The legend of Perseus, Volume 3 (of 3)

Chapter XVII · THE RESCUE OF ANDROMEDA IN SAGAS.

Reading edition

How far the tale of the loving spirit, Vira, is accepted by the Tuscan peasant as a recital of facts may be disputed. We have little but internal evidence to guide us; and that hardly seems conclusive. It may perhaps be regarded as a saga once inspired by faith in the powers of a supernatural being, but now the subject of more or less scepticism. The effect of doubt on a story would be to sever its moorings and set it free on the vague waters of tradition, unhampered by any names of known persons or places, or to which a serious credit is intended to be attached. The tale, as it was found by Mr. Leland, had not yet reached entire freedom. It is therefore a convenient link between the true märchen and the true saga,—neither wholly believed, nor recognised as merely told for pleasure.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · That the story of the conquered dragon was believed, at least in classical times, we have already seen. Perseus, the slayer of the dragon an Note 2 · In later times the most famous name to which the exploit has been attributed is that of Saint George. Some versions of the legend reproduce Note 3 · Such is the legend in its ecclesiastical shape; and in this edifying guise (though not to the same length) it seems to have been given, at l Note 4 · The Bosnian folk-song I have here summarised reappears with little change, both in Servia and in Bulgaria.43.2 In the island of Lesbos, on t Note 5 · The name and legend of Saint George are known in Abyssinia, where the story is perhaps told in a fashion as pious as the foregoing. Unfortun Note 6 · We are not immediately concerned with the revolting legend of the saint’s martyrdom. It may be well, however, to point out that this appears Note 7 · The islanders of Sardinia have a Saint George of their own, who was bishop of Suelli. In the commune of Sant’ Andrea Frius, a village in the Note 8 · Outside the legends of the saints, the deliverance of a maiden is, with one exception, hardly found in modern Europe. Tales of the conquest Note 9 · Before leaving the subject of European sagas one important Rescue story must, however, be mentioned. It forms part of the Irish tale of The Note 10 · The tale of the Rescue of Andromeda is known to the farthest limits of Asia. Mr. J. F. Campbell describes a picture he saw in a temple at Sh Note 11 · I may pause here to observe that the device of rendering the dragon torpid by gorging it is not unknown in Western tales. To give a single e Note 12 · These examples stand by no means alone. The carving at Brent Pelham, referred to in a note on a previous page, appears to be the origin of a Note 13 · We may now return to sagas more properly coming within our ken. From Candahar is reported a Mussulman legend, which relates that in pagan ti Note 14 · Variants in east and west represent the maiden as her own deliverer. In the Golden Legend of à Voragine we read that Saint Margaret was flun Note 15 · In Germany the maiden’s victory is localised on the far-famed Drachenfels. While Rome was yet mistress of the left bank of the Rhine, and Ch Note 16 · In the last chapter I summarised several märchen wherein Andromeda was replaced by a youth of the opposite sex. Such examples are rare among Note 17 · A few variants are also found, in which the maiden is rescued, not from death by the dragon, but only from thraldom. Such is the tale of Rag Note 18 · A story of the deliverance of a maiden imprisoned by a dragon, still current in the mouths of the people, places the scene of the captivity