Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/222

214 edited by the most finished of modern English writers. The fitness of the thing is attested by the whole book—type, binding, illustrations, and above all the editorial introduction. Mr. Lang defends Herodotus against some charges brought against him by Professor Sayce, and we think the defence is wholly successful and pleasing. Mr. Lang evidently thinks that if Herodotus had lived in this age he would have been a member of the Folk-Lore Society, and Mr. Lang's admirable skill as a literary artist is, we fancy, nowhere better illustrated than in the really noble words by which he speaks out his opinion of the good faith of Herodotus.

This book of Herodotus is of considerable interest to the folk-lorist, and almost everywhere he will come upon passages which bear upon his own studies, particularly in the many details relating to local animal worship. Of course, it is unnecessary to go into this subject here, because it will be thoroughly well-known to our readers. The translation by B. R. is, of course, not exact. But to get one of the most popular of the writings of Herodotus translated by an Elizabethan writer and introduced by his Victorian successor makes us wish for more gems from the same source. There is something in the Elizabethan style that seems particularly pleasing to this age, and once more Chapman's Homer is taking its proper place in the public estimation. There are other translations equally worthy of our attention, and if they could be produced as Herodotus has been they would be almost certain to have an equally warm reception.

Mr. William George Black, who has visited frequently the out-of-the-way string of islands which stretch from Heligoland up the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, has written a book descriptive of his travels which will be published very shortly by Messrs. Blackwood and Sons under the title of Among the Islands of the North Sea. This will be the first work in English treating of the curious customs and legends of the North Frisian Islanders, who are our nearest kin, and will contain much newly-garnered folk-lore.