West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances

Part 16

Chapter 16548 wordsPublic domain

Page 219. “The Nine-legged Steed.” The opening resembles a story of Curtin’s, in which, however, the stepmother acts from the motive of hate instead of, as here, from affection. The words translated “transforming caps” are “qahal” (cochal), which also means a cloak, and “qantræltje,” the translation of which is a guess. It must be inferred that of the three maidens, who came as swans, one was the nine-legged steed, another the lady in the greenawn. The third is not accounted for. “Greenawn” (grïănaan) means “sunny chamber.” In Irish tales the ladies are generally described as occupying such apartments; a more general use of the word is found on page 179.

THE END.

_Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, London._

_PREVIOUS VOLUMES OF THE CAMDEN LIBRARY_

UNIFORM WITH

_WEST IRISH FOLK TALES_.

I.

The Antiquities and Curiosities of the Exchequer,

BY HUBERT HALL, F.S.A., OF H.M.’S PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE.

With Illustrations by RALPH NEVILL, F.S.A., and an Introduction by SIR JOHN LUBBOCK, Bart.

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II.

Sculptured Signs of Old London,

With Numerous Illustrations by PHILIP NORMAN, F.S.A.

With an Introduction by HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.

In this volume the author has endeavoured to preserve a record, before it is too late, of relics hitherto little known, though in their way most interesting—namely, the Sculptured House and Street Signs, put up as a rule immediately after the great fire, and which, when once removed, may soon and utterly be forgotten. The author deals with their meaning, associations, and many quaint stories relating to them.

The following list of the chapters will show the character and scope of this interesting volume:—

HUMAN SIGNS.—THREE KINGS.—ASTRONOMICAL SIGNS.—ANIMALS REAL AND IMAGINARY.—BIRDS AND OTHER SCULPTURED SIGNS.—VARIOUS CRESTS AND COATS OF ARMS.—MISCELLANEOUS SIGNS, DATES AND INSCRIPTIONS, ETC.—A FEW SUBURBAN SPAS.—TWO OLD CITY MANSIONS.

The volume is incidentally full of pleasant chat concerning Old London, its citizens and their life and surroundings in the old times. It is fully illustrated by sketches and photographs taken on the spot by the author himself, many of the sculptured signs particularly lending themselves to picturesque treatment.

Mr. H. B. Wheatley, F.S.A., the well known authority on London, has written an introduction to the volume, and a full index puts its stores of information at the reader’s command.

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.

End of Project Gutenberg's West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances, by Various