The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
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When I took up the study of the Kalevala and Finnish literature, with the intention of publishing a critical English edition of the poem, on which I am still engaged, the accumulation of the necessary materials led me to examine the literature of the neighbouring countries likewise. I had expected to find the Kalevipoeg an Esthonian variant of the Kalevala ; but I found it so dissimilar, and at the same time so interesting, when divested of the tedious and irrelevant matter that has been added to the main story, that I finally decided to publish a full account of it in prose, especially as nothing of the kind has yet been attempted in English, beyond a few casual magazine articles.
The Esthonian folk-tales are likewise of much interest, and in many cases of an extremely original character; and these also have never appeared in an English dress. I have, therefore, selected a sufficiently representative series, and have added a few ballads and short poems. This last section of the work, however, amounts to little more than an appendix to the Kalevipoeg , though it is placed at the end of the book. Esthonian ballad literature is of enormous extent, and only partially investigated and published at present, even in the original; and it would therefore be premature to try to treat of it in detail here, nor had I time or space to attempt it. I had, however, intended to have included a number of poems from Neus' Ehstnische Volkslieder in the present volumes, but found that it was unnecessary, as Latham has already given an English version of most of the best in his Nationalities of Europe.
The Introduction and Notes will, it is hoped, be sufficiently full to afford all necessary information for the intelligent comprehension of the book, without overloading it; and it has been decided to add a sketch-map of this little known country, including some of the places specially referred to. But Esthonian folk-literature, even without the ballads, is a most extensive study, and I do not pretend to do more than offer a few specimens culled from some of the most easily accessible sources. My professional work does not allow me time to attempt more at present; and it is from the same cause that my work on the Kalevala has been delayed so long.
W. F. Kirby
The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
CONTENTS OF VOL. I
CONTENTS OF VOL. II
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
ESTHONIA
THE KALEVIPOEG
FOLK-TALES IN PROSE
BALLADS AND OTHER SHORT POEMS
PASTOR HURT'S COLLECTIONS
MYTHOLOGY
PART I
THE HERO OF ESTHONIA
ARGUMENT OF THE "KALEVIPOEG"
THE KALEVIPOEG
OR,
CANTO I
THE MARRIAGES OF SALME AND LINDA
CANTO II
THE DEATH OF KALEV
CANTO III
THE FATE OF LINDA
CANTO IV
THE ISLAND MAIDEN
CANTO V
THE KALEVIDE AND THE FINNISH SORCERER
CANTO VI
THE KALEVIDE AND THE SWORD-SMITHS
CANTO VII
THE RETURN OF THE KALEVIDE
CANTO VIII
THE CONTEST AND PARTING OF THE BROTHERS
CANTO IX
RUMOURS OF WAR
CANTO X
THE HEROES AND THE WATER-DEMON
CANTO XI
THE LOSS OF THE SWORD
CANTO XII
THE FIGHT WITH THE SORCERER'S SONS
CANTO XIII
THE KALEVIDE'S FIRST JOURNEY TO HADES
CANTO XIV
THE PALACE OF SARVIK
CANTO XV
THE MARRIAGE OF THE SISTERS
CANTO XVI
THE VOYAGE OF THE KALEVIDE
CANTO XVII
THE HEROES AND THE DWARF
CANTO XVIII
THE KALEVIDE'S JOURNEY TO PÕRGU
CANTO XIX
THE LAST FEAST OF THE HEROES
CANTO XX
ARMAGEDDON
PART II
Esthonian Folk-Tales
SECTION I
THE MILKY WAY.
THE GRATEFUL PRINCE.
SLYBOOTS.
THE GOLD-SPINNERS.
SECTION II
THE WOOD OF TONTLA.
THE EGG-BORN PRINCESS.
THE ROYAL HERD-BOY.
TIIDU THE FLUTE-PLAYER.
THE LUCKY EGG.
FOOTNOTES:
PART II
ESTHONIAN FOLK-TALES
SECTION III
BLUEBEARD.
(Kreutzwald.)
CINDERELLA.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE DRAGON-SLAYER.
THE DWARF'S CHRISTENING.
(Jannsen.)
THE ENVIOUS SISTERS.
THE GIFTED BROTHERS.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE IDIOT'S LUCK.
THE MAGICIAN'S HEIRS.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE MAN IN THE MOON.
THE MAIDEN AT THE VASKJALA BRIDGE.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE WOMAN IN THE MOON.
(Jannsen.)
POLYPHEMUS.
(Jannsen.)
RED RIDING-HOOD.
SNOWWHITE, THE GLASS MOUNTAIN, AND THE DESPISED YOUNGEST SON.
(Jannsen.)
THE THREE WISHES.
THE WITCH-BRIDE.
THE STEPMOTHER.
(Kreutzwald.)
SECTION IV
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE.
(Kreutzwald.)
HOW THE SEA BECAME SALT.
(Jannsen.)
THE TWO BROTHERS AND THE FROST.
(Jannsen.)
THE SOLDIER AND THE DEVIL.
(Jannsen.)
SECTION V
THE SONG-GOD'S DEPARTURE.
(Jannsen.)
JUTTA.
THE TWELVE DAUGHTERS.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE FOUR GIFTS OF THE WATER-SPRITE.
(Jannsen.)
(Jannsen.)
THE FAITHLESS FISHERMAN.
(Jannsen.)
THE SPIRITS OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.
THE SPIRIT OF THE WHIRLWIND.
(Jannsen.)
THE WILL O' THE WISPS.
(Jannsen.)
THE FOUNDLING.
THE CAVE-DWELLERS.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE COMPASSIONATE WOODCUTTER.
(Jannsen.)
THE GOOD DEED REWARDED.
(Kreutzwald.)
SECTION VI
(Jannsen.)
THE WONDERFUL HAYCOCK.
(Jannsen.)
THE MAGIC EGG.
(Jannsen.)
SECTION VII
LAKE PEIPUS.
(Jannsen.)
THE LAKE AT EUSEKÜLL.
(Jannsen.)
EMMU LAKE AND VIRTS LAKE.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE BLUE SPRING.
(Jannsen.)
THE BLACK POOL.
(Jannsen.)
SECTION VIII
(Kreutzwald.)
THE MOON-PAINTER.
(Jannsen.)
THE TREASURE-BRINGER.
(Jannsen.)
THE WOODEN MAN AND THE BIRCH-BARK MAID.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE COMPASSIONATE SHOEMAKER.
(Jannsen.)
MARTIN AND HIS DEAD MASTER.
THE BEWITCHED HORSE.
SECTION IX
THE COURAGEOUS BARN-KEEPER.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE GALLOWS-DWARFS.
(Kreutzwald.)
THE TREASURE AT KERTELL.
(Jannsen.)
THE GOLDEN SNAKES.
(Jannsen.)
THE DEVIL'S TREASURE.
(Jannsen.)
THE NOCTURNAL CHURCH-GOERS.
(Kreutzwald.)
SECTION X
(Kreutzwald).
SECTION XI
THE CHURCH AT REVEL.
THE CHURCH AT PÜHALEPP.
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS.
THE CHURCH AT FELLIN.
SECTION XII
THE RICH BROTHER AND THE POOR ONE.
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
THE MAN WITH THE BAST SHOES.
WHY THE DOG AND CAT AND THE CAT AND MOUSE ARE ENEMIES.
THE ORIGIN OF THE SWALLOW.
THE SPIDER AND THE HORNET.
THE OFFICIOUS FLIES.
PART III
THE BLUE BIRD (II.).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX AND GLOSSARY
FOOTNOTES: