Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/321

 Reviews. 309

Arabia, or the Gospel of the Witches. By Charles G. Leland. Nutt. 3s. 6d,

In this book Mr. Leland has recorded a number of curious legends relating to Diana, as Queen of the Witches, and to her daughter Aradia (Herodias). It is indeed a kind of " Gospel" — we infer from Mr. Leland's words that his authority calls it the Vangelo — as it begins by describing the woes of mankind, to whose aid Diana sends Aradia, teaching them the use of witch- craft. The second chapter describes how to consecrate the witch- supper, giving an invocation of Cain, Diana, and Aradia. The rest of the book contains cosmic myths about Diana, or incanta- tions for winning love, good luck, or prosperity, with a few mis- cellaneous legends. Diana as queen of the witches is known to us from antiquity, but it would be impossible to produce classical authority for most of the lore of this book. Having regard to the wild nature of the incantations, we have no doubt that the sub- stance of the book is ancient ; and we see no reason why it should not be, as Mr. Leland claims, a genuine rehc of ancient belief, part of that secret lore which existed side by side with the poetical or systematised mythology. Several other old names, such as Endamione (Endymion), appear in the book ; and Tana, as Mr. Leland has pointed out in his Etrusco-Roma7i Remains^ is the Etruscan form of Diana.

The question arises, how closely Mr. Leland has adhered to his authorities. A great part of the book is made up of charms, which are given in the Italian, and if the prose translation be as hteral as the verse, we have no cause to complain. We wish, however, that the whole text of the Vangeh had been given in full ; it would have been but a few pages added to the book. And we wish Mr. Leland would always tell us, when he departs from his text, in briefest words what the text is. It might be done, as in Wide-Atvake Stories, by a summary of events. Enthusiasm Mr. Leland has in plenty, literary taste, and the art of interesting; but he lacks method. In spite of this drawback we heartily wel- come his new book. Classical scholarship no less than our own folklore has reason to be grateful to him for his untiring efforts as a collector. He appears to have a dozen new books up his sleeve ; we hope they may soon come out.