The Poetical Works of Robert Southey (Volume 7); With a Memoir of the Author - Tapa blanda

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1860. Excerpt: ... ADVERTISEMENT. The two volumes of this collection, which consist of Ballads and Metrical Tales, contain the author's earliest and latest productions of that kind; those which were written with most facility and most glee, and those upon which most time and pains were bestowed, according to the subject and the mode of treating it. The " Tale of Paraguay" was published separately in 1825, having been so long in hand that the Dedication was written many years before the poem was completed. "All for Love," and the "Legend of a Cock and a Hen," were published together in a little volume in 1829. A TALE OF PARAGUAY. PREFACE. One of my friends observed to me, in a letter, that many stories which are said to be founded on fact have in reality been foundered on it. This is the case if there be any gross violation committed or ignorance betrayed of historical manners in the prominent parts of a narrative wherein the writer affects to observe them, or when the groundwork is taken from some part of history so popular and well known that any mixture of fiction disturbs the sense of truth; still more so if the subject be in itself so momentous that any alloy of invention must of necessity debase it: but most of all in themes drawn from Scripture, whether from the more familiar or the more awful portions; for, when what is true is sacred, whatever may be added to it is so surely felt to be false that it appears profane. Founded on fact the poem is, which is here committed to the world; but, whatever may be its defects, it is liable to none of these objections. The story is so singular, so simple, and withal so complete, that it must have been injured by any alteration. How faithfully it has been followed, the reader may perceive, if he chooses to consult the abridged translation of Dobrizhoffer's ...