The contents of the work which gave such pleasure to this learned antiquary are as follows:â
I. IntroductionâSimilarity of Arts and CustomsâSimilarity of NamesâOrigin of the WorkâImitationâCasual CoincidenceâMiltonâDante.
II. The Thousand and One NightsâBedoween Audience around a Story-tellerâCleomades and ClaremondâEnchanted HorsesâPeter of Provence and the fair Maguelone.
III. The Pleasant NightsâThe Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Beautiful Green BirdâThe Three Little BirdsâLactantiusâUlysses and Sindbad.
IV. The Shâh-NâmehâRoostem and SoohrâbâConloch and CuchullinâMacpherson's OssianâIrish Antiquities.
V. The PentameroneâTale of the SerpentâHindoo Legend.
VI. Jack the Giant-killerâThe Brave TailoringâThor's Journey to Ut-gardâAmeen of Isfahan and the GhoolâThe Lion and the GoatâThe Lion and the Ass.
VII. Whittington and his CatâDanish LegendsâItalian StoriesâPersian Legend.
VIII. The EddaâSigurd and BrynhildaâVĂślundâHelgiâHolger DanskeâOgier le DanoisâTokoâWilliam Tell.
IX. PeruontoâPeter the FoolâEmelyan the FoolâConclusion. 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.