tale printed as of African origin, but evidently imported from Europe.[1]
The name "Lady Featherflight" appears not to correspond to any part of the story as now told, but to belong to an omitted section, which gave an account of the manner in which the hero, while proceeding in search of the giant's castle, captures the garments of a bird-maiden, and consents to return these only on condition of succour. The title of the heroine seems to refer to her original bird-plumage.[2]
her toes, given him for steps, and flight follows. The magic objects are a twig, a pebble, and a bottle of water; the latter produces a sea, in which the giant is drowned. in. Bride-forgetting.—Jack separates from his bride, violates her injunction by kissing a dog, and forgets her. The end is altered.
- ↑ M. G Lewis, Journal of a West India Proprietor, London, 1834; reprinted in Folk-lore Journal, i, 1883, Z84. I. Introduction.—Head-man in Africa loses at play to a young nobleman, is required to go to court, and gets directions from his nurse as to how to proceed. II. The nurse directs him as to the manner in which he shall find the king's daughter bathing. He obtains possession of the dress of the princess, and makes her promise, as condition of its return, that no harm shall happen to him on that day. III. Tasks and Flight. — The youth, received by the head-man, is required to point out the maiden among her three sisters. These appear as black dogs; one lifts the paw, and is recognised. According to the law of the country, a maid must be given in marriage to one who thus recognises her. The magic objects are rose, pebble, phial of water. The giant is drowned. Finally, the princess goes to court and establishes her husband and herself as head-man and head-woman; since this time all kings of Africa have been benevolent. In the tale, the incidents of finding the garments, and choice among the three sisters, are repeated with variations. The tale seems modified from an original form closely corresponding to the Irish version cited above, and may have been an importation from England or Ireland.
- ↑ See the Irish and West Indian stories already mentioned. In the corresponding French tale, given by E. Cosquin, Contes pop. de Lorraine, Paris, 1886, No. 32, "Chatte Blanche," the story proceeds as follows: I. A youth loses at play, and, as a penalty, is required to seek the victor, in the Black Forest, at the end of a year and a day. II. A fairy tells him that he will find Trois Plumes bathing; he is to take the robes of the youngest; this he does, and is instructed by her as to his course, III. Tasks: choice among the three daughters; flight, ending in the transformation of the girl into various shapes; she gives, in her altered form, misleading information to the pursuing giant, IV. The last section, bride-forgetfulness, is altered and confused. The name, La plume verte, seems to correspond to Featherflight. In some tales of this type, the introduction resembles that of "Lady Featherflight"—a youth, his mother being poor, goes to seek employment.
The admirable notes of E. Cosquin will be used in the following discussion; some repetition may be excused by the difference of purpose, the object being to examine the tale as a whole.
