Descrizione:
Closely allied to the belief in these old deities, is a vast mass Of curious tradition, such as that there is a spirit of every element or thing created, as for instance of every plant and mineral, and a guardian or leading Spirit of all animals; or, as in the case of silkworms, two ? one good and one evil. Also 'that sorcerers and witches are sometimes born again in their descendants; 'that all kinds of goblins, brownies, red-caps and three-inch mannikins, haunt forests, rocks, ruined towers, firesides and kitchens, or cellars, where they alternately madden or delight the maids ? in short, all of that quaint company of familiar spirits which are boldly claimed as being Of Northern birth by German archmologists, but which investigation indicates to have been thoroughly at home in Italy while Rome was as yet young, or, it may be, unbuilt. Whether this lore be Teutonic or Italian, or due to a common Aryan or Asian origin, or whether, as the new school teaches, it growed of itself, like Topsy, spontaneously and sporadically everywhere, I will not pretend to determine; suffice to say that I shall be satisfied should my collection prove to be of any value to those who take it on themselves to settle the higher question. |
