LE FEROCE CHASSEUR

Page I02. An imitation of Bûrger's Wiîd Huntsman was made by Walter Scott and published under the title of The Chace, in 1796. The tradition upon which the original is founded is as follows :

Formerly a keeper of a royal forest was so mtich given to the pleasures of the chase, that he pursued his wild sports on the Sabbath and other days consecrated to religions duties. He was cruel and profligate and was guilty of the most unheard-of oppressions upon the poor peasants who were under his vassalage. When he died the people adopted a superstition probably based upon the many weird sounds heard in the depths of the forest during the stillness of the night. They imagined they heard the cries of the huntsman's hounds, and the well-known cheer of the dead hunter. Similar superstitions prevail in France and in Scotland.

Page 104. 17. Faites grâce à mon pauvre troupeau: Spare my poor flock.

. . . He spake Of life, which ail can take, but none can give, Life which ail créatures love and strive to keep, Wonderful, dear and pleasant unto each, Even to the meanest."

— Edwin Arnold, Light of Asia.

Page 106. 14. lui tourne le visage sur le dos: i.e. his face was turned backwards. Spenser, in the Faery Queene, présents a similar gruesome spectacle :

" But very uncouth sight was to behold

How he did fashion his untoward pace;

For as he forward mov'd his footing old,

So backward still was turn'd his wrinkled face;

Unlike to men, who ever as they trnce,

Both feet and face are one way wont to lead."