to be very rare[8]. Speaking of the oak, it may be noted, that as sacred to
Thor, it was under his immediate protection, and hence it was
considered an act of sacrilege to mutilate it in ever so small a degree.
Indeed, "it was a law of the Ostrogoths that anybody might hew down
what trees he pleased in the common wood, except oaks and hazels;
those trees had peace, i.e., they were not to be felled[9]." That profanity
of this kind was not treated with immunity was formerly fully believed,
an illustration of which is given us by Aubrey,[10] who says that, "to cut
oakwood is unfortunate. There was at Norwood one oak that had
mistletoe, a timber tree, which was felled about 1657. Some persons cut
this mistletoe for some apothecaries in London, and sold them a quantity
for ten shillings each time, and left only one branch remaining for more
to sprout out. One fell lame shortly after; soon after each of the others
lost an eye, and he that felled the tree, though warned of these
misfortunes of the other men, would, notwithstanding, adventure to do
it, and shortly afterwards broke his leg; as if the Hamadryads had
resolved to take an ample revenge for the injury done to their venerable
and sacred oak." We can understand, then, how the custom originated of
planting the oak on the boundaries of lands, a survival of which still
remains in the so-called gospel oaks of many of our English parishes.
With Thor's tree thus standing our forefathers felt a sense of security
which materially added to the peace and comfort of their daily life.
But its sacred attributes were not limited to this country, many a
legend on the Continent testifying to the safety afforded by its sheltering
branches. Indeed, so great are its virtues that, according to a Westphalian
tradition, the Wandering Jew can only rest where he shall happen to find
two oaks growing in the form of a cross. A further proof of its exalted
character may be gathered from the fact that around its roots
Scandinavian mythology has gathered fairyland, and hence in Germany
the holes in its trunk are the pathways for elves. But the connection
between lightning and plants extends over a wide area, and Germany is
rich in legends relative to this species of folk-lore. Thus there is the magic
springwort, around which have clustered so many curious lightning
myths and talismanic properties. By reason of its celestial origin this
much-coveted plant, when buried in the ground at the summit of a
mountain, has the reputation of drawing down the lightning and
dividing the storm. It is difficult, however, to procure, especially as there
is no certainty as to the exact species of plants to which it belongs,
although Grimm identifies it with the Euphorbia lathyris. At any rate, it
is chiefly procurable by the woodpecker—a lightning-bearer; and to
secure this much-prized treasure, its nest must be stopped up, access to
which it will quickly gain by touching it with the springwort. But if one
have in readiness a pan of water, a fire, or a red cloth, the bird will let the
plant fall, which otherwise it would be a difficult work to obtain, "the
backadmin
(backadmin)
#1