PREFACE。
INpublishingthissomewhatramblingandunsystematicseriesofpapers，inwhichIhaveendeavouredtotouchbrieflyuponagreatmanyofthemostimportantpointsinthestudyofmythology，Ithinkitrighttoobservethat，inordertoavoidconfusingthereaderwithintricatediscussions，Ihavesometimescutthemattershort，expressingmyselfwithdogmaticdefinitenesswhereascepticalvaguenessmightperhapshaveseemedmorebecoming。Intreatingofpopularlegendsandsuperstitions，thepathsofinquiryarecircuitousenough，andseldomcanwereachasatisfactoryconclusionuntilwehavetravelledallthewayaroundRobinHood\'sbarnandbackagain。Iamsurethatthereaderwouldnothavethankedmeforobstructingthesecrookedlaneswiththethornsandbramblesofphilologicalandantiquariandiscussion，tosuchanextentasperhapstomakehimdespairofeverreachingthehighroad。Ihavenotattemptedtoreview，otherwisethanincidentally，theworksofGrimm，Muller，Kuhn，Breal，Dasent，andTylor；norcanIpretendtohaveaddedanythingofconsequence，savenowandthensomebitofexplanatorycomment，totheresultsobtainedbythelabourofthesescholars；butithasratherbeenmyaimtopresenttheseresultsinsuchawayastoawakengeneralinterestinthem。
Andaccordingly，indealingwithasubjectwhichdependsuponphilologyalmostasmuchasastronomydependsuponmathematics，Ihaveomittedphilologicalconsiderationswhereverithasbeenpossibletodoso。Nevertheless，I
believethatnothinghasbeenadvancedasestablishedwhichisnotnowgenerallyadmittedbyscholars，andthatnothinghasbeenadvancedasprobableforwhichdueevidencecannotbeproduced。Yetamongmanypointswhichareproved，andmanyotherswhichareprobable，theremustalwaysremainmanyotherfactsofwhichwecannotfeelsurethatourownexplanationisthetrueone；andthestudentwhoendeavourstofathomtheprimitivethoughtsofmankind，asenshrinedinmythology，willdowelltobearinmindthemodestwordsofJacobGrimm，——
himselfthegreatestscholarandthinkerwhohaseverdealtwiththisclassofsubjects，——“IshallindeedinterpretallthatIcan，butIcannotinterpretallthatIshouldlike。“
PETERSHAM，September6，1872。
FEWmediaevalheroesaresowidelyknownasWilliamTell。Hisexploitshavebeencelebratedbyoneofthegreatestpoetsandoneofthemostpopularmusiciansofmoderntimes。TheyaredoubtlessfamiliartomanywhohaveneverheardofStauffacherorWinkelried，whoarequiteignorantoftheprowessofRoland，andtowhomArthurandLancelot，nay，evenCharlemagne，arebutemptynames。
Nevertheless，inspiteofhisvastreputation，itisverylikelythatnosuchpersonasWilliamTelleverexisted，anditiscertainthatthestoryofhisshootingtheapplefromhisson\'sheadhasnohistoricalvaluewhatever。InspiteofthewrathofunlearnedbutpatrioticSwiss，especiallyofthoseoftheciceroneclass，thisconclusionisforceduponusassoonaswebegintostudythelegendinaccordancewiththecanonsofmodernhistoricalcriticism。ItisuselesstopointtoTell\'slime-tree，standingto-dayinthecentreofthemarket-placeatAltdorf，ortoquoteforourconfusionhiscrossbowpreservedinthearsenalatZurich，asunimpeachablewitnessestothetruthofthestory。Itisinvainthatwearetold，“Thebricksarealivetothisdaytotestifytoit；
therefore，denyitnot。“TheseproofsarenotmorevalidthanthehandkerchiefofSt。Veronica，orthefragmentsofthetruecross。Forifrelicsaretobereceivedasevidence，wemustneedsadmitthetruthofeverymiraclenarratedbytheBollandists。
TheearliestworkwhichmakesanyallusiontotheadventuresofWilliamTellisthechronicleoftheyoungerMelchiorRuss，writtenin1482。Astheshootingoftheapplewassupposedtohavetakenplacein1296，thisleavesanintervalofonehundredandeighty-sixyears，duringwhichneitheraTell，noraWilliam，northeapple，northecrueltyofGessler，receivedanymention。Itmayalsobeobserved，parenthetically，thatthechartersofKussenach，whenexamined，showthatnomanbythenameofGesslereverruledthere。Thechroniclersofthefifteenthcentury，FaberandHammerlin，whominutelydescribethetyrannicalactsbywhichtheDukeofAustriagoadedtheSwisstorebellion，donotoncementionTell\'sname，orbetraytheslightestacquaintancewithhisexploitsorwithhisexistence。IntheZurichchronicleof1479heisnotalludedto。Butwehavestillbetternegativeevidence。JohnofWinterthur，oneofthebestchroniclersoftheMiddleAges，waslivingatthetimeofthebattleofMorgarten(1315)，atwhichhisfatherwaspresent。Hetellsushow，ontheeveningofthatdreadfulday，hesawDukeLeopoldhimselfinhisflightfromthefatalfield，halfdeadwithfear。Hedescribes，withthelovingminutenessofacontemporary，alltheincidentsoftheSwissrevolution，butnowheredoeshesayawordaboutWilliamTell。Thisissufficientlyconclusive。
Thesemediaevalchroniclers，whoneverfailedtogooutoftheirwayafterabitoftheepigrammaticandmarvellous，whothoughtfarmoreofapointedstorythanofhistoricalcredibility，wouldneverhavekeptsilentabouttheadventuresofTell，iftheyhadknownanythingaboutthem。
Afterthis，itisnotsurprisingtofindthatnotwoauthorswhodescribethedeedsofWilliamTellagreeinthedetailsoftopographyandchronology。Suchdiscrepanciesneverfailtoconfrontuswhenweleavethesolidgroundofhistoryandbegintodealwithfloatinglegends。Yet，ifthestorybenothistorical，whatcouldhavebeenitsorigin？Toanswerthisquestionwemustconsiderablyexpandthediscussion。
ThefirstauthorofanycelebritywhodoubtedthestoryofWilliamTellwasGuillimann，inhisworkonSwissAntiquities，publishedin1598。Hecallsthestoryapurefable，but，nevertheless，eatinghiswords，concludesbyproclaiminghisbeliefinit，becausethetaleissopopular！Undoubtedlyheactedawisepart；for，in1760，aswearetold，UrielFreudenbergerwascondemnedbythecantonofUritobeburntalive，forpublishinghisopinionthatthelegendofTellhadaDanishorigin。[1]
[1]SeeDelepierre，HistoricalDifficulties，p。75。
Theboldhereticwassubstantiallyright，however，likesomanyotherheretics，earlierandlater。TheDanishaccountofTellisgivenasfollows，bySaxoGrammaticus:——
“AcertainPalnatoki，forsometimeamongKingHarold\'sbody-guard，hadmadehisbraveryodioustoverymanyofhisfellow-soldiersbythezealwithwhichhesurpassedtheminthedischargeofhisduty。Thismanonce，whentalkingtipsilyoverhiscups，hadboastedthathewassoskilledanarcherthathecouldhitthesmallestappleplacedalongwayoffonawandatthefirstshot；whichtalk，caughtupatfirstbytheearsofbackbiters，sooncametothehearingoftheking。
Now，markhowthewickednessofthekingturnedtheconfidenceofthesiretotheperiloftheson，bycommandingthatthisdearestpledgeofhislifeshouldbeplacedinsteadofthewand，withathreatthat，unlesstheauthorofthispromisecouldstrikeofftheappleatthefirstflightofthearrow，heshouldpaythepenaltyofhisemptyboastingbythelossofhishead。Theking\'scommandforcedthesoldiertoperformmorethanhehadpromised，andwhathehadsaid，reported，bythetonguesofslanderers，boundhimtoaccomplishwhathehadNOTsaid。Yetdidnothissterlingcourage，thoughcaughtinthesnareofslander，sufferhimtolayasidehisfirmnessofheart；nay，heacceptedthetrialthemorereadilybecauseitwashard。SoPalnatokiwarnedtheboyurgentlywhenhetookhisstandtoawaitthecomingofthehurtlingarrowwithcalmearsandunbenthead，lest，byaslightturnofhisbody，heshoulddefeatthepractisedskillofthebowman；and，takingfurthercounseltopreventhisfear，heturnedawayhisface，lestheshouldbescaredatthesightoftheweapon。Then，takingthreearrowsfromthequiver，hestruckthemarkgivenhimwiththefirsthefittedtothestring……ButPalnatoki，whenaskedbythekingwhyhehadtakenmorearrowsfromthequiver，whenithadbeensettledthatheshouldonlytrythefortuneofthebowONCE，madeanswer，\'ThatImightavengeontheetheswervingofthefirstbythepointsoftherest，lestperchancemyinnocencemighthavebeenpunished，whileyourviolenceescapedscot-free。\'“[2]
[2]SaxoGrammaticus，Bk。X。p。166，ed。Frankf。1576。
ThisruthlesskingisnoneotherthanthefamousHaroldBlue-tooth，andtheoccurrenceisplacedbySaxointheyear950。ButthestoryappearsnotonlyinDenmark，butinFingland，inNorway，inFinlandandRussia，andinPersia，andthereissomereasonforsupposingthatitwasknowninIndia。
InNorwaywehavetheadventuresofPansatheSplay-footed，andofHemingr，avassalofHaroldHardrada，whoinvadedEnglandin1066。InIcelandthereisthekindredlegendofEgilbrotherofWaylandSmith，theNorseVulcan。InEnglandthereistheballadofWilliamofCloudeslee，whichsuppliedScottwithmanydetailsofthearcheryscenein“Ivanhoe。“
Here，saysthedauntlessbowman，“Ihaveasonnesevenyearsold；
Heeistomefulldeere；
Iwilltyehimtoastake——
Allshallseehimthatbeehere——
Andlayanappleuponhishead，Andgoesixpaceshimfroe，AndImyselfwithabroadarroweShallcleavetheappleintowe。“
IntheMalleusMaleficarumasimilarstoryistoldPuncher，afamousmagicianontheUpperRhine。ThegreatethnologistCastrendugupthesamelegendinFinland。Itiscommon，asDr。Dasentobserves，totheTurksandMongolians；“andalegendofthewildSamoyeds，whoneverheardofTellorsawabookintheirlivesrelatesit，chapterandverse，ofoneoftheirmarksmen。“Finally，inthePersianpoemofFarid-UddinAttar，bornin1119，wereadastoryofaprincewhoshootsanapplefromtheheadofabelovedpage。Inallthesestories，namesandmotivesofcoursediffer；butallcontainthesameessentialincidents。Itisalwaysanunerringarcherwho，atthecapriciouscommandofatyrant，shootsfromtheheadofsomeonedeartohimasmallobject，beitanapple，anut，orapieceofcoin。Thearcheralwaysprovideshimselfwithasecondarrow，and，whenquestionedastotheuseheintendedtomakeofhisextraweapon，theinvariablereplyis，“Tokillthee，tyrant，hadIslainmyson。“Now，whenamarvellousoccurrenceissaidtohavehappenedeverywhere，wemayfeelsurethatitneverhappenedanywhere。Popularfanciespropagatethemselvesindefinitely，buthistoricalevents，especiallythestrikinganddramaticones，arerarelyrepeated。ThefactsherecollectedleadinevitablytotheconclusionthattheTellmythwasknown，initsgeneralfeatures，toourAryanancestors，beforeevertheylefttheirprimitivedwelling-placeinCentralAsia。
Itmay，indeed，beurgedthatsomeoneofthesewonderfulmarksmenmayreallyhaveexistedandhaveperformedthefeatrecordedinthelegend；andthathistruestory，carriedaboutbyhearsaytraditionfromonecountrytoanotherandfromagetoage，mayhaveformedthethemeforallthevariationsabovementioned，justasthefablesofLaFontainewerepatternedafterthoseofAEsopandPhaedrus，andjustasmanyofChaucer\'staleswereconsciouslyadoptedfromBoccaccio。Nodoubttherehasbeenagooddealofborrowingandlendingamongthelegendsofdifferentpeoples，aswellasamongthewordsofdifferentlanguages；andpossiblyevensomepicturesquefragmentofearlyhistorymayhavenowandthenbeencarriedabouttheworldinthismanner。ButasthephilologistcanwithalmostunerringcertaintydistinguishbetweenthenativeandtheimportedwordsinanyAryanlanguage，byexaminingtheirphoneticpeculiarities，sothestudentofpopulartraditions，thoughworkingwithfarlessperfectinstruments，cansafelyassert，withreferencetoavastnumberoflegends，thattheycannothavebeenobtainedbyanyprocessofconsciousborrowing。ThedifficultiesinseparablefromanysuchhypothesiswillbecomemoreandmoreapparentasweproceedtoexamineafewotherstoriescurrentindifferentportionsoftheAryandomain。
AstheSwissmustgiveuphisTell，somusttheWelshmanbedeprivedofhisbravedogGellert，overwhosecruelfateI
confesstohavingshedmoretearsthanIshouldregardaswellbestoweduponthemisfortunesofmanyahumanheroofromance。
EveryoneknowshowthedearoldbrutekilledthewolfwhichhadcometodevourLlewellyn\'schild，andhowtheprince，returninghomeandfindingthecradleupsetandthedog\'smouthdrippingblood，hastilyslewhisbenefactor，beforethecryofthechildfrombehindthecradleandthesightofthewolf\'sbodyhadrectifiedhiserror。TothisdaythevisitortoSnowdonistoldthetouchingstory，andshowntheplace，calledBeth-Gellert，[3]wherethedog\'sgraveisstilltobeseen。Nevertheless，thestoryoccursinthefiresideloreofnearlyeveryAryanpeople。UndertheGellert-formitstartedinthePanchatantra，acollectionofSanskritfables；andithasevenbeendiscoveredinaChineseworkwhichdatesfromA。
D。668。Usuallytheheroisadog，butsometimesafalcon，anichneumon，aninsect，orevenaman。InEgyptittakesthefollowingcomicalshape:“AWalioncesmashedapotfullofherbswhichacookhadprepared。Theexasperatedcookthrashedthewell-intentionedbutunfortunateWaliwithinaninchofhislife，andwhenhereturned，exhaustedwithhiseffortsatbelabouringtheman，toexaminethebrokenpot，hediscoveredamongsttheherbsapoisonoussnake。“[4]NowthisstoryoftheWaliisasmanifestlyidenticalwiththelegendofGellertastheEnglishwordFATHERiswiththeLatinpater；butasnoonewouldmaintainthatthewordfatherisinanysensederivedfrompater，soitwouldbeimpossibletorepresenteithertheWelshortheEgyptianlegendasacopyoftheother。Obviouslytheconclusionisforceduponusthatthestories，likethewords，arerelatedcollaterally，havingdescendedfromacommonancestrallegend，orhavingbeensuggestedbyoneandthesameprimevalidea。
[3]AccordingtoMr。IsaacTaylor，thenameisreallyderivedfrom“St。Celert，aWelshsaintofthefifthcentury，towhomthechurchofLlangellerisconsecrated。“(WordsandPlaces，p。339。)
[4]CompareKrilof\'sstoryoftheGnatandtheShepherd，inMr。Ralston\'sexcellentversion，KrilofandhisFables，p。
170。ManyparallelexamplesarecitedbyMr。Baring-Gould，CuriousMyths，Vol。I。pp。126-136。SeealsothestoryofFolliculus，——Swan，GestaRomanorum，ad。Wright，Vol。I。p。
lxxxiiCloselyconnectedwiththeGellertmytharethestoriesofFaithfulJohnandofRamaandLuxman。IntheGermanstory，FaithfulJohnaccompaniestheprince，hismaster，onajourneyinquestofabeautifulmaiden，whomhewishestomakehisbride。Astheyarecarryingherhomeacrosstheseas，FaithfulJohnhearssomecrows，whoselanguageheunderstands，foretellingthreedangersimpendingovertheprince，fromwhichhisfriendcansavehimonlybysacrificinghisownlife。Assoonastheyland，ahorsewillspringtowardtheking，which，ifhemountsit，willbearhimawayfromhisbrideforever；butwhoevershootsthehorse，andtellsthekingthereason，willbeturnedintostonefromtoetoknee。
Then，beforetheweddingabridalgarmentwillliebeforetheking，which，ifheputsiton，willburnhimliketheNessos-shirtofHerakles；butwhoeverthrowstheshirtintothefireandtellsthekingthereason，willbeturnedintostonefromkneetoheart。Finally，duringthewedding-festivities，thequeenwillsuddenlyfallinaswoon，and“unlesssomeonetakesthreedropsofbloodfromherrightbreastshewilldie“；butwhoeverdoesso，andtellsthekingthereason，willbeturnedintostonefromheadtofoot。Thusforewarned，FaithfulJohnsaveshismasterfromallthesedangers；butthekingmisinterpretshismotiveinbleedinghiswife，andordershimtobehanged。Onthescaffoldhetellshisstory，andwhilethekinghumbleshimselfinanagonyofremorse，hisnoblefriendisturnedintostone。
IntheSouthIndiantaleLuxmanaccompaniesRama，whoiscarryinghomehisbride。Luxmanoverhearstwoowlstalkingabouttheperilsthatawaithismasterandmistress。Firsthesavesthemfrombeingcrushedbythefallinglimbofabanyan-tree，andthenhedragsthemawayfromanarchwhichimmediatelyaftergivesway。Byandby，astheyrestunderatree，thekingfallsasleep。Acobracreepsuptothequeen，andLuxmankillsitwithhissword；but，astheowlshadforetold，adropofthecobra\'sbloodfallsonthequeen\'sforehead。AsLuxmanlicksofftheblood，thekingstartsup，and，thinkingthathisvizieriskissinghiswife，upbraidshimwithhisingratitude，whereuponLuxman，throughgriefatthisunkindinterpretationofhisconduct，isturnedintostone。[5]
[5]SeeCox，MythologyoftheAryanNations，Vol。I。pp。
145-149。
ForfurtherillustrationwemayrefertotheNorsetaleofthe“GiantwhohadnoHeartinhisBody，“asrelatedbyDr。
Dasent。Thisburlymagicianhavingturnedsixbrotherswiththeirwivesintostone，theseventhbrother——thecraftyBootsormany-wittedOdysseusofEuropeanfolk-lore——setsouttoobtainvengeanceifnotreparationfortheevildonetohiskithandkin。Onthewayheshowsthekindnessofhisnaturebyrescuingfromdestructionaraven，asalmon，andawolf。
Thegratefulwolfcarrieshimonhisbacktothegiant\'scastle，wherethelovelyprincesswhomthemonsterkeepsinirksomebondagepromisestoact，inbehalfofBoots，thepartofDelilah，andtofindout，ifpossible，whereherlordkeepshisheart。Thegiant，liketheJewishhero，finallysuccumbstofeminineblandishments。“Far，farawayinalakeliesanisland；onthatislandstandsachurch；inthatchurchisawell；inthatwellswimsaduck；inthatduckthereisanegg；
andinthateggthereliesmyheart，youdarling。“Boots，thusinstructed，ridesonthewolf\'sbacktotheisland；theravenfliestothetopofthesteepleandgetsthechurch-keys；thesalmondivestothebottomofthewell，andbringsuptheeggfromtheplacewheretheduckhaddroppedit；andsoBootsbecomesmasterofthesituation。Ashesqueezestheegg，thegiant，inmortalterror，begsandpraysforhislife，whichBootspromisestospareonconditionthathisbrothersandtheirbridesshouldbereleasedfromtheirenchantment。Butwhenallhasbeendulyeffected，thetreacherousyouthsqueezestheeggintwo，andthegiantinstantlybursts。
ThesamestoryhaslatelybeenfoundinSouthernIndia，andispublishedinMissFrere\'sremarkablecollectionoftalesentitled“OldDeccanDays。“IntheHinduversionthesevendaughtersofarajah，withtheirhusbands，aretransformedintostonebythegreatmagicianPunchkin，——allsavetheyoungestdaughter，whomPunchkinkeepsshutupinatoweruntilbythreatsorcoaxinghemayprevailuponhertomarryhim。Butthecaptiveprincessleavesasonathomeinthecradle，whogrowsuptomanhoodunmolested，andfinallyundertakestherescueofhisfamily。AfterlongandwearywanderingshefindshismothershutupinPunchkin\'stower，andpersuadeshertoplaythepartoftheprincessintheNorselegend。Thetrickisequallysuccessful。“Hundredsofthousandsofmilesawaythereliesadesolatecountrycoveredwiththickjungle。Inthemidstofthejunglegrowsacircleofpalm-trees，andinthecentreofthecirclestandsixjarsfullofwater，piledoneaboveanother；belowthesixthjarisasmallcagewhichcontainsalittlegreenparrot；onthelifeoftheparrotdependsmylife，andiftheparrotiskilledI
mustdie。“[6]Theyoungprincefindstheplaceguardedbyahostofdragons，butsomeeagletswhomhehassavedfromadevouringserpentinthecourseofhisjourneytakehimontheircrossedwingsandcarryhimtotheplacewherethejarsarestanding。Heinstantlyoverturnsthejars，andseizingtheparrot，obtainsfromtheterrifiedmagicianfullreparation。
Assoonashisownfriendsandastatelyprocessionofotherroyalornoblevictimshavebeensetatliberty，heproceedstopulltheparrottopieces。Asthewingsandlegscomeaway，sotumbleoffthearmsandlegsofthemagician；andfinallyastheprincewringsthebird\'sneck，Punchkintwistshisownheadroundanddies。
[6]ThesameincidentoccursintheArabianstoryofSeyf-el-MulookandBedeea-el-Jemal，wheretheJinni\'ssoulisenclosedinthecropofasparrow，andthesparrowimprisonedinasmallbox，andthisenclosedinanothersmallbox，andthisagaininsevenotherboxes，whichareputintosevenchests，containedinacofferofmarble，whichissunkintheoceanthatsurroundstheworld。Seyf-el-MulookraisesthecofferbytheaidofSuleyman\'sseal-ring，andhavingextricatedthesparrow，stranglesit，whereupontheJinni\'sbodyisconvertedintoaheapofblackashes，andSeyf-el-MulookescapeswiththemaidenDolet-Khatoon。SeeLane\'sArabianNights，Vol。III。p。316。
ThestoryisalsotoldinthehighlandsofScotland，andsomeportionsofitwillberecognizedbythereaderasincidentsintheArabiantaleofthePrincessParizade。Theunionofclosecorrespondenceinconceptionwithmanifestindependenceinthemanagementofthedetailsofthesestoriesisstrikingenough，butitisaphenomenonwithwhichwebecomequitefamiliarasweproceedinthestudyofAryanpopularliterature。ThelegendoftheMasterThiefisnolessremarkablethanthatofPunchkin。IntheScandinaviantaletheThief，wishingtogetpossessionofafarmer\'sox，carefullyhangshimselftoatreebytheroadside。Thefarmer，passingbywithhisox，isindeedstruckbythesightofthedanglingbody，butthinksitnoneofhisbusiness，anddoesnotstoptointerfere。NosoonerhashepassedthantheThiefletshimselfdown，andrunningswiftlyalongaby-path，hangshimselfwithequalprecautiontoasecondtree。Thistimethefarmerisastonishedandpuzzled；butwhenforthethirdtimehemeetsthesameunwontedspectacle，thinkingthatthreesuicidesinonemorningaretoomuchforeasycredence，heleaveshisoxandrunsbacktoseewhethertheothertwobodiesarereallywherehethoughthesawthem。Whileheisframinghypothesesofwitchcraftbywhichtoexplainthephenomenon，theThiefgetsawaywiththeox。IntheHitopadesathestoryreceivesafinerpoint。“ABrahman，whohadvowedasacrifice，wenttothemarkettobuyagoat。Threethievessawhim，andwantedtogetholdofthegoat。Theystationedthemselvesatintervalsonthehighroad。WhentheBrahman，whocarriedthegoatonhisback，approachedthefirstthief，thethiefsaid，\'Brahman，whydoyoucarryadogonyourback？\'TheBrahmanreplied，\'Itisnotadog，itisagoat。\'Alittlewhileafterhewasaccostedbythesecondthief，whosaid，\'Brahman，whydoyoucarryadogonyourback？\'TheBrahmanfeltperplexed，putthegoatdown，examinedit，tookitupagain，andwalkedon。Soonafterhewasstoppedbythethirdthief，whosaid，\'Brahman，whydoyoucarryadogonyourback？\'ThentheBrahmanwasfrightened，threwdownthegoat，andwalkedhometoperformhisablutionsforhavingtouchedanuncleananimal。
Thethievestookthegoatandateit。“TheadroitnessoftheNorseKingin“TheThreePrincessesofWhiteland“showsbutpoorlyincomparisonwiththekeenpsychologicalinsightandcynicalsarcasmoftheseHindusharpers。Inthecourseofhistravelsthisprincemetthreebrothersfightingonalonelymoor。Theyhadbeenfightingforahundredyearsaboutthepossessionofahat，acloak，andapairofboots，whichwouldmakethewearerinvisible，andconveyhiminstantlywhithersoeverhemightwishtogo。TheKingconsentstoactasumpire，providedhemayoncetrythevirtueofthemagicgarments；butonceclothedinthem，ofcoursehedisappears，leavingthecombatantstositdownandsucktheirthumbs。Nowinthe“SeaofStreamsofStory，“writteninthetwelfthcenturybySomadevaofCashmere，theIndianKingPutraka，wanderingintheVindhyaMountains，similarlydiscomfitstwobrotherswhoarequarrellingoverapairofshoes，whicharelikethesandalsofHermes，andabowlwhichhasthesamevirtueasAladdin\'slamp。“Whydon\'tyourunaraceforthem？“
suggestsPutraka；and，asthetwoblockheadsstartfuriouslyoff，hequietlypicksupthebowl，tiesontheshoes，andfliesaway！[7]
[7]ThesameincidentisrepeatedinthestoryofHassanofEl-Basrah。SeeLane\'sArabianNights，Vol。IIIp。452。
Itisunnecessarytocitefurtherillustrations。ThetalesherequotedarefairsamplesoftheremarkablecorrespondencewhichholdsgoodthroughallthevarioussectionsofAryanfolk-lore。Thehypothesisoflateraldiffusion，aswemaycallit，manifestlyfailstoexplaincoincidenceswhicharemaintainedonsuchanimmensescale。ItisquitecrediblethatonenationmayhaveborrowedfromanotherasolitarylegendofanarcherwhoperformsthefeatsofTellandPalnatoki；butitisutterlyincrediblethattenthousandstories，constitutingtheentiremassofhouseholdmythologythroughoutadozenseparatenations，shouldhavebeenhandedfromonetoanotherinthisway。NoonewouldventuretosuggestthattheoldgranniesofIcelandandNorway，towhomweowesuchstoriesastheMasterThiefandthePrincessesofWhiteland，hadeverreadSomadevaorheardofthetreasuresofRhampsinitos。A
largeproportionofthetaleswithwhichwearedealingwereutterlyunknowntoliteratureuntiltheyweretakendownbyGrimmandFrereandCastrenandCampbell，fromthelipsofignorantpeasants，nurses，orhouse-servants，inGermanyandHindustan，inSiberiaandScotland。Yet，asMr。Coxobserves，theseoldmenandwomen，sittingbythechimney-cornerandsomewhattimidlyrecountingtotheliteraryexplorerthestorieswhichtheyhadlearnedinchildhoodfromtheirownnursesandgrandmas，“reproducethemostsubtleturnsofthoughtandexpression，andanendlessseriesofcomplicatednarratives，inwhichtheorderofincidentsandthewordsofthespeakersarepreservedwithafidelitynowhereparalleledintheoraltraditionofhistoricalevents。Itmaysafelybesaidthatnoseriesofstoriesintroducedintheformoftranslationsfromotherlanguagescouldeverthushavefiltereddownintotheloweststrataofsociety，andthencehavesprungupagain，likeAntaios，withgreaterenergyandheightenedbeauty。“Thereisindeednoalternativeforusbuttoadmitthatthesefiresidetaleshavebeenhandeddownfromparenttochildformorethanahundredgenerations；thattheprimitiveAryancottager，ashetookhiseveningmealofyavaandsippedhisfermentedmead，listenedwithhischildrentothestoriesofBootsandCinderellaandtheMasterThief，inthedayswhenthesquatLaplanderwasmasterofEuropeandthedark-skinnedSudrawasasyetunmolestedinthePunjab。OnlysuchcommunityoforigincanexplainthecommunityincharacterbetweenthestoriestoldbytheAryan\'sdescendants，fromthejunglesofCeylontothehighlandsofScotland。
ThisconclusionessentiallymodifiesourviewoftheoriginandgrowthofalegendlikethatofWilliamTell。ThecaseoftheTelllegendisradicallydifferentfromthecaseoftheblindnessofBelisariusortheburningoftheAlexandrianlibrarybyorderofOmar。Thelatterareisolatedstoriesorbeliefs；theformerisoneofafamilyofstoriesorbeliefs。
Thelatterareuntrustworthytraditionsofdoubtfulevents；
butindealingwiththeformer，wearefacetofacewithaMYTH。
What，then，isamyth？ThetheoryofEuhemeros，whichwassofashionableacenturyago，inthedaysoftheAbbeBanier，haslongsincebeensoutterlyabandonedthattorefuteitnowisbuttoslaytheslain。Thepeculiarityofthistheorywasthatitcutawayalltheextraordinaryfeaturesofagivenmyth，whereindweltitsinmostsignificance，andtothedullanduselessresiduumaccordedthedignityofprimevalhistory。Inthiswaythemythwaslostwithoutcompensation，andthestudent，inseekinggooddigestiblebread，foundbutthehardestofpebbles。Consideredmerelyasaprettystory，thelegendofthegoldenfruitwatchedbythedragoninthegardenoftheHesperidesisnotwithoutitsvalue。Butwhatmeritcantherebeinthegratuitousstatementwhich，degradingthegrandDoricherotoalevelwithanyvulgarfruit-stealer，makesHeraklesbreakaclosewithforceandarms，andcarryoffacropoforangeswhichhadbeenguardedbymastiffs？Itisstillworsewhenwecometothemorehomelyfolk-lorewithwhichthestudentofmythologynowhastodeal。ThetheoriesofBanier，whichlimpedandstumbledawkwardlyenoughwhenitwasonlyaquestionofHermesandMinosandOdin，havefallennevertoriseagainsincetheproblemsofPunchkinandCinderellaandtheBlueBelthavebeguntodemandsolution。
Theconclusionhasbeengraduallyforceduponthestudent，thatthemarvellousportionoftheseoldstoriesisnoillegitimateextres-cence，butwasratherthepithandcentreofthewhole，[8]indayswhentherewasnosupernatural，becauseithadnotyetbeendiscoveredthattherewassuchathingasnature。Thereligiousmythsofantiquityandthefiresidelegendsofancientandmoderntimeshavetheircommonrootinthementalhabitsofprimevalhumanity。Theyaretheearliestrecordedutterancesofmenconcerningthevisiblephenomenaoftheworldintowhichtheywereborn。
[8]“Retrancherlemerveilleuxd\'unmythe，c\'estlesupprimer。“——Breal，HerculeetCacus，p。50。
Thatprosaicandcoldlyrationaltemperwithwhichmodernmenarewonttoregardnaturalphenomenawasinearlytimesunknown。Wehavecometoregardalleventsastakingplaceregularly，instrictconformitytolaw:whateverourofficialtheoriesmaybe，weinstinctivelytakethisviewofthings。
Butourprimitiveancestorsknewnothingaboutlawsofnature，nothingaboutphysicalforces，nothingabouttherelationsofcauseandeffect，nothingaboutthenecessaryregularityofthings。Therewasatimeinthehistoryofmankindwhenthesethingshadneverbeeninquiredinto，andwhennogeneralizationsaboutthemhadbeenframed，tested，orestablished。Therewasnoconceptionofanorderofnature，andthereforenodistinctconceptionofasupernaturalorderofthings。Therewasnobeliefinmiraclesasinfractionsofnaturallaws，buttherewasabeliefintheoccurrenceofwonderfuleventstoomightytohavebeenbroughtaboutbyordinarymeans。Therewasanunlimitedcapacityforbelievingandfancying，becausefancyandbeliefhadnotyetbeencheckedandheadedoffinvariousdirectionsbyestablishedrulesofexperience。Physicalscienceisaverylateacquisitionofthehumanmind，butwearealreadysufficientlyimbuedwithittobealmostcompletelydisabledfromcomprehendingthethoughtsofourancestors。“HowFinncosmogonistscouldhavebelievedtheearthandheaventobemadeoutofaseveredegg，theupperconcaveshellrepresentingheaven，theyolkbeingearth，andthecrystalsurroundingfluidthecircumambientocean，istousincomprehensible；andyetitremainsafactthattheydidsoregardthem。HowtheScandinavianscouldhavesupposedthemountainstobethemoulderingbonesofamightyJotun，andtheearthtobehisfesteringflesh，wecannotconceive；yetsuchatheorywassolemnlytaughtandaccepted。HowtheancientIndianscouldregardtherain-cloudsascowswithfulluddersmilkedbythewindsofheavenisbeyondourcomprehension，andyettheirVedacontainsindisputabletestimonytothefactthattheyweresoregarded。“WehaveonlytoreadMr。Baring-Gould\'sbookof“CuriousMyths，“fromwhichIhavejustquoted，ortodipintoMr。Thorpe\'streatiseon“NorthernMythology，“torealizehowvastisthedifferencebetweenourstand-pointandthatfromwhich，inthelaterMiddleAges，ourimmediateforefathersregardedthings。Thefrightfulsuperstitionofwerewolvesisagoodinstance。Inthosedaysitwasfirmlybelievedthatmencouldbe，andwereinthehabitofbeing，transformedintowolves。Itwasbelievedthatwomenmightbringforthsnakesorpoodle-dogs。
Itwasbelievedthatifamanhadhissidepiercedinbattle，youcouldcurehimbynursingtheswordwhichinflictedthewound。“Aslateas1600aGermanwriterwouldillustrateathunder-stormdestroyingacropofcornbyapictureofadragondevouringtheproduceofthefieldwithhisflamingtongueandironteeth。“
Nowifsuchwastheconditionofthehumanintellectonlythreeorfourcenturiesago，whatmustithavebeeninthatdarkantiquitywhennoteventhecrudestgeneralizationsofGreekorofOrientalsciencehadbeenreached？Thesamemightypowerofimaginationwhichnow，restrainedandguidedbyscientificprinciples，leadsustodiscoveriesandinventions，mustthenhavewildlyrunriotinmythologicfictionswherebytoexplainthephenomenaofnature。Knowingnothingwhateverofphysicalforces，oftheblindsteadinesswithwhichagiveneffectinvariablyfollowsitscause，themenofprimevalantiquitycouldinterprettheactionsofnatureonlyaftertheanalogyoftheirownactions。Theonlyforcetheyknewwastheforceofwhichtheyweredirectlyconscious，——theforceofwill。Accordingly，theyimaginedalltheoutwardworldtobeendowedwithvolition，andtobedirectedbyit。Theypersonifiedeverything，——sky，clouds，thunder，sun，moon，ocean，earthquake，whirlwind。[9]ThecomparativelyenlightenedAtheniansoftheageofPeriklesaddressedtheskyasaperson，andprayedtoittorainupontheirgardens。[10]Andforcallingthemoonamassofdeadmatter，Anaxagorascamenearlosinghislife。Totheancientsthemoonwasnotalifelessballofstonesandclods:itwasthehornedhuntress，Artemis，coursingthroughtheupperether，orbathingherselfintheclearlake；oritwasAphrodite，protectressoflovers，bornofthesea-foamintheEastnearCyprus。Thecloudswerenobodiesofvaporizedwater:theywerecowswithswellingudders，driventothemilkingbyHermes，thesummerwind；orgreatsheepwithmoistfleeces，slainbytheunerringarrowsofBellerophon，thesun；
orswan-maidens，flittingacrossthefirmament，Valkyrieshoveringoverthebattle-fieldtoreceivethesoulsoffallingheroes；or，again，theyweremightymountainspiledoneaboveanother，inwhosecavernousrecessesthedivining-wandofthestorm-godThorrevealedhiddentreasures。Theyellow-hairedsun，Phoibos，drovewesterlyalldayinhisflamingchariot；
orperhaps，asMeleagros，retiredforawhileindisgustfromthesightofmen；weddedateventidethevioletlight(Oinone，Iole)，whichhehadforsakeninthemorning；sank，asHerakles，uponablazingfuneral-pyre，or，likeAgamemnon，perishedinablood-stainedbath；or，asthefish-god，Dagon，swamnightlythroughthesubterraneanwaters，toappeareastwardagainatdaybreak。SometimesPhaethon，hisrash，inexperiencedson，wouldtakethereinsanddrivethesolarchariottooneartheearth，causingthefruitstoperish，andthegrasstowither，andthewellstodryup。Sometimes，too，thegreatall-seeingdivinity，inhiswrathattheimpietyofmen，wouldshootdownhisscorchingarrows，causingpestilencetospreadovertheland。Stillotherconceptionsclusteredaroundthesun。Nowitwasthewonderfultreasure-house，intowhichnoonecouldlookandlive；andagainitwasIxionhimself，boundonthefierywheelinpunishmentforviolenceofferedtoHere，thequeenoftheblueair。
[9]“NodistinctionbetweentheanimateandinanimateismadeinthelanguagesoftheEskimos，theChoctaws，theMuskoghee，andtheCaddo。OnlytheIroquois，Cherokee，andtheAlgonquin-Lenapehaveit，sofarasisknown，andwiththemitispartial。“AccordingtotheFijians，“vegetablesandstones，nay，eventoolsandweapons，potsandcanoes，havesoulsthatareimmortal，andthat，likethesoulsofmen，passonatlasttoMbulu，theabodeofdepartedspirits。“——M\'Lennan，TheWorshipofAnimalsandPlants，FortnightlyReview，Vol。XII。
p，416。
[10]MarcusAurelius，V。7。
Thistheoryofancientmythologyisnotonlybeautifulandplausible，itis，initsessentialpoints，demonstrated。ItstandsonasfirmafoundationasGrimm\'slawinphilology，ortheundulatorytheoryinmolecularphysics。Itisphilologywhichhashereenabledustoreadtheprimitivethoughtsofmankind。AlargenumberofthenamesofGreekgodsandheroeshavenomeaningintheGreeklanguage；butthesenamesoccuralsoinSanskrit，withplainphysicalmeanings。IntheVedawefindZeusorJupiter(Dyaus-pitar)meaningthesky，andSarameiasorHermes，meaningthebreezeofasummermorning。
WefindAthene(Ahana)，meaningthelightofdaybreak；andwearethusenabledtounderstandwhytheGreekdescribedherassprungfromtheforeheadofZeus。TheretoowefindHelena(Sarama)，thefickletwilight，whomthePanis，ornight-demons，whoserveastheprototypesoftheHellenicParis，strivetoseducefromherallegiancetothesolarmonarch。EvenAchilleus(Aharyu)againconfrontsus，withhiscaptiveBriseis(Brisaya\'soffspring)；andthefierceKerberos(Carvara)barksonVedicgroundinstrictconformitytothelawsofphonetics。[11]Now，whentheHindutalkedaboutFatherDyaus，orthesleekkineofSiva，hethoughtofthepersonifiedskyandclouds；hehadnotoutgrowntheprimitivementalhabitsoftherace。ButtheGreek，inwhoselanguagethesephysicalmeaningswerelost，hadlongbeforetheHomericepochcometoregardZeusandHermes，Athene，Helena，Paris，andAchilleus，asmerepersons，andinmostcasestheoriginalsofhismythswerecompletelyforgotten。IntheVedastheTrojanWariscarriedoninthesky，betweenthebrightdeitiesandthedemonsofnight；buttheGreekpoet，influencedperhapsbysomedimhistoricaltradition，haslocatedthecontestontheshoreoftheHellespont，andinhismindtheactors，thoughsuperhuman，arestillcompletelyanthropomorphic。OfthetrueoriginofhisepicstoryheknewaslittleasEuhemeros，orLordBacon，ortheAbbeBanier。
[11]SomeoftheseetymologiesareattackedbyMr。MahaffyinhisProlegomenatoAncientHistory，p。49。AfterlongconsiderationIamstilldisposedtofollowMaxMullerinadoptingthem，withthepossibleexceptionofAchilleus。WithMr。Mahaffyssuggestion(p。52)thatmanyoftheHomericlegendsmayhaveclusteredaroundsomehistoricalbasis，I
fullyagree；aswillappear，furtheron，frommypaperon“JuventusMundi。“
Aftertheseillustrations，weshallrunnoriskofbeingmisunderstoodwhenwedefineamythas，initsorigin，anexplanation，bytheuncivilizedmind，ofsomenaturalphenomenon；notanallegory，notanesotericsymbol，——fortheingenuityiswastedwhichstrivestodetectinmythstheremnantsofarefinedprimevalscience，——butanexplanation。
Primitivemenhadnoprofoundsciencetoperpetuatebymeansofallegory，norweretheysuchsorrypedantsastotalkinriddleswhenplainlanguagewouldservetheirpurpose。Theirminds，wemaybesure，workedlikeourown，andwhentheyspokeofthefar-dartingsun-god，theymeantjustwhattheysaid，savethatwherewepropoundascientifictheorem，theyconstructedamyth。[12]Athingissaidtobeexplainedwhenitisclassifiedwithotherthingswithwhichwearealreadyacquainted。Thatistheonlykindofexplanationofwhichthehighestscienceiscapable。Weexplaintheorigin，progress，andendingofathunder-storm，whenweclassifythephenomenapresentedbyitalongwithothermorefamiliarphenomenaofvaporizationandcondensation。Buttheprimitivemanexplainedthesamethingtohisownsatisfactionwhenhehadclassifieditalongwiththewell-knownphenomenaofhumanvolition，byconstructingatheoryofagreatblackdragonpiercedbytheunerringarrowsofaheavenlyarcher。Weconsiderthenatureofthestarstoacertainextentexplainedwhentheyareclassifiedassuns；buttheMohammedancompilerofthe“Mishkat-ul-Ma\'sabih“wascontenttoexplainthemasmissilesusefulforstoningtheDevil！Now，assoonastheoldGreek，forgettingthesourceofhisconception，begantotalkofahumanOidipousslayingaleonineSphinx，andassoonastheMussulmanbegan，ifheeverdid，totellhischildrenhowtheDeviloncegotagoodpeltingwithgoldenbullets，thenboththeoneandtheotherweretalkingpuremythology。
[12]Lesfacultesquiengendrentlamythologiesontlesmemesquecellesquiengendrontlaphilosophie，etcen\'estpassansraisonquel\'IndeetlaGrecenouspresententlephenomenedelaplusrichemythologieacotedelaplusprofondemetaphysique。“Laconceptiondelamultiplicitedansl\'univers，c\'estlepolytheismechezlespeuplesenfants；
c\'estlasciencechezlespeuplesarrivesal\'agemur——Renan，Hist。desLanguesSemitiques，Tom。I。p。9。
Wearejustified，accordingly，indistinguishingbetweenamythandalegend。Thoughthewordsareetymologicallyparallel，andthoughinordinarydiscoursewemayusetheminterchangeably，yetwhenstrictaccuracyisrequired，itiswelltokeepthemseparate。Anditisperhapsneedless，saveforthesakeofcompleteness，tosaythatbotharetobedistinguishedfromstorieswhichhavebeendesignedlyfabricated。Thedistinctionmayoccasionallybesubtle，butisusuallybroadenough。Thus，thestorythatPhilipII。murderedhiswifeElizabeth，isamisrepresentation；butthestorythatthesameElizabethwasculpablyenamouredofherstep-sonDonCarlos，isalegend。ThestorythatQueenEleanorsavedthelifeofherhusband，EdwardI。，bysuckingawoundmadeinhisarmbyapoisonedarrow，isalegend；butthestorythatHerculeskilledagreatrobber，Cacus，whohadstolenhiscattle，concealsaphysicalmeaning，andisamyth。Whilealegendisusuallyconfinedtooneortwolocalities，andistoldofnotmorethanoneortwopersons，itischaracteristicofamyththatitisspread，inoneformoranother，overalargepartoftheearth，theleadingincidentsremainingconstant，whilethenamesandoftenthemotivesvarywitheachlocality。Thisispartlyduetotheimmenseantiquityofmyths，datingastheydofromaperiodwhenmanynations，nowwidelyseparated，hadnotyetceasedtoformonepeople。ThusmanyelementsofthemythoftheTrojanWararetobefoundintheRig-Veda；andthemythofSt。GeorgeandtheDragonisfoundinalltheAryannations。Butwemustnotalwaysinferthatmythshaveacommondescent，merelybecausetheyresembleeachother。Wemustrememberthattheproceedingsoftheuncultivatedmindaremoreorlessalikeinalllatitudes，andthatthesamephenomenonmightinvariousplacesindependentlygiverisetosimilarstories。[13]ThemythofJackandtheBeanStalkisfoundnotonlyamongpeopleofAryandescent，butalsoamongtheZulusofSouthAfrica，andagainamongtheAmericanIndians。Wheneverwecantraceastoryinthiswayfromoneendoftheworldtotheother，orthroughawholefamilyofkindrednations，weareprettysafeinassumingthatwearedealingwithatruemyth，andnotwithamerelegend。
[13]Casescomingunderthisheadarediscussedfurtheron，inmypaperon“MythsoftheBarbaricWorld。“
ApplyingtheseconsiderationstotheTellmyth，weatonceobtainavalidexplanationofitsorigin。Theconceptionofinfallibleskillinarchery，whichunderliessuchagreatvarietyofmythsandpopularfairy-tales，isoriginallyderivedfromtheinevitablevictoryofthesunoverhisenemies，thedemonsofnight，winter，andtempest。Arrowsandspearswhichnevermisstheirmark，swordsfromwhoseblownoarmourcanprotect，areinvariablytheweaponsofsolardivinitiesorheroes。TheshaftsofBellerophonneverfailtoslaytheblackdemonoftherain-cloud，andtheboltofPhoibosChrysaordealssuredestructiontotheserpentofwinter。Odysseus，warringagainsttheimpiousnight-heroes，whohaveendeavouredthroughouttenlongyearsorhoursofdarknesstoseducefromherallegiancehistwilight-bride，theweaverofthenever-finishedwebofvioletclouds，——Odysseus，strippedofhisbeggar\'sraimentandendowedwithfreshyouthandbeautybythedawn-goddess，Athene，engagesinnodoubtfulconflictasheraisesthebowwhichnonebuthimselfcanbend。
NoristherelessvirtueinthespearofAchilleus，intheswordsofPerseusandSigurd，inRoland\'sstoutbladeDurandal，orinthebrandExcalibur，withwhichSirBediverewassoloathtopart。Allthesearesolarweapons，andso，too，arethearrowsofTellandPalnatoki，EgilandHemingr，andWilliamofCloudeslee，whosesurnameproclaimshimaninhabitantofthePhaiakianland。WilliamTell，whetherofCloudlandorofAltdorf，isthelastreflectionofthebeneficentdivinityofdaytimeandsummer，constrainedforawhiletoobeythecapriceofthepowersofcoldanddarkness，asApolloservedLaomedon，andHeraklesdidthebiddingofEurystheus。Hissolarcharacteriswellpreserved，eveninthesequeloftheSwisslegend，inwhichheappearsnolessskilfulasasteersmanthanasanarcher，andinwhich，aftertraversing，likeDagon，thetempestuousseaofnight，heleapsatdaybreakinregainedfreedomupontheland，andstrikesdowntheoppressorwhohasheldhiminbondage。
Butthesun，thoughevervictoriousinopencontestwithhisenemies，isneverthelessnotinvulnerable。Attimeshesuccumbstotreachery，isboundbythefrost-giants，orslainbythedemonsofdarkness。Thepoisonedshirtofthecloud-fiendNessosisfataleventothemightyHerakles，andtheprowessofSiegfriedatlastfailstosavehimfromthecraftofHagen。InAchilleusandMeleagrosweseetheunhappysolarherodoomedtotoilfortheprofitofothers，andtobecutoffbyanuntimelydeath。ThemorefortunateOdysseus，wholivestoaripeoldage，andtriumphsagainandagainoverallthepowersofdarkness，mustneverthelessyieldtothecravingdesiretovisitnewcitiesandlookuponnewworksofstrangemen，untilatlastheisswallowedupinthewesternsea。ThattheunrivallednavigatorofthecelestialoceanshoulddisappearbeneaththewesternwavesisasintelligibleasitisthatthehornedVenusorAstarteshouldrisefromtheseainthefareast。Itisperhapslessobviousthatwintershouldbesofrequentlysymbolizedasathornorsharpinstrument。
Achilleusdiesbyanarrow-woundintheheel；thethighofAdonisispiercedbytheboar\'stusk，whileOdysseusescapeswithanuglyscar，whichafterwardssecureshisrecognitionbyhisoldservant，thedawn-nymphEurykleia；Sigurdisslainbyathorn，andBalderbyasharpsprigofmistletoe；andinthemythoftheSleepingBeauty，theearth-goddesssinksintoherlongwintersleepwhenprickedbythepointofthespindle。Inhercosmicpalace，allislockedinicyrepose，naughtthrivingsavetheivywhichdefiesthecold，untilthekissofthegolden-hairedsun-godreawakenslifeandactivity。
Thewintrysleepofnatureissymbolizedininnumerablestoriesofspell-boundmaidensandfair-featuredyouths，saints，martyrs，andheroes。Sometimesitisthesun，sometimestheearth，thatissupposedtoslumber。AmongtheAmericanIndiansthesun-godMichaboissaidtosleepthroughthewintermonths；andatthetimeofthefallingleaves，bywayofcomposinghimselfforhisnap，hefillshisgreatpipeanddivinelysmokes；theblueclouds，gentlyfloatingoverthelandscape，filltheairwiththehazeofIndiansummer。IntheGreekmyththeshepherdEndymionpreserveshisfreshnessinaperennialslumber。TheGermanSiegfried，piercedbythethornofwinter，issleepinguntilheshallbeagaincalledforthtofight。InSwitzerland，bytheVierwald-stattersee，threeTellsareawaitingthehourwhentheircountryshallagainneedtobedeliveredfromtheoppressor。CharlemagneisreposingintheUntersberg，swordinhand，waitingforthecomingofAntichrist；OlgerDanskesimilarlydreamsawayhistimeinAvallon；andinaloftymountaininThuringia，thegreatEmperorYredericBarbarossaslumberswithhisknightsaroundhim，untilthetimecomesforhimtosallyforthandraiseGermanytothefirstrankamongthekingdomsoftheworld。ThesamestoryistoldofOlafTryggvesson，ofDonSebastianofPortugal，andoftheMoorishKingBoabdil。TheSevenSleepersofEphesus，havingtakenrefugeinacavefromthepersecutionsoftheheathenDecius，sleptonehundredandsixty-fouryears，andawoketofindaChristianemperoronthethrone。ThemonkofHildesheim，inthelegendsobeautifullyrenderedbyLongfellow，doubtinghowwithGodathousandyearsagocouldbeasyesterday，listenedthreeminutesentrancedbythesingingofabirdintheforest，andfound，onwakingfromhisrevery，thatathousandyearshadflown。TothesamefamilyoflegendsbelongthenotionthatSt。JohnissleepingatEphesusuntilthelastdaysoftheworld；themythoftheenchanterMerlin，spell-boundbyVivien；thestoryoftheCretanphilosopherEpimenides，whodozedawayfifty-sevenyearsinacave；andRipVanWinkle\'snapintheCatskills。[14]
[14]AcollectionoftheseinterestinglegendsmaybefoundinBaring-Gould\'s“CuriousMythsoftheMiddleAges，“ofwhichworkthispaperwasoriginallyareview。
Wemightgoonalmostindefinitelycitinghouseholdtalesofwonderfulsleepers；but，ontheprincipleoftheassociationofopposites，wearehereremindedofsundrycasesofmarvellouslifeandwakefulness，illustratedintheWanderingJew；thedancersofKolbeck；JosephofArimathaeawiththeHolyGrail；theWildHuntsmanwhotoalleternitychasesthereddeer；theCaptainofthePhantomShip；theclassicTithonos；andtheManintheMoon。
Thelunarspotshaveaffordedarichsubjectfortheplayofhumanfancy。Plutarchwroteatreatiseonthem，butthemyth-makershadbeenbeforehim。“Everyone，“saysMr。
Baring-Gould，“knowsthatthemoonisinhabitedbyamanwithabundleofsticksonhisback，whohasbeenexiledthitherformanycenturies，andwhoissofaroffthatheisbeyondthereachofdeath。Hehasoncevisitedthisearth，ifthenurseryrhymeistobecreditedwhenitassertsthat\'TheManintheMoonCamedowntoosoonAndaskedhiswaytoNorwich\'；
butwhetherheeverreachedthatcitythesameauthoritydoesnotstate。“DantecallshimCain；Chaucerhashimputupthereasapunishmentfortheft，andgiveshimathorn-bushtocarry；Shakespearealsoloadshimwiththethorns，butbywayofcompensationgiveshimadogforacompanion。Ordinarily，however，hisoffenceisstatedtohavebeen，notstealing，butSabbath-breaking，——anideaderivedfromtheOldTestament。
LikethemanmentionedintheBookofNumbers，heiscaughtgatheringsticksontheSabbath；and，asanexampletomankind，heiscondemnedtostandforeverinthemoon，withhisbundleonhisback。Insteadofadog，oneGermanversionplaceswithhimawoman，whosecrimewaschurningbutteronSunday。Shecarriesherbutter-tub；andthisbringsustoMotherGooseagain:——
“JackandJillwentupthehillTogetapailofwater。Jackfelldownandbrokehiscrown，AndJillcametumblingafter。“
Thismayreadlikemerenonsense；butthereisapointofviewfromwhichitmaybesafelysaidthatthereisverylittleabsolutenonsenseintheworld。ThestoryofJackandJillisavenerableone。InIcelandicmythologywereadthatJackandJillweretwochildrenwhomthemoononcekidnappedandcarrieduptoheaven。Theyhadbeendrawingwaterinabucket，whichtheywerecarryingbymeansofapoleplacedacrosstheirshoulders；andinthisattitudetheyhavestoodtothepresentdayinthemoon。Evennowthisexplanationofthemoon-spotsistobeheardfromthemouthsofSwedishpeasants。
Theyfallawayoneaftertheother，asthemoonwanes，andtheirwater-pailsymbolizesthesupposedconnectionofthemoonwithrain-storms。OtherformsofthemythoccurinSanskrit。
Themoon-goddess，orAphrodite，oftheancientGermans，wascalledHorsel，orUrsula，whofiguresinChristianmediaevalmythologyasapersecutedsaint，attendedbyatroopofeleventhousandvirgins，whoallsuffermartyrdomastheyjourneyfromEnglandtoCologne。Themeaningofthemythisobvious。
InGermanmythology，EnglandisthePhaiakianlandofcloudsandphantoms；thesuccubus，leavingherloverbeforedaybreak，excusesherselfonthepleathat“hermotheriscallingherinEngland。“[15]ThecompanionsofUrsulaarethepurestars，wholeavethecloudlandandsuffermartyrdomastheyapproachtheregionsofday。IntheChristiantradition，UrsulaisthepureArtemis；but，inaccordancewithherancientcharacter，sheislikewisethesensualAphrodite，whohauntstheVenusberg；andthisbringsustothestoryofTannhauser。
[15]SeeProcopius，DeBelloGothico，IV。20；Villemarque，BarzasBreiz，I。136。AsachildIwasinstructedbyanoldnursethatVasDiemen\'sLandisthehomeofghostsanddepartedspirits。
TheHorselberg，ormountainofVenus，liesinThuringia，betweenEisenachandGotha。Highuponitsslopeyawnsacavern，theHorselloch，orcaveofVenuswithinwhichisheardamuffledroar，asofsubterraneanwater。Fromthiscave，inoldtimes，thefrightenedinhabitantsoftheneighbouringvalleywouldhearatnightwildmoansandcriesissuing，mingledwithpealsofdemon-likelaughter。HereitwasbelievedthatVenusheldhercourt；“andtherewerenotafewwhodeclaredthattheyhadseenfairformsoffemalebeautybeckoningthemfromthemouthofthechasm。“[16]TannhauserwasaFrankishknightandfamousminnesinger，who，travellingattwilightpasttheHorselberg，“sawawhiteglimmeringfigureofmatchlessbeautystandingbeforehimandbeckoninghimtoher。“Leavinghishorse，hewentuptomeether，whomheknewtobenoneotherthanVenus。Hedescendedtoherpalaceintheheartofthemountain，andtherepassedsevenyearsincarelessrevelry。Then，strickenwithremorseandyearningforanotherglimpseofthepurelightofday，hecalledinagonyupontheVirginMother，whotookcompassiononhimandreleasedhim。Hesoughtavillagechurch，andtopriestafterpriestconfessedhissin，withoutobtainingabsolution，untilfinallyhehadrecoursetothePope。Buttheholyfather，horrifiedattheenormityofhismisdoing，declaredthatguiltsuchashiscouldneverberemittedsoonershouldthestaffinhishandgrowgreenandblossom。“ThenTannhauser，fullofdespairandwithhissouldarkened，wentaway，andreturnedtotheonlyasylumopentohim，theVenusberg。Butlo！threedaysafterhehadgone，PopeUrbandiscoveredthathispastoralstaffhadputforthbudsandhadburstintoflower。ThenhesentmessengersafterTannhauser，andtheyreachedtheHorselvaletohearthatawaywornman，withhaggardbrowandbowedhead，hadjustenteredtheHorselloch。SincethenTannhauserhasnotbeenseen。“(p。
201。)
[16]Baring-Gould，CuriousMyths，Vol。I。p。197。
AsMr。Baring-Gouldrightlyobserves，thissadlegend，initsChristianizedform，isdoubtlessdescriptiveofthestrugglebetweenthenewandtheoldfaiths。TheknightlyTannhauser，satiatedwithpagansensuality，turnstoChristianityforrelief，but，repelledbythehypocrisy，pride，andlackofsympathyofitsministers，givesupindespair，andreturnstodrownhisanxietiesinhisolddebauchery。
Butthisisnottheprimitiveformofthemyth，whichrecursinthefolk-loreofeverypeopleofAryandescent。Who，indeed，canreaditwithoutbeingatonceremindedofThomasofErceldoune(orHorsel-hill)，entrancedbythesorceressoftheEilden；ofthenightlyvisitsofNumatothegroveofthenymphEgeria；ofOdysseusheldcaptivebytheLadyKalypso；
and，lastbutnotleast，ofthedelightfulArabiantaleofPrinceAhmedandthePeriBanou？Onhiswestwardjourney，Odysseusisensnaredandkeptintemporarybondagebytheamorousnymphofdarkness，Kalypso(kalnptw，toveilorcover)。Sothezoneofthemoon-goddessAphroditeinveiglesall-seeingZeustotreacherousslumberonMountIda；andbyasimilarsorceryTasso\'sgreatheroislulledinunseemlyidlenessinArmida\'sgoldenparadise，atthewesternvergeoftheworld。ThedisappearanceofTannhauserbehindthemoonlitcliff，luredbyVenusUrsula，thepalegoddessofnight，isapreciselyparallelcircumstance。
Butsolarandlunarphenomenaarebynomeanstheonlysourcesofpopularmythology。Oppositemywriting-tablehangsaquaintGermanpicture，illustratingGoethe\'sballadoftheErlking，inwhichthewholewildpathosofthestoryiscompressedintoonesuprememoment；weseethefearful，half-glidingrushoftheErlking，hislong，spectralarmsoutstretchedtograspthechild，thefranticgallopofthehorse，thealarmedfatherclaspinghisdarlingtohisbosominconvulsiveembrace，thesiren-likeelveshoveringoverhead，tolurethelittlesoulwiththeirweirdharps。Therecanbenobetterillustrationthanisfurnishedbythisterriblesceneofthemagicpowerofmythologytoinvestthesimplestphysicalphenomenawiththemostintensehumaninterest；forthetruesignificanceofthewholepictureiscontainedinthefather\'saddresstohischild，“Seiruhig，bleiberuhig，meinKind；
IndurrenBlatternsauseltderWind。“
ThestoryofthePiperofHamelin，wellknownintheversionofRobertBrowning，leadstothesameconclusion。In1284thegoodpeopleofHamelincouldobtainnorest，nightorday，byreasonofthedirefulhostofratswhichinfestedtheirtown。
Onedaycameastrangemaninabunting-suit，andofferedforfivehundredguilderstoridthetownofthevermin。Thepeopleagreed:whereuponthemantookoutapipeandpiped，andinstantlyalltheratsintown，inanarmywhichblackenedthefaceoftheearth，cameforthfromtheirhaunts，andfollowedthepiperuntilhepipedthemtotheriverWeser，wheretheyallsjumpedinandweredrowned。Butassoonasthetormentwasgone，thetownsfolkrefusedtopaythepiperonthegroundthathewasevidentlyawizard。Hewentaway，vowingvengeance，andonSt。John\'sdayreappeared，andputtinghispipetohismouthblewadifferentair。Whereatallthelittle，plump，rosy-cheeked，golden-hairedchildrencamemerrilyrunningafterhim，theirparentsstandingaghast，notknowingwhattodo，whileheledthemupahillintheneighbourhood。Adooropenedinthemountain-side，throughwhichheledthemin，andtheyneverwereseenagain；saveonelameboy，whohobblednotfastenoughtogetinbeforethedoorshut，andwholamentedfortherestofhislifethathehadnotbeenabletosharetherareluckofhiscomrades。Inthestreetthroughwhichthisprocessionpassednomusicwaseverafterwardsallowedtobeplayed。Foralongtimethetowndateditspublicdocumentsfromthisfearfulcalamity，andmanyauthoritieshavetreateditasanhistoricalevent。[17]
SimilarstoriesaretoldofothertownsinGermany，and，strangetosay，inremoteAbyssiniaalso。WesleyanpeasantsinEnglandbelievethatangelspipetochildrenwhoareabouttodie；andinScandinavia，youthsaresaidtohavebeenenticedawaybythesongsofelf-maidens。InGreece，thesirensbytheirmagiclayalluredvoyagerstodestruction；andOrpheuscausedthetreesanddumbbeaststofollowhim。Herewereachtheexplanation。ForOrpheusisthewindsighingthroughuntoldacresofpineforest。“Thepiperisnootherthanthewind，andtheancientsheldthatinthewindwerethesoulsofthedead。“TothisdaytheEnglishpeasantrybelievethattheyhearthewailofthespiritsofunbaptizedchildren，asthegalesweepspasttheircottagedoors。TheGreekHermesresultedfromthefusionoftwodeities。Heisthesunandalsothewind；andinthelattercapacityhebearsawaythesoulsofthedead。SotheNorseOdin，wholikeHermesfillfilsadoublefunction，issupposedtorushatnightoverthetree-tops，“accompaniedbythescuddingtrainofbravemen\'sspirits。“AndreadersofrecentFrenchliteraturecannotfailtorememberErokmann-Chatrian\'sterriblestoryofthewildhuntsmanVittikab，andhowhespedthroughtheforest，carryingawayayounggirl\'ssoul。
[17]Henceperhapstheadage，“Alwaysremembertopaythepiper。“
Thus，asTannhauseristheNorthernUlysses，soisGoethe\'sErlkingnoneotherthanthePiperofHamelin。Andthepiper，inturn，istheclassicHermesorOrpheus，thecounterpartoftheFinnishWainamoinenandtheSanskritGunadhya。HiswonderfulpipeisthehornofOberon，thelyreofApollo(who，likethepiper，wasarat-killer)，theharpstolenbyJackwhenheclimbedthebean-stalktotheogre\'scastle。[18]Andthefather，inGoethe\'sballad，isnomorethanrightwhenheassureshischildthatthesirenvoicewhichtemptshimisbuttherustleofthewindamongthedriedleaves；forfromsuchasimpleclassofphenomenaarosethisentirefamilyofcharminglegends。
[18]AnditreappearsasthemysteriouslyreoftheGaelicmusician，who“Couldharpafishouto\'thewater，Orbluidoutofastane，Ormilkoutofamaiden\'sbreast，Thatbairnshadnevernane。“
