Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/26

20 with the general nature of Finnish spells, charms, and incantations. The Preliminary formulas were used when the wizard was about to begin operations. Defensive charms were of use when going on a journey to avert the attacks of witches and evil wishers. Envy formulas ward off the baleful effects of envious glances. The Vengeance formula inspires any kind of enemy with fear. In healing the sick the Origination formula was employed to detect the origin of a disease should that be uncertain. In the Reparation formula the originator or cause of any disease or injury was invoked to come and repair the damage he had committed. The Inflammation formulas were useful for snake-bites and inflammatory wounds. The Expulsion charms were employed in many diseases, but especially in such as were thought to originate from “elfshots” and witchcraft. The Posting formula might be recited after an Expulsion or Menacing formula. The Pain formula assuaged pain, aches, and contusions. The Reproaches were used after a bite from a snake or from any animal, also in cases of toothache, hurts from fire, cold, stones, etc. By means of the Ecstasy formula a wizard’s nature became hardened and invigorated. The Distress formula was available in sudden attacks of pain and disease. In the Boasting formula a wizard, by dint of brag, hoped to inspire other wizards, witches, and opponents with alarm, and himself with confidence. Great pain was assuaged by reciting the Stilling formula. The Menaces were sung after an Expulsion formula when that had proved insufficient. Diseases, curses, and evils wrought by witchcraft were conjured away by means of the Exorcising formula. When this had been effected, these evil spirits were pinned to the spot by the recitation of a Fastening formula.

It is undoubtedly a matter of regret that Lönnrot has not given these magic songs in their original form. Several of the same contents, sometimes as many as twenty, have been welded into one to fill up the deficiences which each