Miriam, and Joanna of Naples, with other pieces in verse and prose

Contents

PAGE

MIRIAM: A DRAMATIC POEM ...... 1

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

Preface

The following sketch was begun in the summer of 1825, and finished in the summer ensuing. It was commenced in the indulgence of an early propensity for beguiling leisure hours by the pen, and was completed for the entertainment of a small circle of friends. The author has been repeatedly urged to publish it ; but as it never formed any part of her plan to attempt a regular tragedy, and as she is fully aware of its deficiencies even as a dramatic poem, she has allowed it to slumber in the safe obscurity of manuscript for a longer period than is prescribed by Horatian authority, though without obeying the other portion of the Roman critic's injunction. It is with great self-distrust that she is at last persuaded to submit it to the fearful ordeal of publication ; feeling that, if neglect or severe crit-

1* b MIRIAM.

icism should decide the time spent in its composition to have been ill employed, she must henceforward conscientiously resign pursuits that have till now lent a charm to many a solitary hour. The lapse of years has already cooled her imagination, and taught her that exertions whose tendency might be more practical and useful would now interest her feelings more deeply. She gives this early effort to the press by the advice of those whose judgment — if unbiased by friendship — she must highly respect. If warned by the result to abstain in future from similar attempts, she will submit with deference to the injunction.

It may not be unnecessary to state, that although the characters in the following scenes are imaginary, the author aimed at an illustration of the state of things which actually existed when Christianity was struggling, almost for life, under the persecution of triumphant Heathenism.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The author of Miriam deeply regrets having given her early production to the press in 1837, without such *re vision as her respect for the public demanded. Many errors of carelessness, especially in rhythm, bore testimony to its having been written without a thought of publication ; and when at last she yielded to solicitation, and in a temporary access of courage gave up her manuscript to a friend, the state of her eyesight forbade a deliberate examination of its pages. It would have been advisable to have waited a few months ; — in that case probably the work would never have emerged from privacy. Her dread of publication would have returned upon her with fresh strength, as she again contemplated some graver faults, which are so interwoven Avith the very texture of the poem as to be incurable. The voice of criticism has pronounced upon them no censures so severe as those her own judgment long since whispered. Whilst acknowledging the justice of these strictures, — in all instances kindly expressed, — she has been induced, by the unlooked-for commendations that have greeted her little work, to put forth a second edition ; but this she has not done, without first attempting, in the following pages, to repair whatever errors were susceptible of correction.

September 20/h, 1838.

CHARACTERS

Thraseno, an aged Syrian, — a Christian.

Miriam, his daughter.

EuPHAS, his son.

Piso, a noble Roman, a persecutor of the Christians.

Paulus, his son.

Christians.

Scene. — Borne.

Time. — One night, from sunset to sunrise.