It is impossible to watch this book go out into the world without wondering what Burton himself would have thought of it. Certainty is impossible, for only Allah knows all; but I do not think there is reason for much doubt. Burton may have issued his translation in a strictly limited edition, and adjured his subscribers to keep it under cover, but to translate and issue the work at all, under whatever restrictions, was a courageous act in an age which, even more than our own, "was saturated with cant and hypocrisy. "Before the limited audience which he chose to address he defended the obscenity, pornography, or turpiloquium of the Nights--call it what you will--with vigorous candor and wise argument. Had the time been ripe for him to come before a larger audience, he would have done so; but it was not.

The Frog-King, or Iron Henry

Cat and Mouse in Partnership

Our Lady's Child

The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was

The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

Faithful John

The Good Bargain

The Twelve Brothers

The Pack of Ragamuffins

Little Brother and Little Sister

Rapunzel

The Three Little Men in the Wood

The Three Spinners

Hansel and Gretel

The Three Snake-Leaves

The White Snake

The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean

The Fisherman and His Wife

The Valiant Little Tailor

Cinderella

The Riddle

The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage

Mother Holle

The Seven Ravens

Little Red-Cap

The Bremen Town-Musicians

The Singing Bone

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs

Little Louse and little Flea

The Girl Without Hands

The Three Languages

Clever Elsie

The Tailor in Heaven

The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack

Thumbling

The Wedding of Mrs. Fox

The Elves

The Robber Bridegroom

Herr Korbes

The Godfather

Frau Trude

Godfather Death

Thumbling as Journeyman

Fitcher's Bird

The Juniper-Tree

Old Sultan

The Six Swans

Briar-Rose

Fundevogel (Bird-foundling)

King Thrushbeard

Little Snow-white

The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn

Rumpelstiltskin

Sweetheart Roland

The Golden Bird

The Dog and the Sparrow

Frederick and Catherine

The Two Brothers

The Little Peasant

The Three Feathers

The Golden Goose

Allerleirauh

The Twelve Huntsmen

The Thief and His Master

Jorinda and Joringel

The Three Sons of Fortune

How Six Men Got On in the World

The Wolf and the Man

The Wolf and the Fox

The Fox and His Cousin

The Fox and the Cat

The Pink

Clever Gretel

The Old Man and His Grandson

The Water-Nixie

The Death of the Little Hen

Brother Lustig

Gambling Hansel

The Gold-Children

The Fox and the Geese

The Poor Man and the Rich Man

The Singing, Soaring Lark

The Goose-Girl

The Young Giant

The Gnome

The King of the Golden Mountain

The Raven

The Peasant's Wise Daughter

Old Hildebrand

The Three Little Birds

The Water of Life

Doctor Knowall

The Spirit in the Bottle

The Devil's Sooty Brother

Bearskin

The Willow-Wren and the Bear

Sweet Porridge

Wise Folks

Stories About Snakes

The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat

The Two Travellers

Hans the Hedgehog

The Shroud

The Jew Among Thorns

The Skilful Huntsman

The Flail from Heaven

The Two Kings' Children

The Cunning Little Tailor

The Bright Sun Brings It to Light

The Blue Light

The Wilful Child

The Three Army-Surgeons

The Seven Swabians

The Three Apprentices

The King's Son Who Feared Nothing

Donkey Cabbages

The Old Woman in the Wood

The Three Brothers

The Lazy Spinner

The Four Skilful Brothers

One-eye, Two-eyes, and Three-eyes

The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces

The Six Servants

The White Bride and the Black One

Iron John

Simeli Mountain

Going A-Travelling

The Donkey

The Ungrateful Son

The Turnip

The Old Man Made Young Again

The Lord's Animals and the Devil's

The Beam

The Three Sluggards

The Shepherd Boy

The Stolen Farthings

Brides on Their Trial

Odds and Ends

Snow-White and Rose-Red

The Glass Coffin

Lazy Harry

Strong Hans

The Peasant in Heaven

Sharing Joy and Sorrow

The Willow-Wren

The Sole

The Bittern and the Hoopoe

The Owl

The Moon

The Duration of Life

Death's Messengers

Master Pfriem (Master Cobbler's Awl)

The Goose-Girl at the Well

Eve's Various Children

The Nixie of the Mill-Pond

The Little Folks' Presents

The Nail

The Poor Boy in the Grave

The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle

The Peasant and the Devil

The Sea-Hare

The Master-Thief

The Grave-Mound

Maid Maleen

The Boots of Buffalo-Leather