The Project Gutenberg Etext of Myths and Myth-Makers by John Fiske
La mythologie, cette science toute nouvelle, qui nous faitsuivre les croyances de nos peres, depuis le berceau du mondejusqu'aux superstitions de nos campagnes.--EDMOND SCHERER
Mythology, this very new science, who makes usto follow the beliefs of our fathers, since the cradle of the worlduntil the superstitions of our campaigns
TO MY DEAR FRIEND, WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS,IN REMEMBRANCE OFPLEASANT AUTUMN EVENINGS SPENT AMONG WEREWOLVES AND TROLLS ANDNIXIES, I dedicate THIS RECORD OF OUR ADVENTURES.
IN publishing this somewhat rambling and unsystematic seriesof papers, in which I have endeavoured to touch briefly upon agreat many of the most important points in the study ofmythology, I think it right to observe that, in order to avoidconfusing the reader with intricate discussions, I havesometimes cut the matter short, expressing myself withdogmatic definiteness where a sceptical vagueness mightperhaps have seemed more becoming. In treating of popularlegends and superstitions, the paths of inquiry are circuitousenough, and seldom can we reach a satisfactory conclusionuntil we have travelled all the way around Robin Hood's barnand back again. I am sure that the reader would not havethanked me for obstructing these crooked lanes with the thornsand brambles of philological and antiquarian discussion, tosuch an extent as perhaps to make him despair of ever reachingthe high road.
I have not attempted to review, otherwise thanincidentally, the works of Grimm, Muller, Kuhn, Breal, Dasent,and Tylor; nor can I pretend to have added anything ofconsequence, save now and then some bit of explanatorycomment, to the results obtained by the labour of thesescholars; but it has rather been my aim to present theseresults in such a way as to awaken general interest in them.And accordingly, in dealing with a subject which depends uponphilology almost as much as astronomy depends uponmathematics, I have omitted philological considerationswherever it has been possible to do so. Nevertheless, Ibelieve that nothing has been advanced as established which isnot now generally admitted by scholars, and that nothing hasbeen advanced as probable for which due evidence cannot beproduced.
Yet among many points which are proved, and manyothers which are probable, there must always remain many otherfacts of which we cannot feel sure that our own explanation isthe true one; and the student who endeavours to fathom theprimitive thoughts of mankind, as enshrined in mythology, willdo well to bear in mind the modest words of Jacob Grimm,--himself the greatest scholar and thinker who has ever dealtwith this class of subjects,--"I shall indeed interpret allthat I can, but I cannot interpret all that I should like."
PETERSHAM, September 6, 1872.