THE IDEAS AND SOUKCES OF MYTH. 13 



This explanation establishes a true and universal 

 fact, but it is not the explanation of the fact itself ; 

 yet it is not, as we shall see, incapable of solution, 

 and it appears to me that the ultimate source whence 

 myths really proceed has not been reached. 



Again, if such an opinion and such a method can 

 give us the key to the polytheistic origin of the 

 respective Olympuses of classic Greece and Eome, it 

 leaves unexplained the numerous and manifold super- 

 stitions which philology itself proves to have existed 

 prior to the origin of cosmic myths. These super- 

 stitions can by no means be referred to a common 

 source, to the astral and meteorological myths, some 

 of which were prior, while others were subsequent to 

 these superstitions. 



Taking, therefore, the general and more important 

 opinions which are now current respecting the origin 

 of myth, it may be said that in addition to the systems 

 already mentioned, two others are presented to us 

 with the weight of authority and knowledge ; these, 

 while they do not renounce the appliances and 

 linguistic analyses of the former, try to unite all the 

 mythical sources of mankind in general into a single 

 head, whence all myths, beliefs, superstitions, and reli- 

 gions have their origin. While France and Germany 

 and some other nations have achieved distinction in 

 this field, England has been especially remarkable for 

 the nature of her attempts, and the vastness of her 

 achievements in every direction. We pass over many 



