Page:The Journal of English and Germanic Philology Volume 18.djvu/443

 The Origin of the German Carnival Comedy 439 demon. 297 His origin as phallic vegetation-demon may, there- fore, be taken as proven. 298 The actor in the Satyr-play, the primitive form of the Greek tragedy, may in a similar way be shown to be a demon. The theory in regard to the demonic origin of the Greek drama gains further weight by the analogies which Preuss has drawn with the fertility ceremonies of the Mexican and American Indians. The same origin may, there- fore, with great probability be assumed also for the German drama. This theory does not contradict the view that the source of the drama is in the dance. The origin of all drama may, indeed, lie in the mimic dance, but the dance belongs to the nature of the demons, and had a phallic significance in Greece as well in the Orient 299. The mimic dance is, as a matter of fact, a special feature of the demons. 300 It is characteristic for both groups of demons in Greece, the Curetes in Crete and the Corybants in Phrygia. 301 The dancers on the early Greek vases, as has been repeatedly pointed out, 302 were beast-clad figures, which means that they were theriomorphic demons. The Kelto-Germanic sword-dancers show their demonic origin by their black faces no less than by their swords and bells. The medieval missionaries and monks, who branded the dance as "devilish," as "the fiendish delight of hell," were not far from the truth after all. The acts of the demons were, as has already been pointed out, originally sacred rites intended for the regeneration of nature. But very soon episodes were added which had no connection with the magical ceremonies. It is wholly in accord with the nature of these clownish demons that they, having acted their part in the ritual drama, should wish to have a little fun with the on-lookers and try their mimic arts on them. 303 They were soon, indeed, asked to imitate certain individuals in the throng, 304 and they did what was asked of them with great 297 C/., Preuss, Archivf. Anthr., xxix. 178. Ibid., i. 1745?. 299 Cf. Wall, op. tit., p. 266. 300 Cf. Preuss, Archivf. Anthr., xxix. sq. 301 Cf. Schroeder, op. tit., pp. 19sq. Supra, pp. 426, 430. 303 Cf. Preuss, Archivf. Anthr., xxix. 177.