Strange Survivals: Some Chapters in the History of Man

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Strange Survivals: Some Chapters in the History of Man by Sabine Baring-Gould, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sabine Baring-Gould ISBN: 9781465608314
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Sabine Baring-Gould
ISBN: 9781465608314
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
All over the north of Europe the greatest aversion is felt to be the first to enter a new building, or to go over a newly erected bridge. If to do this is not everywhere and in all cases thought to entail death, it is considered supremely unlucky. Several German legends are connected with this superstition. The reader, if he has been to Aix-la-Chapelle, has doubtless had the rift in the great door pointed out to him, and has been told how it came there. The devil and the architect made a compact that the first should draw the plans, and the second gain the Kudos; and the devil’s wage was to be that he should receive the first who crossed the threshold of the church when completed. When the building was finished, the architect’s conscience smote him, and he confessed the compact to the bishop. “We’ll do him,” said the prelate; that is to say, he said something to this effect in terms more appropriate to the century in which he lived, and to his high ecclesiastical office. When the procession formed to enter the minster for the consecration, the devil lurked in ambush behind a pillar, and fixed his wicked eye on a fine fat and succulent little chorister as his destined prey. But alas for his hopes! this fat little boy had been given his instructions, and, as he neared the great door, loosed the chain of a wolf and sent it through. The evil one uttered a howl of rage, snatched up the wolf and rushed away, giving the door a kick, as he passed it, that split the solid oak. The castle of Gleichberg, near Rönskild, was erected by the devil in one night. The Baron of Gleichberg was threatened by his foes, and he promised to give the devil his daughter if he erected the castle before cockcrow. The nurse overheard the compact, and, just as the castle was finished, set fire to a stack of corn. The cock, seeing the light, thought morning had come, and crowed before the last stone was added to the walls. The devil in a rage carried off the old baron—and served him right—instead of the maiden. We shall see presently how this story works into our subject. At Frankfort may be seen, on the Sachsenhäuser Bridge, an iron rod with a gilt cock on the top. This is the reason: An architect undertook to build the bridge within a fixed time, but three days before that on which he had contracted to complete it, the bridge was only half finished. In his distress he invoked the devil, who undertook the job if he might receive the first who crossed the bridge. The work was done by the appointed day, and then the architect drove a cock over the bridge. The devil, who had reckoned on getting a human being, was furious; he tore the poor cock in two, and flung it with such violence at the bridge that he knocked two holes in it, which to the present day cannot be closed, for if stones are put in by day they are torn out by night. In memorial of the event, the image of the cock was set up on the bridge.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
All over the north of Europe the greatest aversion is felt to be the first to enter a new building, or to go over a newly erected bridge. If to do this is not everywhere and in all cases thought to entail death, it is considered supremely unlucky. Several German legends are connected with this superstition. The reader, if he has been to Aix-la-Chapelle, has doubtless had the rift in the great door pointed out to him, and has been told how it came there. The devil and the architect made a compact that the first should draw the plans, and the second gain the Kudos; and the devil’s wage was to be that he should receive the first who crossed the threshold of the church when completed. When the building was finished, the architect’s conscience smote him, and he confessed the compact to the bishop. “We’ll do him,” said the prelate; that is to say, he said something to this effect in terms more appropriate to the century in which he lived, and to his high ecclesiastical office. When the procession formed to enter the minster for the consecration, the devil lurked in ambush behind a pillar, and fixed his wicked eye on a fine fat and succulent little chorister as his destined prey. But alas for his hopes! this fat little boy had been given his instructions, and, as he neared the great door, loosed the chain of a wolf and sent it through. The evil one uttered a howl of rage, snatched up the wolf and rushed away, giving the door a kick, as he passed it, that split the solid oak. The castle of Gleichberg, near Rönskild, was erected by the devil in one night. The Baron of Gleichberg was threatened by his foes, and he promised to give the devil his daughter if he erected the castle before cockcrow. The nurse overheard the compact, and, just as the castle was finished, set fire to a stack of corn. The cock, seeing the light, thought morning had come, and crowed before the last stone was added to the walls. The devil in a rage carried off the old baron—and served him right—instead of the maiden. We shall see presently how this story works into our subject. At Frankfort may be seen, on the Sachsenhäuser Bridge, an iron rod with a gilt cock on the top. This is the reason: An architect undertook to build the bridge within a fixed time, but three days before that on which he had contracted to complete it, the bridge was only half finished. In his distress he invoked the devil, who undertook the job if he might receive the first who crossed the bridge. The work was done by the appointed day, and then the architect drove a cock over the bridge. The devil, who had reckoned on getting a human being, was furious; he tore the poor cock in two, and flung it with such violence at the bridge that he knocked two holes in it, which to the present day cannot be closed, for if stones are put in by day they are torn out by night. In memorial of the event, the image of the cock was set up on the bridge.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki Campaigning in North Russia 1918-1919 by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin Louis XVII by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Great Hike or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Crime of the Century; or, The Assassination of Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book From the Upanishads by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Te Pito Te Henua, or Easter Island by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Christian Science versus Pantheism and Other Messages to the Mother Church by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Papeles Del Doctor Angélico by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Conduct of Life by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Our Campaign Around Gettysburg: Being a Memorial of What Was Endured, Suffered and Accomplished by the Twenty-Third Regiment (N. Y. S. N. G.) and Other Regiments Associated With Them by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Man of Flesh and Blood, In the Face of His Constituents, and the Awakening of the Lieutenant-Governor by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book Adenoids and Diseased Tonsils: Their Effect on General Intelligence by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book History of the War in Afghanistan (Complete) by Sabine Baring-Gould
Cover of the book The Soul of Lilith (Complete) by Sabine Baring-Gould
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy