These introductory remarks are meant to do no more than to show the principal landmarks of folk-poetry. The subject is a wide one, as they best know who have given it the most careful attention. In the following essays, I have dealt with a few of its less familiar aspects. I would, in conclusion, express my gratitude to the indefatigable excavators of popular lore whose large labours have made my small work possible, and to all who have helped, whether by furnishing unedited specimens or by procuring copies of rare books. My cordial thanks are also due to the editors and publishers of the _Cornhill Magazine_, _Fraser's Magazine_, the _National Review_, the _British Quarterly Review_, the _Revue Internationale_, the _Antiquary_, and the _Record_ and _Journal_ of the Folk-lore Society, for leave to reprint such part of this book as had appeared in those publications. SALO, LAGO DI GARDA, _January 15 1886_. [Footnote 1: Voltaire.] [Footnote 2: Sire cuens, j'ai viele Devant vous, en vostre oste; Si ne m'avez, riens done, Ne mes gages aquite C'est vilanie; Foi que doi Sainte Marie! Ainc ne vos sievrai je mie, M'aumosniere est mal garnie Et ma malle mal farsie. Sire cuens, quar comandez De moi vostre volonte. Sire, s'il vous vient a gre Un beau don car me donez Par cortoisie. Talent ai, n'en dotez mie, De r'aler a ma mesnie. Quant vois borse desgarnie, Ma feme ne me rit mie. Ains me dit: Sire Engele En quel terre avez este, Qui n'avez rien conqueste Aval la ville? Vez com vostre male plie, Ele est bien de vent farsie. Honi soit qui a envie D'estre en vostre compaignie. Quant je vieng a mon hoste Et ma feme a regarde Derier moi le sac enfle, Et ge qui sui bien pare De robe grise, Sachiez qu'ele a tot jus mise La quenoille, sans faintise. Elle me rit par franchise, Les deux bras au col me lie. Ma feme va destrousser Ma male, sanz demorer. Mon garcon va abruver Mon cheval et conreer. Ma pucele va tuer Deux chapons por deporter A la sause aillie; Ma fille m'apporte un pigne. En sa main par cortoisie Lors sui de mon ostel sire, A mult grant joie, sans ire, Plus que nus ne porroit dire. ] [Footnote 3: Not to speak of Charlemagne, who ordered a collection to be made of German songs.] [Footnote 4: A fuller description of German harvest customs, with remarks on their presumed meaning, will be found in the Rev. J. Van den Gheyn's "Essais de Mythologie et de Philologie comparee," 1885.] [Footnote 5: Mr W. R. S. Ralston has kindly communicated to me this Russian version, which he translates: "Snail, snail, put forth thy horns, I will give to thee cakes."]