iv. 33-94. See above, p. 37.
[88] Had I been able to find a book, _Veridica relatio de daemonio Puck_,
referred to in the article _Diable_ in the _Dictionnaire des Sciences
Occultes_ (in Migne, tome 48, vol. i., p. 475), it might be that it would
prove of great interest. In any case this allusion (pointed out to me by
Mr. R.B. McKerrow) is an early instance of Puck used as a proper name.
[89] Abbreviated from E.K. Chambers' full analysis with references,
_Warwick Shakespeare_ edition of _M.N.D._ pp. 142-4.
[90] See II. i. 155.
[91] How far Shakespeare associated his fairy queen Titania with her
nominal parent Diana, is a question that would make matter for an elaborate
study in mythology and mysticism, and might yet lead to no result. Diana is
Luna in the heavens; Lucina (the goddess of child-birth) and the Huntress
on earth; and Hecate in the underworld, goddess of enchantments and
nocturnal incantations, often also identified with Proserpina. Titania is a
votaress of the moon; we have seen that fairies are intimately concerned
with mortal babies, and that there is a fairy-hunt (see the quotation from
James I's _Demonology_, p. 37 above); and we have also noted the confusion
of Proserpina with the fairy-queen.--The _Tuatha De Danann_ are said to be
"the folk of _Danu_"--who is Danu? Hecate was called Trivia, on account of
the above tripartition of Diana; her statues were set up where three roads
met, and the fairy-queen in _Thomas the Rhymer_ points out to him the three
roads that lead to heaven, hell, and elf-land.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74