Myth-Land by F. Edward (Frederick Edward) Hulme

Author:F. Edward (Frederick Edward) Hulme [Hulme, F. Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Google: qrBZAAAAMAAJ
Publisher: S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington
Published: 1886-01-15T05:43:08+00:00

In the same author’s poem of “L’Allegro” we find the will-of-the-wisp again referred to, this time under the title of “Friar’s lantern;” while Sir Walter Scott in his “Marmion” writes—

“Better we had through mire and bush

Been lantern-led by Friar Rush.”

Shakespeare in 1 “Henry IV.” calls it a “ball of wildfire,” and also used the Latin name, ignis fatuus.

This bewilderment of the rustics by false fires does not always seem to have been the result of diabolical malice on the part of the fairies, but sometimes assumed the form of a practical joke. Like most practical jokes, it was probably much more amusing to the joker than the joked, and the benighted wanderer had little cause to thank him of whom it could be said—

“Whene’er such wanderers I meete

As from their night-sports they trudge home;

With counterfeiting voice I grete

And call them on, with me to roam

Thro’ woods, thro’ lakes,

Thro’ bogs, thro’ brakes;

Or else, unseene, with them I go

All in the nicke

To play some tricke,

And frolic it, with ho, ho, ho!”

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