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Elegies and Other Small Poems
Elegies and Other Small Poems
Elegies and Other Small Poems
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Elegies and Other Small Poems

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Release dateNov 26, 2013
Elegies and Other Small Poems

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    Elegies and Other Small Poems - Matilda Betham

    Project Gutenberg's Elegies and Other Small Poems, by Matilda Betham

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

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    Title: Elegies and Other Small Poems

    Author: Matilda Betham

    Release Date: February 20, 2004 [EBook #11193]

    Language: English

    *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELEGIES AND OTHER SMALL POEMS ***

    Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia and the Online Distributed

    Proofreading Team.

    ELEGIES AND OTHER SMALL POEMS

    BY MATILDA BETHAM.

    To the Hon. LADY JERNINGHAM.

    Madam,

    The many endearing instances of regard I have experienced since I had the honor of being known to your Ladyship, while they impress my mind with gratitude, flatter my hopes with a favourable reception of the following miscellanies, which, under your patronage, I venture to submit to the public.

    Considered as the first essays of an early period of life, and as the exercises of leisure, my wishes suggest, that they may not, perhaps, be found wholly unworthy of attention; but whatever be their fate with others, I shall feel myself much gratified, if, in your Ladyship's judgment, they may be allowed some merit.

    Though there cannot be a greater pleasure than dwelling on the excellencies of a distinguished and amiable character, I know not that it would be permitted me to indulge my present inclination with enumerating those virtues and endowments which confessedly distinguish your Ladyship, but my wishes I may offer, and that you may long, very long, continue to bless your family, to adorn your rank, and console the unhappy, is the sincere prayer of

    Your Ladyship's most obliged humble servant, MATILDA BETHAM.

    Stonham, Nov. 20, 1797.

    TO THE READER.

    If, in the following pages, there may be found any unacknowledged imitations, I hope I shall not be censured as an intentional plagiarist; for it has been my wish, however I may be esteemed presumptuous, not to be unjust; and I sometimes fear lest an imperfect recollection of another's idea should have appeared to me as a dawning thought of my own. Wherever I could recollect a similar passage, although unnoticed at the time I wrote, it has been either altered or acknowledged.

    I commit these trifles to the press with the anxiety necessarily resulting from a desire that they may not be deemed altogether worthless. Though the natural partiality of the writer may be somewhat strengthened by the commendations of friends and parents, I am well aware that no apology can give currency to imperfection.

    I have not vainly attempted to ascend to the steeps of Parnassus. If, wandering at its foot, I have mistaken perishable shrubs for never-dying flowers, the errors of a youthful mind, first viewing the fascinating regions of fancy, will not be rigidly condemned; for wherever there is true taste, there will be genuine candour.

    CONTENTS.

    To —— WITH ARTHUR and ALBINA.

    1794.


    A British Maid awaits the arrival of her lover from the battle, on a hill, where, at its commencement, she had retired to make vows to heaven for his success.—Evening.


    ARTHUR and ALBINA.

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