Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/192

 184 points out in his preface how the author must have made use of the story of the Tres Sapientiæ, sold to Domitian, as related in the Gesta Romanorum. The Gesta story contains the "Three Precepts" exactly as in the Scottish Gaelic tale, but the incidents in proof of the "Precepts" are entirely different. For the "Precept" in regard to staying in the house of an ill-matched couple, the early Irish version substitutes the advice never to travel until the sun is up. In the Cornish tale of "Ivan" the incidents and advices are practically the same as in the Gaelic version here produced. I have to thank Mr. W. A. Clouston for some further notes which he sent me when the Gaelic version first appeared. Here follows the tale referred to.

At the time of the Battle of Culloden there lived in Beauly a widow who had an only son, whose name was Donald Fraser. He went along with the rest of the Clan Fraser to the battle. The rebels were defeated, and Donald fled to Beauly as fast as his legs could carry him. His poor mother was glad to see him back again unlamed, unwounded, sound and healthy, poor, hungry, and tired as he was. He, however, knew that his life would be endangered if he stayed in his mother's bothy for one night, as the red-coats were in pursuit of those that helped the Prince, though it was by the press-gang the most of the Frasers were compelled to join Lord Lovat, who was afterwards beheaded. He was thus a wanderer for three years, taking shelter in the hills, hollows, rocks, woods, and caves that lie between the Bannock Loch and Birds' Loch in the heights of Beauly. On a certain day at the end of three years, he says to his mother: "Woman, I feel tired of my life; we are now reduced to poverty, and destitute of both meat and clothes. I will go and try if I can get work, come what may."