Elves and Heroes

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MacKenzie
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Title: Elves and Heroes
Author: Donald A. MacKenzie
Release Date: November 15, 2003 [eBook #10089]
Language: English
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ELVES AND HEROES
BY
DONALD A. MACKENZIE.
1909
TO

Miss YULE, of TARRADALE.
PREFACE.
THE ELVES.
The immemorial folk-beliefs of our native land are passing away, but
they still retain for us a poetic appeal, not only on account of the
glamour of early associations, but also because they afford us inviting
glimpses of the mental habits and inherent characteristics of the men
and women of past generations. When we re-tell the old tales of our
ancestors, we sit beside them over the peat-fire; and, as we glory with
them in their strong heroes, and share their elemental joys and fears, we
breathe the palpitating air of that old mysterious world of theirs,
peopled by spirits beautiful, and strange, and awe-inspiring.
The attitude of the Gael towards the supernatural, and his general
outlook upon life in times gone by, was not associated with unbroken
gloom; nor was he always an ineffectual dreamer and melancholy
fatalist. These attributes belong chiefly to the Literary Celt of latter-day
conception--the Celt of Arnold and Renan, and other writers following
in their wake, who have woven misty impressions of a people whom
they have met as strangers, and never really understood. Celtic
literature is not a morbid literature. In Highland poetry there is more
light than shadow, much symbolism, but no vagueness; pictures are
presented in minute detail; stanzas are cunningly wrought in a spirit of
keen artistry; and the literary style is direct and clear and
comprehensible. In Highland folklore we find associated with the
haunting "fear of things invisible," common to all peoples in early
stages of development, a confident feeling of security inspired by the
minute observances of ceremonial practices. We also note a distinct
tendency to discriminate between spirits, some of which are invariably
friendly, some merely picturesque, and perhaps fearsome, and others
constantly harbouring a desire to work evil upon mankind. Associated
with belief in the efficacy of propitiatory offerings and "ceremonies of
riddance," is the ethical suggestion that good wishes and good deeds
influence spirits to perform acts of kindly intent.

Of fairies the Highlanders spoke, as they are still prone to do in these
districts where belief in them is not yet extinct, with no small degree of
regard and affection. It may be that "the good folk" and the
"peace-people" (sitchean) were so called that good intention might be
compelled by the conjuring influence of a name, as well as to avoid
giving offence by uttering real names, as if it were desired to exercise a
magical influence by their use. Be that as it may, it is evident from
Highland folk-tales that the fairies were oftener the friends than the
foes of mankind. When men and women were lured to their dwellings
they rarely suffered injury; indeed, the fairies appeared to have taken
pleasure in their company. To such as they favoured they imparted the
secrets of their skill in the arts of piping, of sword-making, etc. At
sowing time or harvest they were at the service of human friends. On
the needy they took pity. They never failed in a promise; they never
forgot an act of kindness, which they invariably rewarded seven-fold.
Against those who wronged them they took speedy vengeance. It
would appear that on these humanised spirits of his conception the
Highlander left, as one would expect him to do, the impress of his own
character--his shrewdness and high sense of honour, his love of music
and gaiety, his warmth of heart and love of comrades, and his indelible
hatred of tyranny and wrong.
The Highland "wee folk" are not so diminutive as the fairies of
England--at least that type of fairy, beloved of the poet, which hovers
bee-like over flowers and feeds on honey-dew. Power they had to
shrink in stature and to render themselves invisible, but they are
invariably "little people," from three to