Page:Grimm Goblins (1876).djvu/22

 xrt EXTRACTS.

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scliolan ; for the English is the only language in which the name of the indiyidnal, Fairr, haa the canine letter to afford any foundation for them.

The simplest solution of the problem in the present case, as in most others, seems to be the true one. The Parcie of antiquity were also called Fatee — (we meet on a coin of Dioclesian, Fatis victricUnuiy--9Sid the connection between the Parcaa and the Fairies of romance will be evident to anyone who recollects how frequently the latter were attendant at the birth of heroes and princesses, foretelling their fortunes, or bestowing their good or evils gifts upon them. Or, if this should not please, the wife of Faunus, a rural deity, was named Fatua, as we are informed by Macrobius and Lactantius ; and the Nymphs, Donatus says, were from her called Fatu» ; and Ariosto tells us that

Quests ch'or Fate e dagli Antichi foro Gii dette Ninfe e Dee con piil bel nome.

Oanto L de Cinque AggiurUi al Fwiom.

Whioh of these is the true etymon we do not undertake to decide. The first connects itself with the Fairy-ladies of romance ; the other, with the popular Elves, the tenants of the forests and proves. As it was to the former the word Fte or Fairy was originally applied, we prefer the first.

It is curious how this derivation of the word expressive of the act, from that indicative of the agents runs through most of the European languages. We have in French, from Diable, diablerie ; in li^glish, fW>m Witch, witchery, from Droll, drollery ; in German, from Hexe (a witch), hexerei ; in Danish, from Troll, tryllerL So that all analogy will lead us to illusion, enchantment, as the primary sense of Faerie, which corresponds to the Latin Prtestigium, and periiaps to the Sanskrit Maya, which, however, is used in a much higher sense. We find the word Faerie to be employed in four different ssnaes, whioh we shall now arrange and exemplify.

!• Ulasion, enchantment.

'* Flusiers parlent de Guenaxi, Du Loup, de TAsne, de Benart| Defaerisi et de songes, De pffantosmes et oe meusonges.**

OuL Oiar. ap Ducanff$,

Where we must observe that the four last substantives bear the same relation to each other as those in the two first verses da

^* Mains that sit with so benigne a chere, Hire to behold it seemed /aerie.'*

CMUcer, MarchanU^t Tali.

^It (Mtf hwne if broM) was of /aeries as Uie peple semed. Diverse folk diversely ban demed." ^

Sqmm'iTaU,

^ The Emperor said on high, Certes it is tkfame^ Or elles a vanitd.**

Bmare.

f I

^ With phantasms and/ams^ Thus she blerede his eye."