Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS. 279
when it went without any trouble, at which the peasant
was so pleased, that taking the soldiers by the arm, he
returned with them to the alehouse.
After he had ordered
some beer, he inquired of the maid where her mistress
was. " Ah,^^ said she, " my mistress is in bed at the point
of death.-" "Haha,^^ said the peasant, laughing, "dost
thou think I am not sober ? Why I saw her not a quarter
of an hour ago, and she was then quite lively and well,
and gave me a precious scolding." " It is so, nevertheless,"
answered the maid, " you may see her yom'self, if
you like."
Thereupon the peasant and the three soldiers went into
the room where the woman was lying and piteously moaning
with pain ; for she had many wounds precisely corresponding
to those that had been inflicted on the toad.
The peasant asked the maid how it had all happened, but
she answered she knew not, as her mistress had not been
out of the house.
The peasant then hastened to
the magistrate, to whom
he related the affair, whence it appeared evident that the
toad was no other than the hostess, who had assumed the
form of that reptile, for the purpose of preventing the man
from returning home.
WITCHERY EXPELLED.
Sorceresses melt lead and pour it into cold water, where
it immediately assumes a human form. They then ask
the person bewitched, into what part of his
or her body,
who has caused the evil, they wish it to be sent. When
the patient has told them this, they make a cut or prick
with a knife in that part of the leaden image,
at the same
time saying where the party is that has inflicted the evil,
but without mentioning their name. The perpetrator then
gets the evil ^
1 See vol. ii. p. 47.