Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/29

Rh population. Such proverbs as “Once and yet again twice has he made gains; yet he is not content,” or “A man must do his own digging and working himself,” find an echo in the proverbial philosophy of most peoples. More closely related to folk-tales are the short songs with which the Accadian peasant solaced his labours in the field or farm-yard. A number of these have been collected and preserved in an old work on agriculture which was probably compiled for the library of Sargon at Aganè. Here are some specimens of what they are like:

Like an oven That is old, Against thy foes Be hard and firm.

The corn is high And flourishing; We know why. The corn is bearded And flourishing; We know why.

The fruit of death Tho’ I eat. The fruit of life May I make it.

May he suffer vengeance, May it be returned to him Who gives the provocation.

The marsh he passes as tho’ it were not; His skin that is grazed is healed.

If evil thou doest, To the everlasting sea Surely thou shalt go.