Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society

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The Society, 1889
 

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Page 32 - That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give ; She was a charmer, and could almost read The thoughts of people : she told her, while she kept it, 'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father Entirely to her love, but if she lost it Or made a gift of it, my father's eye Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt After new fancies : she, dying, gave it me ; And bid me, when my fate would have me wive, To give it her.
Page 40 - Besides the prophetic powers, ascribed to the gypsies in most European countries, the Scottish peasants believe them possessed of the power of throwing upon bystanders a spell, to fascinate their eyes, and cause them to see the thing that is not. Thus, in the old ballad of ' Johnie Faa,' the elopement of the Countess of Cassillis, with a gypsy leader, is imputed to fascination : — 'As sune as they saw her weel-far'd face, They cast the glamour ower her...
Page 21 - Majesty's' subjects ; every person wandering abroad and lodging in any barn or outhouse, or in any deserted or unoccupied building, or in the open air, or under a tent, or in any cart or waggon, not having any visible means of subsistence, and not giving a good account of himself or herself...
Page 32 - Tis true : there's magic in the web of it : A sibyl, that had number'd in the world The sun to course two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work ; The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk ; And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful Conserved of maidens
Page 120 - Society feel convinced they will be able to show how much knowledge of early man has been lying hidden for centuries in popular traditions and customs, and this object will be quickened by the addition to its roll of all students interested in primitive culture. Those who cannot collect, can help in the work of classification and comparison, and much might be thus accomplished by a few years of hearty co-operation. The Society is much in need of ample funds to publish its results and its material...
Page 347 - Lay hold of him yourself.' Old Age laid hold of him in front, and Death laid hold of him behind. The old man took and buried him decently, and planted the cross near him. And the old man took the money and also the horse.
Page 8 - French," a speech compact thirty years since, of English and a great number of odd words of their own devising, without all order or reason, and yet such is it as none but themselves are able to understand.
Page 12 - Speaking of his own time, he adds : " These fellows, seeing that no profit comes by wandring, but hazard of their lives, do daily decrease and breake off their wonted society, and betake themselves, many of them, some to be pedlers, some tinkers, some juglers, and some to one kinde of life or other.
Page 14 - buy some gross stuff, with a box of salve and cases of tools to set forth their slender market withal, &c. Then fall they to palmistry and telling of fortunes, daily deceiving the simple. Like unto the swarms of vagabonds, Egyptians, and some that call themselves Jews : whose eyes were so sharp as lynx. For they see all the people with their knacks, pricks, domifying, and figuring, with such like fantasies.
Page 20 - ... all persons delivered out of Gaoles that begg for their Fees, or otherwise do travayle begging; all such persons as shall wander abroade begging pretending losses by Fyre or otherwise; and all such persons not being Fellons wandering and pretending themselves to be Egipcyans, or wandering in the Habite Forme or Attyre of counterfayte...

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