This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 Excerpt: ...Robin Goodfellow of Shakspeare's days. Like that merry goblin, his delight is in mischief and mockery; and numberless are the wild and whimsical stories in which he figures. Although the German Kobolds partake of the good-natured character of the people, yet the celebrated Hinzelman occasionally amused himself with playing tricks somewhat similar to those of master Fir darrig. The red dress and strange flexibility of voice possessed by the Fir darrig form his peculiar characteristics; the latter is said, by Irish tale-tellers, to be as Fuaim na dtonn, the sound of the waves; and again it is compared to Ceol na nningeal, the music of angels; Ceileabhar na nean, the warbling of birds, &c.; and the usual address to this fairy is, JVa dean jbchmoid fuinn, do not mock us. His entire dress, when he is seen, is invariably described as crimson; whereas, the fairies generally appear in Hata dubh, culaigh ghlas, stocaigh bana, agus broga dearga; a black hat, a green suit, white stockings, and red shoes. The transformation of Diarmid into a horse is no uncommon one. Ciree used to transmute people by hundreds. Queen Labe and Co. in the Arabian Nights were equally expert at metamorphoses; a horse, by-the-bye, was the very form that queen gave king Beder, who, however, had previously transformed her majesty into a mare. King Carpalus, too, in the old romance of Ogier le Dannoys, was condemned to spend three hundred years in the form of a horse, for tl, e resistance he made to king Arthur in Fairy land. Diarmid Bawn signifies white or fair Edward. "A Gospel," to which he owes his preservation in the fairy fight, is a text of scripture written in a particular manner, and which has been blessed by a priest. It is sewed in red cloth, and hung round the neck as a...