's neck, and kissed devoutly the -chalice carried by St. Galonnek. At that instant all the soldiers, -as if touched by the same emotion, put out their torches, and turned -their sword-points to the ground, crying as with one voice, "Quarter, -quarter for all!" - -The young count waited not a repetition of this prayer; but dismounting -hastily, he followed the Bishop to the cathedral, where the conquerors -and the conquered joined in songs of thanksgiving to God. - -This was the last great act of St. Galonnek's life. A very few months -after, he felt his strength decay, and knew that his end was near. He -did not, however, on that account relax in his good works. Returning -one day from a visit to a poor widow bereaved of her last son, he -suddenly found himself unable to proceed, and sat down to rest upon -a stone by the wayside. There a pedlar from the mountains found him, -some time after, sitting motionless; and thinking that he slept, -the man approached him, when he saw that he was dead. Judging from -the poverty of his apparel, the pedlar took him for a hermit of the -neighbourhood, and out of Christian charity wrapped the body in his -mantle for a funeral shroud. A shoemaker's wife, who lived a few -steps off, contributed an old chest to serve as a coffin, so that -Bishop Galonnek came to his grave like a beggar. - -But the truth was soon discovered by the miracles which were wrought -at his tomb; and the body being taken from the earth, was carried with -great state to the city, and buried at the foot of the high altar in -the cathedral. St. Pol was requested to write an epitaph upon him; -but the apostle of Léon replied that none but an archangel could -compose one; so they merely covered the grave with a plain granite -slab, on which was carved the name of Galonnek. - -Ages have passed away, and yet this stone still remains, and thither -the Breton mothers come to lay their new-born babes one instant on -its consecrated bosom, whilst they repeat the usual form of prayer: - -"Saint Galonnek, bestow upon my child two hearts. Give him the heart -of a lion, that he may be strong in well-doing; and give him the -heart of a turtle-dove, that he may be full of brotherly love." - -The feast of St. Galonnek is celebrated on the 1st of April, when -the buds of the hedgerows are bursting into leaf, and "the time of -the singing of birds is come." - - - - - - - -THE KORILS OF PLAUDEN. - - -There dwelt formerly in the land of White-Wheat, as well as in -Cornouaille, a race of dwarfs, or Korigans, who, being divided into -four nations or tribes, inhabited the woods, the commons, the valleys, -and the farms. Those dwelling in the woods were called Kornikaneds, -because they played on little horns, which hung suspended from -their girdles; the inhabitants of the commons were called Korils, -from their spending all their nights in dancing by moonlight; the -dwellers in the valleys were Poulpikans, from their homes lying so -low; and the Teuz were wild black men, living near the meadows and -the wheat-fields; but as the other Korigans accused them of being too -friendly with Christians, they were forced to take flight into Léon, -where probably there may still be some of them remaining. - -At the time of which I speak, there were only then hereabouts the -Kornikaneds, the Poulpikans, and the Korils; but they abounded in -such numbers, that after dark few people cared to venture near their -stony palaces. - -Above all, there lay in Plauden, near the little market-town of -Loqueltas, a common known as Motenn-Dervenn, or place of oaks, whereon -there stood an extensive Koril village, that may be seen there to this -very day. The mischievous dwarfs came out to dance there every night; -and any one adventurous enough to cross the common at that time was -sure to be entrapped into their mazy chain, and forced to wheel about -with them till earliest cockcrow; so that the place was universally -avoided after nightfall. - -One evening, however, Benead Guilcher, returning with his wife from -a field, where he had been doing a day's work in ploughing for a -farmer of Cadougal, took his way across the haunted heath because it -was so much the shortest road. It was still early, and he hoped that -the Korigans might not have yet begun their dance; but when he came -half-way over the Motenn-Dervenn, he perceived them scattered round -about the blocks of stone, like birds on a field of corn. He would -fain have turned him back; but the horns of the wood-dwarfs, and the -call-cries of the valley-imps, already rose behind him. Benead felt -his legs tremble, and said to his wife, - -"Saint Anne, we are done for! Here come the Kornikaneds and the -Poulpikans to join the Korils for their midnight ball. They will make -us dance with them till daybreak; and it is more than my poor heart -can endure." - -And, in fact, the troops of Korigans assembling from all parts, -came round about poor Guilcher and his wife like flies in August to -a drop of honey, but started back on seeing in his hand the little -fork Benead had been using to clear the ploughshare, and began to -sing with one accord, - - - "Let him be, let her be, - The plough-fork has he! - Let them go on their way, - The fork carry they!" - - -Guilcher instantly perceived that the instrument he held in his hand -acted as a charm against the power of the Korigans; and he and his -wife passed unmolested through the very midst of them. - -This was a hint to every body. From that day forward it became a -universal custom to take out the little fork of an evening; and -thus armed, any one might cross the heaths and valleys without fear -of hindrance. - -But Benead was not satisfied with having rendered this service to -the Bretons; he was an inquisitive as well as an intelligent man, -and as merry a hunchback as any in the four Breton bishoprics. For -I have omitted to tell you that Benead carried from his birth a hump -betwixt his shoulders, with which he would thankfully have parted at -cost-price. He was looked on also as an honest workman, who laboured -conscientiously for daily bread, and moreover well deserved the -character of a good Christian. - -One evening, unable to resist the wish, he took his little fork, -commended himself devoutly to St. Anne, and set off towards the -Motenn-Dervenn. - -The Korils saw him from a distance, and ran to him, crying, - -"It is Benead Guilcher!" - -"Yes, it is I, my little men," replied the jovial hunchback; "I have -come to pay you a friendly visit." - -"You are welcome," replied the Korils. "Will you have a dance with us?" - -"Excuse me, my good folks," replied Guilcher, "but your breath is -too long for a poor invalid." - -"We will stop whenever you like," cried the Korils. - -"Will you promise that?" said Benead, who was not unwilling to try -a round with them, as much for the novelty of the thing as that he -might have it to talk about. - -"We will promise thee," said the dwarfs. - -"By the Saviour's cross?" - -"By the Saviour's cross." - -The hunchback, satisfied that such an oath secured him from all -dangers, took his place in their chain; and the Korils began their -round, singing their accustomed song: - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday." [4] - - -In a few minutes Guilcher stopped. - -"With all due deference to you, good gentlefolks," said he to the -dwarfs, "your song and dance seem to me very monotonous. You stop -too early in the week; and without having much claim to be a skilful -stringer of rhymes, I fancy I can lengthen the chorus." - -"Let us see, let us see!" cried the dwarfs. - -Then the hunchback replied, - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, - Thursday, Friday, Saturday." - - -A great tumult arose amongst the Korils. - -"Stard! stard!" [5] cried they, surrounding Guilcher; "you are a bold -singer and a fine dancer. Repeat it once more." - -The hunchback repeated, - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, - Thursday, Friday, Saturday," - - -whilst the Korils wheeled about in mad delight. At last they stopped, -and pressing round about Guilcher, they cried with one voice, - -"What will you have? what do you want? riches or beauty? Speak a wish, -and we will fulfil it for you." - -"Are you in earnest?" asked the labourer. - -"May we be doomed to pick up grain by grain all the millet in the -diocese, if we deceive thee," they replied. - -"Well," said Guilcher, "if you want to make me a present, and leave me -to choose what it shall be, I have one thing only to desire from you, -and that is, that you take away what I have got here set betwixt my -shoulders, and make me as straight as the flagstaff of Loqueltas." - -"Good, good!" replied the Korils. "Be easy, come here." And seizing -Guilcher, they threw him in the air, tossing him from one to another -like a worsted ball, until he had made the round of the entire -circle. Then he fell upon his feet, giddy, breathless, but--without -his hump! Benead had grown younger, fatter, beautiful! Except his -mother, no one could have recognised him. - -You may guess the surprise his appearance created on his return to -Loqueltas. No one could believe it was Guilcher; his wife herself -was doubtful about receiving him. Before she could recognise in him -her old humpback, he was compelled to tell her exactly how many -headdresses she had in her press, and what was the colour of her -stockings. At last, when every body knew for certain that it was -he, they became wonderfully anxious to find out what had effected -so strange a transformation; but Benead thought that if he told -the truth, he should be looked on as an accomplice of the Korigans; -and that every time an ox strayed, or a goat was lost, he should be -applied to for its restoration. So he told all those who asked him -questions, that it happened unknown to him whilst sleeping on the -heath. Thenceforth went all the crooked folk who were silly enough -to believe him, and spent their nights upon the open heath, hoping to -rise like arrows in the morning; but many people suspected that there -was a secret in the matter, which Guilcher was unwilling to disclose. - -Amongst these latter was a tailor with red hair and squinting eyes, -called, from his stammering speech, Perr Balibouzik. He was not, as -is usual with his craft, a rhymester, lively on his board as a robin -on its twig, and one who scented pancakes from afar as dogs do game; -Balibouzik never laughed, never sung, and fed upon such coarse black -barley bread that one could count the straws in it. He was a miser, -and, worse than that, a bad Christian; lending out his money at such -heavy interest, that he ruined all the poor day-labourers of the -country. Guilcher had long owed him five crowns, and had no means of -paying them. Perr went in quest of him, and demanded them once more. - -The ci-devant hunchback excused himself, promising to pay after -fair-time; but Balibouzik declared that the only condition upon which -he would agree to any further delay was that of being at once put -in possession of the secret how to grow young and handsome. Thus -driven to extremities, Guilcher related his visit to the Korils, -what words he had added to their song, and how the choice had been -given him between two wishes. - -Perr made him repeat every detail many times over, and then went away, -warning his debtor that he would give him eight days longer to lay -hands on the five crowns. - -But what he had heard awakened within him all the rage of avarice. He -resolved that very night to visit the Motenn-Dervenn, to mix in -the dance of Korigans, and to gain the choice between two wishes, -as proposed to Guilcher,--namely, riches and beauty. - -So soon, therefore, as the moon arose, behold Balibouzik the -Squinter on his way towards the common, carrying a little fork in -his hand. The Korils saw him, ran to meet him, and demanded whether -he would dance. Perr consented, after making the same conditions as -Benead, and joined the dancing company of little black men, who were -all engaged in chanting the refrain which Guilcher had increased: - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, - Thursday, Friday, Saturday." - - -"Wait!" cried the tailor, seized with sudden inspiration; "I also -will add something to your song." - -"Add, add!" replied the Korils. - -And all once more exclaimed, - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, - Thursday, Friday, Saturday." - - -They stopped, and Balibouzik stammered out alone, - - - "And the Sun--Sun--Sunday too." - - -The dwarfs uttered a prolonged murmur. - -"Well?" they cried all at once. - - - "Sun--Sunday too," - - -repeated the tailor. - -"But go on, go on." - - - "Sun--Sunday." - - -"Well, well, well?" - - - "Sun--Sunday too!" - - -The Koril chain was broken up; they ran about as if furious at not -being understood. - -The poor stammerer, terrified, stood speechless, with his mouth -wide open. At length the waves of little black heads grew calmer; -they surrounded Balibouzik, and a thousand voices cried at once, - -"Wish a wish! wish a wish!" - -Perr took heart. - -"A wi-wi-sh," said he. "Guilcher cho-o-ose between riches and beauty." - -"Yes, Guilcher chose beauty, and left riches." - -"Well, for my part, I choose what Guilcher left." - -"Well done!" cried the Korils. "Come here, tailor." - -Perr drew near in transport. They took him up as they had done Benead; -threw him from hand to hand all round their circle; and when he -fell upon his feet, he had between his shoulders what Guilcher had -left--that is to say, a hump. - -The tailor was no more Balibouzik simply, he was now Tortik-Balibouzik. - -The poor deformed creature came back to Loqueltas shamefaced as a dog -who has had his tail cut off. As soon as what had happened to him was -known, there was not a creature but longed to get sight of him. And -every one beholding his back, grown round as that of a well-digger, -uttered an exclamation of astonishment. Perr raged beneath his hump, -and swore to himself that he would be revenged upon Guilcher; for that -he alone was the cause of this misfortune, being a favourite of the -Korigans, and having doubtless begged them thus to insult his creditor. - -So the eight days once expired, Tortik-Balibouzik said to Benead, -that if he could not pay him his five crowns, he would go and send -the officers of justice to sell all he had. Benead entreated in vain; -the new hunchback would listen to nothing, and announced that the very -next day he should send to the fair [6] all his furniture, his tools, -and his pig. - -Guilcher's wife uttered loud cries, reiterating that they were -disgraced before the parish, that nothing now was left for them but to -take up the wallet and white staff of mendicants, and go begging from -door to door; that it was well worth Benead's while to have become -straight and noble in appearance only to take up the straw girdle; -[7] and thousands of other unreasonable sayings, after the fashion -of women when they are in tribulation,--and when they are not. - -To all these complaints Guilcher replied nothing, unless it were that -submission to the will of God and His Blessed Mother was above all -things necessary; but his heart was humbled to the core. He reproached -himself now with not preferring wealth to beauty, when he had the -choice; and he would only too willingly have taken back his hump, -well garnished with gold, or even silver, crowns. After seeking in -vain for a way out of his trouble, he made up his mind to revisit -Motenn-Dervenn. - -The Korils welcomed him with shouts of joy, as before, and made -him join them in their dance. Benead had no heart for merriment; -but he would not damp their mirth, and began to jump with all his -might. The delighted dwarfs skipped about like dead leaves driven by -the winter's wind. - -As they ran they repeated the first line of their song, their companion -took up the second; they went on to the third, and, that being the -last, Guilcher was compelled to finish the tune without words, which -in a short time grew tiresome to him. - -"If I might venture to give you my opinion, my little lords," said he, -"your song has the same effect upon me as the butcher's dog, it goes -upon three legs." - -"Right, right!" cried all the voices. - -"I think," said Benead, "it would be much the best way to add another -foot." - -"Add, add!" replied the dwarfs. - -And all sung out with one accord, and in a piercing utterance, - - - "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, - Thursday, Friday, Saturday, - And the Sunday too!" - - -There was a short silence; the dwarfs waited to see what Guilcher -would say. - - - "All the week have you!" - - -finished he gaily. - -Thousands of cries which made but one cry rose up from all corners -of the common. The whole heath was instantly covered with jumping -Korigans. They sprung out from tufts of grass, from bushes of broom, -from rocky clefts,--one would have said it was a very hive of little -black men; whilst all gambolling amongst the heather, they exclaimed, - - - "Guilcherik, our saviour! he - Has fulfill'd the Lord's decree!" - - -"By my soul! what does all this mean?" cried Benead in astonishment. - -"It means," replied the Korigans, "that God had sentenced us to dwell -here amongst men, and every night to dance upon the common, until -some good Christian should finish our refrain. You first lengthened -it, and we hoped that the tailor you sent would have completed it; -but he stopped short on the very point of doing so, and for that we -punished him. You fortunately have done what he could not; our time -of trial now is over, and we shall go back to our kingdom, which -spreads under ground, beneath the very sea and rivers," - -"If this is so," said Guilcher, "and you really are so far indebted -to me, do not go away and leave a friend in trouble." - -"What do you want?" - -"The means of paying Balibouzik to-day, and the baker for ever." - -"Take our bags, take our bags!" exclaimed the Korigans. - -And they threw at Benead's feet the little bags of rusty cloth which -they wore strapped on their shoulders. - -He gathered up as many as he possibly could carry, and ran all -joyous home. - -"Light the resin," cried he to his wife, on entering, "and close the -screen, that nobody may see us; for I bring home wealth enough to -buy up three whole parishes, their judges, rectors, and all." - -At the same time he spread out upon the table the multitude of little -bags, and set himself to open them. But, alas, he had been reckoning -the price of his butter before he had bought the cow. [8] The bags -enclosed nothing more than sand, dead leaves, horsehair, and a pair -of scissors. - -On seeing this he uttered such a dreadful cry that his wife, who -had gone to shut the door, came back to ask him what could be the -matter. Then Benead told her of his visit to the Motenn-Dervenn, -and all that had occurred there. - -"St. Anne have pity on us!" cried the frightened woman; "the Korigans -have been making sport of you." - -"Alas, I see it but too well," replied Guilcher. - -"And you have dared, unhappy man, to touch these bags, the property -of the accursed." - -"I thought I should find something better in them," exclaimed Benead -piteously. - -"Nothing good can come from good-for-nothings," replied the old -woman. "What you have got there will bring an evil spell upon our -house. Heavens! if only I have a drop of holy water left." - -She ran to her bed, and taking from the wall a little earthen holy -water-stoup, she steeped in it a branch of box; but scarcely had the -dew of God been sprinkled on the bags, when the horsehair changed at -once to necklaces of pearls, the dead leaves into gold, and the sand -to diamonds. The enchantment was destroyed, and the wealth that the -Korigans would fain have hidden from a Christian eye was forced to -reassume its proper form. - -Guilcher repaid Balibouzik his five crowns. He gave to every poor -person in the parish a bushel of wheat, with six ells of cloth; and -he paid the rector handsomely for fifty Masses; then he set out with -his wife for Josselin, where they bought a mansion, and where they -reared a family who now are gentlefolks. - - - - - - - -THE BLESSED MAO. - - -Those Christians who stand in need of heavenly aid cannot do better -than apply themselves to our Lady of All-Help near Faou. In that place -has been built, expressly in her honour, the very richest chapel ever -yet raised for her by human hands. The whole inside is ornamented -with golden images, and the belfry-tower, which is made exactly like -the one at Kreisker, is perforated like a Quimper fritter. There -stands also near the church a stone fountain, famed for healing the -infirmities both of body and soul. - -It was at this chapel that Mao stopped on his road to pray. Mao came -from Loperek, which is a pleasant little parish between Kimerc'h and -Logoma. His friends and relations were all dead, and his guardian had -sent him off to seek his living where he liked, with a good club-stick -in his hand and three silver crowns in his purse. - -After saying devoutly at the foot of the high-altar all the prayers -he had ever learned from the curé, or the old woman who had nursed -him, Mao went out of church to go on his way. But as he passed the -palisades, he saw a crowd of people gathered around a corpse upon -the grass, and learnt upon inquiry that it was the body of a poor -beggar-man, who had yielded up his soul the morning before, and who -could not be buried for want of the money-payment. - -"Was he, then, a heathen, or a wretched reprobate who had been -unfaithful to his Christian duties, that no one will do him this -charitable service?" asked Mao. - -"He was a sheep of the true fold," replied one who stood by; "and -however hardly he might be pressed by hunger, he would not pluck the -three apples, or even ears of corn, which are permitted by old usage -to be gathered by the passing stranger. But poor Stevan has not left -the means of paying for his funeral, and so here he is allowed to -lie. If I were not as poor myself, I would not have allowed him to -lie here so long." - -"Alas," cried Mao, "are the people so cruel in this part of the world, -that they suffer the poor to enter the church-doors whilst living, -but not after death? If money is all that is wanted, here are three -crowns; they are all I have, but I will gladly give them to unlock -holy ground to one of the faithful departed." - -The sexton and the priest were now sent for, and the body of the poor -beggar was solemnly committed to the grave. As for Mao, he made a -simple cross of two yew-branches, set it on the grave of the poor -beggar; and after having devoutly repeated a De profundis, he set -off once more upon his journey towards Camfront. - -After a time, however, Mao grew both hungry and thirsty, and -remembering that he had nothing left of what his guardian had -bestowed, he set himself to gather blackberries, wild-sorrel, and -sloes from the hedges. And whilst thus employed, he watched the birds -that picked their living from the bushes, and said within himself, -"After all, these birds are better off than baptised creatures. They -have no need of inns, of butchers, bakers, or gardeners; God's open -sky belongs to them, and His earth is stretched before them like -a table always spread; the little insects are to them as game, the -grass in seed their fields of corn, the fruit of the wild-rose or -hawthorn their dessert; they are at liberty to gather all without -payment or permission asked. No wonder that the birds are joyous, -and sing from morning till night." - -Turning these thoughts in his mind, Mao slackened his pace, and at -last sat himself down under the shade of an old oak-tree, where he -fell asleep. But behold, in his sleep, a holy man appeared suddenly -before him, clad in shining raiment, who thus spoke: - -"I am the poor beggar Stevan, for whom you purchased a consecrated -grave. The Blessed Virgin Mary, whom I endeavoured to serve while -on earth, now reckons me amongst her court, and has vouchsafed to me -the privilege of bringing you good news. Think not the birds of the -air can possibly be happier than baptised creatures; for the Son of -God has shed His blood for these, and they are the favourites of the -Holy Trinity. And now hear what the Three Divine Persons will do to -recompense your piety. There stands hereabouts, beyond the meadows, -an old manor house: you will know it by its weather-vane, which -is painted red and green. A man of rank dwells there; his name is -Trehouar; and he has a granddaughter, lovely as the day, and gentle -as a new-born child. Go you, and knock this evening at his door, -saying that 'you are come, he knows for what.' He will receive you, -and you will of your own self make out the rest. Only remember, -that if you are in want of help, you must say, - - - 'Dead beggar, make haste, make haste to me; - For I am sorely in need of thee.'" - - -With these words the holy man vanished, and Mao awoke. His first -impulse was to thank God for vouchsafing such protection over him; and -this done, he set off across the meadows to find the manor-house. As -night was coming on, he had some doubts of being able to do so; but at -last he observed a flight of pigeons, which he set himself to follow, -feeling certain they could only lead him to the house of a noble. And, -in fact, he soon perceived the red-and-green weather-vane overtopping -a little orchard of black-cherry trees laden with fruit; for this -was a part of the country famous for black cherries. It is from the -mountain parishes that all those cherries are brought which may be -seen spread out on straw at the Léon festivals, and with which the -young men fill their great beaver hats for the damsels of their choice. - -Mao crossed the lawn, shaded with walnut-trees, and then knocked at -the most insignificant door he could find, saying, according to the -directions, that "he was come for--they knew what." The master of the -house was soon fetched. He came, his head shaking, for he was old and -feeble, and leaning on the arm of his fresh young granddaughter. To -have seen them together, you would have thought of an old tottering -wall supported by a blooming honeysuckle. - -The old gentleman and his granddaughter welcomed the young man with -the greatest politeness; a worked ottoman was drawn for him close -beside the grandfather's arm-chair, and he was treated with sweet -cider whilst they waited for supper. - -Mao was much surprised to see the way in which he was received, and -found great delight in watching the young girl, who prepared every -thing with tripping step, singing the while like a very lark. - -At last, when supper was over, and Liçzenn,--for so the old man called -his grandchild,--had cleared all away, he said to Mao, - -"We have treated you to the best of our ability, and according to -our means, young man, though not according to our wishes; for the -mansion of the Trehouars has been long afflicted by a most grievous -plague. Formerly you might have counted twenty horses, and full forty -cows, here; but the evil spirit has taken possession of the stalls -and stables; cows and horses have disappeared one after another, -and that as often as they have been replaced, until the whole of my -savings have been thus consumed. All religious services to rid us of -this destructive demon have hitherto failed. There has been nothing -for us but to submit; and for want of cattle my whole domain now -lies uncultivated. I had put some confidence in my nephew Matelinn, -who is gone to the war in France; but as he does not return, I have -given notice throughout the country, both from the altar and elsewhere, -that the man who can deliver the manor from this curse shall both marry -Liçzenn, and inherit my property after me. All those who have hitherto -made the attempt, by lying in wait in the stables, have disappeared -like the cows and horses. I pray God that you may be more fortunate." - -Mao, whom the remembrance of his vision secured against all fear, -replied that, by the aid of the Blessed Virgin, he hoped to triumph -over the hidden foe. So, begging that he might have a fire to keep -him warm, he took his club-stick, and went forth. - -The place to which he was conducted was a very large shed, divided -in two parts for the use both of the cows and horses; but now all -was empty from one end to the other, and the cobwebs hung in thick -festoons from the racks. - -Mao kindled a fire of broom upon the broad paving-stones, and began -to pray. - -The first quarter of an hour he heard nothing but the crackling of -the flame; the second quarter of an hour he heard nothing but the -wind that whistled mournfully through the broken door; the third -quarter of an hour he heard nothing but the little death-watch -tapping in the rafters overhead; but the fourth quarter of an hour, -a dull sound rumbled beneath the pavement; and at the further end of -the building, in the darkest corner, he saw the largest stone rise -slowly up, and the head of a dragon coming from below. It was huge -as a baker's kneading-trough, flattened like a viper's, and all round -the forehead shone a row of eyes of different colours. - -The beast raised his two great fore-feet armed with scarlet claws -upon the edge of the pavement, glared upon Mao, and then crept hissing -from his hole. As he came on, his scaly body could be seen unrolling -from beneath the stone like a mighty cable from a ship's hold. - -Courageous as was the youth, at this spectacle his blood ran cold; -and just as he began to feel the dragon's breath, he cried aloud, - - - "Dead beggar, make haste, make haste to me; - For I am sorely in need of thee." - - -In an instant the shining form he had invoked was at his side. - -"Fear nothing," said the saint; "those who are protected by the Mother -of God are always victorious over the monsters of the earth. Raise -your club and lay the dragon dead at your feet;" and with these words -he raised his hand, pronouncing some words that can only be heard in -heaven. Mao aimed a fearful blow at the dragon's head, and that very -moment the huge monster sank dead upon its side. - -The next morning, when the sun rose, Mao went to awaken all the people -at the manor, and led them to the stables; but at sight of the dead -monster even the most courageous started back at least ten paces. - -"Do not be afraid," said the young man; "the Blessed Mother came to -my assistance, and the beast that fed on cattle and their guardians -is nothing now but lifeless clay. Only fetch some ropes, and let us -drag it from this place to some lonely waste." - -So they did as he desired; and when the dragon was drawn forth from -his den, the whole length of his body was so great that it extended -twice round the black-wheat barn-floor. [9] - -The old man, happy in his deliverance from so dangerous an enemy, -fulfilled the promise he had made to Mao, and gave to him Liçzenn in -marriage. She was led to church at Camfront, her left arm circled, -after the custom of the country, by as many rows of silver-lace as -there were thousands of francs in her dowry; and the story goes that -she had eighteen. - -As soon as he was married, Mao bought cattle, hired servants, and soon -brought the land about the manor to a more flourishing condition than -it had ever known before. - -Then went the grandfather to seek his recompense from God, and left -all that he possessed to the young couple. - -So happy were they in each other and themselves, that no baptised -creature ever felt the like,--so happy, that when they knelt in prayer, -they could think of nothing to request from God that He had not already -blest them with; so they had nothing to do but to thank Him. But -one day, as they were sitting down to supper with their servants, -one of their attendants introduced a soldier, so tall that his head -reached the rafters; and Liçzenn knew him for her cousin Matelinn. He -had come back from the French war to marry his cousin; and learning -what had come to pass during his absence, he had felt the bitterest -rage. Nevertheless, he betrayed nothing of his thoughts to Mao and -his wife; for his was a deceitful heart. - -Mao, who suspected nothing, received him with affectionate kindness; -set before him the best of every thing in the house; had the handsomest -room prepared for his reception; and went out to show him all the -fields, now ripe for harvest. - -But the higher Matelinn saw the flax, and the heavier the ears of corn, -the more he was enraged at not being the possessor of all this; to -say nothing of his cousin Liçzenn, who had grown more charming than -ever. So one day he proposed to Mao that they should hunt together -on the downs of Logoma, and thus contrived to lead him towards a -distant heath, where he had an old deserted windmill, against which -bundles of furze for the baker's oven at Daoulas had been heaped -up in great piles. When they reached this place, he turned his face -towards Camfront, and said suddenly to his young companion, - -"Ah! I can see the manor all this way off, with its great courtyard." - -"Which way?" asked Mao. - -"Behind that little beech-wood. Don't you see the great hall-windows?" - -"I am too short," said Mao. - -"Ah, you are right, so you are; and it is a pity too, for I can see -my cousin Liçzenn in the little yard beside the garden." - -"Is she alone?" - -"No; there are some gentlemen with her whispering in her ear." - -"And what is Liçzenn doing?" - -"Liçzenn is listening to them, whilst she twists her apron-string." - -Mao raised himself upon the tips of his toes. "Ah, I wish I could see," -said he. - -"Oh, it is easy enough," replied Matelinn "you have only to climb up -to the top of the mill, and you will be higher than I am." - -Mao approved of this advice, and climbed up the old ladder. When he -reached the top, his cousin asked him what he saw? - -"I see nothing but the trees, which seem as near the ground as wheat -of two months' growth," said Mao, "and houses looking in the distance -small as the sea-shells stranded on the shore." - -"Look nearer," returned Matelinn. - -"Nearer, I can only see the ocean, with its boats skimming the water -like seagulls." - -"Look nearer yet," said the soldier. - -"Still nearer is the common, bright with rose-blossoms and the -purple heath." - -"Look down beneath you." - -"Beneath me!" cried Mao, in terror. "Instead of the ladder to descend -by, I see flames rushing upwards to devour me." - -And he saw rightly; for Matelinn had drawn away the ladder, and set -fire to the surrounding fagots, so that the old mill stood as in -a furnace. - -Mao in vain besought the giant not to leave him there to perish in -so horrible a manner. He only turned his back, and went off whistling -down the moor. - -Then the young man, feeling himself nearly suffocated, invoked the -saint once more: - - - "Dead beggar, make haste, make haste to me; - For I am sorely in need of thee." - - -Instantly the saint appeared, holding in his right hand a glittering -rainbow, one end of which was resting on the sea, and in his left -Jacob's mysterious ladder, that once led from heaven to earth. With -the rainbow he put out the fire, and by the ladder's aid poor Mao -reached the ground, and went safely home. - -On beholding him, Matelinn was seized with surprise and consternation, -sure that his cousin would hasten to denounce him before the -magistrates; and rushing to fetch his arms and war-horse, was hurrying -from the courtyard, when Mao came to him, and said, - -"Fear nothing, cousin; for no man saw what passed upon Daoulas -common. Your heart was hurt that God had given me more good things -than yourself; I wish to heal its wounds. From this day forward, so -long as I live, you shall share with me half of all that I possess, -save and except my darling Liçzenn. So come, my cousin, harbour no -more evil thoughts against me." - -The deed of this convention was drawn up by the notary in the usual -form; and Matelinn received henceforward, every month, the half of -all the produce of the fields, the courtyard, and the stables. - -But this noble generosity of Mao served only to increase the spite -and venom of his heart; for undeserved benefits are like wine drank -when one is not thirsty,--they bring us neither joy nor profit. He -did not wish Mao dead, because then he would have lost his share in -Mao's wealth; but he hated him, even as a caged wolf hates the hand -that feeds him. - -What made him still more angry was, to see how every thing prospered -with his cousin. To crown his felicity, he had a son born to him, both -strong and beautiful, and one that wept not at his birth, the nurses -said. Mao sent the news out to the first people of the neighbourhood, -entreating them to come to the baptismal feast. And they came from more -than six leagues round,--from Braspars, Kimerc'h, Loperek, Logoma, -Faou, Irvillac, and Saint Eloi,--all mounted on handsomely-equipped -horses, with their wives or daughters behind them. The baptism of a -prince of Cornouaille himself could not have brought together a more -goodly assembly. - -When all were drawn up ready in the front of the manor-house, and Mao -came to Liçzenn's chamber for the new-born babe, with those who were -to hold it at the font, and his nearest friends, Matelinn presented -himself also, with a traitor's joy depicted on his countenance. On -seeing him, the mother uttered a cry; but he, approaching, bent over -her with specious words, and thanked her for the present she had -made him. - -"What present?" asked the poor woman, in surprise. - -"Have you not added a new-born infant to my cousin's wealth?" said -the soldier. - -"Certainly," replied Liçzenn. - -"A parchment deed confirms to me," said Matelinn, "half of every thing -Mao possesses, save and except yourself; and I am consequently come -to claim my share of the child." - -All who were present uttered a great cry; but Matelinn repeated calmly -that he would have his half of the child; adding that if they refused -it to him, he would take it himself, showing as he spoke a huge knife, -which he had brought with him for the purpose. - -Mao and Liçzenn in vain, with bended knees and folded hands, besought -him to renounce his rights; the giant only answered by the whetting of -his knife against the steel which dangled at his waist; and at last -he was about to snatch the infant from its poor young mother's arms, -when Mao all at once recalled the invocation to the dead beggar, and -repeated it aloud. Scarcely had he finished, when the room was lighted -with a heavenly radiance, and the saint appeared upon a shining cloud, -the Virgin Mary at his side. - -"Behold me here, my friends," said the Mother of God, "called by my -faithful servant from celestial glory to come and decide between you." - -"If you are the Mother of God, save the child," cried Liçzenn. - -"If you are the Queen of Heaven, make them render me my dues," said -Matelinn audaciously. - -"Listen to me," said Mary. "You first, Mao, and you, Liçzenn, come -near me with your new-born child. Till now I have given you the joys -of life; I will do more, and give you for the future the delights of -death. You shall follow me into the Paradise of my Son, where neither -griefs, nor treachery, nor sicknesses can enter. As for you, Goliath, -you have a right to share the new benefit conferred on them; and you, -like them, shall die, but only to go down twelve hundred and fifty -leagues below the surface of the earth, [10] into the kingdom of the -wicked one, whose servant you are." - -Saying these words, the Holy Mary raised her hand on high, and the -giant was buried in a gulf of fire; whilst the young husband, with his -wife and child, sank gently towards each other as in peaceful sleep, -and disappeared, borne upwards on a cloud. - - - - - - - -KERIS. - - -In the olden times a king named Grallon reigned over the land of -Cornouaille. He was as good a man as any son of Adam, and gave a -cordial welcome at his court to all who had in any way distinguished -themselves, were they plebeian or noble in their birth. Unfortunately -his daughter was an ill-conducted princess, who, in order to evade -his parental rule, had taken herself off to live at Keris, some few -leagues from Quimper. - -One day, whilst King Grallon was out hunting in a forest at the foot -of Menéhom, he and all his followers lost their way, and came at last -before the cell of the holy hermit Corentin. Grallon had often heard -tell of this saintly man, and was delighted to find he had discovered -his retreat; but as for the attendants, who were dying with hunger, -they looked with any thing but satisfaction upon the humble cell, -and whispered discontentedly amongst themselves that they should -certainly have to sup on pious prayers. - -Corentin, enlightened by God's grace, perceived their thoughts, and -asked the king whether he would accept a little refreshment. Now -Grallon, who had eaten nothing since cockcrow that morning, was -extremely willing; so the saint, calling the king's cupbearer and -cook, desired them to prepare his majesty a good repast after his -long abstinence. - -Then, leading them both to a fountain which bubbled near his cell, -he filled with water the golden pitcher carried by the first, and cut -a morsel from a little fish swimming in the basin, which he gave to -the second, desiring them both to spread the board for the king and -all his train. But the cupbearer and the cook began to laugh, and -asked the holy man if he could possibly mistake the king's courtiers -for miserable beggars, that he presumed to offer them his scraps of -fish-bone and his frog-wine. Corentin quietly besought them not to -be disturbed, for that God would provide for all. - -Consequently they resolved to follow out the saint's directions, -and found, to their astonishment, his words come true. For while the -water he had poured into the golden pitcher came out a wine as sweet -as honey and as hot as fire, the morsel of fish became an ample meal -for twice as many guests as the king's suite contained. - -Grallon was told by his two servants of this miracle; and they moreover -showed him, as a greater wonder, the very same little fish from which -Corentin had cut a portion, swimming safe and sound in the fountain, -as whole as if the saint's knife had never come near him. - -At this sight the King of Cornouaille was struck with admiration, and -exclaimed to the hermit, "Man of God, this place is not for you; for -He who is my Master as well as yours has forbidden us to hide a light -beneath a bushel. You must leave this hermitage, and come with me. You -shall be Bishop of Quimper, my palace shall be your dwelling-place, -and the whole city your possession. I will build a monastery for your -disciples at Landevenec, and the abbot shall be chosen by yourself." - -The good king kept his promise; and giving up his capital to the new -Bishop, he went to dwell himself in the town of Is. - -This town then stood upon the very spot now covered by the Bay of -Douarnénèz. It was so large and so beautiful, that when the people of -old times were seeking for a title worthy of the capital of France, -they could find nothing better than to call it Par-is, that is to say, -The like of Is. It was lower than the sea itself, and was defended from -all fear of inundation by huge dikes, with doors to open occasionally -and let the tide in or out. Grallon's daughter, the Princess Dahut, -carried the silver keys which locked these doors suspended round her -neck, from which fact the people generally called her Alc'huèz, or -more shortly Ahèz. [11] Now she was a great magician, and had adorned -the town with numberless works of art far surpassing the skill of any -human hand. All the Korigans [12] throughout Cornouaille and Vannes -had assembled at her call to make the dikes and forge the iron doors; -they had plated the palace all over with a metal resembling gold -(Korigans being clever workers in metal), and had fenced in the royal -gardens with balustrades glittering like polished steel. - -They it was that kept Dahut's beautiful stables in such perfect -order,--those stables that were paved with black, red, or white marble, -according to the different colours of the horses in the stalls. And -to the Korigans also was intrusted the care of the harbour, where -the sea-dragons were kept; for by her powerful art had Dahut gained -a wonderful ascendency over the monsters of the deep, so that she -had placed one at the disposal of each inhabitant of Keris, that it -should serve him like a horse, on which he might safely go across -the waves to fetch rich treasure from another shore, or to attack -the ships of foreign enemies. So these citizens were rich to that -degree they actually measured out their corn in silver vessels. But -wealth had hardened and perverted their hearts; beggars were hunted -like wild-beasts from the city, for they could not endure the sight -of any in their streets but merry prosperous folks dressed out in -smart apparel. Our Lord Himself, had He appeared amongst them clad in -sackcloth, would have been driven away. The only church remaining in -the city was so forsaken, that the very beadle had lost the key of -it; nettles grew upon its steps, and against the door-posts of the -principal entrance birds had built their nests. The people of the -place spent their days and nights in public-houses, dancing-rooms, -or theatres; the one only object of their lives being apparently to -ruin their immortal souls. - -As for Dahut, she set them the example; day and night it was a gala in -the palace. Gentlemen, nobles, and princes came from the remotest lands -to visit this far-famed court. Grallon received them with courtesy, -and Dahut with something more. If they were good-looking, she bestowed -on them a magic mask, by means of which they were enabled to keep -private appointments with her in a tower standing near the floodgates. - -There they might remain talking with her until the hour when the -sea-swallows, beginning their flight, passed before the tower-windows; -when Dahut hastily bade them farewell, and, in order that they might -go out, as they came, unseen, she once more brought forth her magic -mask; but, alas, this time it closed upon them of its own accord with -a strangling embrace. Then a black man took up the dead body, threw -it across his horse like a sack of wheat, and went to fling it down -the precipice between Huelgoat and Poulaouën. This is indeed only too -true; for even to this day can be heard from the depths of the ravine -the melancholy wailing of these wretched souls at evening hour. May -all good Christians bear them in remembrance at their prayers! [13] - -Corentin, who heard of all the goings-on at Keris, had many a time -warned Grallon that the forbearance of God was drawing to a close; -[14] but the king had lost all his power, and dwelt quite solitary -in one wing of his palace, like a grandfather who has made over all -his property to his heirs; and as for Dahut, she cared nothing for -the threats or warnings of the saint. - -Well, one evening, when she was keeping festival as usual, she was -informed that a powerful prince from the very ends of the earth had -arrived to see her, and he was instantly announced. - -He was a man of vast stature, clad from head to foot in scarlet, -and so bearded that even his two eyes, glittering as stars, could -scarcely be seen. He began by paying compliments in rhyme to the -princess--no poet or minstrel could have conceived the like; and then -he went on talking with such brilliant wit, that the entire assembly -were struck dumb with astonishment. But what moved the friends of -Dahut with the greatest wonder was to find how far more skilful than -themselves this stranger was in sin. He was familiar, not only with -all that human malice has invented since the creation of the world, -in every region where mankind has dwelt, but with all that it ever -shall invent until the moment when the dead shall rise again from -their cold graves to stand before the judgment-seat of God. Ahèz and -her court perceived that they had found their master, and one and all -resolved to put themselves under the teaching of the bearded prince. - -By way of beginning, he proposed to them a new dance, danced in hell -by the Seven Deadly Sins. So he called in for the purpose a musician -he had brought with him. This was a little dwarf, clad in goat-skin, -and carrying a sort of bagpipe under his arm. - -Scarcely had he begun to play before Dahut and her courtiers were -seized with a sort of frenzy, and began to whirl about like the waves -of the sea in a furious storm. The stranger instantly took advantage -of the confusion to snatch the silver keys of the floodgates from -the princess's neck, and to vanish from the saloon. - -Meanwhile Grallon sat all solitary in the great gloomy hall of his own -lonely palace. He was near the hearth; but the fire was almost out. His -heart grew every moment more and more heavy with sad thoughts, when all -at once the great folding-doors flew open, and St. Corentin appeared -upon the threshold, with a halo of glory round his brow, his pastoral -staff in his hand, and a cloud of incense floating all about him. - -"Rise, great king," said he to Grallon; "take whatever precious things -may still be left you, and flee away; for God has given over to the -power of the demon this accursed city." - -Grallon, terrified, started up; and calling to some faithful old -servants, took what treasure he possessed; and mounting his black -horse, followed after the saint, who shot like an arrow through -the air. - -As they passed before the dikes, they heard a wild roar of waters, and -beheld the bearded stranger, now restored to his own demoniac form, -opening the floodgates with the silver keys he had taken from the -Princess Dahut. The sea already streamed like a torrent on towards -the devoted city; and the white waves, rearing their foamy crests -above the lofty roofs, seemed rushing to its overthrow. The dragons -chained within the harbour roared with terror, for even the beasts -could feel their end at hand. - -Grallon would fain have uttered a cry of warning, but St. Corentin -once more entreated him to fly, and he plunged onwards at full gallop -towards the shore; on, on through streets and squares and high roads, -ever followed by the raging ocean, with the horse's hind hoofs always -in the surge. So passed he by the palace of Dahut herself, who darted -down the marble steps, her wild locks floating on the breeze, and -sprang behind her father on the saddle. The horse stood still suddenly, -staggered, and already the water mounted to the old king's knees. - -"Help, help, St. Corentin!" he cried in terror. - -"Shake off the iniquity you carry at your back," replied the saint, -"and, by the help of God, you shall be saved." - -But Grallon, who was, after all, a father, hesitated what to do. Then -St. Corentin touched the princess on the shoulders with his pastoral -staff, and she sank downwards to the sea, disappearing in the depths -of the gulf, called after her the Gulf of Ahèz. - -The horse, thus lightened of his load, made a spring forwards, and so -gained Garrec Rock, where to this very day may be seen the print-marks -of his iron shoes. [15] - -The first act of the king was to fall upon his knees, and pour forth -thanks to God; then turning towards Keris, [16] he tried to judge how -great was the danger from which he had been so miraculously rescued, -but in vain he sought the ancient Queen of Ocean. - -There, where had stood but a few moments before a harbour, palaces, -treasures of wealth, and thousands of people, was to be seen nothing -now but a smooth bay, on whose unruffled surface the stars of heaven -looked calmly down; but beyond, in the horizon, just over the last -ruins of the submerged dikes, there appeared the great red man, -holding up with a triumphant air the silver keys. - -Many are the forests of oak that have sprung up and withered since -this awful warning; but through every generation fathers have told -it to their children until this day. Up to the time of the great -Revolution, the clergy of the different river-side parishes were wont -to embark every year in fisher-boats, and go to say Mass over the -drowned city. Since that time this custom has been lost, with many -another one; but when the sea is calm, the remains of the great town -may clearly be seen at the bottom of the bay, and the neighbouring -downs are full of relics which bear witness to its wealth. - - - - - - - -THE STONES OF PLOUHINEC. - - -Plouhinec is a poor little market-town beyond Hennebon, towards the -sea. Bare commons or little fir-woods stretch all round it, and enough -grass to fit an ox for the butcher's knife, or so much bran as would -fatten one descendant of the Rohans, [17] has never yet been yielded -by the entire parish. - -But if the people of those parts have reason to complain for want of -corn and cattle, they abound in flints to that degree that they could -furnish materials for the rebuilding of Lorient; and out beyond the -town there lies a great wide common, whereon are set by Korigans two -rows of tall stones that might be taken for an avenue, did they but -lead to any thing. - -Near this place, hard by the banks of the River Intel, there lived -in former days a man named Marzinne. He was wealthy for those parts, -that is to say, he could salt down a little pig once a year, eat as -much black bread as he cared for, and buy himself a pair of wooden -shoes when Laurel Sunday came round. [18] - -And he was looked upon as proud by his neighbours, and had taken upon -him to refuse the hand of his sister Rozenn to many a young fellow -who laboured for his daily bread. - -Amongst others to Bernèz, a diligent labourer and a worthy Christian; -but one whose only treasure, coming into life, had been that of a good -will. Bernèz had known Rozenn as a little girl, when he first came -to work in the parish from Ponscorff-Bidré; and by degrees, as Rozenn -grew up, the attachment of Bernèz had grown stronger and stronger. - -It may be easily believed that Marzinne's refusal was a terrible -heartsore for him; nevertheless he kept up his courage, for Rozenn -always received him kindly. - -Well, Christmas-eve came round; and as a raging storm kept every -one at the farm from going to the midnight Mass, they all sat round -the fire together, with many young men from the neighbourhood, and -amongst them Bernèz. The master of the house, willing to show off, -had caused a supper of black-puddings, and hasty puddings made with -wheat flour and honey, to be prepared; so that they all sat gazing -towards the hearth, except Bernèz, whose eyes were fixed upon Rozenn. - -But just as all the benches were drawn round the table, and every -wooden saucer ready to be dipped into the steaming bowl, an old man -suddenly pushed open the door, and wished the assembled company a good -appetite. He was a beggar from Pluvigner, one who never set his foot -on the church-floor, and of whom all good folks stood in dread. It was -said that he bewitched cattle, turned standing corn black, and sold -to wrestlers magic herbs. He was even suspected of becoming a goblin -[19] at his pleasure. - -However, wearing as he did the garb of a mendicant, he was welcomed -by the farmer to the fireside; a three-legged stood was placed at -his disposal, and he received a portion with the guests. - -When the beggar had done eating and drinking, he asked for a night's -lodging, and Bernèz showed him his way into the stable, where a bald -old ass and sorry ox were already established. The beggar stretched -himself down between the two to share their warmth, and rested his -head upon a pillow of turf. - -But just as he was dropping off to sleep the clock struck twelve. Then -the old ass shook his long ears, and turned towards the ox. - -"Well, my cousin," said he, in friendly tones, "and how has it gone -with you since last Christmas, when we talked together?" - -Instead of answering, the horned beast looked sideways at the beggar, -and muttered, - -"It was hardly worth while for the Almighty to vouchsafe us speech -together on a Christmas-eve, and thus to acknowledge the assistance -rendered by the presence of our ancestors at the birth of the Saviour, -if we are compelled to put up with this fellow as our auditor." - -"You are very proud, my friend," answered the ass gaily. "It is I -rather who have reason to complain, I, whose noble ancestor once -carried the Saviour to Jerusalem, proved by the cross imprinted ever -since upon the shoulders of our family. But I can be well satisfied -with whatever Providence has seen fit to grant me. Besides which, -you see well enough that the sorcerer is asleep." - -"All his witchcrafts have been powerless to enrich him," said the ox; -"and he has thrown his soul away for little enough. The devil has -not even hinted to him of the lucky chance he might have hereabouts -in the course of a few days." - -"What lucky chance?" asked the ass. - -"How!" cried the ox; "don't you know, then, that each hundred years -the stones on Plouhinec Common go down to drink at the river Intel, -and that whilst away the treasures they conceal are left exposed?" - -"Ah, I remember now," interrupted the ass, "but then the stones -return so quickly to their places, that it is impossible to avoid -being crushed to pieces by them if you have not as your safeguard a -twig of cross-wort surrounded by the five-leaved clover." - -"And besides," continued the ox, "the treasures you may carry off all -fade to dust unless you offer in return a baptised soul. A Christian -must suffer death before the devil will permit you to enjoy in peace -the wealth of Plouhinec." - -The beggar was not asleep, but had listened breathless to this -conversation. - -"Ah, my good friends," thought he to himself, "you have made me richer -than the wealthiest in all Vannes or Lorient. Be easy; the sorcerer -of Pluvigner shall not lose Paradise for nothing." - -He slept at last; and rising at the break of day, he wandered through -the country seeking for the cross-wort and the five-leafed clover." - -He was forced to look long and wander far, where skies are milder -and plants always green, before he was successful. But on the eve of -New-Year's Day he came again to Plouhinec, with the countenance of -a weasel that has just found out the entrance to a dovecote. - -In crossing the common, he came upon Bernèz busy striking with a -pointed hammer on the tallest of the stones. - -"Heaven preserve me!" cried the sorcerer, laughing, "are you anxious -to dig yourself a dwelling in this rocky mass?" - -"No," answered Bernèz quietly; "but as I am just now out of work, I -thought that perhaps if I carved a cross upon one of these accursed -stones, I should perform an act agreeable in the sight of God, and -one that may stand me in good stead some other day." - -"Then you have something to ask of Him?" said the old man. - -"All Christians need to beg from Him salvation for their souls," -replied the youth. - -"And have you nothing too to say to Him about Rozenn?" pursued the -beggar, in a lower voice. - -Bernèz looked full at him. - -"Ah, you know that?" said he. "Well, after all, there is no shame -or sin in it. If I seek for the maiden, it is that I may lead her -to the presence of the priest. Unhappily Marzinne is waiting for a -brother-in-law who can count more reals than I have silver coins." - -"And if I could put you in the way of having more louis-d'or than -Marzinne has reals?" said the sorcerer in an under-tone. - -"You!" cried Bernèz. - -"I!" - -"And how much do you ask for this?" - -"Only to be remembered in your prayers." - -"Then there will be nothing that can compromise my soul?" - -"Only courage is required." - -"Tell me, then, what must be done," cried Bernèz, letting fall his -hammer. "If needs be, I am ready to encounter any difficulty." - -The beggar, seeing him thus disposed, related how that on that very -night the treasures of the common would be all exposed; but he said -nothing at the same time of the way by which the stones were to be -avoided as they came trooping back. The young fellow thought nothing -was wanting but boldness and a swift step; so he said, - -"As sure as I am a living man I will profit by this opportunity, -old man; and I shall always be at your service for the notice you -have given me of this great chance. Only let me finish the cross I -have begun engraving on this stone; when the time comes, I will join -you near the little pine-wood." - -Bernèz kept his word, and arrived at the appointed place an hour -before midnight. He found the beggar carrying a wallet in each hand, -and one suspended round his neck. - -"Come," said he to the young man, "sit down there, and think of -all that you will do when you have silver, gold, and jewels to your -heart's content." - -The young man sat down on the ground and answered, "If I have silver -to my heart's content, I will give my gentle Rozennik [20] all that -she wishes for, and all that she can wish for, from linen to silk, -from bread to oranges." - -"And if you have gold?" added the sorcerer. - -"If I have gold at will," replied the youth, "I will make wealthy -all my Rozennik's relations, and all the friends of her relations, -to the utmost limits of the parish." - -"And if at last you should have jewels in plenty?" continued the -old man. - -"Then," cried out Bernèz, "I would make all the people in the world -happy, and I would tell them it was my Rozennik's desire." - -Whilst talking thus, the hour slipped away, and midnight came. - -At the same instant a great sound arose upon the heath, and by the -light of the stars all the huge stones might be seen leaving their -places, and hurrying towards the river Intel. They rushed down the -slope, grazing the earth as they went, and jostling each other like -a troop of drunken giants. So they swept pell-mell past the two men, -and were lost in darkness. - -Then the beggar flew towards the common, followed by Bernèz; and there, -in the very spots where just before huge stones had reared themselves, -they now saw large holes piled to the brim with gold, with silver, -and with precious stones. - -Bernèz uttered a cry of admiration, and made the sign of the cross; -but the sorcerer made haste to cram all his wallets, turning meanwhile -an attentive ear towards the river's bank. - -He had just finished lading the third bag, whilst the young man -stuffed the pockets of his linen vest, when a dull sound like that -of an approaching storm was audible in the distance. - -The stones had finished drinking, and were coming back once more. - -They rushed, stooping forwards like runners in a race, and bore down -all before them. - -When the youth perceived them, he started upright, and exclaimed, - -"Ah, Blessed Virgin, we are lost!" - -"I am not," said the sorcerer, taking in his hand the cross-wort and -the five-leaved clover, "for I have that here which will secure my -safety; but a Christian must be sacrificed to make good all these -treasures, and the bad angel put thee in my way. So give up Rozenn, -and prepare to die." - -While yet he spoke the stony army was at hand; but holding forth -his magic nosegay, they turned aside to right and left to fall upon -Bernèz. He, feeling sure that all was over for him, sank down upon -his knees and closed his eyes; when the great stone that led the -troop stopped all at once, and barring the way, set itself before -him as a protecting rampart. - -Bernèz, astonished, raised his head, and recognised the stone on which -his hand had traced a cross. Being thenceforward a baptised stone, -it could have no power to harm a Christian. - -Remaining motionless before the young man until all its fellows had -regained their places, it then rushed forwards like a sea-bird to -retake its own, and met upon its way the beggar hampered with his -three ponderous bags of gold. - -Seeing it advance, he would have defied it with his magic plants; but -the stone, become Christian, was no longer subject to the witchery of -the demon, and hurrying onwards, crushed the sorcerer like an insect. - -Bernèz had not only all his own collection, but the three full wallets -of the mendicant, and became thus rich enough to wed his Rozenn, to -bring up a numerous family, and to succour his relations, as well as -the poor of the whole country around, to the end of his long life. - - - - - - - -TEUZ-A-POULIET; [21] OR, THE DWARF. - - -The vale of Pinard is a pleasant slope which lies behind the city of -Morlaix. There are plenty of gardens, houses, shops, and bakers to -be found there, besides many farms that boast their ample cowsheds -and full barns. - -Now, in olden times, when there was neither conscription nor general -taxation, there dwelt in the largest of these farms an honest man, -called Jalm Riou, who had a comely daughter, Barbaik. Not only was she -fair and well-fashioned, but she was the best dancer, and also the -best drest, in all those parts. When she set off on Sunday to hear -Mass at St. Mathieu's church, she used to wear an embroidered coif, -a gay neckerchief, five petticoats one over the other, [22] and silver -buckles in her shoes; so that the very butchers' wives were jealous, -and tossing their heads as she went by, they asked her whether she -had been selling the devil her black hen. [23] But Barbaik troubled -herself not at all for all they said, so long as she continued to -be the best-dressed damsel, and the most attractive at the fair of -the patron saint. - -Barbaik had many suitors, and among them was one who really loved -her more than all the rest; and this was the lad who worked upon her -father's farm, a good labourer and a worthy Christian, but rough and -ungainly in appearance. So Barbaik would have nothing to say to him, -in spite of his good qualities, and always declared, when speaking -of him, that he was a colt of Pontrieux. [24] - -Jégu, who loved her with all his heart, was deeply wounded, and fretted -sorely at being so ill-used by the only creature that could give him -either joy or trouble. - -One morning, when bringing home the horses from the field, he stopped -to let them drink at the pond; and as he stood holding the smallest -one, with his head sunk upon his breast, and uttering every now and -then the heaviest sighs, for he was thinking of Barbaik, he heard -suddenly a voice proceeding from the reeds, which said to him, - -"Why are you so miserable, Jégu? things are not yet quite so -desperate." - -The farmer's boy raised his head astonished, and asked who was there. - -"It is I, the Teuz-à-pouliet," said the same voice. - -"I do not see you," replied Jégu. - -"Look closely, and you will see me in the midst of the reeds, under -the form of a beautiful green frog. I take successively whatever form -I like, unless I prefer making myself invisible." - -"But can you not show yourself under the usual appearance of your -kind?" - -"No doubt, if that will please you." - -With these words the frog leaped on one of the horses' backs, and -changed himself suddenly into a little dwarf, with bright green dress -and smart polished gaiters, like a leather-merchant of Landivisiau. - -Jégu, a little scared, drew back a step or two; but the Teuz told him -not to be afraid, for that, far from wishing him harm, he was ready -to do him good. - -"And what makes you take this interest in me?" inquired the peasant, -with a suspicious air. - -"A service which you rendered to me the last winter," said the -Teuz-à-pouliet. "You doubtless are aware that the Korigans of the -White-Wheat country and of Cornouaille declared war against our race, -because they say we are too favourably disposed to man. [25] We were -obliged to flee into the bishopric of Léon, where at first we concealed -ourselves under divers animal forms. Since then, from habit or fancy, -we have continued to assume them, and I became acquainted with you -through one of these transformations." - -"And how was that?" - -"Do you remember, three months ago, whilst working in the alder-park, -finding a robin caught in a snare?" - -"Yes," interrupted Jégu; "and I remember also that I let it fly, -saying, 'As for thee, thou dost not eat the bread of Christians: -take thy flight, thou bird of the good God.'" - -"Ah, well, that robin was myself. Ever since then I vowed to be your -faithful friend, and I will prove it too by causing you to marry -Barbaik, since you love her so well." - -"Ah, Teuz-à-pouliet, could you but succeed in that," cried Jégu, -"there is nothing in this world, except my soul, that I would not -bestow upon you." - -"Let me alone," replied the dwarf; "yet a few months from this time, -and I will see you are the master of that farm and of the maiden too." - -"And how can you undertake that?" asked the youth. - -"You shall know all in time; all you have to do just now is to smoke -your pipe, eat, drink, and take no trouble about any thing." - -Jégu declared that nothing could be easier than that, and he would -conform exactly to the Teuz's orders; then, thanking him, and taking -off his hat as he would have done to the curé or the magistrate, -he went homewards to the farm. - -The following day happened to be Sunday. Barbaik rose earlier than -usual, and went to the stables, which were under her sole charge; -but to her great surprise she found them already freshly littered, -the racks garnished, the cows milked, and the cream churned. Now, -as she recollected having said before Jégu, on the preceding night, -that she wanted to be ready in good time to go to the feast of -St. Nicholas, she very naturally concluded that it was he who had -done all this for her, and she told him she was much obliged. Jégu, -however, replied in a peevish tone, that he did not know what she -meant; but this only confirmed Barbaik in her belief. - -The same good service was rendered to her now every day. Never had -the stable been so cleanly, nor the cows so fat. Barbaik found her -earthen pans full of milk at morning and at evening, and a pound of -fresh-churned butter decked with blackberry-leaves. So in a few weeks' -time she got into the habit of never rising till broad daylight, -to prepare breakfast and set about her household duties. - -But even this labour was soon spared her; for one morning, on getting -out of bed, she found the house already swept, the furniture polished, -the soup on the fire, and the bread cut into the bowls; so that she -had nothing to do but go to the courtyard, and call the labourers -from the fields. She still thought it was an attention shown to her -by Jégu, and she could not help considering what a very convenient -husband he would be for a woman who liked to have her time to herself. - -And it was a fact that Barbaik never uttered a wish before him that -was not immediately fulfilled. If the wind was cold, or if the sun -shone hot, and she was afraid of injuring her complexion by going to -the spring, she had only to say low, "I should like to see my buckets -filled, and my tub full of washed linen." Then she would go and gossip -with a neighbour, and on her return she would find tub and buckets just -as she had desired them to be, standing on the stone. If she found -the rye-dough too hard to bake, or the oven too long in heating, -she had only to say, "I should like to see my six fifteen-pound -loaves all ranged upon the board above the kneading-trough," and -two hours later the six loaves were there. If she found the market -too far off, and the road too bad, she had only to say over-night, -"Why am I not already come back from Morlaix, with my milk-can empty, -my tub of butter sold out, a pound of black cherries in my wooden -platter, and six reals [26] at the bottom of my apron-pocket?" and -the next morning, when she rose, she would discover at the foot of -her bed the empty milk-can and butter-tub, the pound of cherries in -her wooden plate, and six reals in her apron-pocket. - -But the good offices that were rendered to her did not stop here. Did -she wish to make an appointment with another damsel at some fair, -to buy a ribbon in the town, or to find out the hour at which the -procession at the church was to begin, Jégu was always at hand; all she -had to do was to mention her wish before him, and the thing was done. - -When things were thus advanced, the Teuz advised the youth to ask -Barbaik now in marriage; and this time she listened to all he had to -say. She thought Jégu very plain and unmannerly; but yet, as a husband, -he was just what she wanted. Jégu would wake for her, work for her, -save for her. Jégu would be the shaft-horse, forced to draw the whole -weight of the wagon; and she, the farmer's wife, seated on a heap of -clover, and driving him with the whip. - -After having well considered all this, she answered the young man, -as a well-conducted damsel should, that she would refer the matter -to her father. - -But she knew beforehand that Jalm Riou would consent; for he had -often said that only Jégu would be fit to manage the farm when he -should be no more. - -So the marriage took place the very next month; and it seemed as if -the aged father had but waited until then to go and take his rest -in Paradise; for a very few days after the marriage he died, leaving -the house and land to the young folks. - -It was a great responsibility for Jégu; but the Teuz came to his -assistance. He became the ploughboy at the farm, and did more work -alone than four hired labourers. He it was who kept the tools and -harness in good order, who repaired omissions, who pointed out the -proper time for sowing or for mowing. If by chance Jégu had occasion -to expedite some work, the Teuz would go and tell his friends, and -all the dwarfs would come with hoe, fork, or reaping-hook upon their -shoulders; if teams were wanted, he would send the farmer to a town -inhabited by some of his tribe, who would be out upon the common; and -Jégu had only to say, "Little men, my good friends, lend me a pair of -oxen, or a couple of horses, with all that is needed for their work," -and the team would appear that very instant. - -Now all the Teuz-à-pouliet asked in payment of these services was a -child's portion of broth, served up in a milk-measure, every day. So -Jégu loved him like his own son. Barbaik, on the contrary, hated -him, and not without reason; for the very next day after marriage -she saw with astonishment she was no longer assisted as before; and -as she was making her complaint to Jégu, who seemed as if he did not -understand her, the dwarf, bursting out in laughter, confessed that -he had been the author of all these good offices, in order that the -damsel might consent to marry Jégu; but that now he had other things -to do, and she must once more undertake the household management. - -Deceived thus in her expectations, the daughter of Jalm Riou treasured -in her heart a furious rage against the dwarf. Every morning, when -she had to rise before the break of day and milk the cows or go to -market, and every evening, when she had to sit up till near midnight -churning cream, she cursed the Teuz who had encouraged her to look -forward to a life of ease and pleasure. - -However, one day, being invited to a wedding at Plouezorc'h, and not -being able to take the farm-mare, as it was near foaling, she asked -the Teuz-à-pouliet for a steed; and he sent her to the dwarf village, -telling her to explain exactly what she wanted. - -So Barbaik went; and thinking she was doing for the best, she said, - -"Teuz, my friends, lend me a black horse, with eyes, mouth, ears, -saddle, and bridle." - -The horse that she had asked for instantly appeared, and she set out -on him towards Plouezorc'h. - -But soon she saw that every one was laughing as she went along. - -"See, see!" they cried, "the farmer's wife has sold her horse's tail." - -Barbaik turned quickly round, and saw indeed that her horse had no -tail. She had forgotten to ask for one; and the malicious dwarf had -served her to the letter. - -Disconcerted, she would have hastened on, but the horse refused to mend -his pace; and so she was compelled to endure the jests of passers-by. - -The young wife came home at night more furious than ever against the -Teuz-à-pouliet, accusing him of having played her this ill turn on -purpose, and fully resolved to be revenged upon him at the earliest -opportunity. - -Well, spring drew near, and as this was the time the dwarfs held -festival, the Teuz asked leave of Jégu to extend an invitation to all -his friends to come and spend the night on the barn-floor, where he -might give them a supper and a dance. Jégu was far too much indebted -to the dwarf to think of saying no; and ordered Barbaik to spread over -the barn-floor her finest fringed table-cloths, and to serve up a batch -of little butter-cakes, all the morning and the evening milk, and as -many wheaten pancakes as could be turned out in a good day's work. - -Barbaik made no reply, to her husband's great surprise. - -She made the pancakes, prepared the milk, cooked the buttered cakes, -and at evening-tide she took them all out to the barn; but at the -same time she spread down, all round about the extended table-cloths, -just where the dwarfs were going to place themselves, the ashes she -had drawn smoking from the oven; so that when the Teuz-à-pouliet and -his guests came in to seat themselves, they were every one severely -burned, and fled away, uttering loud cries. They soon came back, -however, carrying jugs of water, and so put out the fire; and then -danced round the farm, all singing in an angry tone, - - - "Barbe Riou, with dire deceit, - Has roasted our poor little feet: - Adieu! far hence away we go; - On this house be grief and woe!" - - -And, in fact, they left the country that very morning. Jégu, having -lost their help, soon fell into distress and died; whilst the beautiful -Barbaik became a basket-woman at Morlaix market. - -Since then the Teuz have never been seen in these parts. However, -there are some who say that all good work-people have to this very day -ten dwarfs who toil for them, and not invisibly; and these are--their -ten fingers. - - - - - - - -THE SPECTRE LAUNDRESSES. - - -The Bretons are born in sin, even as other men, but never have they -been wanting in care for the souls of their faithful departed. They -take tender pity upon those who burn in purgatory, and earnestly -strive to redeem them from their fiery trial. Every Sunday, after -Mass, they kneel and plead for their suffering souls upon the very -earth in which their poor bodies are mouldering away. - -It is in the Black Month, [27] as they call November, that they -especially attach themselves to this pious duty. When the Messenger of -Winter [28] arrives, each one bethinks himself of those who are gone to -the judgment-seat of God. Masses are said for them at the altar of the -Dead; in their behalf are tapers kindled, and vows made to saints in -highest veneration; little children are taken to offer their innocent -prayers upon the grave-stones; and after Vespers the priest comes out -of church to bless the earth to which their dust has been committed. - -On this night also is it that our Lord vouchsafes some respite to their -sufferings, and permits them to return once more and pay a visit to the -hearth-stones of their former homes. Then are the dead as numerous in -the homesteads of the living as the yellow leaves that rustle in the -deep dry lanes; and therefore it is that all good Christians leave -the board spread and the fire blazing, that the unwonted guests may, -if they will, refresh themselves. - -But if it is so with all who are truly devoted to the service of the -Blessed Mother and her divine Son, there are also children of the Black -Angel ("l'ange noir"), who forget those that were once nearest to their -hearts. Wilherm Postik was one of these. His father had died without -desiring to receive the last Sacraments; and, as the proverb has it, -Kadiou is his father's own son. Wilherm gave himself up, body and soul, -to forbidden pleasures, dancing during Mass-time, whenever he could -find an opportunity, and drinking with rascally horse-dealers when he -should have been in church. Nevertheless, God had not left him without -enough of warnings. Within the same year had his mother, his sisters, -and his wife been carried off by a contagious disease. Many a time, -too, had the good curé exposed to him his evil deeds, showing him that -he was a scandal to the whole parish, and urging him to repentance; -but all was in vain. - -Meanwhile the fine weather went by. The feast of All Souls arrived, -and all good Christians, clad in decent mourning, repaired to church -to pray for the faithful departed. But for Wilherm, he dressed himself -out in his best, and set out for the neighbouring town, where he was -sure to find plenty of reprobate sailors and reckless women. - -All the time devoted by others to the solace of the suffering souls -he spent there in drinking, gambling, and singing vile songs; nor -did he think of returning till close upon midnight, when every body -else had gone home wearied with iniquity. For him, he had a frame of -iron for sinful pleasures; and he quitted the drinking-house as well -disposed for a fresh bout as when he entered it. - -Heated with drink, he went along, singing at the top of his voice, -though his songs were such as the boldest are apt to give out in -an undertone. He passed the wayside crosses without dropping his -voice or uncovering his head, and struck out right and left with his -walking-stick amongst the tufts of broom, regardless of the holy dead -who thronged every path. - -At last the road divided, giving him his choice of two ways homeward; -the one longer about, but safer, under the blessing of God, the other -more direct, but haunted by spirits. Many a one in passing by that -way had heard noises and seen sights that could be only told of in a -cheerful assembly, and within arm's-length of the holy-water stoup. But -Wilherm feared nothing; so he struck at once into the shorter path, -at a pace that made his heavy shoes ring against the stones. - -Neither moon nor stars cheered the night, the leaves trooped before -the driving wind, the brooks trickled dismally adown the hill-sides, -the bushes shivered like a man afraid, and through the midnight -stillness the steps of Wilherm echoed like a giant's tread. Yet -nothing daunted him, and on he went. - -But as he passed the ruins of the old manor-house, he plainly heard -the weather-vane call to him as it creaked, - -"Go back, go back, go back!" - -Still Wilherm went on. He came up to the waterfall, and the water -murmured, - -"Cross me not, cross me not, cross me not!" - -Wilherm set his foot upon the well-worn stepping stones, and crossed -the stream. He came to an old hollow oak-tree, and the wind that -whistled in its branches cried, - -"Stay here, stay here, stay here!" - -But he struck his staff against the dead tree in passing, and hurried -onwards. - -At last he came into the haunted vale, and midnight struck from the -three parish-church towers. Wilherm began to whistle a jovial air; -but just as he came to the fourth verse, he heard the sound of tireless -wheels, and saw a cart approaching covered with a funeral pall. - -Wilherm knew it for a hearse. It was drawn by six black horses, -and driven by Ankou [29] himself, with an iron whip in his hand, -and ever crying as he went, - -"Turn aside, or I turn thee back!" - -Wilherm gave him way without being disconcerted. - -"What are you doing here, Squire White?" [30] he questioned boldly. - -"I make prize, and by surprise," replied Ankou. - -"That is to say, you're thievish and treacherous," continued Wilherm. - -"I am he that strikes without distinction and without regret." - -"That is to say, a fool and a brute. Then I wonder no more, my fine -fellow, that you're a regular inhabitant of the four bishoprics, -for to you the whole proverb belongs. [31] But what are you in such -haste about to-day?" - -"I am going to fetch Wilherm Postik," replied the phantom as he -passed on. - -The profligate laughed aloud, and went on his way. As he came up to -the little sloe-hedge leading to the washing-ground, he saw two white -females hanging linen on the bushes. - -"On my life," said he, "here are some damsels not much afraid of the -night-dews! What are you about here at this time, my little doves?" - -"We wash, we dry, we sew!" replied the two women both at once. - -"But what?" asked the young man. - -"The winding-sheet of one that yet walks and speaks." - -"A corpse! Pardieu! Tell me his name." - -"Wilherm Postik." - -Louder than before laughed Wilherm, and went down the little rugged -path. - -But as he went on he heard more and more distinctly the beetle of -the spectre laundresses striking on the douez [32] stones, and ere -long they themselves were to be seen, beating at their death-shrouds, -and chanting the sorrowful refrain: - - - "If no good soul our hands will stay, - We must toil till judgment-day; - In stormy wind, or clear moonlight, - We must wash the death-shroud white." - - -As soon as they perceived this boon companion, they all rushed forward -with loud cries, offering each her winding-sheet, that he might help -them to wring out the water. - -"Amongst friends we must not scruple to do a good turn," replied -Wilherm gaily; "but one at a time, my pretty laundresses, a man has -but two hands." - -So laying down his walking-stick, he took the end of the shroud offered -by one of the ghosts, taking care to wring the same way that she did; -for he had heard of old that this was the only way to escape being -shivered to atoms. - -But whilst they thus wrung the winding-sheet, behold, the other -spectres surrounded Wilherm, who recognised amongst them his aunt, -his wife, his mother, and his sisters, who cried aloud, - -"A thousand curses upon him who leaves his own flesh and blood to -suffer torments! A thousand curses!" - -And they shook their streaming locks, and whirled aloft their -snow-white beetles; while from all the douez of the valley, along -the hedgerows, and floating over the commons far and wide, there came -the sound of ghostly voices echoing the same cry, - -"A thousand curses! a thousand curses!" - -Wilherm, beside himself with terror, felt his hair stand up on end, -and, forgetting in his confusion the precaution hitherto observed, he -began to wring the contrary way. In the same instant the winding-sheet -grasped his hands as in a vice, and he fell, brayed by the iron arms -of the spectre laundress. - -A young girl of Henvik, named Fantik-ar-Fur, passing at daybreak near -the douez, saw Wilherm stretched upon the blue stones. Thinking that -he had lain down there to sleep whilst tipsy, the child drew near to -wake him with a sprig of broom; but finding he remained motionless, -she took fright and ran to the village to tell the news. - -A number of the inhabitants came with the curé, the sexton, and the -notary, who was mayor of the place. The body was taken up, placed on -a wagon, and drawn home by oxen; but the blessed candles that were -lighted continually went out, a token of the fearful fate that had -overtaken Wilherm Postik. - -So his body was deposited outside the church-yard walls, in the -resting-place of dogs and reprobates. - - - - -The belief in spectre laundresses is universal in Brittany. - - - - - - - -ROBIN REDBREAST. - - -Long, long ago, ere the acorns were sown which have since furnished -timber for the oldest vessels of the port of Brest, there lived in -the parish of Guirek a poor widow called Ninorc'h Madek. Her father, -who was very wealthy and of noble race, had left at his death a -manor-house, with a farm, a mill, and a forge, twelve horses and -twice as many oxen, twelve cows and ten times as many sheep, to say -nothing of corn and flax. - -But Ninorc'h was a helpless widow, and her brothers took the whole -for themselves. Perrik, the eldest, kept the house, the farm, and -the horses; Fanche, the second, took the mill and the cows; whilst -the third, whose name was Riwal, had the oxen, the forge, and the -sheep. Nothing was left for Ninorc'h but a doorless shed on the open -heath, which had served to shelter the sick cattle. - -However, as she was getting together her little matter of furniture, -in order to take possession of her new abode, Fanche pretended to -take pity upon her, and said, - -"Come, I will deal with you like a brother and a Christian. Here is a -black cow; she has never come to much good, and, indeed, gives scarce -milk enough to feed a new-born babe; but you may take her with you, -if you will, and May-flower can look after her upon the common." - -May-flower [33] was the widow's daughter, now in her eleventh year, -and had been called after the colourless blossom of the thickets from -her unusually pale complexion. - -So Ninorc'h went away with her pallid little girl, who led the -poor lean cow by an old cord, and she sent them out upon the common -together. - -There May-flower stayed all day, watching her black cow, which with -much ado contrived to pick a little grass between the stones. She -spent her time in making little crosses with blossoms of the broom, -[34] or in repeating aloud her Rosary and her favourite hymns. - -One day, as she was singing the "Ave Maris Stella," as she had heard -it at Vespers in the church of Guirek, all at once she noticed a -little bird perched upon one of the flower-crosses she had set in the -earth. He was warbling sweetly, and turned his head from side to side, -looking at her as if he longed to speak. Not a little surprised, she -gently drew near and listened, but without being able to distinguish -any meaning in his song. In vain he sang louder, flapped his wings, -and fluttered about before May-flower. Not a whit the wiser was she -for all this; and yet such pleasure did she take in watching and -listening to him, that night came on without her being able to think -of any thing else. At last the bird flew away; and when she looked up -to see what had become of him, she saw the stars twinkling in the sky. - -With all speed she started off to look for her cow, but to her dismay -it was nowhere to be found upon the common. In vain she called aloud, -in vain she beat the bushes, in vain she went down into each hollow -where the rainwater had formed a pool. At last she heard her mother's -voice, calling her, as if some great misfortune had happened. All in -a fright, she ran up to her, and there, at the edge of the heath, -on the way homeward, she found the widow beside all that remained -of the poor cow,--her horns, that is, and her bones, the latter well -picked by the wolves, which had sallied forth from the neighbouring -woods and made a meal of her. - -At this sight May-flower felt her blood run cold. She burst into tears, -for she loved the black cow she had tended so long, and falling on -her knees exclaimed, - -"Blessed Virgin, why did you not let me see the wolf? I would have -scared him away with the sign of the cross; I would have repeated -the charm that is taught to shepherd-boys who keep their flocks upon -the mountains,-- - - - 'Art thou wolf, St. Hervé shend [35] thee! - Art thou Satan, God defend me!'" [36] - - -The widow, who was a very saint for piety and resignation, seeing -the sorrow of the little girl, sought to comfort her, saying, - -"It is not well to weep for the cow as for a fellow-creature, my poor -child; if the wolves and wicked men conspire against us, the Lord God -will be on our side. Come, then, help me up with my bundle of heath, -and let us go home." - -May-flower did as she said, but sighed at every step, and the big -tears trickled down her cheeks. - -"My poor cow!" said she to herself, "my poor, good, gentle cow! and -just, too, as she was beginning to fatten a little." - -The little girl had no heart for supper, and many times awakened in the -night, fancying that she heard the black cow lowing at the door. With -very restlessness she rose before the dawn, and ran out upon the -common, barefooted and but half-dressed. There, at the selfsame spot, -appeared the little bird again, perched as before on her broom-flower -cross. Again he sang, and seemed to call her. But, alas, she was as -little able as on the preceding evening to understand him, and was -turning away in vexation, when she thought she saw a piece of gold -glittering on the ground. To try what it really was, she moved it with -her foot; but, lo, it was the gold-herb; and no sooner had she touched -it than she distinctly understood the language of the little bird, -[37] saying in his warbling, - -"May-flower, I wish thee well. May-flower, listen to me." - -"Who are you?" said May-flower, wondering within herself that she -could understand the language of an unbaptised creature. - -"I am Robin Redbreast," returned the bird. "It was I that followed -the Saviour on His way to Calvary, and broke a thorn from the crown -that was tearing His brow. [38] To recompense this act, it was granted -to me by God the Father that I should live until the day of judgment, -and that every year I might bestow a fortune upon one poor girl. This -year I have chosen you." - -"Can this be true, Robin Redbreast?" cried May-flower, in a transport -of delight. "And shall I have a silver cross for my neck, and be able -to wear wooden shoes?" - -"A cross of gold shall you have, and silken slippers shall you wear, -like a noble damsel," replied Robin Redbreast. - -"But what must I do, dear kind Robin?" said the little maid. - -"Only follow me." - -It may well be supposed that May-flower had no objection to make; -so Robin Redbreast flew before, and she ran after him. - -On they went; across the heath, through the copses, and over the -fields of rye, till at last they came to the open downs over against -the Seven Isles. There Robin stopped, and said to the little girl, - -"Seest thou aught on the sands down there?" - -"I see," replied May-flower, "a great pair of beechen shoes that the -fire has never scorched, and a holly-staff that has not been hacked -by the sickle." - -"Put on the shoes, and take up the staff." - -It was done. - -"Now walk upon the sea to the first island, and go round it till thou -shalt come to a rock on which grow sea-green rushes." - -"What then?" - -"Gather some of the rushes, and twist them into a cord." - -"Well, and then?" - -"Then strike the rock with the holly-staff, and there will come forth -from it a cow. Make a halter of the rushen cord, and lead her home -to console thy mother for the one just lost." - -All that Robin Redbreast had told her, May-flower did. She walked upon -the sea; she made the cord of rushes; she struck the rock, and there -came out from it a cow, with eyes as soft as a stag-hound's, and a -skin sleek as that of the mole that burrows in the meadows. May-flower -led her home to her poor mother, whose joy now was almost greater -than her former sorrow. - -But what were her sensations when she began to milk Mor Vyoc'h! [39] -(for so had Robin Redbreast named the creature). Behold, the milk -flowed on and on beneath her fingers like water from a spring! - -Ninorc'h had soon filled all the earthen vessels in the house, and -then all those of wood, but still the milk flowed on. - -"Now, holy Mother save us!" cried the widow, "certainly this beast -has drunk of the waters of Languengar." [40] - -In fact, the milk of Mor Vyoc'h was inexhaustible; she had already -yielded enough to satisfy every babe in Cornouaille. - -In a little time nothing was talked of throughout the country but -the widow's cow, and people crowded from all parts to see it. The -rector of Peros-Guirek came among the rest, to see whether it were -not a snare of the evil one; but after he had laid his stole upon -Mor Vyoc'h's head, he pronounced her clear of all suspicion. - -Before long all the richest farmers were persuading Ninorc'h to sell -her cow, each one bidding against the other for so invaluable a beast; -her brother Perrik among the rest. - -"Come," said he, "I am your brother; as a good Christian you must -give me the preference. Let me have Mor Vyoc'h, and I will give you -in exchange as many cows as it takes tailors to make a man." [41] - -"Is that your Christian dealing?" answered the widow. "Nine cows -for Mor Vyoc'h! She is worth all the cows in the country, far and -near. With her milk I could supply all the markets in the bishoprics -of Tréguier and Cornouaille, from Dinan to Carhaix." - -"Well, sister, only let me have her," replied Perrik, "and I will -give up to you our father's farm, on which you were born, with all -the fields, ploughs, and horses." - -This proposal Ninorc'h accepted, and was forthwith put in possession, -turning up a sod in the meadows, taking a draught of water from the -well, and kindling a fire on the hearth; besides cutting a tuft of -hair from the horses' tails in token of ownership. [42] She then -delivered Mor Vyoc'h to Perrik, who led her away to a house which he -had at some distance, towards Menez-Brée. - -A day of tears and sadness was that for May-flower; and as at night -she went the round of the stalls to see that all was right, she could -not help again and again murmuring, as she filled the mangers, - -"Alas, Mor Vyoc'h is gone! I shall never see Mor Vyoc'h again." - -With this lament still on her lips, she suddenly heard a lowing behind -her, in which, as by virtue of the gold-herb her ears were now open -to the language of all animals, she distinctly made out these words, - -"Here I am again, my little mistress," - -May-flower turned round in astonishment, and there indeed was Mor -Vyoc'h. - -"Oh, can this indeed be you?" cried the little girl. "And what, then, -has brought you back?" - -"I cannot belong to your uncle Perrik," said Mor Vyoc'h, "for my -nature forbids me to remain with such as are not in a state of grace; -so I am come back to be with you again as before." - -"But then my mother must give back the farm, the fields, and all that -she has received for you." - -"Not so; for it was already hers by right, and had been unjustly -taken from her by your uncle." - -"But he will come to see if you are here, and will know you again." - -"Go and gather three leaves of the cross-wort, [43] and I will tell -you what to do." - -May-flower went, and soon returned with the three leaves. - -"Now," said Mor Vyoc'h, "pass those leaves over me, from my horns to -my tail, and say 'St. Ronan of Ireland!' three times." - -May-flower did so; and as she called on the saint for the third -time, lo, the cow became a beautiful horse. The little girl was lost -in wonder. - -"Now," said the creature to her, "your uncle Perrik cannot possibly -know me again; for I am no longer Mor Vyoc'h, but Marc'h-Mor." [44] - -On hearing what had come to pass, the widow was greatly rejoiced; and -early on the morrow proceeded to make trial of her horse with a load of -corn for Tréguier. But guess her astonishment when she found that the -more sacks were laid on Marc'h-Mor's back the longer it grew; so that -he alone could carry as much wheat as all the horses in the parish. - -The tale of the widow's wonderful horse was soon noised about the -neighbourhood, and among the rest her brother Fanche heard of it. He -therefore lost no time in proceeding to the farm; and when he had seen -Marc'h-Mor, begged his sister to part with him, which, however, she -would by no means consent to do till Fanche had offered her in exchange -his cows and his mill, with all the pigs that he was fattening there. - -The bargain concluded, Ninorc'h took possession of her new property, -as she had done at the farm; and Fanche led away Marc'h-Mor. - -But in the evening there he was again; and again May-flower gathered -three leaves of cross-wort, stroked him over with them three times from -his ears to his tail, repeating each time St. Ronan of Ireland! as she -had done before to Mor Vyoc'h. And, lo, in a moment the horse changed -into a sheep covered with wool as long as hemp, as red as scarlet, -and as fine as dressed flax. - -Full of admiration at this new miracle, the widow came to behold it; -and no sooner was she within sight than she called to May-flower, - -"Run and fetch a pair of shears; for the poor creature cannot bear -this weight of wool." - -But when she began to shear Mor-Vawd, she found the wool grow as fast -as she cut it off; so that he alone far out-valued all the flocks -of Arhèz. - -Riwal, who chanced to come by at that moment, was witness of the -wonder; and then and there parted with his forge, his sheep-walks, -and all his sheep, to obtain possession of the wonderful sheep. - -But see! As he was leading his new purchase home along the sea-shore, -the sheep suddenly plunged in the water, swam to the smallest of the -seven isles, and passed into a chasm of the rocks, which opened to -receive it, and straight-way closed again. - -This time May-flower expected him back at the usual hour in -vain. Neither that night nor on the morrow did he revisit the farm. - -The little girl ran to the common. There she found Robin Redbreast, -who thus spoke, before he flew away for ever: - -"I have been waiting for you, my little lady. The sheep is gone, -and will return no more. Your uncles have been punished after their -deserts. For you, you are now a rich heiress, and may wear a cross of -gold and silken slippers, as I promised you. My work here is done, -and I am about to fly away far hence. Only, do you remember always, -that you have been poor, and that it was one of God's little birds -that made you rich." - -To prove her gratitude, May-flower built a chapel on the heath, on -that very spot where Robin Redbreast first addressed her. And the old -men, from whom our fathers heard this tale, could remember lighting -the altar-candles there when they were little boys. - - - - - - - -COMORRE. - - -In the old times, it is said that the city of Vannes was far larger -and finer than it is in our days, and that instead of a prefect, -it was ruled by a king, whose will was law. I do not know what his -name was; but from all I have heard, it seems that he was a man who -lived in the fear of God, and of whom no one had ever found occasion -to speak an evil word. - -He had been early left a widower; and he lived happily with his -only daughter, said to be the most beautiful creature in the whole -world. She was called Tryphyna, and those who knew her have asserted -that she came of age unsullied by a single mortal sin. So that the -king her father would have willingly sacrificed his horses, castles, -and farms, rather than see Tryphyna made unhappy. - -However, it came to pass, that one day ambassadors from Cornouaille -were announced. They came on the part of Comorre, a powerful prince -of those times, who ruled over the land of Black-Wheat as Tryphyna's -father ruled that of the White. [45] - -After offering presents of honey, flax, and a dozen of little pigs, -to the king, they informed him that their master had visited the last -fair at Vannes disguised as a soldier, and there beholding the beauty -and modesty of the young princess, he had determined at all hazards -to have her in marriage. - -This proposal filled both the king and Tryphyna with great grief; -for the Count Comorre was a giant, and said to be the wickedest man -that had ever been on the earth since the days of Cain. - -From his earliest youth he had been used to find his only pleasure in -working mischief; and so malicious was he, that his mother herself had -been accustomed to run and ring the alarm-bell whenever he left the -castle, to warn the country people to take care of themselves. When -older, and his own master, his cruelty was greater still. It was -said that one morning, on his way out, he tried his gun upon a lad -tending a colt at pasture, and killed him. And at other times, when -returning unsuccessful from the chase, he would let loose his dogs -upon the poor peasants in the fields, and suffer them to be pulled -down like beasts of prey. But, most horrible of all, he had married -four wives in succession, each of whom had died off suddenly without -receiving the last Sacraments; and it was even said that he had made -away with them by the knife, fire, water, or poison. - -So the King of Vannes replied to the ambassadors that his daughter was -too young and too weak in health to think of marrying. But Comorre's -people answered roughly, after their manner, that the Count Comorre -would listen to no such excuses, and that they had received orders, -if the young princess was not sent back with them, to declare war -against the King of Vannes. The king replied, that they must do as -they liked about that. Then the most aged among the envoys lighted a -handful of straw, which he flung to the winds, declaring that thus -should the anger of Comorre pass over the country of White-Wheat; -and so they departed. [46] - -Tryphyna's father, being a courageous man, did not allow himself to -be disheartened by this threat, and called together all the soldiers -he could muster to defend his territories. - -But in a few days he heard that the Count of Cornouaille was advancing -upon Vannes with a powerful army; and it was not long before he came -in sight with trumpets and cannons. Then the king put himself at the -head of his people, and the battle was on the point of beginning; when -St. Veltas [47] came to find Tryphyna, who was praying in her oratory. - -The saint wore the cloak which had served him as a vessel for crossing -the sea, and carried the walking-staff which he had fastened to -it as a mast to catch the wind. A halo of glory hovered round his -brow. He announced to the young princess that the men of Vannes and -Cornouaille were on the point of shedding each other's blood, and -asked her whether she would not stay the death of so many Christians -by consenting to become the wife of Count Comorre. - -"Alas, then, God demands from me the death of all my peace and -happiness," cried the young girl, weeping. "Why am I not a beggar? I -could then at least be wedded to the beggar of my choice. Ah, if it -is indeed the will of God that I espouse this giant, whom I dread so -much, say for me, holy man, the Office for the Dead; for the count -will kill me, as he has his other wives." - -But St. Veltas replied, - -"Fear nothing, Tryphyna. See here this ring of silver, white as milk; -it shall serve you as a warning; for so surely as Comorre is plotting -any thing against you, it will become as black as the crow's wing. Take -courage, then, and save the Bretons from death." - -The young princess, reassured by this present of the ring, consented -to St. Veltas's request. - -Then the saint hurried without loss of time towards the opposed armies, -that he might announce the good tidings to their chiefs. The King of -Vannes, notwithstanding his daughter's resolution, was very unwilling -to consent to the marriage; but Comorre promised so fairly, that at -last he accepted him as son-in-law. - -The nuptials were celebrated with such festivities as have never -been seen since within the two dioceses. The first day six thousand -noble guests sat down to table; and on the second they received as -many poor, whom the bride and bridegroom, forgetful of their rank, -waited on at table, with napkins on their arms. [48] Then there was -dancing, at which all the musicians of Lower Brittany were engaged; -and wrestling-matches, in which the men of Brévelay contended with -those of Cornouaille. - -At last, when all was over, every one went home to his own country; -and Comorre carried off with him his young bride, as a sparrow-hawk -that has pounced upon a poor little yellow-hammer. - -However, during the first few months his affection for Tryphyna -softened him more than might have been expected. The castle-dungeons -remained empty, and the gibbets held no pasture for foul birds of -prey. The count's people whispered low, - -"What ails our lord, then, that he thirsts no more for tears and -blood?" But those who knew him better waited and said nothing. Tryphyna -herself, notwithstanding the count's kindness towards her, could -never feel easy or happy in her mind. Every day she went down to the -castle-chapel, and there, praying on the tombs of Comorre's four dead -wives, she besought God to preserve her from a violent death. - -About this time a grand assembly of Breton princes took place at -Rennes, and Comorre was obliged to join it. He gave into Tryphyna's -keeping all the castle keys, even those of the cellars; told her to -amuse herself as she liked best, and set out with a great retinue. - -It was five months before he returned, full of anxiety to see Tryphyna, -of whom he had thought often during his absence. And in his haste, -unwilling to lose time by announcing his arrival, he rushed up into -her room, where she was at that moment engaged in making an infant's -cap, trimmed with silver-lace. - -On seeing the cap, Comorre turned pale, and asked for what it was -designed. The countess, thinking to rejoice his heart, assured him -that they would shortly have a child; but at this news the Prince of -Cornouaille drew back in horror, and after looking at Tryphyna with -a dreadful countenance, went suddenly out, not speaking a word. - -The princess might have taken this for one of the count's frequent -caprices, had she not perceived, on casting down her eyes, that the -silver ring had turned black. She uttered a cry of terror; for she -remembered the words of St. Veltas, and knew that she must be in -imminent peril. But she knew not wherefore, neither could she tell -how to escape it. Poor woman! all day long, and during part of the -night, she employed herself in pondering what could be the reason -of the count's displeasure; and at last, her heart growing heavier, -she went down into the chapel to pray. - -But scarcely had she finished her rosary, and risen to depart, -when the hour of midnight struck. At that instant she beheld the -four grave-stones of Comorre's four wives rise slowly up, and they -themselves come out swathed in their funeral shrouds. - -Tryphyna, more dead than alive, would have escaped; but the phantoms -called to her: - -"Take care, poor lost one; Comorre waits to kill thee." - -"Me!" cried the countess; "and how have I offended, that he seeks -my death?" - -"You have told him you will shortly be a mother; and he knows, thanks -to the evil one, that his first child will be his destroyer. Therefore -it was that he took our lives also." - -"My God! and have I fallen into hands so cruel?" cried Tryphyna, -weeping. "If it is so, what hope remains for me? what can I do?" - -"Go back to your father in the land of White-Wheat," said the phantoms. - -"How can I fly?" returned the countess; "the giant dog of Comorre -guards the gate." - -"Give to him this poison, which killed me," said the first. - -"How can I get down the high wall?" asked the young wife. - -"Let yourself down by this cord, which strangled me," replied the -second. - -"But who will direct me through the darkness?" asked the princess. - -"This fire, which consumed me," replied the third. - -"How can I take so long a journey?" once more asked Tryphyna. - -"Make use of this staff, which crushed my temples," said the last. - -Comorre's wife took the staff, the torch, the cord, and the poison. She -silenced the dog, she scaled the lofty wall, she penetrated the -darkness, and took the road to Vannes, where her father dwelt. - -Comorre, not being able to find her the next morning when he rose, -sent his page to search for her in every chamber; but the page returned -with the tidings that Tryphyna was no longer in the castle. - -Then the count went up the donjon-tower, and looked out to the -four winds. - -To the north he saw a raven that croaked; to the sunrise a swallow on -the wing; to the south a wailing sea-mew; and to the west a turtle-dove -that sped away. - -He instantly exclaimed that Tryphyna was in that direction; and having -his horse saddled, set out in pursuit. - -His unfortunate wife was still upon the border of the wood which -surrounded the count's castle; but she was warned of his approach by -seeing the ring grow black. Then she turned aside over the common, -and came to the cabin of a poor shepherd, whose sole possession was -an old magpie hanging in a cage. - -The poor lady lay concealed there the whole day, bemoaning herself -and praying; and when night came on, she once more set forth along -the paths which skirt the fields of flax and corn. - -Comorre, who had kept to the high road, could not find her; and after -travelling two days, he returned the same way as far as the common. But -there, as ill-luck would have it, he entered the shepherd's hut, -and heard the magpie trying to recall the melancholy wailings it had -listened to, and murmuring, "Poor Tryphyna! poor Tryphyna!" Then -Comorre knew the countess had passed by that way, and calling his -hunting-dog, set him on the track, and began to pursue her. - -Meanwhile Tryphyna, pressed by terror, had walked on unresting, -and was already drawing near to Vannes. But at last she felt herself -unable to proceed; and turning into a wood, lay down upon the grass, -where she gave birth to a son miraculously lovely, who was afterwards -called St. Trever. - -As she held him in her arms, and wept over him, half sorrowfully -and half in joy, she perceived a falcon ornamented with a collar of -gold. He was perched upon a neighbouring tree; and she knew him for -her father's bird, the king of the land of White-Wheat. Calling him -quickly by his name, the bird came down upon her knees; and giving him -the warning-ring she had received from St. Veltas, she said, "Fly, -falcon, hasten to my father's court, and carry him this ring. When -he sees it, he will know I am in urgent danger, and will order his -soldiers to horse. It is for you to lead them hither to save me." - -The bird understood, and taking the ring, flew like a flash of -lightning in the direction of Vannes. - -But almost at the same instant Comorre came in sight with his -stag-hound, who had incessantly tracked Tryphyna; and as she had no -longer the ring to forewarn her of approaching danger, she remained -unconscious of it till she heard the tyrant's voice cheering on -his dog. - -Terror froze the marrow in her bones, and she had only just time to -wrap the infant in her mantle and hide it in the hollow of a tree, -when Comorre appeared upon his horse at the entrance of the pathway. - -Seeing Tryphyna, he uttered a cry like that of a wild-beast, and -throwing himself upon the unhappy victim, who had sunk upon her -knees, he severed her head from her shoulders by one stroke of his -hunting-knife. - -Believing himself now at once rid of mother and child, he whistled -back his dog, and set off on his return to Cornouaille. - -Now the falcon arrived at the court of the King of Vannes, who was -then dining; and hovering over the table, let fall the silver ring into -his master's cup. He had no sooner recognised it, than he exclaimed: - -"Woe is me, some misfortune must have befallen my daughter, since -the falcon brings me back her ring. Let the horses be made ready, -and let St. Veltas be our companion; for I fear we shall but too soon -stand in need of his assistance." - -The servants obeyed promptly; and the king set forth with the saint, -who had come at his prayer, and a numerous retinue. They put their -horses to their full speed, and followed the course of the flying -falcon, who led them to the glade where lay the dead Tryphyna and -her living child. - -The king then threw himself from his horse, and uttered cries that -might have made the very oaks to weep; but St. Veltas silenced him. - -"Hush!" said he, "and join with me in prayer to God; He can even yet -repair all." - -With these words, he knelt down with all those who were present, and -after addressing a fervent prayer to Heaven, he said to the dead body, -"Arise!" - -Tryphyna obeyed. - -"Take thine head and thy child," added the saint, "and follow us to -the castle of Comorre." - -It was done as he commanded. - -Then the terrified escort took horse once more, and spurred onwards -towards Cornouaille. But however rapidly they rode, Tryphyna was -ever in advance; holding her son upon her left arm, and her head on -her right. - -And thus they came before the castle of the murderer. Comorre, who -saw them coming, caused the drawbridge to be raised. St. Veltas drew -near the moat, and exclaimed, with a loud voice, - -"Count of Cornouaille, I bring thee back thy wife, such as thy -wickedness has made her; and thy son, as God has bestowed him on -thee. Wilt thou receive them beneath thy roof?" - -Comorre was silent. St. Veltas repeated the same words a second, -then a third time; but still no voice replied. Taking, therefore, -the infant from his mother's arms, he placed him on the ground. - -Then was beheld a miracle which proved the Omnipotence of God; for -the child walked alone, and boldly, to the edge of the moat, whence -gathering a handful of the sand, he flung it towards the castle, -crying out, - -"God is just!" - -At that instant the towers shook with a great tumult, the walls gaped -open, and the whole castle sank down in ruins, burying the Count of -Cornouaille, and all those who had abetted him in sin. - -St. Veltas then replaced the head of Tryphyna on her shoulders, and -laying his hands upon her, the holy woman came back to life; to the -great content of the King of Vannes, and of all who were there present. - - - - -NOTE. - -According to the legend of Albert de Morlaix, Comorre was not buried -in the castle ruins, but succeeded in making his escape; but, at the -instance of Guerok, the Breton Bishops met in council "to cut off -this rotten branch from the body of the Church. They assembled at -the mountain called Menez-Brée, near Louargat, between Belle Isle -and Guingamp, not daring to meet in any town, through the terror -inspired by this tyrant; who, having killed King Johava, and his son -Jugduval, did what he pleased throughout the whole of the Low Country" -(Basse Bretagne). - -The Bishops thundered from their place of meeting a deadly -excommunication against Comorre; who shortly after, according to the -historian Le Bault, suffered the punishment of Arius; or, as others -say, "vomited forth at the same instant his blood and his soul." - - - - - - - -THE GROAC'H OF THE ISLE OF LOK. [49] - - -Every one who knows the land of the Church (Lanillis), knows also that -it is one of the loveliest parishes in the diocese of Léon. To say -nothing of green crops and corn, its orchards are famed from all time -for apples sweeter than the honey of Sizun, and plum-trees of which -every blossom ripens into fruit. As for the marriageable maidens, -they are all models of discretion and housewifery; at least so say -their nearest relations, who of course know them best. - -In olden times, when miracles were as common in these parts as -christenings and burials now, there dwelt in Lanillis a young man -called Houarn Pogamm, and a damsel whose name was Bellah Postik. - -They grew up together in love, as in age and stature; but every one -that they had to care for them being dead, one after the other, and -they left portionless, the two poor orphans were at last obliged to -go into service. They ought, indeed, to have been happy, for they -served the same master; but lovers are like the sea, that murmurs ever. - -"If we had only enough to buy a little cow and a lean pig," said -Houarn, "I would take a bit of land of our master; and then the good -father should marry us, and we would go and live together." - -"Yes," replied Bellah, with a deep sigh; "but the times are so -hard. The cows and pigs were dearer than ever at Ploudalmazeau the -last fair. Providence must surely have given up caring for the world." - -"I am afraid we shall have to wait a long time," said the young man; -"for I never get the last glass of the bottle when I drink with the -rest of them." - -"Very long," replied the maiden; "for I never can hear the cuckoo." - -Day after day it was the same story; till at last Houarn was quite out -of patience. So one morning he came to Bellah, as she was winnowing -some corn in the threshing-floor, and told her how he had made up -his mind that he would set out on his travels to seek his fortune. - -Sadly troubled was the poor girl at this resolve, and she said all -she could to dissuade him from it; but Houarn, who was a determined -young fellow, would not be withheld. - -"The birds," said he, "fly hither and thither till they have found -a field of corn, and the bees till they meet with flowers that -may yield them honey; is it for man to be less reasonable than the -winged creatures? I also will go forth on my quest; what I want is -but the price of a little cow and a lean pig. If you love me, Bellah, -you will no longer oppose a project which is to hasten our marriage." - -Bellah could not but acknowledge that there was reason in his words; -so with a sigh and a yearning heart she said, - -"Go then, Houarn, with God's blessing, if it must be so; but first -let me share with you my family relics." - -She led him to her cupboard, and took out a little bell, a knife, -and a staff. - -"There," said she, "these are immemorial heirlooms of our family. This -is the bell of St. Kolédok. Its sound can be heard at any distance, -however great, and will give immediate notice to the possessor's -friends should he be in any danger. The knife once belonged to -St. Corentin, and its touch dissolves all spells, were they of the -arch-fiend himself. Lastly, here is the staff of St. Vouga, which -will lead its possessor whithersoever he may desire to go. I will -give you the knife to defend you from enchantments, and the little -bell to let me know if you are in peril; the staff I will keep, -that I may be able to join you, should you need my presence." - -Houarn accepted with thanks his Bellah's gifts, wept awhile with her, -as belongs to a parting, and set out towards the mountains. - -But it was then just as it is now, and in all the villages through -which he passed, the traveller was beset by beggars, to whom any one -with whole garments was a man of rank and fortune. - -"By my faith," thought he, "this part of the country seems fitter -for spending a fortune than for making one: I must go farther." - -He went onwards therefore towards the west, till at last he arrived -at Pontaven, a pretty town, built upon a river bordered with poplars. - -There, as he sat at the inn-door, he overheard two carriers, who, -as they loaded their mules, were talking together of the Groac'h of -the Isle of Lok. - -Houarn inquired who or what that might be; and was told that it was the -name of a fairy who inhabited the lake in the largest of the Glénans, -[50] and who was said to be as rich as all the kings of the earth -together. Many had been the treasure-seekers that had visited her -island, but not one of them had ever returned. - -The thought came suddenly into Houarn's mind that he too would try -the adventure. The muleteers did all they could to dissuade him. They -were so loud in their remonstrances, that they collected quite a -crowd about him, crying out that it was downright unchristian to -let him run into destruction in that way; and the people would even -have kept him back by force. Houarn thanked them for the interest -they manifested in his welfare, and declared himself ready to give -up his design, if only they would make a collection amongst them -which would enable him to buy a little cow and a lean pig; but at -this proposition the muleteers and all the others drew back, simply -repeating that he was an obstinate fellow, and that it was of no use -talking to him. So Houarn repaired to the sea-shore, where he took -a boat, and was carried to the Isle of Lok. - -He had no difficulty in finding the pond, which was in the centre -of the island, its banks fringed by sea-plants with rose-coloured -flowers. As he walked round, he saw lying at one end of it, shaded by -a tuft of broom, a sea-green canoe, which floated on the unruffled -waters. It was fashioned like a swan asleep, with its head under -its wing. - -Houarn, who had never seen any thing like it before, drew nearer with -curiosity, and stepped into the boat that he might examine it the -better; but scarcely had he set foot within it when the swan seemed -to awake, its head started from amongst the feathers, its wide feet -spread themselves to the waters, and it swam rapidly from the bank. - -The young man gave a cry of alarm, but the swan only made the more -swiftly for the middle of the lake; and just as Houarn had decided on -throwing himself from his strange bark, and swimming for the shore, -the bird plunged downward head foremost, drawing him under the water -along with it. - -The unfortunate Léonard, who could not cry out without gulping down -the unsavoury water of the pool, was silent by necessity, and soon -arrived at the Groac'h's dwelling. - -It was a palace of shells, far surpassing in beauty all that can be -imagined. It was entered by a flight of crystal steps, each stair of -which, as the foot pressed it, gave forth a concert of sweet sounds, -like the song of many birds. All around stretched gardens of immense -extent, with forests of marine plants, and plots of green seaweed, -spangled with diamonds in the place of flowers. - -The Groac'h was reclining in the entrance-hall upon a couch of -gold. Her dress was of sea-green silk, exquisitely fine, and floating -round her like the waves that wrapped her grotto. Her black locks, -intertwined with coral, descended to her feet; and the white and red -of her brilliant complexion blended as in the polished lining of some -Indian shell. - -Dazzled with a sight at once so fair and unexpected, Houarn stood -still; but with a winning smile the Groac'h rose, and came forward -to meet him. So easy and flowing were her movements, that she seemed -like a snowy billow heaving along the sea, as she advanced to greet -the young Léonard. - -"You are welcome," said she, beckoning him with her hand to enter; -"there is always room here for all comers, especially for handsome -young men." - -At this gracious reception Houarn somewhat recovered himself, and -entered the hall. - -"Who are you? Whence come you? What seek you?" continued the Groac'h. - -"My name is Houarn," replied the Léonard; "I come from Lanillis; and -I am in quest of the wherewithal to buy a little cow and a lean pig." - -"Well, come in, Houarn," said the fairy; "and dismiss all anxiety -from your mind; you shall have every thing to make you happy." - -While this was passing she had led him into a second hall, the walls -of which were covered with pearls; where she set before him eight -different kinds of wine, in eight goblets of chased silver. Houarn made -trial of each, and found all so much to his taste, that he repeated -his draught of each eight times; while ever as the cup left his lips, -the Groac'h seemed still fairer than before. - -She meanwhile encouraged him to drink, telling him he need be in no -fear of robbing her, for that the lake in the Isle of Lok communicated -with the sea, and that all the treasures swallowed up by shipwrecks -were conveyed thither by a magic current. - -"I do not wonder," cried Houarn, emboldened at once by the wine and -the manner of his hostess, "that the people on shore speak so badly -of you; in fact, it just comes to this, that you are rich, and they -are envious. For my part, I should be very well content with the half -of your fortune." - -"It shall be yours if you will, Houarn," said the fairy. - -"How can that be?" he asked. - -"My husband, the Korandon, is dead," she answered, "so that I am now -a widow; if you like me well enough, I will become your wife." - -Houarn quite lost his breath for very wonderment. For him to marry -that beautiful creature! to dwell in that splendid palace! and to -drink to his heart's content of the eight sorts of wine! True, he -was engaged to Bellah; but men easily forget such promises,--indeed, -for that they are just like women. So he gallantly assured the fairy -that one so lovely must be irresistible, and that it would be his -pride and joy to become her husband. - -Thereupon the Groac'h exclaimed that she would forthwith make ready -the wedding-feast. She spread a table, which she covered with all -the delicacies that the Léonard had ever heard of, besides a great -many unknown to him even by name; and then proceeding to a little -fish-pond at the bottom of the garden, she began to call, and at -each call up swam a fish, which she successively caught in a steel -net. When the net was full, she carried it into the next room, and -threw all the fish into a golden frying-pan. - -But it seemed to Houarn as though there was a whispering of little -voices amidst the hissing of the pan. - -"What is that whispering in the frying-pan, Groac'h?" he asked. - -"It is the crackling of the wood," said she, stirring the fire. - -An instant after the little voices again began to murmur. - -"What is that murmuring, Groac'h?" asked the bridegroom. - -"It is the butter in the frying-pan," she answered, giving the fish -a toss. - -But soon the little voices cried yet louder. - -"What is that cry, Groac'h?" said Houarn. - -"It is the cricket in the hearth," replied the fairy; and she began to -sing, so that the Léonard could no longer hear any thing but her voice. - -But he could not help thinking on what he had noticed: and thought -brought fear, and fear, of course, repentance. - -"Alas!" he cried, "can it then be possible that I have so soon -forgotten Bellah for this Groac'h, who is no doubt a child of -Satan? With her for my wife, I shall not even dare to say my prayers -at night, and shall be as sure to go to hell as an exciseman." - -While he thus communed with himself, the fairy brought in the fried -fish, and pressed him to eat, while she went to fetch him twelve new -sorts of wine. - -Houarn sighed, took out his knife, and prepared to begin; but scarcely -had the spell-destroying blade touched the golden dish, when all the -fish rose up in the form of little men, each one clad in the proper -costume of his rank and occupation. There was a lawyer with his bands, -a tailor in blue stockings, a miller all white with flour, and so on; -all crying out at once, as they swam in the melted butter,-- - -"Houarn, save us, if thou wouldst thyself be saved." - -"Holy Virgin! what are these little men singing out from amongst the -melted butter?" cried the Léonard, in bewilderment. - -"We are Christians like thyself," they answered. "We too came to seek -our fortunes in the Isle of Lok; we too consented to marry the Groac'h; -and the day after the wedding she did with us as she had done with -all our predecessors, of whom the fish-pond in the garden is full." - -"What!" cried Houarn, "a creature so young and fair, and yet so -wicked?" - -"And thou wilt soon be in the same condition, subject thyself to be -fried and eaten by some new-comer." - -Houarn gave a jump, as though he felt himself already in the golden -frying-pan, and ran towards the door, thinking only how he might -escape before the Groac'h should return. But she was already there, -and had heard all; her net of steel was soon thrown over the Léonard, -who found himself instantly transformed into a frog, in which guise -the fairy carried him to the fish-pond, and threw him in, to keep -her former husbands company. - -At this moment the little bell, which Houarn wore round his neck, -tinkled of its own accord; and Bellah heard it at Lanillis, where -she was busy skimming the last night's milk. - -The sound struck upon her heart like a funeral knell; and she cried -aloud, "Houarn is in danger!" And without a moment's delay, without -asking counsel of any as to what she should do, she ran and put on -her Sunday clothes, her shoes and silver cross, and set out from the -farm with her magic staff. Arrived where four roads met, she set the -stick upright in the ground, murmuring in a low voice,-- - - - "List, thou crab-tree staff of mine! - By good St. Vouga, hear me! - O'er earth and water, through air, 'tis thine - Whither I will to bear me!" - - -And lo, the stick became a bay nag, dressed, saddled, and bridled, -with a rosette behind each ear, and a blue feather in front. - -Bellah mounted, and the horse set forward; first at a walking -pace, then he trotted, and at last galloped, and that so swiftly, -that ditches, trees, houses, and steeples passed before the young -girl's eyes like the arms of a spindle. But she complained not, -feeling that each step brought her nearer to her dear Houarn; nay, -she rather urged on her beast, saying, - -"Less swift than the swallow is the horse, less swift the swallow -than the wind, the wind than the lightning; but thou, my good steed, -if thou lovest me, outstrip them all in speed: for a part of my heart -is suffering; the better half of my own life is in danger." - -The horse understood her, and flew like a straw driven by the whirlwind -till he arrived in the country of Arhés, at the foot of the rock -called the Stag's Leap. But there he stood still, for never had horse -scaled that precipice. Bellah, perceiving the cause of his stopping, -renewed her prayer: - - - "Once again, thou courser mine, - By good St. Vouga, hear me! - O'er earth and water, through air, 'tis thine - Whither I will to bear me!" - - -She had hardly finished, when a pair of wings sprang from the sides -of her horse, which now became a great bird, and in this shape flew -away with her to the top of the rock. - -Strange indeed was the sight that here met her eyes. Upon a nest -made of potter's clay and dry moss squatted a little korandon, [51] -all swarthy and wrinkled, who, on beholding Bellah, began to cry aloud, - -"Hurrah! here is the pretty maiden come to save me!" - -"Save thee!" said Bellah. "Who art thou, then, my little man?" - -"I am Jeannik, the husband of the Groac'h of the Isle of Lok. She it -was that sent me here." - -"But what art thou doing in this nest?" - -"I am sitting on six stone eggs, and I cannot be free till they -are hatched." - -Bellah could not keep herself from laughing. - -"Poor thing!" said she; "and how can I deliver thee?" - -"By first saving Houarn, who is in the Groac'h's power." - -"Ah, tell me how I may do that!" cried the orphan girl, "and not a -moment will I lose in setting about my part in the matter, though I -should have to make the circuit of the four dioceses upon my bare -knees." - -"Well, then, there are two things to be done," said the korandon. "The -first, to present thyself before the Groac'h as a young man; and the -next, to take from her the steel net which she carries at her girdle, -and shut her up in it till the day of judgment." - -"And where shall I get a suit of clothes to fit me, korandon?" - -"Thou shalt see." - -And with these words the little dwarf pulled out four hairs from -his foxy poll, and blew them to the winds, muttering something in an -under-tone, and lo, the four hairs became four tailors, of whom the -first held in his hand a cabbage, the second a pair of scissors, the -third a needle, and the last a smoothing goose. All the four seated -themselves cross-legged round the nest, and began to prepare a suit -of clothes for Bellah. - -Out of one cabbage-leaf they made a beautiful coat, laced at every -seam; of another they made a waistcoat; but it took two leaves for -the trunk-breeches, such as are worn in the country of Léon; lastly, -the heart of the cabbage was shaped into a hat, and the stalk was -converted into shoes. - -Thus equipped, Bellah would have passed any where for a handsome -young gentleman in green velvet lined with white satin. - -She thanked the korandon, who added some further instructions; -and then her great bird flew away with her straight to the Isle of -Lok. There she commanded him to resume the form of a crab-stick; and -entering the swan-shaped boat, arrived safely at the Groac'h's palace. - -The fairy was quite taken at first sight with the velvet-clad young -Léonard. - -"Well," quoth she to herself, "you are the best-looking young fellow -that has ever come to see me; and I do think I shall love you for -three times three days." - -And she began to make much of her guest, calling her her darling, -and heart of hearts. She treated her with a collation; and Bellah -found upon the table St. Corentin's knife, which had been left there -by Houarn. She took it up against the time of need, and followed the -Groac'h into the garden. There the fairy showed her the grass-plots -flowered with diamonds, the fountains of perfumed waters, and, above -all, the fish-pond, wherein swam fishes of a thousand colours. - -With these last Bellah pretended to be especially taken, so that she -must needs sit down upon the edge of the pond, the better to enjoy -the sight of them. - -The Groac'h took advantage of her delight to ask her if she would not -like to spend all her days in this lovely place. Bellah replied that -she should like it of all things. - -"Well, then, so you may, and from this very hour, if you are only -ready at once to marry me," proceeded the fairy. - -"Very well," replied Bellah; "but you must let me fetch up one of -these beautiful fishes with the steel net that hangs at your girdle." - -The Groac'h, nothing suspecting, and taking this request for a mere -boyish freak, gave her the net, saying with a smile, "Let us see, -fair fisherman, what you will catch." - -"Thee, fiend!" cried Bellah, throwing the net over the Groac'h's -head. "In the name of the Saviour of men, accursed sorceress, become -in body even as thou art in soul!" - -The cry uttered by the Groac'h died away in a stifled murmur, for -the exorcism had already taken effect; the beautiful water fay was -now nothing more than the hideous queen of toadstools. - -In an instant Bellah drew the net, and with all speed threw it into a -well, upon which she laid a stone sealed with the sign of the cross, -that it might remain closed till the tombs shall be opened at the -last day. - -She then hastened back to the pond; but all the fish were already out -of it, coming forth to meet her, like a procession of many-coloured -monks, crying in their little hoarse voices, "Behold our lord and -master! who has delivered us from the net of steel and the golden -frying-pan." - -"And who will also restore you to your shape of Christians," said -Bellah, drawing forth the knife of St. Corentin. But as she was -about to touch the first fish, she perceived close to her a frog, -with the magic bell hung about his neck, and sobbing bitterly as he -knelt before her. Bellah felt her bosom swell, and she exclaimed, -"Is it thou, is it thou, my Houarn, thou lord of my sorrow and my joy?" - -"It is I," answered the youth. - -At a touch with the potent blade he recovered his proper form, and -Bellah and he fell into each other's arms, the one eye weeping for -the past, the other glistening with the present joy. - -She then did the like to all the fishes, who were restored each of -them to his pristine shape and condition. - -The work of disenchantment was hardly at an end, when up came the -little korandon from the Stag's-Leap rock. - -"Here I am, my pretty maiden," cried he to Bellah: "the spell which -held me where you saw me is broken, and I am come to thank you for -my deliverance." - -He then conducted the lovers to the Groac'h's coffers, which were -filled with precious stones, of which he told them to take as many -as they pleased. - -They both loaded their pockets, their girdles, and their hats; and -when they had as much as they could carry, they departed, with all -whom she had delivered from the enchantment. - -The banns were soon published, and Houarn and Bellah were married. But -instead of a little cow and a lean pig, he bought all the land in the -parish, and put in as farmers the people he had brought with him from -the Isle of Lok. - - - - - - - -THE FOUR GIFTS. - - -If I had an income of three hundred crowns, I would go and dwell -at Quimper; the finest church in Cornouaille is to be found there, -and all the houses have weather-vanes upon their roofs. If I had two -hundred crowns a year, I would live at Carhaix, for the sake of its -heath-fed sheep and its game. But if I had only one hundred, I would -set up housekeeping at Pontaven, for there is the greatest abundance -of every thing. At Pontaven they sell butter at the price of milk, -chickens for that of eggs, and linen at the same rate as you can buy -green flax. So that there are plenty of good farms there, where they -dish up salt pork at least three times a week, and where the very -shepherds eat as much rye-bread as they desire. - -In such a farm lived Barbaik Bourhis, a spirited woman, who had -maintained her household like a man, and who had fields and stacks -enough to have kept two sons at college. - -But Barbaik had only a niece, whose earnings far outweighed her keep, -so that every day she laid by as much as she could save. - -But savings too easily acquired have always their bad side. If you -hoard up wheat, you attract rats into your barns; and if you lay by -crowns, you will engender avarice in your heart. - -Old Mother Bourhis had come at last to care for nothing but the -increase of her hoards, and think nothing of any one who did not -happen to pay heavy sums each month to the tax-gatherers. So she -was angry when she saw Dénès, the labourer of Plover, chatting with -her niece behind the gable. One morning, after thus surprising them, -she cried to Tephany in step-mother tones, - -"Are not you ashamed to be always chattering thus with a young man -who has nothing, when there are so many others who would gladly buy -for you the silver ring?" - -"Dénès is a good workman and a thorough Christian," replied the -damsel. "Some day he will be able to rent a farm where he may rear -a family." - -"And so you would like to marry him?" interrupted the old woman. "God -save us! I would sooner see you drowned in the well than married to -that vagabond. No, no, it shall never be said that I brought up my -own sister's child to be the wife of a man who can carry his whole -fortune in his tobacco-pouch." - -"What matters fortune when we have good health, and can ask the -Blessed Virgin to look down on our intentions?" replied Tephany gently. - -"What matters fortune!" replied the fermière, scandalised. "What! have -you come to such a length as to despise the wealth that God has given -us? May all the saints take pity on us! Since this is the case, you -bold-faced thing, I forbid you ever to speak again to Dénès; and if -I catch him at this farm again, it will be the worse for you both; -and meanwhile go you down to the washing-place, and wash the linen, -and spread it out to dry upon the hawthorn; for since you've had one -ear turned towards the wind from Plover, every thing stands still at -home, and your two arms are worth no more than the five fingers of -a one-armed man." - -Tephany would have answered, but in vain. Mother Bourhis imperiously -pointed out to her the bucket, the soap, and the beetle, and ordered -her to set off that very instant. - -The girl obeyed, but her heart swelled with grief and resentment. - -"Old age is harder than the farm-door steps," thought she to herself; -"yes, one hundred times harder, for the rain by frequent falling -wears away the stones; but tears have no power to soften the will of -old people. God knows that talking with Dénès was the only pleasure I -had. If I am to see him no more, I might as well leave the world at -once; and our good angel was always with us. Dénès has done nothing -but teach me pretty songs, and talk about what we shall do when we -are married, in a farm, he looking after the fields, and I managing -the cattle." - -Thus talking to herself, Tephany had reached the douez. Whilst setting -down her tub of linen upon one of the white lavatory stones, she -became aware of an old woman, a stranger, sitting there, leaning her -head upon a little scorched thorn-stick. Notwithstanding her vexation, -Tephany saluted her. - -"Is my aunt [52] taking the air under the alders?" said she, moving -her load farther off. - -"One must rest where one can, when one has the roof of heaven for a -shelter," answered the old woman, in a trembling voice. - -"Are you, then, so desolate?" asked Tephany compassionately; "is -there no relation left who can offer you a refuge at his fireside?" - -"Every one is long since dead," replied the stranger; "and I have no -other family than all kind hearts." - -The maiden took the piece of rye-bread rubbed with dripping which -Barbaik had given her in a bit of linen with her beetle. - -"Take this, poor aunt," said she, offering it to the beggar. "To-day, -at least, you shall dine like a Christian on our good God's bread; -only remember in your prayers my parents, who are dead." - -The old woman took the bread, then looked at Tephany. - -"Those who help others deserve help themselves," said she. "Your -eyes are red, because Barbaik has forbidden you to speak to the lad -from Plover; but he is a worthy youth, whose intentions are good, -and I will give you the means of seeing him once every day." - -"You!" cried the girl, astonished that the beggar was so well informed. - -"Take this long copper-pin," replied the crone; "and every time you -stick it in your dress, Mother Bourhis will be forced to leave the -farm, and go to count her cabbages. All the time this pin remains -where you stick it, you will be at liberty; and your aunt will not -return until the pin is put back into this étui." - -With these words the beggar rose, nodded a farewell, and disappeared. - -Tephany was lost in astonishment. Evidently the old woman was no -beggar, but a saint, or a singer of truth. [53] - -At any rate, the young girl treasured the pin carefully, well -determined to try its power the next day. Towards the time, then, -at which Dénès was accustomed to make his appearance, she set it in -her collar. Barbaik instantly put on her wooden shoes, and walked -off into the garden, where she set herself to count her cabbages; -from the garden she went to the orchard, and from the orchard to the -field, so that Tephany could talk with Dénès at her ease. - -It was the same the next day, and the next, through many weeks. As -soon as the pin made its appearance from the étui, the good woman -was off amongst her cabbages, always beginning to count once more -how many little or big, embossed or curly cabbages [54] she had. - -Dénès at first appeared enchanted at this freedom, but by degrees he -grew less eager to avail himself of it. He had taught Tephany all his -songs; he had told her all his plans; now he was forced to consider -what he could talk to her about, and make it up beforehand, like a -preacher preparing his sermon. And more than that, he came later, -and went earlier away; sometimes even, pretending cartage, weeding, -or errands to the town detained him, he came not to the farm at all; -and Tephany had to console herself with her pin. - -She understood that the love of her betrothed was cooling, and became -more sorrowful than before. - -One day, after vainly waiting for the youth, she took her pitcher, and -went all solitary to the fountain, her heart swelling with displeasure. - -When she reached it, she perceived the same old woman who had given -her the magic pin. There she sat, near the spring; and watching -Tephany as she advanced, she began with a little chuckling laugh, - -"Ah, ah! then the pretty girl is no longer satisfied to chatter with -her humble servant any hour of the day." - -"Alas, to chat, I must be with him," replied Tephany mournfully; -"and custom has made my company less agreeable to him. Oh, aunt, -since you have given me the means of seeing him every day, you might -give me at the same time wit enough to keep my hold upon him." - -"Is that what my daughter wants?" said the old woman. "In that case, -here is a feather; let her but put it in her hair, and no one can -resist her, for she will be as clever and as cunning as Master John -[55] himself." - -Tephany, reddening with delight, carried off the feather; and just -before Dénès' visit on the following day, she stuck it under her -blue rozarès. [56] That very instant it appeared to her as if the -sun rose in her mind; she found herself acquainted with what students -spend ten years in learning, and much that even the very wisest know -nothing of; for with the science of a man, she still preserved the -malice of a woman. Dénès was of course astonished at her words; she -talked in rhyme like the bazvalanes [57] of Cornouaille, she knew -more songs than the mendicants from Scaër, and could tell all the -stories current at the forges and the mills throughout the country. - -The young man came day after day, and Tephany found always something -new to tell him. Dénès had never met man or woman with so much wit; -but after enjoying it for a time, he began to be scared by it. Tephany -had not been able to resist putting in her feather for others than him; -her songs, her sayings, were repeated every where, and people said, - -"She is a mischievous creature; he who marries her is sure to be led -like a bridled horse." - -The Plover lad repeated in his own mind the same predictions; and as -he had always thought that he would rather hold than wear the bridle, -he began to laugh with more constraint at Tephany's jests. - -One day, when he wanted to be off to a dance in a new threshing-floor, -the maiden used her utmost efforts to retain him; but Dénès, who did -not choose to be led, would not listen to her reasons, and repulsed -her entreaties. - -"Ah, I see why you are so anxious to go to the new barn," said Tephany, -with irritation; "you are going to see Aziliçz of Penenru there." - -Aziliçz was the handsomest girl in the whole canton; and, if her good -friends told truth, she was the greatest flirt. - -"To tell the truth, Aziliçz will be there," said Dénès, who delighted -in piquing the jealousy of his dearly-beloved; "and to see her any -one would go a long round." - -"Go, then, where your heart draws you," said the wounded damsel. - -And she returned to the farm without hearing a word more he had to say. - -But seating herself, overwhelmed with sadness, on the broad -hearth-stone, she gave herself up to earnest thought; and then flinging -the wondrous feather from her, she exclaimed, - -"Of what use is wit and cleverness for maidens, since men rush towards -beauty as the flies to sunshine! Ah, what I want, old aunt, is not -to be the wisest, but the fairest on the earth." - -"Be thou also, then, the fairest," uttered an unexpected voice. - -Tephany turned round astonished, and saw at the door the old woman -with her thorn-stick, who thus spoke: - -"Take this necklace, and so long as you shall wear it round your neck, -you shall appear amongst all other women as the queen of the meadow -amidst wild flowers." - -Tephany could not repress a cry of joy. She hastened to put on the -necklace, rushed to her little mirror, and there stood dumb with -admiration. Never had any girl been at once so fair and so rosy, -so lovely to look upon. - -Anxious to judge instantly of the effect which her appearance would -produce on Dénès, she decked herself out in her finest dress, her -worsted stockings, and her buckled shoes, and took her way towards -the new barn. - -But just as she reached the cross-road, she met a young lord in his -coach, who, the instant he caught sight of her, desired the coachman -to stop. - -"By my life," cried he, in admiration, "I had no idea there was such -a beautiful creature as this in the country; and if it were to cost -me my life, she must bear my name." - -But Tephany replied, "Go on, good sir, go on your way; I am but a -poor peasant-girl, accustomed to winnow, milk, and mow." - -"But I will make a noble lady of you," cried the young lord; and -taking her hand, he tried to lead her to his coach. - -The maiden drew back. - -"I will only be the bride of Dénès, the Plover labourer," said she, -with resolution. - -The lord still insisted; but when he found that she went towards -the ditch to fly away across the meadows, he desired his footmen to -seize her, and put her by force into the coach, which then set off -at full gallop. - -In about an hour's time they reached the castle, which was built of -carved stone, and was covered with slate, like all noble mansions. The -young lord ordered them to go and fetch a priest to perform the -marriage ceremony; and as meanwhile Tephany would not hear a word he -had to say, and kept trying to run away, he made them shut her up -in a great hall closed by three doors well bolted, and desired his -servants to guard her well. But by means of her pin Tephany sent them -all into the garden to count cabbages; by her feather she discovered -a fourth door concealed in the panneling, whereby she escaped; and -then fervently committing herself to Providence, she scampered away -through the woods like a hare who hears the dogs behind her. - -As long as she had any strength left, on she went, until the night -began to close around her. Then, perceiving the turret of a convent, -she went up to the little grated door, and ringing the bell, begged -for a night's shelter; but on seeing her the portress shook her head. - -"Go away, go away," said she; "there is no place here for young girls -so beautiful as you, who wander all alone at this hour of night along -the roads." - -And closing the wicket, she went away without listening to another -word. - -Forced to go further on, Tephany stopped at a farm-door, where there -were several young men and women talking together, and made the same -request as at the convent. - -The mistress of the house hesitated what answer to make; but all the -young men, dazzled by Tephany's beauty, cried out each one that he -would take her to his father's house, and every one endeavoured to -outbid his neighbour in their offers. One said that he would take her -in a wagon and three horses, lest she should be tired; another promised -her the best bed; and a third declared that she should sit down at -table with the family. At last, from promises they came to quarrelling, -and from quarrelling to blows; until the women, frightened, began to -abuse Tephany, telling her it was an infamous shame to come with her -charms to put dissensions amongst men in that way. The poor girl, -quite beside herself, tried to run away; but all the young men set -off after her. Just then she all at once remembered her necklace, -and taking it from her neck slipped it round that of a sow who was -cropping the buttercups. In an instant the charm that drew the youths -towards her died away, and they began to pursue the beast instead, -which fled away in terror. - -Tephany still went on in spite of her fatigue, and came at last to her -aunt's farm, worn out with weariness, but still more with grief. Her -wishes had brought her so little satisfaction, that she passed many -days without making another. However, Dénès' visits grew more and -more uncertain; he had undertaken to clear a warren, and there he -toiled from morning until night. - -When the young girl regretted seeing so little of him, he had always -to reply that his labour was their sole resource; and that if people -want to spend their time in talking together, they must needs have -legacies or dowries. - -Then Tephany began to complain and to desire. - -"God pardon me," said she, in a low voice; "but what I ought to ask -for is not liberty to see Dénès every day, for he soon gets tired -of it; nor wit, for it scares him; nor beauty, for it brings upon me -trouble and mistrust; but rather wealth, for then one can be master -of oneself and others. Ah, if I dared to make yet one petition more -of the old aunt, I would be wiser than I was before." - -"Be satisfied," said the voice of the old beggar, though Tephany -perceived her not. "Feel in your right pocket, and you will find a -little box; rub your eyes with the ointment it contains, and you will -have a treasure in yourself." - -The young girl hastily felt in her pocket, found the box, opened -it, and began to rub her eyes as she had been desired, when Barbaik -Bourhis entered. - -She who, in spite of herself, had now for some time past consumed -whole days in cabbage-counting, and who saw all the farm-work fallen -into arrears, was only waiting an occasion for visiting her wrath upon -somebody. Seeing her niece sitting down doing nothing, she clasped -her hands and cried, - -"That's the way, then, that the work goes on whilst I am in the -fields. Ah, I am surprised no longer that we are all going to ruin. Are -you not ashamed, you wretch, to plunder food in this way from your -kith and kin?" - -Tephany would have excused herself; but Barbaik's rage was like -milk heating on a turf-fire--let but the first bubble rise, and all -mounts upwards and boils over; from reproaches she came to threats, -and from threats to a box on the ear. - -Tephany, who had borne every thing patiently till then, could no -longer restrain her tears; but guess her astonishment when she -perceived that every tear was a beautiful and shining fair round pearl. - -Mother Bourhis, who made the same discovery, uttered loud cries of -admiration, and set herself to pick them up. - -Dénès, who came in at that instant, was no less surprised. - -"Pearls! real pearls!" he exclaimed, catching them. - -"It will make our fortune," said Barbaik, continuing to pick them -up. "Ah, what fairy has bestowed this gift upon her? We must take -good care lest it gets noised abroad, Dénès; I will give you a share, -but only you. Go on, my girl, go on; you also shall be benefited by -this opportunity." - -She held her apron, and Dénès his hat; the pearls were all he thought -of, forgetful they were tears. - -Tephany, choking with emotion, would have escaped; but the old -woman stopped her, reproaching her with wishing to defraud them, -and saying all she could to make her cry the more. The young girl -compelled herself with violent effort to control her sorrow, and to -wipe her eyes. - -"It's all over already," cried Barbaik. "Ah, Blessed Virgin, can -one be so weak-minded! If I had such a gift as that, I would no more -think of stopping than the great fountain on the Green Road. Hadn't -we better beat her a little, and try again?" - -"No," interrupted Dénès, "for fear we should exhaust her the first -time. I will set forth this moment for the town, and there find out -how much each pearl is worth." - -Barbaik and he went out together, reckoning the value as nearly -as they could, and deciding beforehand how they should divide it, -forgetting Tephany completely in the matter. - -As for her, she clasped her two hands upon her heart, and raised her -eyes towards heaven; but her look was intercepted by the aged beggar, -who, leaning on her staff in the duskiest corner of the hearth, was -watching her with mocking eye. The maiden trembled; and seizing the -pin, the feather, and the box of ointment given her by the crone, - -"Take back, take back," she cried, "your fatal gifts. Woe to all -those who cannot be content with what they have received from God! He -had gifted me according to His own wise appointment, and I madly -was dissatisfied with my portion. Give others liberty, wit, beauty, -and wealth. For me, I neither am, nor will be, other than the simple -girl of former days, loving and serving her neighbours to the utmost -of her power." - -"Well said, Tephany," cried the old woman. "Thou hast come out from -the trial; but let it do thee good. The Almighty has sent me to -bestow this lesson on thee; I am thy guardian angel. Now that thou -hast learned this truth, thou wilt live more happily; for God has -promised peace to hearts of good will." - -With these words the beggar changed into an angel glittering with -light; and shedding through the farm a scent of violets and of incense, -vanished like a flash of lightning. - -Tephany forgave Dénès his willingness to make merchandise of her -tears. Become now more reasonable, she accepted happiness as we find -it on this earth; and she was married to the lad of Plover, who proved -through all his life a good husband and a first-rate workman. - - - - - - - -THE PALACE OF THE PROUD KING. - - -The children slumber sweetly in their curtained beds; the brown dog -snores upon the broad hearth-stone; the cows chew the cud behind their -screen of broom; and the fading fire-light quivers on the grandsire's -old arm-chair. - -This is the time, dear friends, when we should make the sign of -the cross, and murmur a prayer in secret for the souls of those -that we have loved. Hark! midnight is striking from St. Michael's -church,--midnight of Holy Pentecost. - -This is the hour when all true Christians lay down their heads upon -their quiet pillows, content with that which God has given them, -and sleep, lulled by the gentle breathing of their slumbering children. - -But as for Perik Skoarn, no little children had he. He was a daring -young fellow, but as yet quite solitary. When he saw the gentry from -the neighbourhood coming to Mass on Sundays, he envied them their -handsome horses with the silver-plated bridles, their velvet mantles, -and their embroidered silken hose. He longed to be as rich as they -were, that he also might have a seat covered with red leather in the -church, and be able to carry the fair farmers' daughters to the fair -seated on his horse's crupper. - -This is the reason Perik walked upon Lew-Dréz, at the foot of -St. Efflam's down, whilst all good Christians slept upon their beds, -watched over by the Holy Virgin. Perik is a man hungering after -greatness and luxury. The longings of his heart are countless, like -the nests of the sea-swallows in the sandy cliffs. - -The waves sighed sadly in the dark horizon; the crabs fed silently -upon the bodies of the drowned; the wind that whistled in the rocks -of Roch-Ellas mimicked the call-cry of the smugglers of Lew-Dréz; -but Skoarn still paced the shore. - -He looked upon the mountain, and recalled the words of the old beggar -at Yar Cross. That old man knew all that had happened in these parts, -when these our ancient oaks hung yet as acorns on their parent trees, -and our oldest ravens still slumbered in the egg. - -Now the old beggar of Yar had told him, that here, where now stretch -the downs of St. Efflam, a famous city formerly extended; its ships -covered the wide ocean, and it was governed by a king, whose sceptre -was a hazel-wand that fashioned every thing according to his wish. - -But the king and all his people were punished for their pride and -iniquity; for one day, by God's command, the strand rose upwards -like the bubbling of a boiling flood, and so engulfed the guilty -city. But every year, upon the night of Pentecost, a passage opens -through the mountain with the first stroke of twelve o'clock, and -shows an entrance to the monarch's palace. - -The all-powerful hazel-wand may be discovered hanging in the furthest -hall of this magnificent abode; but those who seek it must make haste, -for as the final stroke of midnight sounds upon the ear, the passage -closes once again, to open no more until the following Pentecost. - -Skoarn had well remembered all the tale of the old beggar at the -Cross of Yar, and for this reason he treads at such unwonted hour -the sands of the Lew-Dréz. - -At length a sharp stroke came dashing from the belfrey of -St. Michael. Skoarn trembled; he looked eagerly, by the pale starlight, -at the granite mass which heads the mountain, and beheld it slowly -open, like the jaws of an awakening dragon. - -Skoarn rushed into the passage, which at first seemed dark, but -gradually gleamed with a blue light, like that which hovers nightly -over church-yard graves; and thus he found his way into a mighty -palace, the marble front of which was sculptured like the church of -Folgoat or of Quimper-on-the-Odet. - -The first hall he entered was all full of chests heaped, like the -corn-bins after harvest, with the purest silver; but Perik Skoarn -wanted more than silver, and he passed it through. The clock sounded -the sixth stroke of midnight. - -He found a second hall, set round with coffers crammed with gold, as -stable-racks are crammed with blossoming grass in the sweet month of -June. But Skoarn wanted something better still, and he went on. The -seventh stroke sounded. - -The third hall to which he came had baskets flowing over with white -pearls, like milk in the broad dairy-pans of Cornouaille in the early -spring. Skoarn would gladly have had some of these; but he heard the -eighth stroke sounding, and he hurried on. - -The fourth hall was all glittering with diamond caskets, shedding -brighter light than all the furzy piles upon the hillocks of Douron -on St. John's eve. Skoarn was dazzled, and hesitated for a moment; -then rushed into the last hall as he heard the church-clock for the -ninth time. - -But there he stood still suddenly with wondering admiration. In -front of the hazel-wand, which hung in full sight at the further end, -were ranged a hundred maidens most fair to look upon; they held in -one hand wreaths of the green oak, and in the other cups of glowing -wine. Skoarn had resisted silver, gold, pearls, and diamonds; but he -was overpowered by the vision of these beauteous maidens, and he stood -still to gaze at them, and at the sparkling cups they presented to him. - -The tenth stroke sounded, and he heard it not; the eleventh, and he -still stood motionless. At last, just as he was about to hold out -his hand to receive the cup from the maiden next to him, the twelfth -was heard, as mournful as the great gun of a ship at wreck among -the breakers. - -Then Perik, terrified, would fain have turned, but time for him was -over. The doors all closed, the hundred fair young girls were now so -many granite statues, and all was once more folded up in darkness. - -This is the way our fathers tell the tale of Skoarn. You see now what -will happen to a youth who suffers his heart too readily to open at -seduction's voice. May all the young take warning by his fate. It -is well to walk sometimes with eyes cast downwards to the earth, -for fear we should be led into the paths of evil and sin. - - - - - - - -THE PIPER. - - -The sea-breeze blew from the shore of the Black Water, and the stars -were rising. The young maidens had gone homewards to the little farms, -carrying on their fingers the metal rings their friends had bought -them at the fair. The youths went across the common, singing their -songs. At last their sonorous voices could no more be heard; the -light dresses of the damsels were no longer to be seen; it was night. - -Nevertheless, here was Lao, with a merry company, at the entrance of -the lonely heath,--Lao, the celebrated piper, come expressly from the -mountains to lead the dance at the fair of Armor. His face was as red -as a March moon, his black locks floated as they would upon the wind, -and he held under his arm the pipe whose magic sounds had even set -in motion a number of old women in their sabots. When they came to -the cross-road of the Warning, where there rises the granite cross -all overgrown with moss, the women stopped, and said, - -"Let us take the pathway leading towards the sea." - -Master Lao pointed out the belfry-tower of Plougean over the hill, -and said, - -"That is the point we are making for; why not go across the heath?" - -The women answered, - -"Because there rises a city of Korigans, Lao, in the middle of that -heath; and one must be pure from sin to pass it without danger." - -But Lao laughed aloud. - -"By heaven!" said he, "I have travelled by night-time all these roads, -yet I have never seen your little black men counting their money by -moonlight, as they tell us at the chimney-corner. Show me the road -leading to the Korigan city, and I will go and sing to them the days -of the week." [58] - -But the women all exclaimed, - -"Don't tempt God, Lao. God has put some things in this world of which -it is better to be ignorant, and others which we ought to fear. Leave -the Korigans alone to dance about their granite dwellings." - -"To dance!" cried Lao. "Then the Korigans have pipers too?" - -"They have the whistling of the wind across the heath, and the singing -of the night-bird." - -"Well, then," said the mountaineer, "I am determined that to-day at -least they shall have Christian music. I will go across the common -playing some of my best Cornouaille airs." - -So saying, he put his pipe to his lips, and striking up a cheerful -strain, he set off boldly on the little footway that stretched like -a white line across the gloomy heath. - -The women, terrified, made the sign of the cross, and hurried down -the hill. - -But Lao walked straight on without fear, and played meanwhile upon -his pipes. As he advanced, his heart grew bolder, his breath more -powerful, and the music louder. Already had he crossed just half the -common, when he saw the Menhir rising like a phantom in the night, -and further on, the dwellings of the Korigans. - -Then he seemed to hear an ever-rising murmur. At first it was like -the trickling of a rill, then like the rushing of a river, and then -the roaring of the sea; and different sounds were mingled in this -roar,--sometimes like stifled laughs, then furious hissing, the -mutterings of low voices, and the rush of steps upon the withered -grass. - -Lao began to breathe less freely, and his restless eyes glanced right -and left over the common. It was as if the tufts of heath were moving, -all seemed alive and whirling in the gloom, all took the form of -hideous dwarfs, and voices were distinctly heard. Suddenly the moon -rose, and Lao cried aloud. - -To left, to right, behind, before, every where, far as the eye could -reach, the common was alive with running Korigans. Lao, bewildered, -drew back to the Menhir, against which he leant; but the Korigans -saw him, and came round with cries like those of grasshoppers. - -"It is the famous piper of Cornouaille come hither to play for the -Korigans." - -Lao made the sign of the cross; but all the little men surrounded him, -and shrieked, - -"Thou belongest to us, Lao. Pipe then, thou famous piper, and lead -the dance of the Korigans." - -Lao in vain resisted, some magic power mastered him; he felt the pipe -approach his lips; he played, he danced, in spite of himself. The -Korigans surrounded him with circling bands, and every time he would -have paused they cried in chorus, - -"Pipe, famous piper, pipe, and lead the dance of the Korigans." - -Lao went on thus the whole night; but as the stars grew paler in -the sky, the music of his pipes waxed fainter, his feet had greater -difficulty in moving from the ground. At last the dawn of day spread -palely in the east, the cocks were heard crowing in the distant farms, -and the Korigans disappeared. - -Then the mountain piper sunk down breathless at the foot of the -Menhir. The mouth-piece of his pipes fell from his shrivelled lips, -his arms dropped upon his knees, his head upon his breast, to rise -no more; and voices murmured in the air, - -"Sleep, famous piper! thou hast led the dance of the Korigans; thou -shalt never lead the dance for Christians more." - - - - - - - -THE WHITE INN. - - -Once upon a time there was an inn at Ponthou, known, from its -appearance, as the White Inn. The people who kept it were both good and -honest. They were known to be punctual at their Easter duties, and no -one ever thought of counting money after them. It was at the White Inn -that travellers would stop to sleep; and horses knew the place so well, -that they would draw up of their own accord before the stable-door. - -The headsman of the harvest [59] had brought in short gloomy days; -and one evening, as Floc'h the landlord was standing at the White-Inn -door, a traveller, evidently of importance, and mounted on a splendid -foreign steed, reined up his horse, and lifting his hand to his hat, -said courteously, - -"I want a supper and a bed-chamber." - -Floc'h drew first his pipe from his mouth, and then his hat from his -head, and answered, - -"God bless you, sir, a supper you shall have; but as to a room, we -cannot give it you; for we have now above, six muleteers on their -way home to Redon, who have taken all the beds of the White Inn." - -The traveller then said, - -"For God's sake, my good man, contrive for me to sleep somewhere. The -very dogs have a kennel, and it is not fitting that Christians be -without a bed in such weather as this." - -"Sir stranger," said the host remorsefully, "I can only tell you that -the inn is full, and we have no place for you but the red room." - -"Well, give me that," replied the stranger. - -But the landlord rubbed his forehead and looked grieved; for he could -not let the traveller sleep in the red chamber. - -"Since I have been at the White Inn," said he at last, "only two men -have ever occupied that room; and on the morrow, black as had been -their hair the night before, they rose with it snow-white." - -The traveller looked full at the landlord. - -"Then your house is haunted by the spirits from another world?" asked -he. - -"It is," faltered the landlord. - -"Then God and the Blessed Virgin be merciful to me. I will sleep there; -but make me a fire, and warm my bed; for I am cold." - -The landlord did as he was ordered. - -When the traveller had finished supper, he bade good night to all -at table, and went up to the red chamber. The landlord and his wife -trembled, and began to pray. - -The stranger having reached his room began to look about him. - -It was a large flame-coloured chamber, with great shining stains -upon the walls, that might well have been taken for the marks of -fresh-spilt blood. At the further end there stood a four-post bed, -surrounded by heavy curtains. The rest of the room was empty; and the -mournful whistling of the wind came down the chimney and the corridors, -and sounded like the cries of souls beseeching prayers. - -The traveller, kneeling down, prayed silently to God, then fearlessly -got into bed, and soon slept soundly. - -But, lo, at the very moment when the hour of midnight sounded from -a distant church-tower, he suddenly awoke, heard the curtain-rings -sliding on their iron poles, and beheld them open at his right hand. - -He was going to get out of bed; but his feet striking against something -cold, he recoiled in terror. - -There stood before him a coffin, with four lighted candles at the -corners, and covered with a great black pall that glittered as -with tears. - -The stranger turned to try the other side of his bed; but the coffin -instantly changed places, and barred his way out as before. - -Five times he made an effort to escape, and every time the bier was -there beneath his feet, with the candles and the funeral pall. - -The traveller then knew it was a ghost, who had some boon to ask; -and kneeling up in bed, he made the holy sign, and spoke: - -"Who art thou, departed one? Speak. A Christian listens to thee." - -A voice answered from the coffin, - -"I am a traveller murdered here by those who kept this inn before -its present owner. I died unprepared, and now I suffer in Purgatory." - -"What needs there, suffering soul, to give thee rest?" - -"I want six Masses said at the church of our Lady of Folgoat, and -also a pilgrimage made for my intention by some Christian to our Lady -of Rumengol." - -No sooner had these words been uttered than the lights went out, -the curtains closed, and all was silence. - -The stranger spent the night in prayer. - -The next morning he told the landlord every thing, and said, - -"My good friend, I am M. de Rohan, of family as noble as the noblest -now in Brittany. I will go and make the pilgrimage to Rumengol, and I -will see that the six Masses shall be said. Trouble yourself no more; -for this suffering soul shall rest in peace." - -Within the short space of one month the red room had lost its crimson -hue, and become white and cheerful as the others. No sound was heard -there but the swallows twittering in the chimney, and nothing could -be seen but a fair white bed, a crucifix, and a vessel of holy water. - -The traveller had kept his word. - - - - - - - -PERONNIK THE IDIOT. [60] - - -You cannot surely have failed, some time or other, to meet by chance -some of those poor idiots, or innocents, whose utmost wisdom scarcely -serves to lead them as beggars from door to door in quest of daily -bread. One might almost fancy they were straying calves who have lost -their way home. They stare all round with open eyes and mouth, as if in -search of somewhat; but, alas, that they seek is not plentiful enough -in these parts to be found upon the highways--for it is common sense. - -Peronnik was one of these poor idiots, to whom the charity of strangers -had been in place of father or of mother. He wandered ever onwards -unconscious whither; when he was thirsty, he drank from wayside -springs; when hungry, he begged stale crusts from the women he saw -standing at their doors; and when in need of sleep, he looked out for -a heap of straw, and hollowed himself out a nest in it like a lizard. - -As to any knowledge of a trade, Peronnik had, indeed, never learnt one; -but for all that he was skilful enough in many matters: he could go -on eating as long as you desired him to do so; he could outsleep any -one for any length of time; and he could imitate with his tongue the -song of larks. There is many a one now in these parts who cannot do -so much as this. - -At the time of which I am telling you (that is, many a hundred years -ago and more), the land of White-Wheat was not altogether what you see -it nowadays. Since then many a gentleman has devoured his inheritance, -and cut up his forests into wooden shoes. Thus the forest of Paimpont -extended over more than twenty parishes; some say it even crossed the -river, and went as far as Elven. However that may be, Peronnik came one -day to a farm built upon the border of the wood; and as the Benedicite -bell had long since rung in his stomach, he drew near to ask for food. - -The farmer's wife happened at that moment to be kneeling down on -the door-sill to scrape the soup-bowl with her flint-stone; [61] but -when she heard the idiot's voice asking for food in the name of God, -she stopped and held the kettle towards him. - -"Here," she cried, "poor fellow, eat these scrapings, and say an -'Our Father' for our pigs, that nothing on earth will fatten." - -Peronnik seated himself on the ground, put the kettle between his -knees, and began to scrape it with his nails; but it was little -enough he could succeed in finding, for all the spoons in the house -had already done their duty upon it. However, he licked his fingers, -and made an audible grunt of satisfaction, as if he had never tasted -any thing better. - -"It is millet-flour," said he, in a low voice,--"millet-flour moistened -with the black cow's milk, [62] and by the best cook in the whole -Low Country." - -The farmer's wife, who was going by, turned round delighted. - -"Poor innocent," said she, "there is little enough of it left; but -I will add a scrap of rye-bread." - -And she brought the lad the first cutting of a round loaf just out -of the oven. Peronnik bit into it like a wolf into a lamb's leg, and -declared that it must have been kneaded by the baker to his lordship -the Bishop of Vannes. - -The flattered peasant replied, that was nothing to the taste of -it when spread with fresh-churned butter; and to prove her words, -she brought him some in a little covered saucer. After taking this, -the idiot declared that this was living butter, not to be excelled by -butter of the White Week itself; [63] and to give greater force to his -words, he poured over his crust all that the saucer contained. But the -satisfaction of the farmer's wife prevented her from noticing this; -and she added to what she had already given him a lump of dripping -left from the Sunday soup. - -Peronnik praised every mouthful more and more, and swallowed every -thing as if it had been water from a spring; for it was very long -since he had made so good a meal. - -The farmer's wife went and came, watching him as he ate, and adding -from time to time sundry scraps, which he took, making each time the -sign of the cross. - -Whilst thus employed in recruiting himself, behold a knight appeared -at the house-door, and addressing himself to the woman, asked her -which was the road to Kerglas castle. - -"Heavens! good gentleman," exclaimed the farmer's wife, "are you -going there?" - -"Yes," replied the warrior; "and I have come from a land so distant -for this purpose, that I have been travelling night and day these -three months to get so far on my way." - -"And what are you come to seek at Kerglas?" asked the Breton woman. - -"I am come in quest of the golden basin and the diamond lance." - -"These two are, then, very valuable things?" asked Peronnik. - -"They are of more value than all the crowns on earth," replied the -stranger; "for not only will the golden basin produce instantaneously -all the dainties and the wealth one can desire, but it suffices to -drink therefrom to be healed of every malady; and the dead themselves -are raised to life by touching it with their lips. As to the diamond -lance, it kills and overthrows all that it touches." - -"And to whom do this diamond lance and golden basin belong?" asked -Peronnik, bewildered. - -"To a magician called Rogéar, who lives in the castle of Kerglas," -answered the farmer's wife. "He is to be seen any day near the forest -pathway, riding along upon his black mare followed by a colt of three -months' old; but no one dares to attack him, for he holds the fearful -lance in his hand." - -"Yes," replied the stranger; "but the command of God forbids him to -make use of it within the castle of Kerglas. So soon as he arrives -there, the lance and the basin are deposited at the bottom of a dark -cave, which no key will open; therefore, it is in that place I propose -to attack the magician." - -"Alas, you will never succeed, my good sir," replied the peasant -woman. "More than a hundred gentlemen have already attempted it; -but not one amongst them has returned." - -"I know that, my good woman," answered the knight; "but they had not -been instructed as I have by the Hermit of Blavet." - -"And what did the Hermit tell you?" asked Peronnik. - -"He warned me of all that I shall have to do," replied the -stranger. "First of all, I shall have to cross an enchanted wood, -wherein every kind of magic will be put in force to terrify and -bewilder me from my way. The greater number of my predecessors have -lost themselves, and there died of cold, hunger, or fatigue." - -"And if you succeed in crossing it?" said the idiot. - -"If I get safely through it," continued the gentleman, "I shall -meet a Korigan armed with a fiery sword, which lays all it touches -in ashes. This Korigan keeps watch beside an apple-tree, from which -it is necessary that I should gather one apple." - -"And then?" said Peronnik. - -"Then I shall discover the laughing flower, and this is guarded by -a lion whose mane is made of vipers. This flower I must also gather; -after which I must cross the lake of dragons to fight the black man, -who flings an iron bowl that ever hits its mark and returns to its -master of its own accord. Then I shall enter on the valley of delights, -where every thing that can tempt and stay the feet of a Christian -will be arrayed before me, and shall reach a river with one single -ford. There I shall meet a lady clad in sable whom I shall take upon -my horse's crupper, and she will tell me all that remains to be done." - -The farmer's wife did her best to persuade the stranger that it -would be impossible for him to go through so many trials; but he -replied that women were incapable of judging in so weighty a matter; -and after ascertaining correctly the forest entrance, he set off at -full gallop, and was soon lost among the trees. - -The farmer's wife heaved a deep sigh, declaring that here was another -soul going before our Lord for judgment; then giving some more crusts -to Peronnik, she bade him go on his way. - -He was about to follow her advice, when the farmer came in from the -fields. He had just been turning off the lad who looked after his -cows at the wood-side, and was revolving in his mind how his place -should be supplied. - -The sight of the idiot was to him as a ray of light; he thought he -had happened on the very thing he sought, and after putting a few -questions to Peronnik, he asked him bluntly if he would stay at the -farm to look after the cattle. Peronnik would have preferred having -no one but himself to look after, for no one had a greater aptitude -than he for doing nothing; but the taste of the lard, the fresh butter, -the rye-bread, and the millet-flour hung still sweet upon his lips; so -he suffered himself to be tempted, and accepted the farmer's proposal. - -The good man forthwith conducted him to the edge of the forest, counted -aloud all the cows, not forgetting the heifers, cut him a hazel-switch -to drive them with, and bade him bring them safely home at set of sun. - -Behold Peronnik now established as a keeper of cattle, watching over -them to see they did no mischief, and running from the black to the -red, and from the red to the white, to keep them from straying out -of the appointed boundary. - -Now whilst he was thus running from side to side, he heard suddenly the -sound of horse's hoofs, and saw in one of the forest-paths the giant -Rogéar seated on his mare, followed by her three-months' colt. He -carried from his neck the golden basin, and in his hand the diamond -lance, which glittered like flame. Peronnik, terrified, hid himself -behind a bush; the giant passed close by him and went on his way. As -soon as he was gone by, the idiot came out of his hiding-place, and -looked down in the direction he had taken, but without being able to -see which path he had followed. - -Well, armed knights came on unceasingly in quest of the castle of -Kerglas, and not one was ever seen to return. The giant, on the -contrary, took his airing every day as usual. The idiot, who had at -length grown bolder, no longer thought of concealing himself when he -passed, but looked after him as long as he was in sight with envious -eyes; for the desire of possessing the golden basin and the diamond -lance grew stronger every day within his heart. But these things, -alas, were more easily desired than obtained. - -One day, when Peronnik was all alone in the pasture-land as usual, -he saw a man with a white beard pausing at the entrance of the -forest-path. The idiot took him for some fresh adventurer, and inquired -if he did not seek the road to Kerglas. - -"I seek it not, since I already know it," replied the stranger. - -"You have been there, and the magician has not killed you?" exclaimed -the idiot. - -"Because he has nothing to fear from me," replied the white-bearded -old man. "I am called the sorcerer Bryak, and am Rogéar's elder -brother. When I wish to pay him a visit I come here, and as, in spite -of all my power, I cannot cross the enchanted wood without losing my -way, I call the black colt to carry me." - -With these words, he traced three circles with his finger in the -dust, repeated in a low tone such words as demons teach to sorcerers, -and then cried, - - - "Colt, wild, unbroken, and with footstep free,-- - Colt, I am here; come quick, I wait for thee." - - -The little horse speedily made his appearance. Bryak put him on a -halter, shackled his feet, and then mounting on his back, allowed -him to return into the forest. - -Peronnik said nothing of this adventure to any one; but he now -understood that the first step towards visiting Kerglas was to secure -the colt that knew the way. Unfortunately he knew neither how to trace -the three circles, nor to pronounce the magic words necessary for the -colt to hear the summons. Some other method, therefore, must be hit -upon for making himself master of it, and, when once it was captured, -of gathering the apple, plucking the laughing flower, escaping the -black man's bowl, and of crossing the valley of delights. - -Peronnik thought it all over for a long time, and at last he fancied -himself able to succeed. Those who are strong go forth clad in their -strength to meet danger, and too often perish in it; but the weak -compass their ends sideways. Having no hope of braving the giant, -the idiot resolved to try craft and cunning. As to difficulties, -he suffered them not to scare him: he knew that medlars are hard as -flint-stones when first gathered, and that a little straw and much -patience softens them at length. - -So he made all his preparations against the time when the giant usually -appeared in the forest-path. First he made a halter and a horse-shackle -of black hemp; a springe for taking woodcocks, moistening the hairs of -it in holy water; a cloth-bag full of birdlime and lark's feathers; -a rosary, an elder-whistle, and a bit of crust rubbed with rancid -lard. This done, he crumbled the bread given him for breakfast along -the pathway in which Rogéar, his mare, and three months' colt would -shortly pass. - -They all three appeared at the usual hour, and crossed the pasture -as on other days; but the colt, which was walking with hanging head, -snuffing the ground, smelt out the crumbs of bread, and stopped to eat -them, so that it was soon left alone out of the giant's sight. Then -Peronnik drew gently near, threw his halter over it, fastened the -shackle on two of its feet, jumped upon its back, and left it free -to follow its own course, certain that the colt, which knew its way, -would carry him to the castle of Kerglas. - -And so it came to pass; for the young horse took unhesitatingly one of -the wildest paths, and went on as rapidly as the shackle would permit. - -Peronnik trembled like a leaf; for all the witchery of the forest -was at work to scare him. One moment it seemed as if a bottomless pit -yawned suddenly before his steed; the next all the trees appeared on -fire, and he found himself surrounded by flames; often whilst in the -act of crossing a brook, it became as a torrent, and threatened to -carry him away; at other times, whilst following a little footway -beneath a gentle slope, he saw huge rocks on the point of rolling -down and crushing him to pieces. - -In vain he assured himself these were but magical delusions, he felt -his very marrow grow cold with dread. At last he resolutely pulled -his hat down over his eyes, and let the colt carry him blindly onwards. - -Thus they both came safely to a plain where all enchantment ceased, -and Peronnik pushed up his cap and looked about him. - -It was a barren spot, and gloomier than a cemetery. Here and there -might be seen the skeletons of gentlemen who had come in quest of -Kerglas Castle. There they lay, stretched beside their horses, and -the gray wolves still gnawing at their bones. - -At length the idiot entered a meadow entirely overshadowed by one -single apple-tree; and this was so heavily laden with fruit, that the -branches hung to the ground. Before this tree the Korigan kept watch, -grasping in his hand the fiery sword which would lay all it touched -in ashes. - -At sight of Peronnik, he uttered a cry like that of a wild bird, -and raised his weapon; but, without betraying any emotion, the lad -simply touched his hat politely, and said, - -"Don't disturb yourself, my little prince; I am only passing by on -my way to Kerglas, according to an appointment the Lord Rogéar has -made with me." - -"With you?" replied the dwarf; "and who, then, may you be?" - -"I am our master's new servant," said the idiot; "you know, the one -he is expecting." - -"I know nothing of it," replied the dwarf; "and you look to me -uncommonly like a cheat." - -"Excuse me," returned Peronnik, "such is by no means my profession; -I am only a catcher and trainer of birds. But, for God's sake, don't -keep me now; for his lordship, the magician, is expecting me this -very moment; and has even lent me his own colt, as you see, that I -may the sooner reach the castle." - -The Korigan saw, in fact, that Peronnik rode the magician's young -horse, and began to consider whether he might not really be speaking -truth. Besides, the idiot had so simple an air, that it was not -possible to suspect him of inventing such a story. However, he still -felt mistrust; and asked what need the magician had of a bird-catcher? - -"The greatest need, it seems," said Peronnik; "for, according to his -account, all that ripens, whether seed or fruit, in the garden at -Kerglas, is just now eaten up by birds." - -"And what can you do to hinder them?" asked the dwarf. - -Peronnik showed the little snare which he had manufactured, and -declared that no bird would be able to escape it. - -"That is just what I will make sure of," said the Korigan. "My -apple-tree is ravaged just as much by the blackbirds and thrushes. Set -your snare; and if you can catch them, I will let you pass." - -To this Peronnik agreed; he fastened his colt to a bush, and going up -to the apple-tree, fixed therein one end of the snare, calling to the -Korigan to hold the other whilst he got the skewers ready. He did as -the idiot requested; and Peronnik hastily drawing the running noose, -the dwarf found himself caught like a bird. - -He uttered a cry of rage, and struggled to get free; but the springe, -having been well steeped in holy water, bade defiance to all his -efforts. - -The idiot had time enough to run to the tree, pluck an apple from it, -and remount his colt, which continued its onward course. - -And so they came out of the plain; and behold, there lay a thicket -before them, formed of the very loveliest plants. There were to be seen -roses of every hue, Spanish brooms, rose-coloured honeysuckles, and, -towering above all, the mysterious laughing flower; but round about -the thicket stalked a lion, with a mane of vipers, rolling his eyes, -and with his teeth grinding like a couple of new mill-stones. - -Peronnik stopped, and bowed over and over again; for he knew that in -the presence of the powerful a hat is more serviceable in the hand -than on the head. He wished all sorts of prosperities to the lion and -his family; and requested to know if he was without mistake upon the -road to Kerglas. - -"And what are you going to do at Kerglas?" cried the ferocious beast -with a terrible air. - -"May it please your worship," replied the idiot timidly, "I am in -the service of a lady who is a great friend of Lord Rogéar, and she -has sent him something as a present to make a lark-pasty of." - -"Larks!" repeated the lion, licking his moustache; "it is an age -since I have tasted them. How many have you got?" - -"This bagful, your lordship," replied Peronnik, showing the cloth-bag -which he had stuffed with feathers and birdlime. - -And in order to verify his words, he began to counterfeit the warbling -of larks. - -This song aggravated the lion's appetite. - -"Let me see," said he, drawing near; "show me your birds; I should -like to know if they are large enough to be served up at our master's -table." - -"I desire nothing so much," replied the idiot; "but if I open the bag, -I am afraid they will fly away." - -"Half open it, just to let me peep in," said the greedy monster. - -This desire fulfilled Peronnik's highest hopes; he offered the bag to -the lion, who poked in his head to seize the larks, and found himself -smothered in feathers and birdlime. The idiot hastily drew the strings -of the bag tight round his neck, making the sign of the cross over -the knot, to keep it inviolable; then, rushing to the laughing flower, -he gathered it, and set off as fast as the colt could go. - -But it was not long before he came to the dragons' lake, which he -must needs cross by swimming; and scarcely had he plunged in, when -they came towards him from every side to devour him. - -This time Peronnik troubled not himself to pull off his hat, but -he began to throw out to them the beads of his rosary, as one would -scatter black wheat to ducks; and at every bead swallowed one of the -dragons turned over on its back and expired; so that he at length -reached the opposite shore unharmed. - -The valley guarded by the black man had now to be crossed. Peronnik -soon perceived him, chained by one foot to the rock, and holding -in his hand an iron bowl, which ever returned, of its own accord, -so soon as it had struck the appointed mark. He had six eyes, ranged -round his head, which generally took turns in keeping watch; but at -this moment it so chanced that they were every one open. Peronnik, -knowing that if seen he should be struck by the iron bowl before he -had the opportunity of speaking a word, resolved to creep along the -brushwood. And by this means, hiding himself carefully behind the -bushes, he soon found himself within a few steps of the black man, -who had just sat down, and closed two of his eyes in repose. Peronnik, -guessing that he was sleepy, began to chant in a drowsy voice the -beginning of the High Mass. The black man at first, taken by surprise, -started, and raised his head; but, as the murmur took effect upon him, -a third eye closed. Peronnik then went on to intone the Kyrie eleison, -in the tone of one possessed by the sleepy demon. [64] The black man -closed a fourth eye, and half the fifth. Peronnik then began Vespers; -but before he had reached the Magnificat, the black man slept soundly. - -Then the youth, taking the colt by the bridle, led it softly over -mossy places; and so, passing close by the slumbering guardian, -he came into the valley of delights. - -This was the most-to-be-dreaded place of all; for it was no -longer a question of avoiding positive danger, but of fleeing from -temptation. Peronnik called all the saints of Brittany to his aid. - -The valley through which he was now passing bore every appearance of -a garden richly filled with fruits, with flowers, and with fountains; -but the fountains were of wines and delicious drinks, the flowers -sang with voices as sweet as those of cherubim in Paradise, and -the fruits came of their own accord and offered themselves to the -hand. Then at every turning of the path Peronnik beheld huge tables, -spread as for a king, could scent the tempting odour of pastry drawn -fresh from the oven, and see the valets apparently expecting him; -whilst further off were beautiful maidens coming to dance upon the -turf, who called him by his name to come and lead the ball. - -In vain the idiot made the sign of the cross, insensibly he slackened -the pace of his colt, involuntarily he raised his face to snuff up -the delicious odour of the smoking dishes, and to gaze more fixedly -upon the lovely maidens; he would possibly have stopped altogether, -and there would have been an end of him, if the recollection of the -golden basin and the diamond lance had not all at once crossed his -mind. Then he instantly began to blow his elder-whistle, that he -might hear no more those soft appeals; to eat his bread well rubbed -with rancid dripping, to deaden the odour of the dainty meats; and -to stare fixedly on his horse's ears, that the lovely dancers might -no more attract his eyes. - -And so he came to the end of the garden quite safely, and caught sight -at last of Kerglas Castle. But the river of which he had been told -still lay between it and him, and he knew that this river could only -be forded in one place. Happily the colt was familiar with this ford, -and prepared to enter at the right spot. - -Then Peronnik looked around him in quest of the lady who was to be -his guide to the castle; and soon perceived her seated on a rock, -clad in black satin, and her countenance as yellow as a Moor's. - -The idiot pulled off his hat, and asked if it was her pleasure to -cross the river. - -"I expected thee for that very purpose," replied the lady; "draw near, -that I may seat myself behind thee." - -Peronnik approached, took her on his horse's crupper, and began to -cross the ford. He had almost reached the middle of it, when the lady -said to him, - -"Knowest thou who I am, poor innocent?" - -"I beg your pardon," replied Peronnik, "but from your dress I clearly -see that you are a noble and powerful lady." - -"As to noble, I ought to be," replied the lady, "for I can trace -back my origin to the first sin; and powerful I certainly am, for -all nations give way before me." - -"Then what is your name, may it please you, madam?" asked Peronnik. - -"I am called the Plague," replied the yellow woman. - -The idiot made a spring as if he would have thrown himself from his -horse into the water; but the Plague said to him, - -"Rest easy, poor innocent, thou hast nothing to fear from me; on the -contrary, I can be of service to thee." - -"Is it possible that you will be so benevolent, Madam Plague?" said -Peronnik, taking his hat off, this time for good; "by the by, I now -remember that it is you who are to teach me how to rid myself of the -magician Rogéar." - -"The magician must die," said the yellow lady. - -"I should like nothing better," replied Peronnik; "but he is immortal." - -"Listen, and try to understand," said the Plague. "The apple-tree -guarded by the Korigan is a slip from the tree of good and evil, set -in the earthly Paradise by God Himself. Its fruit, like that which was -eaten by Adam and Eve, renders immortals susceptible of death. Try, -then, to induce the magician to taste the apple, and from that moment -he need only be touched by me to sink in death." - -"I will try," said Peronnik; "but even if I succeed, how can I obtain -the golden basin and the diamond lance, since they lie hidden in a -gloomy cave, which cannot be opened by any key yet forged?" - -"The laughing flower will open every door," replied the Plague, -"and can illuminate the darkest night." - -As she spoke these words they reached the further bank of the river, -and the idiot went onwards to the castle. - -Now there was before the entrance-hall a huge canopy, like that which -is carried over his lordship the Bishop of Vannes at the processions -of the Fête Dieu. Beneath this sat the giant, sheltered from the heat -of the sun, his legs crossed, like a proprietor who has gathered in -his harvest, and smoking a tobacco-pipe of virgin gold. On perceiving -the colt, on which sat Peronnik and the lady clad in black satin, -he lifted up his head, and cried in a voice which roared like thunder, - -"Why this idiot is mounted on my three-months' colt!" - -"The very same, O greatest of all magicians," replied Peronnik. - -"And how did you get possession of him?" asked Rogéar. - -"I repeated what your brother Bryak taught me," replied the idiot. "On -reaching the forest border I said, - - - 'Colt, wild, unbroken, and with footstep free,-- - Colt, I am here; come quick, I wait for thee.' - - -and the little horse came at once." - -"Then you know my brother?" said the giant. - -"As one knows his master," replied the youth. - -"And what has he sent you here for?" - -"To bring you a present of two curiosities he has just received from -the country of the Moors,--this apple of delight, and the female -slave whom you see there. If you eat the first, you will always have a -heart as much at rest as that of a poor man who has found a purse of -a hundred crowns in his wooden shoe; and if you take the second into -your service, you will have nothing left you to desire in the world." - -"Give me then the apple, and make the Moorish woman dismount," -replied Rogéar. - -The idiot obeyed; but the instant the giant had set his teeth into -the fruit, the yellow lady laid her hand upon him, and he fell to -the ground like a bullock in the slaughter-house. - -Then Peronnik entered the palace, holding the laughing flower in his -hand. He traversed more than fifty halls, one after the other, and -came at length before the cavern with the silver door. This opened of -its own accord before the flower, which also gave the idiot sufficient -light to find the golden basin and the diamond lance. - -But scarcely had he seized them when the earth shook under his feet; -a terrible clap of thunder was heard; the palace disappeared; and -Peronnik found himself once more in the midst of the forest, holding -his two talismans, with which he set forward instantly to the court -of the King of Brittany. - -He only delayed long enough at Vannes to buy the richest costume -he could find there, and the finest horse that was for sale in the -diocese of White-Wheat. - -Now when he came to Nantes, this town was besieged by the Franks, who -had so mercilessly ravaged the surrounding country, that there were -scarcely more trees left than would serve a single goat for forage; -and more than that, famine was in the city; and those soldiers died -of hunger whose wounds had spared their lives. And on the very day -of Peronnik's arrival, a trumpeter proclaimed aloud in every street -that the King of Brittany would adopt that man as his heir who could -deliver the city, and drive the enemy out of the country. - -Hearing this promise, Peronnik said to the trumpeter, - -"Proclaim no more, but lead me to the king; for I am able to do all -he asks." - -"Thou!" said the herald, seeing him so young and small; "go on thy -way, fine goldfinch; [65] the king has now no time for taking little -birds from cottage-roofs." [66] - -By way of reply, Peronnik touched the soldier with his lance; and -that very instant he fell dead, to the infinite terror of the crowd -who looked on, and would have fled away; but the idiot cried, - -"You have just seen what I can do against my enemies; know now what -is in my power for my friends." - -And having touched with his golden basin the dead man's lips, he rose -up instantly, restored to life. - -The king being informed of this wonder, gave Peronnik command of all -the soldiers he had left; and as with his diamond lance the idiot -killed thousands of the Franks, and with his golden basin restored -to life the Bretons who were slain, a very few days sufficed him -for putting an end to the enemy's army, and taking possession of all -their camp contained. - -He then proposed to conquer all the neighbouring countries, such as -Anjou, Poitou, and Normandy, which cost him but very little trouble; -and finally, when all were in obedience to the king, he declared his -intention of setting out to deliver the Holy Land, and embarked from -Nantes in a magnificent fleet, with the first nobility of the land. - -On reaching Palestine, he performed great deeds of valour, compelled -many Saracens to be baptised, and married a fair maiden, by whom -he had many sons and daughters, to each of whom he gave wealth and -lands. Some even say that, thanks to the golden basin, he and his -sons are living still, and reign in this land; but others maintain -that Rogéar's brother, the magician Bryak, has succeeded in regaining -possession of the two talismans, and that those who wish for them -have only--to seek them out. - - - -NOTE ON THE TALE OF "PERONNIK THE IDIOT." - -It seems almost impossible not to recognise in the story of Peronnik -the Idiot traces of that tradition which has given birth to one of -the epic romances of the Round Table. Disfigured and overlaid with -modern details as is the Breton version, the primitive idea of the -Quest of the Holy Graal may still be found there pure and entire. - -Some explanation must be given of this. So early as the sixth century, -the Gallic bards speak of a magic vase which bestows a knowledge of -the future, and universal science, on its owner; in later times a -popular fable tells of a golden vase possessed by Bran the Blessed, -which healed all wounds, and even restored the dead to life. Other -tales are told of a basin in which every desired delicacy instantly -appeared. In time all these fictions become fused, and the several -properties of these different vases are found united in one; the -possession of which is of course naturally sought after by all great -adventurers. - -There is still extant a Gallic poem, composed in the beginning of the -twelfth century, of which the whole burden is this quest. The hero, -named Perédur, goes to war with giants, lions, serpents, sea-monsters, -sorcerers, and finally becomes conqueror of the basin and the lance, -which is here added to the primitive tradition. - -Now there can be no doubt that this Gallic legend, which found its -way throughout Europe, as is proved by the attempts at imitation -which have been made in every language, must have been known in -Brittany above all, united as it is to Gaul by a common origin and -language. It must have become popular in the very form it wore when -taught by the bards to the Armoricans. - -But besides the successive alterations which are the speedy result -of oral transmission, French imitations by degrees incorporated -themselves with all the primitive versions. M. de la Villemarqué -has in fact observed, in his learned work on the Popular Tales of -the Ancient Bretons, that when the Gallic legends were developed by -the French poets, they appeared so beautified in their new costume, -that the Gauls themselves abandoned the originals in favour of the -imitations. Now that which is true of them is equally so of the -Armoricans; and it seems to us beyond a doubt that the tradition of -Perédur, which they had originally received, must have been seriously -modified by the later poem of Christian of Troyes. - -In order to elucidate our idea, we will give a hasty analysis of this -poem, which is little known, being only extant in manuscript. [67] - -Perceval, the last remaining son of a poor widow, whom the miseries -of war had left destitute, is simple, ignorant, and boorish. His -mother carefully conceals from his sight every thing that might -turn his attention to the idea of war; but one day the lad meets -King Arthur's knights, learns the secret so long hidden from him, -and, his mind filled with nothing now but tournaments and battles, -abandons his maternal roof and sets off for Arthur's court. On the -way he sees a pavilion, which, taking in his simplicity for a church, -he enters. There he eats two roebuck pasties, and drinks a large -flagon of wine; after which he goes once more upon his way, and soon -arrives at Cardeuil, ill-clad, ill-armed, and ill-mounted. He finds -Arthur buried in profound meditation, a treacherous knight having just -carried off his golden cup, defying any warrior to take it from him -again. Perceval accepts the challenge, pursues the thief, kills him, -recovers the cup, and seizes on the slain knight's armour. He is at -length admitted into the order of chivalry. - -But the recollection of his mother haunts him every where. What is he -in quest of? He himself knows not; he wanders at random and without -a purpose wherever his wild courser carries him. Thus one day he -reaches a castle, and enters. A sick old man reposes there upon a bed; -a servant appears with a lance from which flows one drop of blood, and -then a damsel bearing a graal, or basin, of pure gold. Perceval longs -to know the meaning of what he sees, but dares not ask. The following -day, on leaving the castle, he is informed that the sick old man is -called the fisher-king, and that he has been wounded in the thigh; -Perceval is at the same time reproached for not having questioned him. - -He continues onwards, meeting by chance Arthur, whom he follows to -court; but the day after his arrival a lady clad in black appears to -him, and warmly blames him for being the cause of the fisher-king's -sufferings. - -"His wound," said she, "has become incurable, because thou didst not -question him." - -The knight, wishing to repair his fault, seeks in vain to find once -more the king's palace; he is repulsed as by an invisible hand, -until the moment when he resolves to go and find a saintly hermit, -to whom he makes his confession. The priest shows him that all his -errors are owing to his ingratitude towards his mother, and that -sin held his tongue in bondage when he ought to have inquired the -meaning of the graal; he imposes a penance on him, gives him advice, -reveals to him a mysterious prayer containing certain terrible words, -which he forbids him from making known; and then Perceval, absolved -from his sins, fasts, adores the Cross, hears Mass, receives Holy -Communion, and returns to a new life. - -He now sets forth in quest of the graal, and meets with a thousand -obstacles. A woman, whom he has loved, White-Flower, appears, and -endeavours to detain him; but he escapes from her. He fastens his -horse to the golden ring of a pillar rising on a mountain called the -Mount of Misery, arrives at length at the castle for which he sought, -and this time fails not to inquire into the history of the lance -and the graal. He is told that the lance is that with which Longus -pierced the side of Christ, and that the graal is the basin in which -Joseph of Arimathea received His divine blood. This has come down -by inheritance to the fisher-king, who is descended from Joseph, and -is Perceval's uncle. It procures all good things, both spiritual and -temporal, heals all wounds, and even restores life to the dead, besides -becoming filled with the most delicious dainties at its owner's desire. - -After the lance and the graal, they bring out a broken sword; -the fisher-king presents it to his nephew, begging him to reunite -the fragments; in which he succeeds. The king then tells him that, -according to prophecies, the bravest and most pious knight in the -whole world was to perform this act; that he himself had attempted -to weld the pieces together, but had been chastised for his rashness -by receiving a wound in the thigh. "I shall be healed," he added, "on -the same day that sees the knight Pertiniax perish,--that treacherous -knight who broke this wonderful sword in slaying my brother." - -Perceval kills Pertiniax, thanks to the aid of the holy graal, cuts -off his head, and brings it to the fisher-king, who gets well, and -abdicates in favour of his nephew. - - - -The points of accordance between this poem and the Breton story are -not very difficult to trace. In the two recitals we hear of the -conquest of a basin and a lance, the possession of which ensures -corresponding advantages; the heroes both of the French and Armorican -version are subjected to dangers and temptations, and success assures -to them alike--a crown. Some points of resemblance may even perhaps -be discovered between the idiot Peronnik, going ever onwards he knows -not whither, and extracting from the farmer's wife his rye-bread, -his fresh-churned butter, and his Sunday dripping; and this Perceval, -simple, ignorant, boorish, who begins by eating two roebuck pasties, -and drinking a great flagon of wine. - -Certainly the different details, and the trials imposed on Peronnik, -are not in general much like the probation to which Perceval was -subjected; but, on the other hand, they closely resemble those to which -Perédur, the hero of the Gallic tradition, was exposed. It would seem, -therefore, that this Armorican story has drunk successively from the -two fountains of French and Breton legendary lore. Born of the Gallic -tradition, modified by the French version, and finally accommodated -to the popular genius of our province, it has become such as we have -it at this day. - -Peronnik the idiot seems, moreover, to us worthy of being studied -by those who seek, above all else in tradition, for traces of the -popular genius. Idiotism, amongst all tribes of Celtic race, was never -looked on as a degradation, but rather as a peculiar condition wherein -individuals could attain to certain perceptions unknown to the vulgar; -and the Celts were led to imagine that they had an acquaintance with -the invisible world not permitted to other men. Thus the words of the -idiot were looked on as prophetic; a hidden meaning was sought for in -his acts; he was, in fact, considered, in the energetic language of an -old poet, as having his feet in this world, and his eyes in the other. - -Brittany has preserved in part this ancient reverence for persons of -weak mind. It is by no means unusual in the farms of Léon to see some -of these unfortunates, clad, whatever may be their age, in a long dress -with bone buttons, and holding a white wand in their hands. They are -tenderly cared for, and only spoken of under the endearing title of -dear innocents, unless in their absence, when they are called diskyant, -that is to say, without knowledge. They stay at home with the women -and little children; they are never called upon to perform any labour; -and when they die, they are wept over by their relations. - -I remember meeting with one of these idiots one day, in the -neighbourhood of Morlaix; he was seated before a farm-house door, -and his sister, a young girl, was feeding him. Her caressing kindness -struck me. - -"Then you are very fond of this poor innocent?" I asked, in Breton. - -"It is God who gave him to us," she replied. - -Words full of meaning, which hold the key to all this pious tenderness -for creatures useless in themselves, but precious for His sake by -whom they were confided to our care. - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] Limestra, mantle of some special material, which is highly valued -by the Bretons. - -[2] Aiguilles ailées. The fly commonly called demoiselle in French, -in Brittany is nadoz-aër; literally, "needle of the air." - -[3] A proverbial expression in Brittany to designate folly and -impertinence. - -[4] The song of the Korigans runs thus: Di-lun, di-meurs, -di-merc'her. The conclusion of this tale will explain the reason of -their keeping only to these first three days. - -[5] Cry of encouragement amongst the Bretons. In the same sense they -use also the word hardi! but the Celtic origin of this last word -seems rather doubtful. - -[6] Mettre en foire. Breton expression, signifying a sale at the -house of a debtor. - -[7] Breton expression, derived from an old custom of parading all -insolvents about the parish with a girdle of straw. - -[8] Equivalent to the French proverb, "One must not sell the bear-skin -till the bear is killed." - -[9] In many farms there is a small threshing-floor reserved especially -for black wheat. - -[10] This is the exact distance at which the Bretons define Hell -to lie. - -[11] Good or bad, these etymologies of Ahèz and Par-is are accepted -by the Bretons. The last word is even treasured in a proverb, - - - "Since the town of Is was drowned, - The like of Paris is not found." - - -[12] See the Korigans of Plauden, p. 31. - -[13] This legend still finds credence. The spot is shown, not far -from Carhaix, whence Grallon's daughter caused her lovers' bodies to -be thrown; and some antiquaries are also of opinion that Dahut often -visited this town, which has received from her its name of Ker-Ahèz -(town of Ahèz); at any rate, the old paved road which leads from the -Bay of Douarnénèz to Carhaix proves beyond a doubt that there was -frequent intercourse between Keris and this city. - -[14] All that follows is more properly ascribed to St. Corentin's -disciple Gwenolé. - -[15] The peasantry still show the marks. - -[16] There appears to exist incontestable evidence of a city named -Is lying buried beneath the Bay of Douarnénèz; and the relics which -have been discovered from time to time prove beyond all doubt that -art had been brought to very high perfection in those early times. It -was supposed to date about the fourth century. - -[17] The pigs in Brittany are called, no one knows why, mab-rohan, -sons of Rohan. - -[18] Easter Sunday. So called because blessed laurel is distributed -at church upon this day. - -[19] Gobelinn. None other than the loup-garou, or were-wolf. - -[20] 'Rozennik' is the diminutive of Rosenn; so 'Guilcherik,' -"Korils of Plauden," p. 43. - -[21] Literally 'will-o'-the-wisp.' - -[22] A number of petticoats is considered a mark of great elegance -amongst the Breton peasant-girls around Morlaix. - -[23] A proverbial expression, denoting some suspicion that people have -been acquiring wealth somewhat unfairly. There is an old tradition -among the country people, that if you take a black hen to some -cross-road, and there use certain incantations, you can summon the -devil, who will pay you handsomely for your hen. - -[24] Heubeul-Pontréau, a Breton form of reproach to young rustics of -ill address. - -[25] All European nations have admitted two races of dwarfs, the one -mischievous and impious, the other benevolent to man. The first is -represented in Brittany by the Korigans, the second by the Teuz. The -Teuz is just the same as the elf or fairy of the Scotch and Irish, -aiding the labourers in their toil, and resembles the mountain spirit -of Germany. - -[26] In Brittany they reckon by reals; the Breton real is not worth -one franc eight centimes, as in Spain, but only twenty-five centimes. - -[27] Miz-du, Breton name of November. - -[28] A name given to All Saints. - -[29] L'Ankou, literally, "the agony;" a name generally given to the -spectre of death. - -[30] M. de Ker-Gwen. A joke on the paleness of death; gwen signifying -white. - -[31] The allusion is to a proverbial Breton verse, in which the -inhabitants of the four dioceses are facetiously characterised as -thievish, false, stupid, and brutal. - -[32] Douez signifies in Breton the moat of a fortified town; but as -these moats were formerly full of water, and served the purposes of -the washerwomen, the name douez has gradually been appropriated to -the washing-places. - -[33] Spern-gwenn ("l'épine blanche"), to this day a family name -in Brittany. - -[34] All the Breton shepherds make these crosses with twigs of furze, -on the thorns of which they stick daisies and broom-blossoms; whole -rows of these flowery crosses may often be seen along the ditches. - -[35] Shend, 'subdue.' - -[36] This form of exorcism is supposed to originate in a story related -of St. Hervé. A wolf having devoured an ass belonging to his uncle, -the saint compelled the savage beast to dwell peaceably thenceforward -in the same shed with the sheep, and to perform all the duties of the -defunct ass. A similar story is told of St. Malo, another Breton saint. - -[37] The legend of the gold-herb (which must be gathered, according -to common credence, barefooted, en chemise, without the aid of any -iron tool, and whilst one is in a state of grace) comes evidently -from the Druids. It is the selage of the ancients, spoken of by Pliny -(lib. xiv.), and is said by the Bretons to glitter like gold before -the eyes of those who at the moment may fulfil the conditions for -perceiving it, and who, by touching it with the foot, are instantly -enabled to understand the language of all animals, and to converse -with them. - -[38] The tradition of the redbreast, who broke a thorn from the crown -of our Lord, is current throughout Brittany. - -[39] Mor Vyoc'h signifies Sea-cow. - -[40] The Breton peasants believe that the fountain of Languengar has -the property of promoting the flow of milk in those nurses who drink -of it. - -[41] In Brittany, as in England, it takes nine tailors to make a man. - -[42] This form of taking possession is extremely ancient. In all the -legislative systems of "the ancient world" transfer of landed property -was effected by symbolical tradition; that is, by the handing over -to the new owner of some visible and palpable portion or symbol of -the land itself. At Rome, the sale of a field takes place standing -on a turf cut from the field itself, which is handed over to the -purchaser as a symbol of his new possession. In an old deed of 828 -occurs the following: "I make over the underwritten goods and lands to -the Church of St. Mary. And I make legal cession by straw and knife, -glove and turf, and branch of tree; and so I put myself out, expel, -and make myself absent."--D. Calmet, Histoire de Lorraine, Preuves, -p. 524. And as Brittany is the very chosen home of old customs, it -has happened that even quite lately, at a farm near Léon, all these -forms of taking possession were gone through, not as having any legal -efficacy, but in compliance with ancient usage. - -[43] The vervain. - -[44] Marc'h-Mor, literally, Sea-horse. - -[45] The Breton name for Vannes, Gwen-ed, signifies literally White -Wheat. - -[46] This form of declaring war, preserved by tradition, is curious, -and, as far as we know, peculiar to Brittany. Amongst the ancient -Romans they cast upon the enemy's territory a javelin scorched -at the fire; in the middle ages the iron gauntlet was thrown, or -the finger was gnawed; the savages of North America sent, like the -Scythians, bundles of arrows, the number of which indicated that of -the combatants; but burning straw flung upon the enemy's land is a -peculiar symbol, which we have never noticed elsewhere. - -[47] The Breton name of St. Gildas. - -[48] This custom still exists in Brittany. - -[49] The name Groac'h, or Grac'h, means literally old woman; and -was given to the Druidesses, who had established themselves in an -island off the south-west coast of Brittany, called thence the isle -of Groac'h; by corruption Groais, or Groix. But the word gradually -lost its original meaning of old woman, and came to signify a woman -endowed with power over the elements, and dwelling amongst the -waves, as did the island Druidesses; in fact, a sort of water-fay, -but of a malevolent nature, like all the Breton fairies. Such of -our readers as are not acquainted with La Motte Fouqué's beautiful -tale of Undine, may require to be reminded that the sprites, sylphs, -gnomes, and fairies of the popular mythologies are not necessarily, -perhaps not even generally, exempt from mortality. - -[50] A cluster of islets off the southern coast of Brittany, near the -headland of Penmarc'h. The name signifies literally summer-land. One -of them is called the isle of Lok, or Lock, and contains a fish-pool, -from which it seems to derive its name. - -[51] A dwarfish sprite. - -[52] Young Breton girls thus address old women from a motive of -respect. - -[53] Chanteuse de vérité (Dion ganérez), literally qui chante droit, -a name given in Brittany to fairies who foretell the future. - -[54] These are different kinds of cabbages cultivated in Brittany. - -[55] A name given by the Bretons to the tricksy sprite Maistr Yan. - -[56] The ribbon covered with lace worn by Breton peasant-girls in -their hair. - -[57] Negotiators for a wedding, who improvise disputations in verse, -like Virgil's shepherds. - -[58] See tale at p. 31. - -[59] Dibenn-eost, a name given to autumn in Brittany. - -[60] This word idiot must not lead to misconception; the idiot of -popular tales is the personification of cunning weakness triumphing -over strength. Idiotism, in the traditions of Christian nations, -plays the same part as physical ugliness in those of the ancients. The -latter take the hunchback Æsop to accomplish extraordinary actions; -the former Peronnik, or some other lad of weak mind, in order that -the contrast between the hero and the action may be more striking, -and the result more unexpected. - -We refer the reader to the note which follows this story for the more -particular examination which it seems to deserve. - -[61] On the sea-coast they scrape away the burnt part left in the -porridge-kettles with a mussel-shell; in the interior they use for -the same purpose a sharp stone, commonly a gun-flint. - -[62] The milk of the black cow is considered in Brittany to be at -once the daintiest and the most wholesome. - -[63] The Bretons attribute to the butter of the White Week and of -the Rogation weeks a special delicacy, and even medicinal properties, -on account of the excellence of the pastures at this season. - -[64] The Bretons believe in a special demon for sending one to sleep -in church, and call him ar c'houskezik, from the verb kouska, which -signifies to sleep. - -[65] Koanta pabaour, a common form of mockery in Brittany. - -[66] A proverbial expression, meaning that one has no time to lose. - -[67] The Searcher for the Basin,--Myvyrian, t. i. p. 8. The poem -of Perceval, or the Quest for the Holy Graal, is to be found in the -Royal Library of Paris, Mss. No. 7523, et supp. franc. 450. 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