The Fairy Mythology

The contents of the work which gave such pleasure to this learned antiquary are as follows:I. IntroductionSimilarity of Arts and CustomsSimilarity of NamesOrigin of the WorkImitationCasual CoincidenceMiltonDante.II. The Thousand and One NightsBedoween Audience around a Story-tellerCleomades and ClaremondEnchanted HorsesPeter of Provence and the fair Maguelone.III. The Pleasant NightsThe Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Beautiful Green BirdThe Three Little BirdsLactantiusUlysses and Sindbad.IV. The Shâh-NâmehRoostem and SoohrâbConloch and CuchullinMacpherson's OssianIrish Antiquities.V. The PentameroneTale of the SerpentHindoo Legend.VI. Jack the Giant-killerThe Brave TailoringThor's Journey to Ut-gardAmeen of Isfahan and the GhoolThe Lion and the GoatThe Lion and the Ass.VII. Whittington and his CatDanish LegendsItalian StoriesPersian Legend.VIII. The EddaSigurd and BrynhildaVölundHelgiHolger DanskeOgier le DanoisTokoWilliam Tell.IX. PeruontoPeter the FoolEmelyan the FoolConclusion. Appendix.ORIGIN OF THE BELIEF IN FAIRIES:According to a well-known law of our nature, effects suggest causes; and another law, perhaps equally general, impels us to ascribe to the actual and efficient cause the attribute of intelligence. The mind of the deepest philosopher is thus acted upon equally with that of the peasant or the savage; the only difference lies in the nature of the intelligent cause at which they respectively stop. The one pursues the chain of cause and effect, and traces out its various links till he arrives at the great intelligent cause of all, however he may designate him; the other, when unusual phenomena excite his attention, ascribes their production to the immediate agency of some of the inferior beings recognised by his legendary creed.The action of this latter principle must forcibly strike the minds of those who disdain not to bestow a portion of their attention on the popular legends and traditions of different countries. Every extraordinary appearance is found to have its extraordinary cause assigned; a cause always connected with the history or religion, ancient or modern, of the country, and not unfrequently varying with a change of faith.