thoughts into verse (I had almost said poetry), upon any subject that happened to attract my attention. In the course of years, these trifles grew into a pretty considerable number; and many of my friends, who had seen some of them, were perpetually asking me for copies of them. From time to time I supplied them, and they were pleased to approve of my humble endeavours to gratify them; till at last they gave me to understand, that they should be still more gratified, if I would allow them to appear in print. A request so flattering could not well be resisted. One thing alone opposed, namely, the expense attending the publication, and the consequent chance of entailing a heavy burthen on myself. Upon this it was proposed to publish them by subscription. And now a sufficient number of names having been obtained to secure me against loss, and for printing four or five hundred copies, I have selected a few out of the whole, which were most approved, and have ventured to lay them before the public, Although I sincerely hope that the eye of criticism will not be severe in scrutinizing their faults, which are probably very many; yet if it should be so, I confess that it will not very much distress me, when I consider it was not the applause of the world that I sought; nor had I the slightest wish to lift myself unnaturally into any degree of notoriety. The desire of gratifying my immediate friends, was the sole cause of their appearing before the public. That object being attained, I leave them to meet from the world whatever fate they deserve. I have subjoined a few notes, which will be found useful towards the better understanding of some of them, especially by those not versed in classics; and of others I have given the cause of their being written, without which, they would perhaps, not be very intelligible. To all, I presume, a reference to passages alluded to, or quoted, or which tend to elucidate, in any way, the subject before them, must be pleasing and satisfactory. I have also in the same notes (to which I beg the reader's particular attention), introduced a few very elegant poems, or fragments of poems, with which I have accidentally met, since writing my own. And although they may not be strictly illustrative of those to which they are attached; yet there will readily appear a sufficient connexion between them, to plead an apology for their introduction here. And as they are written with great elegance and feeling, they will, I am sure, be read by every one of taste and judgment, with much pleasure, interest, and satisfaction. THE AUTHOR. |