The dress of this little stranger, and his manner of introducing himself to the festival, must satisfy the reader that the Goblin Groom is one of those supernatural sportsmen usually termed Fairies. In the sequel, however, it will appear evident, that he owes his origin to the hardy race of northern Elves, rather than to the more delicate family of eastern Peris.[16]
The existence of the Fairy, like that of the Mermaid, no longer rests on the credulity of the ignorant, but is confirmed and established by attestations no less respectable than the affidavits so frequently made before the Lord Mayor of London, in support of the infallibility of a quack and his nostrums.
In the isle of Man, where sportsmen of more tangible materials enjoy a temporary security, these little supernaturals, probably under similar circumstances, find an agreeable retreat. In the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Borders, on the unrefuted authority of Mr. Waldron, we have the following interesting particulars.—
“Like the FELD ELFEN of the Saxons, the usual dress of the Fairies is green; though, on the moors, they have been sometimes observed in heath-brown, or in weeds dyed with the stoneraw, or lichen. They often ride in invisible procession, when their presence is discovered by the shrill ringing of their bridles. On these occasions, they sometimes borrow mortal steeds; and when such are found at morning, panting and fatigued in their stalls, with their manes and tails dishevelled and entangled, the grooms, I presume, often find this a convenient excuse for their situation; as the common belief of the elves quaffing the choicest liquors in the cellars of the rich, (see the story of Lord Duffus below), might occasionally cloak the delinquencies of an unfaithful butler.
“The Fairies, beside their equestrian processions, are addicted, it would seem, to the pleasures of the chace. A young sailor, travelling by night from Douglas, in the Isle of Man, to visit his sister, residing in Kirk Merlugh, heard the noise of horses, the holla of a huntsman, and the sound of a horn. Immediately afterwards, thirteen horsemen, dressed in green, and gallantly mounted, swept past him. Jack was so much delighted with the sport, that he followed them, and enjoyed the sound of the horn for some miles; and it was not till he arrived at his sister’s house that he learned the danger which he had incurred. I must not omit to mention, that these little personages are expert jockeys, and scorn to ride the little Manks ponies, though apparently well suited to their size. The exercise, therefore, falls heavily upon the English and Irish horses brought into the Isle of Man. Mr. Waldron was assured by a gentleman of Ballafletcher, that he had lost three or four capital hunters by these nocturnal excursions.
WALDRON’S WORKS, P. 132.”
It is to be lamented, for the comfort of that valuable class of society denominated Hunting-Grooms, that their masters do not look into the casualties of their studs with the discriminating eye of the worthy gentleman of Ballafletcher.
Monsieur Mallet, the learned author of the ingenious work on Northren Antiquities, seems to consider Fairies and Elves as synonymous terms. In his remarks on the ninth fable of the Edda, we find him thus expressing himself.—“Alfheim signifies, in Gothic, the abode of the Genii, that is, the Fairies of the male-sex.” To prove the Gothic origin of our Elf, we need only appeal to the devotion he shews to the bottle. His conduct at the Dunse Festival is truly northern, and the mighty Thor himself, the great champion of Scandinavian revelry, could not have displayed greater zeal in emptying the enchanted horn.—But of this the reader may judge by perusing the Gothic fable.—
THE TWENTY-FIFTH FABLE.
Of the Trials that Thor underwent.
“Then the king asked Thor, in what art he would choose to give proof of that dexterity for which he was so famous. Thor replied, that he would contest the prize of drinking with any person belonging to his court. The king consented, and immediately went into his palace to look for a large horn, out of which his courtiers were obliged to drink when they had committed any trespass against the customs of the court.[17] This the cup-bearer filled to the brim, and presented to Thor, whilst the king spake thus.—Whoever is a good drinker, will empty that horn at a single draught; some persons make two of it; but the most puny drinker of all can do it at three. Thor looked at the horn, and was astonished at its length;[18] however, as he was very thirsty, he set it to his mouth, and, without drawing breath, pulled as long and as deeply as he could, that he might not be obliged to make a second draught of it; but when he withdrew the cup from his mouth, in order to look in, he could scarcely perceive any of the liquor gone. To it he went again with all his might, but succeeded no better than before. At last, full of indignation, he again set the horn to his lips, and exerted himself to the utmost to empty it entirely: then looking in, he found that the liquor was a little lowered; upon this, he resolved to attempt it no more, but gave back the horn. I now see plainly, says the king, that thou art not quite so stout as we thought thee; but art thou willing to make any more trials? I am sure, says Thor, such draughts as I have been drinking, would not have been reckoned small among the Gods.
MALLET’S NORTH. ANTIQ. VOL. II, P. 126-127.”
Contrary to the custom of the Manx Fairies, it might be inferred, that our Groom had just returned from the sanctuary of sportsmen, with a nag of the native breed. But having already made considerable progress in establishing the origin of the rider, we shall now take some pains in proving to our readers the pedigree of the steed: and in asserting him to be from the stock of the far-famed Sleipner, we hope to be borne out by his performances, and confirmed by probability in our opinion. The circumstance of that noted stallion having had eight legs, does not in the least degree weaken our belief in the genuine descent of the Goblin’s poney; for, reasoning by analogy, we have never yet heard of a parent with a wooden-leg transmitting timber-toes to posterity.
To those sportsmen who confine their genealogical inquiries to the general stud-book and racing-calendar, we present, in the words of the Gothic Edda, the history of a horse, more famed than the Childer’s Barb, or the Godolphin Arabian.—
HISTORIA VICESIMA PRIMA.
Quomodo Loco procreavit equum Sleipnerum cum Svadilfaro.
“Faber quidam Asas adveniens, ad urbem illis ædificandam per tres annos sese obtulit, eamque adeo munitam, ut tuta esset ab incursionibus Gigantum. Mercedem vero laboris Frejam postulavit, ut et lunam solemque. Dii vero, inito consilio, paciscuntur; si vero quid laboris prima die æstatis superesset, præmium amitteret; nullius vero opera ei uti liceret. Hic de auxilio equi sui Svadelfari tantum pactus fuit. Omnia vero hæc fiebant, dirigente et instigante Locone. Hic urbam ædificaturus, noctu per equum lapides attraxit. Asis mirum videbatur, eam tam magnos adferre montes; nec non equum plus, quam fabrum, conficere. Pacto autem multi interfuere testes: quippe cum gigas videretur non satis tutus inter Asas, si hic esset, Toro domum reverso. Qui jam mari Baltico trajecto, hinc per amnes et fluvios ad Asiam progressus, (quod priscis Austerveg audit) bellum cum gigantibus gessit. Urbs fuit munita et tam alta, ut perspicere non valeres. Tribus vero reliquis fabro diebus, Dii congregati solia sua ascendentes quæsiverunt, quisnam auctor esset, ut Freya in Jotunheimiam elocaretur? ut et aer perderetur, inducta cœlo calligine, sublatum solem et lunam dando gigantibus. Illos vero inter conventum fuit, Loconem hoc dedisse consilium. Dicebant, eum misera morte afficiendum esse, nisi rationem, qua faber mercedem amitteret, inveniret, adjicientes fore ut statim illum comprehenderent. Examinatus vero jurejurando promisit se effecturum, ut faber mercede frustraretur, quicquid tandem huic negotio impenderet. Fabro autem lapidis advehendi causa, cum Svadilfaro, egressuro, ex sylva prosiliit equa quædam solitaria, equo adhinniens. Quam conspicatus equus, in furorem actus, rupto fune, eam adcurrit, jam in sylvam accelerantem, insequente fabro, equum assecuturo. Equa vero totam per noctem discurrente, faber impeditus fuit, quominus, hac nocte, una cum die sequente, opus, uti antea, fuerit continuatum. Quo cognito, animo percellitur giganteo. Quo viso, juramentis non parcentes Torum invocarunt: qui statim adveniens, vibrato in aera malleo, dataque mercede, occisum fabrum in Niflheimium detrusit. Loconi vero cum Svadilfaro res fuit, ut equuleum genuerit nomine Sleipnerum, octo habentem pedes.
EDDA, FAB. XXI, OPERA ET STUDIO JO. GORANSON.”
The terror of the inhabitants of Alfheim, or Fairy land, for running water, has been too often asserted to require much comment. Unlicensed spirits, that wander on the face of the earth, with intentions injurious to mankind, are always represented as tortured with hydrophobia. The author cannot hope that he has painted the Goblin’s terror in all the glowing colours of a Burns,[19] or with the finer tints of a Scott; yet he flatters himself some beauty may be found, by the admirers of pleonastic redundancy, in the passage expressive of the horror of the horse and rider; and he feels that, in this judgment, he will be supported by the most classical authorities in the English language; e.g.
GILES SCROGGINS.
We cannot give a better idea of the hilter skilter mode of riding with hounds, than by quoting the truly classical words of an accomplished Leicestershire sportsman, who is equally celebrated as a painter and a poet.—
Although we in general disapprove of Parodies, the above is so excellent, and so applicable to our subject, that we sacrifice our principles for the gratification of our readers.
It must be truly gratifying to yeomanry officers, and those who have not had the advantages of an equestrian education, that, in works of fancy, they may be at once amused and instructed with valuable hints on horsemanship; and believing, as we do, that those who have feasted on the pages of Marmion are now enabled to take a leading part in a meslee or fight, we shall proceed to forward them in their pursuits, by recommending to their attention Astley’s explanation of the Croupade.
The Tailor too of Brentford will be enjoyed with greater glee, when the spectators do not curb their mirth by a fellow-feeling for the Cockney equestrian.
“CROUPADE.
“The horse leaps into the air with all his feet off the ground at one and the same time, and without stretching out those behind: by an attention to this action, much good might result to the cavalry; and here I will relate a manœuvre, to which I often had recourse in 1761, and at other periods of the seven years war. I instructed my horse to strike an object, or objects, at the will of the rider, within a given distance, before, behind, or together; and necessity furnished me with the idea.
“In patroling, a soldier sometimes wants a guide, and gentle means often prove ineffectual to induce a peasant to quit his bed, at the dead of the night, for the accommodation of others,—to dismount for the purpose of procuring admittance into a house, at such a time, barred and bolted within, and perhaps in an enemy’s country, would be dangerous. I knew my duty, and, ere this, my horse knew his. On approaching the door, I caused him to strike it with his fore-feet; and if this did not answer my purpose, (for it would sometimes fail), I faced him about, when, with his croup, he would break the door in pieces: this he would accomplish in a few moments, to the surprise and terror of the inhabitants: on the other hand, when upon the defensive, no person could approach me without danger; and when on the offensive, and animated at my pleasure, to the highest pitch, he would strike in every direction, and clear his way!
ASTLEY’S EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION, P. 177.”
We do not remember that La Broue has any where pointed out the application of this useful air du Manège, as the French term it.
Though not exactly authorized by the writer of the following poem, yet we cannot think he will take offence at our availing ourselves of its beauties, to illustrate the fidelity and attachment of the canine species to their masters, and those who have shared with them in the dangers and fatigues of the chace. We extract this poem from a Calcutta Gazette of 1807.—
BETH-GELERT,
OR
THE GRAVE OF THE GREYHOUND.[20]
This Friar, or “esprit follet,” is a gentleman of as many names and titles as any Spanish Grandee; “Will o’ the Wisp,” however, is the name he is best known by, when stript of his ecclesiastical honours: he has always been considered a tricky knave, and is thus spoken of in Marmion.—
We here call upon our readers, to attend to the origin of the word Bard; inasmuch as, that term has become applicable to poem-mongers in general. The learned Mr. Prideaux informs us,—
“Bardus possessed his father Druis’ place. To his ancestors Phylosophy, Magick, Politicks, Rites and Ceremonies, this man added Poetry, and set all their excellencies at a higher key. 2. From him we have the ancient Bardi, the chroniclers of all heroick actions, and commenders of their performers, to the imitation of their posterity, whom an ancient poet thus bespeaketh,—
3. Their esteem was such amongst the greatest commanders, that if two armies were even at push of pike, and a Bard had step’d in between them, they would have held their hands, harkened to their advice, and not have offered to strike until he were out of danger. 4. Famous amongst those Bards (before the coming of our Saviour) were held Plenidius and Glaskirion, and of late years, Davye Dee, David ap Williams and others. They say the island Bardsey had Bardorum Insula, its name, from them, and Aquila, Perdix, Patrick, Maddoch, and both the Merlins the wisards, were from this institution.”
PRIDEAUX’S INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY, P. 255-256.
Although the terms Bard and Poet are those in more general use to express the rhyme-weaving brotherhood, yet there are words of Gothic origin which may still be found of uncommon meaning, and, on certain occasions, even more significant than the former. Thus, a dame declaiming in heroics to her waiting-women and children, is denominated a Scold, from the Scalds or Poets of Iceland; and the term Bragger may, from “Brage” of the Goths, be employed to designate a blustering Poetaster, who claims, for alleged facility and unquestionable length of composition, the applause reserved for creative genius and continued exertion.
THE END.
Printed by Alex. Lawrie & Co. Edinburgh.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] In this happy manner of expressing his admiration of the object before him, the author assures his readers, that he lays no claim to originality.
[2] Bumble or bumbart bee. Vide Dr. Jamieson’s Dictionary.
[3] North of the Tweed beast is applied, as a general term, to animals, without distinction.
[4] The following anecdote, with many others equally interesting, is recorded in a very rare work, to be found in few collections, however excellent. A gentleman and his friend, passing along Oxford Road, were stopped by an immense crowd near Hyde Park, and, on inquiring into the cause, were told that a person of the name of Vowel was leading to execution at Tyburn. “I wonder what vowel it can be,” (cried the one). “It is neither U nor I, (replied the other), so let us pass on.” Joe Miller, a very old edition.
[5] Dunse, supposed to be derived from the old Celtic word Dun, a hill, is situated in the centre of the county of Berwick, near to the Lammermoor hills,—is famous for its cabbages,—from its being the birth-place of Duns Scotus,—and from the number of alehouses which it contains. For an account of its places of ancient strength, vide Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iv.
[6] Whitadder and Blackadder, probably corruptions of Whitewater and Blackwater, two streams which, uniting in their course, empty themselves into the Tweed a little above Berwick.
[7] Those who feel with the author on this subject, will consult, with peculiar pleasure, the general tenor of our Parliamentary Reports.
[10] The Fern Islands.
[11] Looking intensely. Dr. Jamieson gives the following authority for this meaning of the word.—
[13] Alias “Will o’ the Wisp,”—alias, in Scotland, “Spunkie.” The reader who is anxious for farther information on this interesting subject is referred to the notes on Marmion.
[14] Hedio. Sleidan.
[15] Scott. Vide Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. ii.
[16] By some etymologists of that learned class, who not only know whence words come, but also whither they are going, the term Fairy, or Faërie, is derived from Faë, which is again derived from Nympha. It is more probable the term is of oriental origin, and is derived from the Persic, through the medium of the Arabic. In Persic, the term Peri expresses a species of imaginary being, which resembles the Fairy in some of its qualities, and is one of the fairest creatures of romantic fancy.
[17] Our modern Bachanals will here observe, that punishing by a bumper is not an invention of these degenerate days. The ancient Danes were great Topers.
[18] The drinking vessels of the northern nations were the horns of animals, of their natural length, only tipt with silver, &c. In York-Minster is preserved one of those ancient drinking-vessels, composed of a large elephant’s tooth, of its natural dimensions, ornamented with sculpture, &c. See Drake’s Hist.
[19] Tam O’Shanter.
[20] The story of this Ballad is traditionary in a village at the foot of Snowden, where Llewelyn the Great had a house. The Greyhound, named Gêlert, was given to him by his father-in-law, King John, in the year 1205; and the place to this day is railed Beth Gêlert, or the Grave of Gêlert.