pfant/ of tRe ©^afc? Rijmpfi/. 71 



in places frequented by the Elfin tribe, and to be gifted by them 

 with magic power. 



" I'll seek a four-leaved Clover 

 In all the P"airy dells, 

 And if I find the charmed leaf, 

 Oh, how I'll weave my spells ! " — S. Lover. 



The maiden whose search has been successful for this diminu- 

 tive plant becomes at once joyous and light-hearted, for she knows 

 that she will assuredly see her true love ere the day is over. The 

 four-leaved Clover is the only plant that will enable its wearer to 

 see the Fairies — it is a magic talisman whereby to gain admittance 

 to the Fairy kingdom,* and unless armed with this potent herb, the 

 only other means available to mortals who wish to make the 

 acquaintance of the Fairies is to procure a supply of a certain 

 precious unguent prepared according to the receipt of a celebrated 

 alchymist, which, applied to the visual orbs, is said to enable 

 anyone with a clear conscience to behold without difficulty or 

 danger the most potent Fairy or Spirit he may anywhere encounter. 

 The following is the form of the preparation : — 



" R. A pint of Sallet-oyle, and put it into a vial-glasse ; but 

 first wash it with Rose-water and Marygolde water ; the flowers 

 to be gathered towards the east. Wash it till the oyle come 

 white ; then put it into the glasse, ut supra : and then put thereto 

 the budds of Holyhocke, the flowers of Marygolde, the flowers or 

 toppers of Wild Thyme, the budds of young Hazle : and the 

 Thyme must be gathered neare the side of a hill where Fayries 

 used to be : and take the grasse of a Fayrie throne. Then all 

 these put into the oyle into the glasse : and sette it to dissolve 

 three dayes in the sunne, and then keep it for thy use ; ut supra.'' — 

 [Ashmolean MSS.] . 



Certain of the Fairy community frequented the vicinity of 

 pools, and the banks of streams and rivers. Ben Jonson tells of 

 " Span-long Elves that dance about a pool ; " and Stagnelius asks — • 



" Say, know'st the Elfin people gay? 

 They dwell on the river's strand ; 

 They spin from tiie moonbeams their festive garb, 

 With their small and lily hand." 



Of this family are the Russalkis, river nymphs of Southern 

 Russia, who inhabit the alluvial islands studding the winding 

 river, or dwell in detached coppices fringing the banks, or con- 

 struct for themselves homes woven of flowering Reeds and green 

 Willow-boughs. 



The Swedes delight to tell of the Stromkarl, or boy of the 

 stream, a mystic being who haunts brooks and rivulets, and sits 



* See legend in Part II., under the head of " Clover." 



