Notes and Queries, Number 47, September 21, 1850 | Page 6

a _purchase_, possibly derived also from some symbolic customs common to all northern tribes, offers the following as the origin of this word "morganatic:"--
"Es gab aber im Alterthum noch einen erlaubten Ausweg für die Verbindung vorneluner M?nner mit geringen (freien und selbst unfreien) Frauen, den _Concubinat_, der ohne feierliches Verl?bniss, ohne Brautgabe und Mitgift eingegangen wurde, mithin _keine wahre und volle Ehe_, dennoch ein rechtm?ssiges Verh?ltniss war.
"Da jedoch die Kirche ein solches Verh?ltniss missbilligte durch keine Einsegnung weihte, so wurde es allm?hlich unerlaubt und verboten als Ausnahme aber bis auf die neueste Zeit für Fürsten zugelassen--ja durch Trauung an die linke Hand gefeiert. Die Benennung Morganatische Ehe,--Matrimonium ad Morganaticam (11. Feud. 29.), rührt daher, dass den Concubinen eine Morgangabe (woraus im Mittelalter die Lombarden '_Morganatica_' machten)--bewilligt zu werden pflegte--es waren Ehen auf blosse Morgengabe. Den Beweis liefern Urkunden, die Morganatica für Morgengabe auch in Fallen gebrauchen wo von wahrer Ehe die Rede ist." (See Heinecius, Antiq. 3. 157, 158.)
The case now stands thus:
It was the custom to give money to the wife's relations on the marriage-day.
It was not the custom with respect to unequal marriage (Misheirath): this took place "ohne Brautgabe und Mitgift," which was also of later origin.
The exception made by the Church for _princes_, restored the woman so far, that the marriage was legally and morally recognised by the Lombard law and the Church, with exceptions as regards _issue_, and that the left hand was given for the right.
With regard to this latter, it would be desirable {262} to trace whether giving of the land had any symbolic meaning. I think the astrologists consider the right as the nobler part of the body; if so, giving of the left in this case is not without symbolic significance. It must be remembered how much symbolism prevailed among the tribes which swept Europe on the fall of the Roman empire, and their Eastern origin.
The Morgengabe, according to Cancianus (_Leges Barbarorum_, tom. iv. p. 24.), was at first a free gift made by the husband after the first marriage night. This was carried to such excess, that Liutprand ordained
"Tamen ipsum Morgengabe volumus, ut non sit amplius nisi quarta pars ejus substantia, qui ipsum Morgengabe dedit."
This became subsequently converted into a right termed justitia.
Upon this extract from a charter,--
"Manifesta causa est mihi, quoniam die ilio quando te sposavi, promiseram tibi dare justitiam tuam secundum legem meam [qr. my Lombard law in opposition to the Roman, which he had a right to choose,] in Morgencap, id est, quartam portionem omnium rerum mobilium et immobilium," &c.
Cancianus thus comments:--
"Animadverte, quam recte charta h?c cum supra alligatis formulis conveniat. Sponsus promiserat Morgencap, quando feminam desponsaverat, inde vero ante conjugium chartam conscribit: et quod et Liutprandi lege, et ex antiquis moribus Donum fuit mere gratuitum, hic appellatur Justitia secundum legem Langobardorum."
The Morgencap here assumes, I apprehend, somewhat the form of dower. That it was so, is very doubtful. (Grimm, vol. ii. p. 441. "Morgengabe.")
"An demselben Morgen empf?ngt die JungFrau von ihrem Gemahl ein ansehnliches Geschenk, welches Morgengabe heisst. Schon in der Pactio Guntherammi et Childeberti, werden Dos und Morganagiba _unterschieden_, ebenso _Leg. Rip._ 37. 2. Alaman. 56. 1, 2. Dos und Morgangeba; _Lex Burgend._ 42. 2. Morgangeba und das 'pretium nuptiale;' bei den Langobarden, 'Meta und Morgengab.'"
I do not say this answers the question of your correspondent G., which is, what is the derivation of the word?
Its actual signification, I think, means left-handed; but to think is not to resolve, and the question is open to the charitable contributions of your learned and able supporters.
As regards the Fairy Morgana, who was married to a mortal, I confess, with your kind permission, I had rather not accept her as a satisfactory reply. It is as though you would accept "once upon a time" as a chronological date! She was married to a mortal--true; but _morganatically_, I doubt it. If morganatic came from this, it should appear the Fairy Morgana was the first lady who so underwent the ceremony. Do not forget Lurline, who married also a mortal, of whom the poet so prettily sings:
"Lurline hung her head, Turned pale, and then red; And declared his abruptness in popping the question So soon after dinner had spoilt her digestion."
This lady's marriage resembled the other in all respects, and I leave you to decide, and no man is more competent, from your extensive knowledge of the mythology of Medieval Europe, whether Morgana, beyond the mere accident of her name, was more likely than Lurline to have added a word with a puzzling etymology to the languages of Europe. The word will, I think, be found of Eastern origin, clothed in a Teutonic form.
After all, Jacob Grimm and Cancianus may interest your readers, and so I send the Note.
S.H.
Athen?um, Sept. 6. 1850
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MINOR NOTES.
_Alderman Beckford._--Gifford (_Ben Jonson_, vol.