PREFACE. "GOOD wine needs no basi authoress, when asked for a Preface wine is made worse by apologies -The Puilishers, however, cannot permit this ins verk u go forth to the world, even on its own merits. Vucā they trust are not scanty, without a ine of expianatory introduction. It has been much the practice to dramatize Tales, yet there must be, at least, novelty in the attempt to restore, or to change, the acted Drama to the more popular form of narrative, for the purpose of rendering the real beauties of the British stage more familiar, and better known to the younger ciams of readers, and even of extending that knowledge to family circles where the drama itself is forbidden. The publishers do not, indeed, venture to touch on the objections which well meaning Christian sects make to the Stage; but truth and good morals are not the less amiable when put in an attractive point of view, and they therefore the more readily adopted the plan here executed by one, who, from her lite rary as well as histrionic pursuits, could not fail to be qualified for the task. In the progress of the work it has been an object with the authoress to preserve all the interest arising from dramatic concealment of the plot, even whilst rendering the story, in many instances, more intelligible-another object has been to preserve all the colloquial wit and scenic effect-but the most important one has been to render the whole strictly obedient to the most refined ideas of delicacy, subservient to the best purposes of morality, aud conducive to the highest sense of religious awe, and love for a beneficent Providence. In the execution of this, care also has been taken, whilst arranging the Tales for youthful minds, to render them worthy the perusal of the many, who can neither afford leisure, nor spare attention, for more elaborate or more voluminous works; and even of the more refined in those moments when a desire for amusement may predominate over the wish for more serious instruction. One word, and one word only, the authoress calls on us to offer as a safeguard against any charge of presumption in respect to her own portion of the poetical illustrations-part of these are (as marked by asterisks) from our immortal Avonian Bard, the others from the plays where they are introducedif she has dared in some instances, with unfledged wing, to sear towards the eagle's path, it has not been in the expectation of approaching the sublimity of his aërial flight, but solely to mark a moral, or inculcate a virtue; on subjects where no appropriate quotation presented itself to research. On the whole, the publishers hesitate not to submit the work to the public, in a confident hope that it will yield both amusement and instruction: but they will not intrude longer upon the reader's attention—the TALES will speak for themselves. May, 1822. Let me glory in My happiness, and mighty kings look pale WHILE the wars were pending between Charles Emperor of Spain, and Francis King of France, the inhabitants of the city of Milan were in great anxiety for the result; and even the great Duke himself, Ludovico Sforza, a man whose lofty, ardent mind, was scarcely to be moved, looked sad and thoughtful. Indeed his present situation was one of great danger; and the existing contests between Charles and Francis excited much interest among the Italian princes, all of whom had been solicited, by one or |