Versions of this edifying speleological myth appear in various Christian writings and also in the Qur'an. Described in the work of a French bishop and historian, the story later shows up in a poem by one of the great Metaphysicals and, even later, in a real snorer of a tale by a major figure of 19th-century American literature who was, perhaps, partly inspired by it. What is it, and why am I posting this question today?

Baloo55th

Diedrich Knickerbocker would be the author, and the Seven Sleepers come into things too. But I can't find why today. Jul 27 06, 5:54 PM

peasypod

I was thinking of Gregory of Tours too...but I'm still getting to the 'today' bit, even though I'm on your 'tomorrow' already... Jul 27 06, 6:06 PM

peasypod

Aha! "A feast day was formerly observed for the Seven Sleepers as the feast of Saints "Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, Dionysius, Joannes, Serapion, and Constantinus" on July 27." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers Jul 27 06, 6:08 PM

lanfranco

O.K., the silver mace must be divided equally between Baloo and peasy. (I do realize, peasy, that the date problem complicates things, so you get special credit.) Yes, it is the story of the Seven Sleepers, mentioned in Gregory of Tours, Jacobus de Voragine, John Donne's "The Good Morrow" (about which we had another question just recently), and Washington Irving's "Rip van Winkle" -- Irving being the real name of "Dietrich Knickerbocker" !!! Jul 27 06, 7:10 PM

peasypod

Why thankyou, m'dear, Baloo can keep it on show in the Dandy, I'll admire it from afar. ;) Jul 27 06, 7:23 PM

Baloo55th

Is that mace as in spice, or thing to hit people with, or nasty stuff to spray? And listed like that, the Sleepers sound like a firm of dodgy lawyers from the Roman Empire... Jul 28 06, 4:48 AM

lanfranco

That's the thing you can use to bludgeon people, Baloo, but what I have in mind is a nice, ornamental, ceremonial mace, such as you'll see on the site below. (Of course, I suppose you could still do some damage with one of these suckers, should the need arise.) And you're right: they do sound like a firm of shysters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace Jul 28 06, 3:57 PM