The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume 17, No. 482, March 26, 1831 by Various
page 18 of 58 (31%)
page 18 of 58 (31%)
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that he might extend his power so much longer. Those (he adds) who are
much addicted to superstition, will neither borrow nor lend on any of these days. If one should propose to borrow of them they would consider it as an evidence that the person wished to employ the article borrowed, for the purposes of witchcraft against the lenders. Some of the vulgar imagine that these days received their designation from the conduct of the Israelites, in borrowing the property of the Egyptians. This extravagant idea must have originated partly from the name, and partly from the circumstance of these days nearly corresponding to the time when the Israelites left Egypt, which was on the fourteenth day of the month Mib or Nisan, including part of our March and April. I know not whether our Western Magi suppose that the inclemency of the borrowing days had any reference to the storm which proved so fatal to the Egyptians." J.R. * * * * * THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF _NEW WORKS._ * * * * * MARINO FALIERO. (_Continued from page_ 206.) |
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