The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That CountryKirby, W. F. (William Forsell)
History
The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
Kirby, W. F. (William Forsell)
Estonian literature; Estonian literature -- History and criticism
[19]
This is somewhat inconsistent with the rather
undignified appearance of the Sun and Moon in person a
little while before.
[20]
The cross-dance is still danced in out-of-the-way
parts of the country; it is a kind of quadrille. Four
couples station themselves in such a manner as to form
a cross. The opposite pairs advance and retire several
times, and then they dance round, when the second
pairs dance in the same manner, and another dance
round follows, till they have danced enough. The dance
is accompanied with a song, in which the dancers, and
sometimes the bystanders, join.
[21]
Arju or Harju (German, Harrien) one of the provinces
of Esthonia.
[22]
Kungla is described as a country of untold wealth and
the land of adventures—a kind of fairyland. It
appears, however, to have been a real country,
separated from Esthonia by sea, of which fabulous
tales were told. Some writers identify it with the
Government of Perm; but this is improbable, as it is
generally described as an island. Others think that
the island of Gottland is meant.
[23]
According to various traditions, Kalev and Linda are
said to have had seven or twelve sons.
[24]
This is what Jacobs calls "junior right;" the
patriarchal custom of the elder children going forth
into the world to seek their fortunes, and the
youngest remaining at home to look after his parents
and inherit their possessions. Hence the rivalry
between Esau and Jacob.
[25]
Has this anything to do with boys spinning cockchafers
on a thread? The beetle alluded to in the text is said
to be the ladybird, but the ladybird has no particular
connection with the alder. When a brooch is thus spun
on a thread, a question is asked, and if the motion
stops, the answer is unfavourable, but favourable if
it continues. The flight of the beetle is fortunate
towards the south, but unfortunate towards the north.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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