[6] From the same source may be derived affinities
equally strong between the Highland Urisks, the Russian Leschies, the
Pomeranian or Wendish Berstucs, and the Panes and Panisci who presided
over the fields and forests of Arcadia. The mountains of Germany and
Scandinavia are under the governance of a set of metallurgic divinities,
who agree with the Cabiri, Hephaesti, Telchines, and Idaean Dactyli. The
Brownies and Fairies are of the same kindred as the Lares of Latium.
"The English Puck, the Scottish Bogle, the French Esprit Follet, or
Goblin, the Gobelinus of monkish Latinity, and the German Kobold, are
only varied names for the Grecian Kobalus, whose sole delight consisted
in perplexing the human race, and calling up those harmless terrors that
constantly hover round the minds of the timid." "The English and
Scottish terms, '_Puck,' 'Bogle'_, are the same as the German 'Spuk' and
the Danish 'Spogelse,' without the sibilant aspiration. These words are
general names for any kind of spirit, and correspond to the 'pouk' of
Piers Ploughman. In Danish 'spog' means a joke, trick, or prank, and
hence the character of Robin Goodfellow.
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