Dedication

*

"Thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."—Matthew, c. xi. v. 25.

"Every fiction that has ever laid strong hold of human belief is the mistaken image of some great truth, to which reason will direct its search, while half reason is content with laughing at the superstition, and unreason with disbelieving it."—Rev. J. Martineau.

TO
HIS VERY DEAR AND EVER KIND FRIEND,
ELIZA COOK,
THIS WORK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED,
AS A VERY HUMBLE BUT SINCERE TRIBUTE
TO HER POETIC GENIUS
AND
HER PRIVATE WORTH,
BY ITS AUTHOR,
CHARLES HARDWICK.