Popular Tales from the Norse

Tales from the Norse, by Sir
George Webbe Dasent

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Title: Popular Tales from the Norse
Author: Sir George Webbe Dasent
Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8933] [Yes, we are more than

one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 26,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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TALES FROM THE NORSE ***

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POPULAR TALES FROM THE NORSE
By
SIR GEORGE WEBBE DASENT

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND
DIFFUSION OF POPULAR TALES

Notice to the Second Edition
The first edition of these Tales being exhausted, and a demand having
arisen for a second, the Translator has thought it right to add thirteen
tales, which complete the translation of Asbjörnsen and Moe's
collection, and to strengthen the Introduction by working in some new
matter, and by working out some points which were only slightly
sketched in the first edition.
The favour with which the book was welcomed makes it almost a duty

to say a word here on the many kind and able notices which have been
written upon it. Duties are not always pleasant, but the fulfilment of
this at least gives no pain; because, without one exception, every
criticism which the Translator has seen has shown him that his prayer
for 'gentle' readers has been fully heard. It will be forgiven him, he
hopes, when he says that he has not seen good ground to change or
even to modify any of the opinions as to the origin and diffusion of
popular tales put forth in the first edition. Much indeed has been said
by others for those views; what has been urged against them, with all
kindness and good humour, in one or two cases, has not availed at all to
weigh down mature convictions deliberately expressed after the studies
of years, backed as they are by the researches and support of those who
have given their lives to this branch of knowledge.
And now, before the Translator takes leave of his readers for the second
time, he will follow the lead of the good godmother in one of these
Tales, and forbid all good children to read the two which stand last in
the book. There is this difference between him and the godmother. She
found her foster-daughter out as soon as she came back. He will never
know it, if any bad child has broken his behest. Still he hopes that all
good children who read this book will bear in mind that there is just as
much sin in breaking a commandment even though it be not found out,
and so he bids them good-bye, and feels sure that no good child will
dare to look into those two rooms. If, after this warning, they peep in,
they may perhaps see something which will shock them.
'Why then print them at all?' some grown reader asks. Because this
volume is meant for you as well as for children, and if you have gone
ever so little into the world with open eyes, you must have seen, yes,
every day, things much more shocking. Because there is nothing
immoral in their spirit. Because they are intrinsically valuable, as
illustrating manners and traditions, and so could not well be left out.
Because they complete the number of the Norse originals, and leave
none untranslated. And last, though not least, because the Translator
hates family versions of anything, 'Family Bibles', 'Family
Shakespeares'. Those who, with so large a choice of beauty before them,
would pick out and gloat over this or that coarseness or freedom of

expression, are like those who, in reading the Bible, should always turn
to Leviticus, or those whose Shakespeare would open of itself at
Pericles Prince of Tyre. Such readers the Translator does not wish to