20 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[Xo. 63 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE LUSIAD. 



K. B. There are several translations of portions of the Lusiad, and of the smaller poems, both in French and 

 English. 



FOLK LORE. 



May Cats. — In Wilts, and also in Devon, it is 

 believed that cats born in the month of May will 

 catch no mice nor rats, but will, contrary to the 

 wont of all other cats, bring in snakes and slow- 

 worms. Such cats are called " May cats," and are 

 held in contempt. H. G. T. 



Folk Lore of Wales : Sheivi-i-ivJiile. — There is a 

 legend connected with one of the Monmouthshire 

 mountains {Mynydd Llanhilleth), that was, until 

 very recently, implicitly believed by most of the 

 residents in that neighbourhood. They stated 

 that the mountain was haunted by a spirit in the 

 form of a woman, and known by the name of 

 " Shewri-while." Her principal employment ap- 

 pears to have been misleading those whose busi- 

 ness or inclination led them across the mountain ; 

 and so powerful was her influence, that few, even 

 of those who resided in the neighbourhood, could 

 cross the mountain without losing their way. If 

 some unlucky wanderer hesitated in which direc- 

 tion to go, Shewri would attract his attention by 

 a loud " whoo-whoop," and with upraised arm 

 beckon him on. If followed, she glided on before 

 him : sometimes allowing him to approach so near, 

 that the colour and arrangement of her dress could 

 be distinguished; at other times, she would only 



be seen at a distance, and then she frequently re- 

 peated her call of " vchoo-whoop." At length, 

 after wandering over the mountain for hours in 

 the hope of overtaking her, she would leave her 

 weary and bewildered pursuer at the very spot 

 from which he had first started. Cg. 



Charm for the Tooth-ache. — The following dog- 

 gerel, to be written on a ])iece of parchment, and 

 worn round the neck next to the skin : 

 " When Peter sat at Jerusalems gate 

 His teeth did most sorely eake (aclie) 

 Ask counsel of Christ and follow me 

 Of the tooth eake you shall be ever free 

 Not you a Lone but also all those 

 Who carry these few Laines safe under clothes 

 In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghoste." 

 ( Copied verhathn.) 



G. Te. 



Quinces. — In an old family memorandum-book, 

 I find the following curious entry : 



" Sept. 15. 1725. My Father Mr. brought 



my mother home to my grandfather's house, and the 

 wedding dinner was kept there on Monday, Sept. 20., 



with all the family, and Mr. and Mr. 



and his wife were present. 



" In the Evening my Honoured Grandfather gave 

 all his Children a serious admonition to live in Love 

 and Charity ■ . . . . and afterwards gave his wife a 



