Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/245

Rh treats with an absolute indifference, explained afterwards by the simple fact of his being unable even to see them, from having been secretly married to a fay who has taken from him his power of seeing any other woman but herself. This enchantment is subsequently removed through the intrepidity of the youngest of the three damsels. The fay renounces all right to her husband, restores to him his true vision, and allows him to marry the mortal who has been instrumental in his disenchantment. The whole incident is quite unknown to western fairy-lore.

No. 4, The thrice noble Lady and the three Citrons. This is a very good tale, made up of the incidents of three popular Italian fiabe, the best known being of the same title.

Then follows an interesting paper by M. Kondylakes upon the "Neo-Hellenic Mythology of Crete." Besides the beliefs common to Greeks in general the Cretans claim the Hercules of the Middle Ages, Digenes, to be a native of their island. They represent him to have been a fighting giant, and affect to show his tomb.

They believe in the existence of dracoi (or ogres), and imagine that they live in caves like the Cyclopes. They are males and females. Man overcomes them by means of his superior intelligence. Their leading characteristic is their fondness for human flesh. The dracos in fact is the better known orco of Italy.

The Cretans believe in Moirai and Nereides, in fates and fays. They also imagine that there are arapides, monstrous blacks, who are man-eaters, live in mysterious towers or underground mansions, keeping talking-dogs and talking-horses, and they guard hidden treasures. They possess magic powers, and have a water that confers immortality.

M. Polites has a paper entitled "Hellenic folk-tales compared with those of other peoples." Its one subject, "The bald-headed boy," is a curious story of the Reynaert series, and is accompanied by a learned commentary.

Next we have the most interesting tales of the fasciculus, "Athenian folk-tales, collected by M. Kampourales." These have especial merit.

No. 1 is. The man made of Sugar.

A princess who has moulded the figure of a beautiful man out of