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DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS.

(Mon. Mag.)

Balder's Hill.

chanced once that a man passed by

NOT far from the village of Tune, while this was taking place, and when

in the district of Roskilde, is the mountain in which Balder is reported to have been buried. Saxo asserts, that once when several countrymen, under the guidance of a professor of the black art, went to this hill for the purpose of digging up a treasure, it seemed to them, when most busied at the work, that a foaming flood, with much noise, was precipitating itself down from the top of the hill; whereupon, in the greatest terror, they cast away their spades, and each sought for safety in flight.

Hanebierg.

In the parish of East Lygum, in Slesvig, is a height called Hanebierg, and not far from it is a fairy-moss. A young peasant once lay down upon this moss, and slept so long, that he awoke very late at night, when he heard around him the most enchanting music, and, looking up, he perceived two fairy maidens, who skipped and danced about, and asked him, in the mean time, several questions, in order to make him speak; but he knew well that there would be danger in doing so, and was silent. Then, suddenly changing their manner, they sung in menacing tones:-

This instant rise, and speak to us,

Thou young and handsome swain,
Or we with knives thy breast will rip,
And cut thy heart in twain.

He was much terrified when he heard
this, and was just going to speak; but
a cock at that moment crowed from
the top of the neighbouring hill, and
the fairies immediately vanished;

from which circumstance the hill is called Hanebierg (Cock's hill).

The Seals.

man

he saw the skin, he took it up, and hid
it. When the seal, who was a fe-
male, could not find her skin to creep
into, she was obliged to continue in
her human shape; and, as she was
comely to look at, the same
made her his wife, had several chil-
dren by her, and lived with her very
comfortably. But, after the lapse of
a long time, the woman found her
concealed skin, and could do then
nothing less than creep into it, and
become a seal again.

Holy-cross Church.

Directly over against the pulpit of Onsbergh Church, in Samsoe, is a table, on which is fastened a crucifix, with the following inscription:

This gilded crucifix was found tied round the neck of a drowned man, who came floating to the shore near Isle Mode, in the parish of Tranbiorn. When the people wished to convey the body to the church-yard, four horses could not stir the cart in which it was placed, nor could they draw the same body to Kolbye Church. But, when they turned towards Onsbergh Church, two horses easily dragged it there. It was buried on the eastern side of this church, which takes its name from the said gilded cross, being called at this time Hellig-kors Kirke (Holy-crossChurch), 1596."

The Shopkeeper of Aalborg.

in the town of Aalborg, and the flames Once when a raging fire broke out had just seized the warehouse of a shopkeeper, so that his whole property was on the point of being consumed, he snatched his weights and measures from the counter, and, with these in his hand, he hurried into the middle of the street, crying, " In case, O God! I have ever with weight and measure robbed and cheated any one, then let, the fire consume my house; It but, if I have always acted with pro

It is a common belief in Ferroe, that the seal every ninth night casts off its skin, assumes a human shape, and dances and amuses itself after the human fashion, until it resumes its skin, and becomes a seal again.

bity and integrity, preserve then my goods and dwelling." And no sooner had he said this than the fire died away, and his house escaped. He caused this inscription to be placed over the door, "I was on the brink of a precipice, but I did not fall down. Anno 1663, d. 11 Augusti."

Tordenskiold's Grave.

In that part of the church-wall of Holm which looks towards the sea, close by the grave of Tordenskiold, is a stone that will not keep fast in the wall, but is every now and then falling out. "That is Tordenskiold," says the peasant; "who is coming again

to thresh the Swedes."

Norvig Church.

A boor of Norvig, in Oddsberred, had a great desire to see what was passing in the church at midnight. He therefore crept slyly in, and seated himself in one of the pews. He remained there till it was deep night, when the church was suddenly illuminated; he then heard the doors open, and, immediately after, he saw four tall, steel-clad men walk in, bearing on their shoulders a coffin. They halted in the middle of the aisle, raised the flag-stones, and deposited the coffin beneath. After all this was done, they went away.

There is no doubt that the famous Mark Stig was secretly buried by his followers somewhere in North Zealand: and Pontoppidan remarks, in his "Marmora Danica," that many think he was buried in this church.

The Dragon of Aalborg. Two miles from Aalborg lie seve ral hillocks, which are called Osthierg Bakker. Among these, very many years ago, a dragon had his nest, and by his rapacity caused a great dearth in the neighbourhood. Thither came a man who knew how to deal with such reptiles, and he promised to destroy the dragon. He first caused a great wood pile to be raised, and, when this was set fire to, he mounted a powerful horse, and rode past the dragon's nest. The dragon followed him wherever he went, and they came 16 ATHENEUM VOL. 2. 2d series.

in this manner at length to the blazing pile. The man immediately leapt his horse over the pile, and the dragon crept after him completely through the flames. He made the leap a second time; and a second time the dragon crawled after him: and when he had rode seven times, unscorched and unhurt, over the pile, the dragon, in attempting to creep through it the seventh time, was entirely consumed.

The Mountain Imps.

In Kund-hill, near the plain of Thyrsting, lives an elf, who has several children. When the sun is gone down, they are frequently seen, with much noise and laughter, to creep up to the summit, and then let themselves roll down one after another. They continue their sport late at night.

King Waldemar's Chase.

King Waldemar loved Tovelill, a lady of Ryggen; and he was so strongly afflicted when she died, that he would not forsake her body, but caused it to be carried along with him wherever he went. This became very disagree

able to all those who were about the

king, and on that account a courtier, profiting by a favourable opportunity, examined the body, in order to discover what it was that bound the king to it with so powerful an attachment. He at last perceived on her finger a magic ring, which her mother had given her in order to secure the king's love. The courtier took the ring, and immediately the king's infatuation towards the body disappeared, and he allowed it to be interred. But mark the consequence : all the king's love was transferred to the courtier, who was now in possession of the ring; so that he granted him every thing that he asked for, and would scarcely trust him from his sight; which constraint at last became irksome to the youth, and, as he knew what was the cause of it, he dropped the ring into a pond, as he one day rode through the grove of Gurra. From that moment the king began to find himself better in this particular grove than in any other place; he caused the Castle of Gurra to be built, and hunted night and day in the wood.

He was frequently heard to say, that God might keep heaven to himself, if he were only permitted to hunt in Gurra; and, after his death, God punished him by fulfilling his wish.

He now rides every night from Burra to Gurra, and is through the whole district known by the name of the Flying Huntsman. When he approaches, one hears, first a horrid howl ing, bellowing, and whip-cracking, in the air, and then every person ought to turn out of the path, and conceal himself behind the trees. Then comes the whole route. Foremost of all run the coal black dogs, snuffing the ground, and with long glowing tongues lolling from their throats. Then appears "Wolmar," seated upon his white horse, and generally carrying his head under his left arm. When he meets any body, especially if it happens to be an old man, he commands him to hold his dogs, and sometimes leaves him standing with the hounds for many hours, or, at other times, he will presently afterwards fire a shot, and, when the hounds hear that, they burst their bands, and scamper off. When he goes away in this manner, the gates are heard slamming-too after him; and in many places, where there is a straight passage through a house, he gallops in at the one and out of the other door, and no bolts are so heavy that they do not spring back at his approach. He frequently rides through Ibsgaard, in Oddsberred; and there is in Roskilde a house where the doors are now always left standing open during the night; for, previously to that, he frequently broke the locks to pieces. In certain places, it frequently happens that he takes his course over the house, and in the neighbourhood of Herluf sholm there is a cottage whose roof is in the middle considerably sunk, because he has passed over it. In North Zealand he has another Gurra, in which stand some ruins, which are called Waldemar's Castle. It is here customary for the old women, on the eve of St. John's day, to station themselves in the paths, and to open the gates for him, Half a mile from Gurra lies Woldemar's height, surrounded by water. According to tradition, six

black monks, mumbling psalms, pass slowly every midnight across the island. Between Sollerood and Nærum, he hunts with his hounds and horses along a road which takes its name from him.

When he has thus made a circuit, he reposes himself by turns in all the princely residences scattered through the country. He takes particular pleasure in stopping at Valloe-burgh, where there is a chamber appropriated to him, in which stand two beds; in the same apartment are likewise two strong chests, which, being once opened, were found to be filled with strong round pieces of leather, "for better money there was not in King Waldemar's days." A subterranean passage connects Valloe-burgh with Tallosegaard, in the bailiwick of Holbeck : here he likewise has a sleeping-room, and maidens and people, dressed in the fashion of the times when he lived, are frequently seen making the beds. A countryman, who would not believe that the king came by night to this place, had the audacity to keep watch there; but, about midnight the spectremonarch entered, saluted him in a friendly manner, and said, "I will reward you for this kind visit," and at the same time chucked him a gold coin; but, when the fellow caught at it, it burnt a round hold through his hand, and fell to the ground a fiery coal. We may easily judge what he suffered from this fiendish gift. But it frequently happens, that when old men or women have for many hours held the phantom's hounds, he casts something to them which looks like a coal, and is therefore generally disregarded; but, if it be picked up and examined, it is found to consist of the purest gold.

The following is one of this remarkable personages adventures:

Late at eve they were toiling on Harribee bank,
For in harvest men ne'er should be idle,

Towards them rode Waldemar, meagre and lank,
And be linger'd, and drew up his bridle.
"Success to your labour, and have ye to-night
Seen any thing pass ye în reaping?"
"Yes, yes," said a peasant." I saw something white
Just now through the corn-stubble creeping."

"Which way did it go?"-" Why, methought to the beach."

Then of went Waldemar bounding;

A few moments after they heard a faint screetch,
And the horn of the hunter resounding,
Then back came he, laughing in horrible tone,
And the blood in their veins ran the colder,
When they saw that a fresh-slaughter'd mermaid
was thrown

Athwart his proud barb's dappled shoulder.

Said he, "I have chas'd her for seven-score years,
As she landed to drink at the fountains."
No more did he deign to their terrified ears.
But gallop'd away to the mountains.

The Sunken Castle.

In the neighbourhood of Londonborg is a lake, the bottom of which no one living has ever yet been able to find, and concerning this same lake goes a very strange story. Many centuries ago there stood, in the same place where the lake now is, a large old castle. There is no other trace remaining of it now than a carriageway, which formerly led to the castlegate, but which loses itself now beneath the waters of the lake. This is the story:-It happened one Sunday evening, when the master was from come, that the servants of the castle were drinking and amusing themselves; and they carried their pastime so far, that they took a swine from the sty, dexterously dressed it up, put a hat upon its head, and laid it in their master's bed. When this was done, they despatched a hasty messenger to the nearest priest, entreating him to home and give the sacrament to their master, who, they said, was lying at his last gasp. The priest came immediately to the castle, and, as he dreamt of no trick, he read prayers over the swine; and as he presented the sacrament all present began to laugh, and the swine snapped it out of his hands. Whereupon he, in the utmost horror, hurried away, but forgot to take his book along with him; and, as he rushed out of the last gate, the castle-clock struck twelve, and immediately the building shook and trembled in all its gables, and when he turned round it was already sunk, and the lake came foaming and bellowing up from the abyss. Stupified with fear and wonder, he could not

stir from the spot; and, as he stood gazing, a little stool came floating to the top of the water, and upon it lay the book which he had forgot to bring out of the castle.

The Man and his Shadow.

One evening, when the moon shone bright in the heavens, a man went out into the fields; and, as he walked along, his eyes fell by chance on the long handsome shadow which he cast behind him in the moonshine; and, as he plumed himself upon it, a little dwarfish man advanced to him, and said, "That is a noble shadow of yours; will you sell it to me." Thereupon the man burst into loud laugh; but when the dwarf repeated his request, and showed him several lovely white ducats, he began to think him in earnest, and the bargain was soon struck. Then the little man took the shadow, rolled it carefully up, put it in his pocket, and went his way. The man went likewise home, and was at first rather melancholy at his loss ; but the lovely white ducats soon consoled him. A short time after this, he went out with his wife into the fields, and saw how finely the corn looked waving in the clear moonshine; and, as they now walked along the fields, the wife suddenly exclaimed, "See what a shadow I have,-observe its length and breadth; but you, man, have no shadow: what is the reason of that ?" The man endeavoured to evade this question, but the wife was continually harping upon it. Time after time, the neighbours and the children came to see whether he had any shadow, and then they all avoided him; so that, unable at last to bear the universal scorn and contempt, he made away with himself.

Mermen.

In the year 1619, King Christian the Fourth, sent two state-counsellors (Sir Oluf Rosenspar and Sir Niels Holo,) to Norway, for the purpose of holding a court-day; and it chanced, on their return, that the crew of the vessel caught, and drew on-board, a merman, in shape and features just like any other man; he staggered

about for a long time upon the deck, but at last he lay down as if he had been dead; and when one of the bystanders exclaimed, "What a wonderful God that must be who has human creatures even in the water;" the merman answered, "Yes; and if you knew all I do, you would say so indeed; but, if you do not let me this moment return to the water, neither ye nor your ship shall ever reach the land." Thereupon he would not speak another word; but was placed

in the boat, out of which he sprang himself.

The year after, when the state counsellor, Christopher Ulfeld, was sent with a ship to Gulland, a merman, having black hair and a long beard, approached them on their way; he seemed to have great curiosity, and observed the ship and those that were in it very closely; but when one of the sailors flung him out a shirt in sport, he ducked under, and was no more seen.

THE FATA MORGANA.

(Mon. Mag.)

THE CONCHOLOGIST'S COMPANION; COMPRISING THE INSTINCTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS OF TESTACEOUS ANIMALS, &c. &c. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE WONDERS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM, &c.

THIS unpretending volume will be received with much pleasure by those whose taste leads them to the study of natural history: especially by the more juvenile students, for whose use it is principally designed. It is a judicious and entertaining compilation from larger and more scientific works on the same subjects, interspersed with descriptions of natural scenery from the pen of the compiler, who appears to be an ardent lover of nature. The following extract from the description of the coral, which contains also an account of that singular phenomenon the fata morgana, will give a good idea of the style in which the work is written.

"This elegant production is common to the shores of Great Britain; but the finest specimens are brought from the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Africa, Bastions of France, islands of Majorca and Corsica, and from the coasts of Provence and Catalonia. A large fishery also subsists in the Straits of Messina, where the shell collector had lately an opportunity of not only seeing the method employed by the Sicilian fishermen in bringing up the coral, but also La Fata Morgana, that beautiful aerial phenomenon, which the credulous natives imagine to be produced by fairies or invisible beings,

"That in the colours of the rainbow live, Or play i' the plighted clouds.'

It was summer, early in July, the morning calm and delightful; the winds were hushed, the surface of the bay remarkably smooth-the tide at its full height, and the waters elevated in the middle of the channel. The sun had just surmounted the hills behind Reggio, and formed an angle of forty-five degrees on the noble expanse of water which extends before the city. Suddenly the sea that washes the Sicilian shores presented the aspect of a range of dark mountains; while that on the Calabrian coast appeared like a clear polished mirror, which reflected and multiplied every object existing or moving at Reggio, with the addition of a range of more than a thousand giant pilasters, equal in altitude, distance, and degree of light and shade. In a moment they lost half their height, and bent into arcades, like those of a Roman aqueduct. A long cornice was then formed on the top, and above it rose innumerable castles, which presently divided into towers, and shortly afterwards into magnificent colonnades. To these succeeded a sweep of windows; then came pines and cypresses, and innumerable shrubs and trees; in shadier scenes

'Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor nymph
Nor Faunus haunted.'

"This glorious vision continued in full beauty till the sun was considerably advanced in the heavens; it then van

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