Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 8, 1897.djvu/331

Rh Gallois, a common-place fiction grafted on a misinterpreted poem. Orendel and Durmart le Gallois, Kulhwch and Svipdag, and the King's Son of Ireland are variations on the same theme, the product of different orders of imagination and expression. The story of Jaufre Rudel has had infinitely deeper meaning, and infinitely more honour, than any of these. It does not diminish either its imaginative meaning or its honour among poets and their hearers, to know how the story arose ; but possibly the history of this myth, a history which has been accurately worked out, may have some bearing on the problems of older myths and symbolisms. It proves that the religious or mythological import is not necessarily the beginning of the story.

SOME OXFORDSHIRE SEASONAL FESTIVALS:

(Read at meeting of 16th March, 1897.)

Under this title I have described typical instances of village feasts in Oxfordshire which illustrate the observances now or formerly in vogue on three of the seasonal festivals, May Day, Whitsuntide, and the Lamb Ale. I must express my obligation to Mr. T. J. Carter of Oxford, who has been invaluable in collecting information for me, and to Mr. C. Taphouse of Oxford, who kindly reduced to writing the airs of the songs from Bampton. May Day. Bampton-in-the-Bush is a small town about three miles