Slavonic Fairy Tales. John Theophilus Naaké
Читать онлайн.| Название | Slavonic Fairy Tales |
|---|---|
| Автор произведения | John Theophilus Naaké |
| Жанр | Документальная литература |
| Серия | |
| Издательство | Документальная литература |
| Год выпуска | 0 |
| isbn | 4064066069575 |
John Theophilus Naaké
Slavonic Fairy Tales
Published by Good Press, 2020
EAN 4064066069575
Table of Contents
Why is the Sole of Man's Foot Uneven?
Lidushka and the Water Demon's Wife
Story of Vasilisa with the Golden Tress,and of Ivan the Pea
The Emperor Trojan's Goat's Ears
The Maiden who was Swifterthan the Horse
The Maiden who was Wiserthan the King
PREFACE.
It is no longer thought needful to apologise for a collection of folk-tales. They are not even the peculiar property of the children any longer; the gravest scholars do not disdain to examine and discuss them, and all parts of the world, from Mongolia to Cafraria, are ransacked to produce them. Here is presented a little gathering of these wild flowers, plucked not for their scientific interest—though that they possess—but for the wild fresh perfume that clings about them.
Poland, Russia, Bohemia, and Servia have contributed stories to this little collection. It may be said that the Bohemian tales, perhaps through the genius of the poets who have preserved them, have, in their original form, more art, more grace, more completeness of outline, than the others. Those from Poland reflect the passive virtues and genial warmth of the peasants whose lives they illustrate. A greater simplicity, amounting even to childishness, will be found to characterise the Russian stories. Those from Servia are in some features unique, and may be found the most interesting of the series. The exalted imagination of the Servian race is allied with keen and homely sense, and their vigorous and beautiful romances called forth the admiration of Goethe. It is hoped that these varied characteristics may not wholly have evaporated in translation.
The translator makes no claim to the honour of having collected these stories. He has selected his materials from the Polish of K. W. Wojcicki; from the Russian of M. Maksimovich, B. Bronnitsuin, and E. A. Chudinsky; from the Bohemian of K. J. Erben, M. Mikssichek, J. K. Z. Radostova, and J. K. Tyl; and lastly, from the Servian of W. S. Karajich. Wojcicki's work has appeared in German, and the Servian collection has been excellently rendered in the same language by the daughter of W. S. Karajich. But none of these tales, as far as the translator is aware, have hitherto appeared in an English dress.
J. T. N.
London, April, 1874.