Bulfinchs Mythology | Page 4

fancy, amplified from their own invention, and stamped with immortality. It may safely be asserted that as long as civilization shall endure these productions will retain their place among the most cherished creations of human genius.
In "Stories of Gods and Heroes," "King Arthur and His Knights" and "The Mabinogeon" the aim has been to supply to the modern reader such knowledge of the fables of classical and mediaeval literature as is needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur in reading and conversation. The "Legends of Charlemagne" is intended to carry out the same design. Like the earlier portions of the work, it aspires to a higher character than that of a piece of mere amusement. It claims to be useful, in acquainting its readers with the subjects of the productions of the great poets of Italy. Some knowledge of these is expected of every well-educated young person.
In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how the primitive inventions have been used, again and again, by successive generations of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is the prototype of the Siren of Orlando, and the character of Circe reappears in Alcina. The fountains of Love and Hatred may be traced to the story of Cupid and Psyche; and similar effects produced by a magic draught appear in the tale of Tristram and Isoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." There are many other instances of the same kind which the reader will recognize without our assistance.
The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, the Italian poets named above; next, the "Romans de Chevalerie" of the Comte de Tressan; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales. Some chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translations from the Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over again what he had already done so well; yet, on the other hand, those stories could not be omitted from the series without leaving it incomplete.
THOMAS BULFINCH.

CONTENTS
STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES
I. Introduction II. Prometheus and Pandora III. Apollo and Daphne--Pyramus and Thisbe--Cephalus and Procris IV. Juno and her Rivals, Io and Callisto--Diana and Actaeon --Latona and the Rustics V. Phaeton VI. Midas--Baucis and Philemon VII. Proserpine--Glaucus and Scylla VIII. Pygmalion--Dryope--Venus and Adonis--Apollo and Hyacinthus IX. Ceyx and Halcyone X. Vertumnus and Pomona--Iphis and Anaxarete XI. Cupid and Psyche XII. Cadmus--The Myrmidons XIII. Nisus and Scylla--Echo and Narcissus--Clytie--Hero and Leander XIV. Minerva and Arachne--Niobe XV. The Graeae and Gorgons--Perseus and Medusa--Atlas--Andromeda XVI. Monsters: Giants--Sphinx--Pegasus and Chimaera--Centaurs --Griffin--Pygmies XVII. The Golden Fleece--Medea XVIII. Meleager and Atalanta XIX. Hercules--Hebe and Ganymede XX. Theseus and Daedalus--Castor and Pollux--Festivals and Games XXI. Bacchus and Ariadne XXII. The Rural Deities--The Dryads and Erisichthon --Rhoecus--Water Deities--Camenae--Winds XXIII. Achelous and Hercules--Admetus and Alcestis--Antigone--Penelope XXIV. Orpheus and Eurydice--Aristaeus--Amphion--Linus --Thamyris--Marsyas--Melampus--Musaeus XXV. Arion--Ibycus--Simonides--Sappho XXVI. Endymion--Orion--Aurora and Tithonus--Acis and Galatea XXVII. The Trojan War XXVIII. The Fall of Troy--Return of the Greeks--Orestes and Electra XXIX. Adventures of Ulysses--The Lotus-eaters--The Cyclopes --Circe--Sirens--Scylla and Charybdis--Calypso XXX. The Phaeacians--Fate of the Suitors XXXI. Adventures of Aeneas--The Harpies--Dido--Palinurus XXXII. The Infernal Regions--The Sibyl XXXIII. Aeneas in Italy--Camilla--Evander--Nisus and Euryalus --Mezentius--Turnus XXXIV. Pythagoras--Egyptian Deities--Oracles XXXV. Origin of Mythology--Statues of Gods and Goddesses --Poets of Mythology XXXVI. Monsters (modern)--The Phoenix--Basilisk--Unicorn--Salamander XXXVII. Eastern Mythology--Zoroaster--Hindu Mythology--Castes--Buddha --The Grand Lama--Prester John XXXVIII. Northern Mythology--Valhalla--The Valkyrior XXXIX. Thor's Visit to Jotunheim XL. The Death of Baldur--The Elves--Runic Letters--Skalds--Iceland --Teutonic Mythology--The Nibelungen Lied --Wagner's Nibelungen Ring XLI. The Druids--Iona
KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS
I. Introduction II. The Mythical History of England III. Merlin IV. Arthur V. Arthur (Continued) VI. Sir Gawain VII. Caradoc Briefbras; or, Caradoc with the Shrunken Arm VIII. Launcelot of the Lake IX. The Adventure of the Cart X. The Lady of Shalott XI. Queen Guenever's Peril XII. Tristram and Isoude XIII. Tristram and Isoude (Continued) XIV. Sir Tristram's Battle with Sir Launcelot XV. The Round Table XVI. Sir Palamedes XVII. Sir Tristram XVIII. Perceval XIX. The Sangreal, or Holy Graal XX. The Sangreal (Continued) XXI. The Sangreal (Continued) XXII. Sir Agrivain's Treason XXIII. Morte d'Arthur
THE MABINOGEON
Introductory Note I. The Britons II. The Lady of the Fountain III. The Lady of the Fountain (Continued) IV. The Lady of the Fountain (Continued) V. Geraint, the Son of Erbin VI. Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) VII. Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) VIII. Pwyll, Prince of Dyved IX. Branwen, the Daughter of Llyr X. Manawyddan XI. Kilwich and Olwen XII. Kilwich and Olwen (Continued) XIII. Taliesin
HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE
Beowulf Cuchulain, Champion of Ireland Hereward the Wake Robin Hood
LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
Introduction The Peers, or Paladins The Tournament The Siege of Albracca Adventures of Rinaldo and Orlando The Invasion of France The Invasion of France (Continued)
Bradamante and Rogero Astolpho and the Enchantress The Orc Astolpho's Adventures continued, and Isabella's begun. Medoro Orlando Mad Zerbino and Isabella Astolpho in Abyssinia The War