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204 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
their luytliic character does not mimediately appear. But luckily
alongside of the literary })resentnient of them and l)efore it, there
runs the continuous stream of popular tradition, which keeps tht^
mythic features, if not in their pristine purity, yet in such a stati'
of preservation that they can be compared with the similar myths
of kindred nations, and thus to some extent rehabilitated. This
comparison of the Gaelic mythic cycles with those of other Indo-
European nations shows in a startling degree how little of the
Fionn Cycle, for instance, can be historical fact.
The incidents in the lives of the mythic and fairy heroes oi"
the Aryan nations have been analysed and reduced to a tabulated
formula. Von Hahn examined 14 Aryan stories— 7 Greek, 1
Roman, 2 Teutonic, 2 Persian, and 2 Hindoo- -and from these
constructed a formula, called the "Expulsion and Return" formula,
under 16 heads. And INIr Alfred Nutt examined the Celtic tales
and brought them under the range of Von Hahn's headings, adding,
however, at heading 9, two more of his own. Mr Nutt's table
is as follows :
—
I. Hero, born out of wedlock, or posthumously or super-
naturally.
II. Mother, princess residing in her own country. [Cf.
beena marriage.]
III. Father, god or hero from afar.
IV. Tokens and warnings of hero's future greatness.
V. He is in consequence driven forth from home.
VI. Is suckled by wild beasts.
VII. Is brought up by a childless (shepherd) couple, or by
a widow.
VIII. Is of passionate and violent disposition.
IX. Seeks service in foreign lands.
IX. A He attacks and slays monsters.
IX. B He acquires supernatural knowledge through eating
a magic fish.
X. He returns to his own country, retreats, and again
returns.
XI. Overcomes his enemies, frees his mother, and seats
himself on the throne.
XII. He founds cities.
XIII. The n)anner of his death is extraordinary.
XIV. He is accused of incest ; he dies young.
XV. He injures an inferior, who takes revenge upon him
or upon his children.
XVI. He slays his younger brother.