Many years have elapsed since this work was first published. In that period much new matter has appeared in various works, especially in the valuable Deutsche Mythologie of Dr. Grimm. Hence it will be found to be greatly enlarged, particularly in the sections of England and France. I have also inserted much which want of space obliged me to omit in the former edition. In its present form, I am presumptuous enough to expect that it may live for many years, and be an authority on the subject of popular lore. The active industry of the Grimms, of Thiele, and others, had collected the popular traditions of various countries. I came then and gathered in the harvest, leaving little, I apprehend, but gleanings for future writers on this subject. The legends will probably fade fast away from the popular memory; it is not likely that any one will relate those which I have given over again; and it therefore seems more probable that this volume may in future be reprinted, with notes and additions. For human nature will ever remain unchanged; the love of gain and of material enjoyments, omnipotent as it appears to be at present, will never totally extinguish the higher and purer aspirations of mind; and there will always be those, however limited in number, who will desire to know how the former dwellers of earth thought, felt, and acted. For these mythology, as connected with religion and history, will always have attractions. October, 1850. Whatever errors have been discovered are corrected in this impression. January, 1870. T. K. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. Page Origin of the Belief in Fairies 1 Origin of the Word Fairy 4 ORIENTAL ROMANCE. PERSIAN ROMANCE 14 The Peri-Wife 20 ARABIAN ROMANCE 24 MIDDLE-AGE ROMANCE. FAIRY-LAND 44 SPENSER'S FAERIE QUEENE 55 EDDAS AND SAGAS 60 THE ALFAR 64 THE DUERGAR 66 Loki and the Dwarf 68 Thorston and the Dwarf 70 The Dwarf-Sword Tirfing 72