A MASTER BUILDER 295 



which it can build itself. It would be a bold raven, 

 or crow, or hawk who would attack the magpie 

 through such a porthole *in such a fortress. 



It should be mentioned that there is another 

 version of the legend which puts a quite different 

 complexion on the case, and is much nearer to the 

 facts. It is, I suspect, the later version of the two ; 

 for the sound principle of " difficilior lectio potior" 

 that is, that where there are two readings of a passage, 

 the more difficult is the original one, because difficulty 

 leads to emendation, while clearness of statement 

 obviates it applies to legends as well as to readings. 

 The birds, so runs the story, noticed that, whereas 

 their nests were often robbed by foes, the magpie 

 alone hatched out full broods. So they applied 

 to her for instruction in nest architecture. 

 "Certainly;" said the magpie, 'Met me give you 

 a lesson. I began by taking a stick and laying 

 it thus." "Well! that is simple enough," said the 

 learners. " Then I take another stick, and lay it 

 thus." "Well!" interjected the class impatiently. 

 "Then another stick I lay so." "But that is 

 what we all do." " I then take a fourth stick," 

 said the patient teacher who I am afraid, forgot 

 to mention the lumps of clay which tie the whole 

 together " I lay it upon the others, so." " But 



