I do not here examine our author's constructive work. I have often
criticised its logical method before, and need not repeat myself. The
etymologies, of course, I leave to be discussed by scholars. As we have
seen, they are at odds on the subject of phonetic laws and their
application to mythological names. On the mosses and bogs of this
Debatable Land some of them propose to erect the science of comparative
mythology. Meanwhile we look on, waiting till the mosses shall support a
ponderous edifice.
Our author's treatment of Artemis, however, has for me a peculiar
interest (ii. 733-743). I really think that it is not mere vanity which
makes me suppose that in this instance I am at least one of the authors
whom Mr. Max Muller is writing _about_ without name or reference. If so,
he here sharply distinguishes between me on the one hand and 'classical
scholars' on the other, a point to which we shall return. He says--I
cite textually (ii. 732):--