Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/281

 Reviews. 259

a wish for good luck, and the story is told of how King Harald, hearing his queen wish Bishop Magnus a successful journey, insisted on her sealing her words with the gift of the cushion upon which she sat. For a wish without a gift was letter without spirit and a sign of false-heartedness. In the same way the bestowal of a name upon a child demanded the seal of a gift. This custom is referred to in the legend of the Lombards, who on hearing the voice of Odin enquire " Who are these Long-beards?" immediately entered the battle-field with the triumphant cry, — " He who has given us a name will also give us the victory ! " Certain crises in a boy's life, such as the cutting of his first tooth, were also marked with gifts intended to ensure to him that fresh share of the family hamin^a for which he was now prepared.

But there were certain objects capable above all others of bearing within them the spirit and will of their original or greatest owner. Such were, in the first place, swords and other weapons, which were treasured in the clan from one generation to another and only given away in token of the greatest friendship. Funeral barrows would sometimes be broken open to obtain possession of the swords of departed heroes, and in handing on such a weapon it was customary to recite the deeds of those who had borne it, not merely as a matter of interest, but in order that the new owner might understand clearly the nature of the power which he was taking into his hands. For this was an important point. If his own nature was in harmony with that of the weapon, or powerful enough to control it, then the new possession would bring him good luck. Otherwise the sword itself might take control and reduce the man to a mere instrument of its own will or fate. Other "sacred" objects were certain necklaces and arm-bands, and ships too were recognized as embodying the nature of their great captains. There are also tales of certain animals which were held sacred in the family to which they belonged, and which proved their value by coming to the help of their owner in cases of emergency.

The extent to which a man's possessions were understood to partake of his nature is shown by the customs, some of which survived in much later times, regarding the exchange or purchase of goods. It is said that down to the present day, in remote