but some were allowed to roam over the face of the earth, as a check upon men, whilst the Peris were confirmed in the possession of their privileges. The Peris are the "fairest creatures of romantic fancy." They are females, en- || joying perpetual youth, and never-fading beauty, and endowed with every kindly and benevolent affection. They "hover in the balmy clouds, live in the colours of the rainbow, and, as the exquisite purity of their nature rejects all nourishment grosser than the odours of flowers, they subsist by inhaling the fragrance of the jessamine and the rose.' Walter Scott, to be derived; the term Peri assuming that sound in the Arabic language.* And not only the general idea, but also individual characters, have been transplanted into the west from the Oriental regions of fancy and romance. "The Peri Mergian Banou, celebrated in the ancient Persian poetry, figures in the European romances under the various names of Mourgue La Faye, sister to King Arthur; Urgande La Deconnue, protectress of Amadis de Gaul; and the Fata Morgana, of Boiardo and Ariosto. The description of these nymphs, by the troubadours and minstrels, is in no respect Their opponents, the Dives, are spirits inferior to that of the Peris. In the tale of a grosser nature, and a different sex; of Sir Lawful, in Way's Fabliaux, as well and they are as revolting, cruel, vindic- as in that of Sir Gruelau, in the same intive, and ferocious, in their appearance, teresting collection, the reader will find and in their passions, as the Peris are the the fairy of Normandy, or Bretagne, reverse. The Dives and Peris are con- adorned with all the splendour of eastern stantly at war with each other; and the description. The fairy Melusina, also, latter frequently call in mortal aid against who married a Count of Poictou, under their savage enemies. "Similar in their condition that he should never attempt to attributes, but with less beauty and bril- || intrude upon her privaey, was of this latter liancy in the delineation of the amiable class. She bore the Count many children, species, were the good and bad genii of and erected for him a magnificent castle, the Arabians;"t whose qualities and ac- by her magical art. Their harmony was tions, and their beneficial or evil tendency || uninterrupted, until the prying husband upon the affairs of man, are beautifully broke the conditions of their union, by depicted in the oriental fictions. Probably concealing himself to behold his wife the Arabian mythology was derived from make use of her enchanted bath. Hardly the Persian; as the latter must have been had Melusina discovered the indiscreet inknown, at an early period, to the Arabs, truder, than, transforming herself into a amongst whom the Persian tales or dragon, she departed with a loud yell of romances, even as early as the time of lamentation, and was never again visible Mahomet, were so popular, that it re- to mortal eyes; although, even in the quired the most terrible denunciations of days of Brantome, she was supposed to that legislator to proscribe them." From be the protectress of her descendants, and the Crusaders, from the Jews, and from was heard wailing, as she sailed upon the the intercourse which was established in blast round the turrets of her castle, the France and Italy with the Moors of Spain, night before it was demolished.”+ this mythology was introduced " amongst Many traditionary tales are still told in the nations of the west. Hence, the ro- France of fairy origin, particularly in mances of France, of Spain, and of Italy, Languedoc, which seems to have been the unite in describing the fairy as an inferior province where they were most completely spirit, in a beautiful female form, possess-domiciliated. In the 13th century, we ing many of the amiable qualities of the find the following mention of them in a eastern Peris."§ From the Arabs, also,|| the name, Fairy, is supposed, by Sir * See OUSELEY's Persian Miscellanies, and SCOTT's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. + DR. DRAKE. 66 + Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. ii. page 174. § Ibid. page 176. work ascribed to the Emperor Otho IX., by Gervase of Tillbury, marshal of the kingdom of Arles :-"It has been asserted, by persons of unexceptionable credit, * Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, page 174. + Ibid. vol. ii. page 176-7. that fairies used to choose themselves gallants among men, and rewarded their attachment with an affluence of worldly goods; but if they married, or boasted of a fairy's favours, they as severely smarted for such an indiscretion. Many of the traditions current at the present day in France are founded on the belief here expressed. In many instances, particularly in Italy, the classical mythology is engrafted upon the fairy superstitions derived from the Orientals, and the Queen of Fairy and her train have appeared as Diana and her nymphs. Even our own Chaucer terms Pluto and Proserpine the King and Queen of Fairie; whilst Bishop Harsenet calls Mercury the Prince of Fairies.† The notions arising from the spirit of chivalry also imparted fresh qualities to the fairies; the invisible world began to be modelled || after the material creation; and the spirits of the earth and of the air, were described as possessing warlike qualities, as sometimes assuming a knightly form, and combating with mortals, who sought renown from the achievement of perilous adventures. It is time, however, to revert to the northern regions, the country of the Goths and of the Celts, and to inquire into the opinions they held relative to fairies. The belief in the existence of a description of beings, partaking of fairy qualities, may be traced back, in those countries, with certainty, to the middle of the ninth century; at which period, Thiodolf, bard to Harold Fairhair, who ascended the throne of Sweden in 863, recorded the adventures of Svegder, the fourth Sovereign of that country, when in search of Fairy Land. His first attempt was unsuccessful. He set out a second time, and "in the east of Scythia," he saw rise "suddenly from the plain, so vast a mass of rock, that it assumed the appearance of an immense structure or palace. Passing by this pile with his friends, one evening after sunset, having freely enjoyed the pleasures of the banquet, Svegder was surprised to behold a Dwergar, a Fairy or Dwarf, sitting at the foot of the rock. Inflamed by wine, he and his companions boldly advanced Sce his Merchant's Tale. towards the elf, who then standing within the gates or portals of the pile, addressed the King, commanding him to enter if he wished to converse with Odin. The monarch rushing forward, had scarcely passed the opening of the rock, when its portal closed upon him and the treacherous fairy for ever."* In the 11th century (about the year 1077), another northern poet compiled a very minute description of the Dwergar or Fairies, and at a later period (1215) we find Sweno fully elucidating the same subject in his prose Edda; in which, as well as in the "Scalda," written, it is supposed, about a year afterwards, a long catalogue of the individuals composing the two classes into which the Dwergar were divided, is given. It is evident, therefore, from the dates of the two first-mentioned productions, that a fairy mythology existed in the north of Europe, long before it could have been imported by the Crusaders. The Dwergart were divided into two classes; the Lios-Alfar, or Bright Elves; and the Suart-Alfar, or Black Elves. The former were spirits of a most beneficent nature, who inhabited the regions of the air; and, in their intercourse with mortals, always brought blessings in their train. 66 They visited the cottages of the virtuous ii. page 305. + Declaration of Popish Imposture, page 57. || malignant elves. of this benevolent race, were the Suart- bus, or Night-Mare, was classed amongst Alfar, or Swart Elves, who were neither this species; and to them was ascribed spirits nor mortals, but of an intermediate the abstraction or exchange of children; nature, dwelling in the bowels of the the diseases of cattle; the will-o'-the-wisps, earth, in mountains, caves, or burrows, of which lead peasants astray; the riding of the same diminutive size as the bright horses, plaiting of their manes, &c. They elves, but unpleasing in their features, were also workers in the mines, where and though sometimes fair in their com- the explosions of fire-damp, and other plexions, often dark and unlovely. They accidents, were attributed to them; and were the dispensers of misfortune, and they were represented as being extremely consequently their attendance at a birth skilful in the manufacture of arms. The became the harbinger of a predominating ancient Germans also believed in a larger portion of evil; mischief, indeed, either in species of the fairy tribe, called Guteli sport or anger, seems to have been their and Trulli, the prototypes of the Scottish favourite employment. They, like those Brownie ; like that fairy, they were friendof the more friendly tribe, visited the sur- ly to mankind, assisted them in their face of the earth at midnight; but the works, performed various offices of drudcircular tracery of their revels was dis-gery for them, and sometimes assumed tinguished from the green ringlets of the their form. beneficent kind, by the ground being burnt and blasted wherever their footsteps had been impressed."* The Incu See DR. DRAKE. Such were the general features of the northern fairy mythology: but the picture will not be complete without a few additional details of their more peculiar characteristics. W. C. S. THE LADY SATIRIST; OR, A SEASON IN TOWN.—No. I. || LADY FORMOSA CLEVERLEY was a per- west of England, where society was son of a very prominent singularity among scanty, and her home consequently almost the society around and about whose pre- the only school of manners and customs cincts her eccentric course improvised its accessible to her-deprived, while inmovements. With a heart which, accord- fancy yet lingered about her pretty form, ing to the somewhat physiological pre- and the meaning of a privation was cision of a much-employed phrase, was scarcely understood, of parents who had "in the right place," she possessed a head nurtured her with the most yearning fondthat was, morally speaking, supremely ness, and had, indeed, in domestic phrase, disdainful of local confinement, and prone, spoiled her-left to the uncongenial tuteon the contrary, to the giddiest rambling. || lage of a worthy, but rather absurd woThe habitual temperature of her feelings,|| man, whom accident had made her aunt, deriving its impulse from the quadruple || and who spoiled her yet more by attemptunion of youth, health, vivacity, and ed rigidity of rule than her parents had beauty, created, as it were, an atmosphere done by laxity of indulgence-it remains of irrepressible gaiety around her, and be- a subject of small marvel that the young trayed her frequently into the exercise lady, in becoming brilliant, as her talents of a heedless petulance of wit, an un- unfolded themselves, should have also besobered ingenuity, a thoughtlessness of come satirical, or, as the aunt expressed thought, that were, generally, at least as || it, inordinately clever. She acquired and formidable as diverting to her associates, || maintained among her few intimates, by besides being a little at variance with the commonly-prescribed decorum of female self-governance. This undue quantity of license had been also much promoted by the very irregular manner of her ladyship's education. Born in a remote part of the means of this quality, the collateral name of "the Lady-Satirist.". The course of her reading had been as desultory as youthful taste, uncontrolled, or injudiciously opposed, is apt to fall into. She had discussed the froth of many a novel. Having an excellent memory, she had retained many scraps of perused poetry; and, above all, having read through every description of modern literature, she had acquired as inveterate a knack and habit of miscellaneous quotation, as old Burton himself, of "melancholy" memory. which I am now to record, formed an epoch of the last moment in the imagination of the younger lady, arrived, by the progression of things, at the interesting age of nineteen. Much instance, much pretty cajolery and witty argumentation were on her part demanded and exercised The old lady, on the other hand, was for ensuring a victory over the constituexactly what no young person could be, tional scruples and anti-civic prejudices or come near to be. She was the most of her respectable senior, who was only starch, inflexible, conscientious, ultra- in reality conquered at last by a vague sedulous partizan and martyr of " the old and unconfessed, though serious wish, to school." She was the slave of system, and give stability and moderation to the chathought, felt, and acted no otherwise than racter of her niece by means of a proper by prescription. Order was with her (to || alliance-a thing of no apparent feasibility, speak metaphysically) not a mode but an in their own neighbourhood. Concurrence essence. She would never snuff a candle then, being had, and the travelling arbut at the pre-established angle of forty- rangements made (with all the organized five, nor put her left shoe on before the detail, by-the-by, of a political embassy), right, nor ramble out of the path in a park the meteor-like course of a modern postor field, nor read the end of a stupid book|| chaise speedily shot them into the grand to escape its endless beginning. Nay, vortex of the metropolis. A well-appointshe would even sleep o' nights with the ed house in Clifford Street received them line of her person at an exact right angle within its walls. with the foot of her bed, and her sides precisely equi-distant from its own. Add to this, that she was a rigid entertainer of the doctrines of political economy, and a frequent domestic lecturer on their ill-ment. understood merits.-Her name was Mrs. Parthenissa Perfect. From this brief outline it will appear, that there was but a negative line of relation between the relatives, in aught save the family meaning: in fact, the opposition of natural tastes was so marked, that "The force of contrast could no farther go." With all this discrepancy, however, there was no manifest external disunion-for there was principle on both sides to reconcile to the feeling what was harsh in the juxta-position of the two natures-and besides, the pupil was of too elastic a spirit to bear the yoke otherwise than lightly-she had sufficient ingenuity in shifting it moreover, and could now and then altogether slip her shoulders from under the burthen, and deposit it gently within the limit of convenient resumption, and without the observation of her amital preceptress, to whom she would never shew the disrespect of open contravention. 6 "What a seat of all delight is this dear London!" exclaimed Lady Formosa, as the two ladies sat at breakfast on the third morning of their rather unsettled settle"To me it is positively as Elysium to a new-come soul.' Sights, sounds, persons, objects à ravir-every thing in abundance to minister to the besoin de sentir, and keep one in an agreeable flutter of excited curiosity. Here, I should think, are pleasures that bring to their sweetness no satiety.'" "A hasty opinion, I fear," was responded by Mrs. Perfect, with her wonted composure. "The rule of experience will too probably instruct you in a different order of sentiment. Let me advise that you regulate your feelings, and bring them under the discipline of a system.” "Mais oui! my dear aunt; only let me accumulate uninterruptedly such a world of facts and fancies as I would desire dame Experience, my future acquaintance, should have to entertain and exercise herself withal. When I shall have done that, nous verrons !” "Well, well, my present friend, Experience, whispers me that she is inclined to think you a very giddy girl." This little colloquy was cut short by the announcement of a town acquaint The incident of a visit to the metropolis, ||ance, of country formation, Capt. Nat talie. "Ladies," exclaimed the visitor, as he briskly entered, “I salute you with cordial respect, and good wishes for your entertainment in London. Permit me likewise to say, long may you live, in spite of the too-obvious evidence (eying the table and its appendages) that you are breaking fast. up a willing reply:-" Indeed, Captain, the ratio of correlative influence exercised by those modifications of law on the progression of population in the British empire, is, I fear, imperfectly apprehended || by unreflecting minds.” The disciple of Mars forgot to smile in the confusion of his astonishment. He regarded the speaker with the sidelong glance of " eyes left"-his legs were withdrawn from their license of position, and his general buoyancy and consequence were for a moment disturbed. “My aunt will, I have no doubt, some day develope to you her theory on these points," interposed the younger lady, desirous of rescuing the victim from the impending agony of such a discussion. "You will derive much novelty of idea from the communication." "I question it not," replied the extricated soldier, with his recalled smile— will some day recite to Mrs. Perfect my new farce." And here, while the Captain is bowing himself into a seat, and giving much emphasis of utterance to that routine of London remark, in all cases of arrival from the country had and provided, I shall take the opportunity of giving, briefly, what a Frenchman would call, his moral and physical outline. He was a man of the most glittering superficiality, and unabashed if not polished readiness of address-indeed, to be an unabashed man, was matter with him of at least as much necessity as taste, for he was (as the few words just attributed to him will have shewn) an example of that unimproved al-" and, for acquittance of the obligation, I teration and uncondensed abridgment of a wit, called a punster. Delighting much to discourse on "things in general," he| would, with infinite dexterity, sting and harass the body of the conversation by the little antithetic arrows of his pun multifarious, fluctuating, as it did, with surprising variety between all the degrees of bad and indifferent. He was, tall, and made such amends as he might for an expressionless physiognomy, by wearing often-changed clothes, and an unchanging smile. He was, finally, an insatiable candidate for female applause, and a prodigal in the expenditure of all those little artifices of adulation which form the artillery of the lady-killer. "That must be indeed a thing by itself," responded Lady Formosa, who was tolerably conscious that a reply to such a promise would not be readily afforded by her sober-minded relative. "And pray, under what name have you ranged it?” "It will await your ladyship's discriminating sentence under the title of Mistakes and Mysteries.' I found my hopes of its success on the circumstance of its being much broader than it is long, and on the puzzling character of its story, which, indeed, in compliance with the reigning taste, is not calculated for entire comprehension. I have crammed in plot, "Mesdames," inquired the gallant Cap-|| underplot, and counterplot, and stirred tain," with what news from the country into the persone two blundering Irishmen, can you enelighten my town-smoke-en- || a kind of superior mendicant, a real cockveloped ignorance? Say, are the good ney, three circumventive lawyers, and a people there pathetic in the usual degree || professed conjurer! Then, to give huon the deficiency of crops, and inefficiency || of poor laws?" This question was accompanied by a careless lounging projection of the body, and by that kind of familiar ejaculation of the legs, which is commonly received among the indications of fashionable ease. Caught by the last words of his interrogation, much more than by the nice conduct of his figure, the old lady called mour and coherence to the whole, and to mark the general identity of the composition, I have the never-failing appliance of a cant phrase of the most vernacular description, and familiar to the meanest capacity." |