Note 1087 — Chapter VIII · DIONYSOS. (continued 2)

In the north as to-day the Beer-god retained his supremacy. It is interesting to note that the British saint, St Brigida, re-performed the miracle of Cana with the characteristically northern modification that she turned the water into excellent beer: Christi autem ancilla videns quia tunc illico non poterat invenire cerevisiam, aquam ad balneum portatam benedixerit et in optimam cerevisiam conversa est a Deo et abundanter sitientibus propinata est. Acta SS. Febr. I. Vita IV. S. Brigidae cap. IV. quoted by Hehn, op. cit. p. 149. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead (Chap. CX.) the desire of the soul is for cakes and ale.