Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/209

 Reviews. 199

The result is we have a translation which makes sense ; but we cannot be sure that it is what the poet meant, because Mr. Lang's canons were not manuscript authority, but literary excellence — he tried to find " the phrases least unworthy of the poets." For the general reader, the translation is all that could be desired \ and the dainty appearance of the book, with its photogravure plates, some of which are beautiful, makes it suitable for a Christmas present to a folklorist parent. The student of Greek religion too will find all he wants ; but in view of the principles of criticism just alluded to, he would do well to check by comparison with another version, or the best text, any passage he intends to build theories upon.

Members of this Society, however, will be chiefly interested in the mythological essays. Mr. Lang appears to have in his eye those who decry the use of savage rites and myths in explaining Greek religion, and those who do not : a large audience, and we hope Mr. Lang's optimism will be borne out by the publisher's royalties. To the former class, in the person of M. Foucart, he addresses an essay on the Alleged Egyptian Origins of the Eleusinian Mysteries ; and finds no difficulty in demohshing the arguments and assumptions of M. Foucart. This chapter may serve as a warning to all who argue from too narrow a basis. To the latter class Mr. Lang seems to address the rest of the book ; but perhaps in consequence of having the former class in his mind, he contents himself with stating his opinions without suffi- cient evidence to support them. He may be right in differing from Mr. Tylor on the subject of A^iimisju (p. 21); but it is not sufficient to say so. Perhaps the lowest known races have a " fluid mass of beliefs both high and low, from the belief in a moral creative being, a judge of men, to the pettiest fable which envisages him as a medicine man, or even as a beast or bird," and it may be the higher belief is the older ; but though Mr. Lang can- not see how if the lower came first, the higher was evolved by very backward savages, it may yet be true, or more probably Mr. Lang has exaggerated the " height " of the beliefs in question by reading his own very civilised thoughts into something quite vague and shadowy. We do not wish to commit ourselves at this present ; we are open to conviction : but it seems to us that in this very intricate question we must wait for more light before deciding. From the evidence now to hand it seems clear both that the