Page:The Mythology of the Aryan Nations.djvu/475

Rh CHAP. the origin of the story, until we apply the right key to the lock. No sooner is this done than the myth is as clearly revealed as the treasure of the robbers' cave on pronouncing the word "Sesame." Of the real meaning of the tale, Irving doubtless knew nothing ; but he has preserved it as faithfully as the hymn-writer adhered to the spirit of the myth of Hermes. " The scroll was produced " (the sassafras or sesame), " the yellow waxen taper lighted " (the flash of the yellow lightning), *'the earth trembled and the pavement opened with a thundering sound." While the taper burns, the Moor and the water-carrier load the panniers of their ass with costly treasures ; but when they have satisfied themselves, the costliest still remain un- touched, and the greedy Alcalde, having in vain prayed them to bring up these also, descends with his griping retainers still lower into the vault " No sooner did the Moor behold them fairly earthed, than he extinguished the yellow taper " (the darkness closes in after the flash of lightning), " the pavement closed with the usual crash, and the three worthies remained buried in its womb." Doubtless, when reduced to their primitive elements, these tales may seem poor and monotonous enough; but the marvellous powers of growth which these germs possess have seldom been more clearly exhibited than in the folk-lore which has yielded the legends of the Forty Thieves, the Peri Banou, Allah-ud-deen, and the Legacy of the Moor, with the German stories of Simeli Mountain and the Glass Cofiin.^ Once more, the light flashing from the dim and dusky storm- Mediasval

cloud becomes the Hand of Glory, which, taken from a dead man, aids the mediaeval treasure-seeker in his forbidden search, whether in the depths of the earth or after his neighbour's goods ; nor have we far to seek in much older writings for the verj' same image without its repulsive transformation. The hand of glory is the red light of Jupiter, with which he smites the sacred citadels ; ^ and with this we may compare the myth of the golden hand of Indra Savitar.

is discharged by a goat, suggesting a the Tailor descends through the opening comparison with the Aigis of Athene into the hidden chamber, where the (see p. 250). The beast thrusts his maiden sleeps in the Glass Coffin, horns with such force that, like the ' Horace, Oci. L 2.
 * In this story the office of Schamir lightning, it splits the rocks open and