Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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English Fairy Tales

XXXV. The Fish And The Ring

Source.—Henderson, l.c., p. 326, from a communication by the Rev. S. Baring − Gould.

Parallels.—“Jonah rings” have been put together by Mr. Clouston in his Popular Tales, i. 398, &c.: the most famous are those of Polycrates, of Solomon, and the Sanskrit drama of “Sakuntala,” the plot of which turns upon such a ring. “Letters to kill bearer” have been traced from Homer downwards by Prof. Kohler on Gonzenbach, ii. 220, and “the substituted letter” by the same authority in Occ. u. Or., ii. 289. Mr. Baring−Gould, who was one of the pioneers of the study of folk−tales in this country, has given a large number of instances of “the pre−ordained marriage” in folk−tales in Henderson, l.c.