Chapter Preface to the First Edition of Prefaces by Brewer's Readers Handbook

it has been borne in mind throughout that it is not enough to state a fact,—it must be stated attractively, and the character described must be drawn characteristically, if the reader is to appreciate it, and feel an interest in what he reads.

The unnamed book given as an authority for the various Arthurian names (see Arthur, Galahad, Gawain, Lancelot, Modred, and others) is Malory’s Morte d’ Arthur (for which see p. 729). In most cases where it is quoted from, the title of the book is omitted, and only the part and chapter are given.

Those verses introduced but not signed, or signed with initials only, are by the author of the Handbook. They are the Stornello Verses, p. 1048; the aspen tree (an epigram), p. 1130; Nones and Ides, p. 759; the Seven Wise Men, p. 987; the Seven Wonders of the World, p. 987; and the following translations: Lucan’s “Serpents,” p. 835; “Veni Wakefield peramænum,” p. 414; specimen of Tyrtæos, p. 1154; “Vos non vobis,” p. 1183; “Roi d’Yvetot,” p. 1236; “Non amo te,” p. 1237; Marot’s epigram, p. 629; epigram on a violin, p. 1177; epigram on the Fair Rosamond, p. 932; the Heidelberg tun, p. 1145; “Roger Bontemps,” p. 926; “Le bon roi Dagobert,” p. 745; “Pauvre Jacques,” p. 816; Virgil’s epitaph, p. 1178; “Cunctis mare,” p. 966; “Ni fallat fatum,” p. 971; St. Elmo, p. 949; Baviad, etc., pp. 97, 652; several oracular responses (see EQUIVOKES, p. 327; Wooden Walls, p. 1227; etc.); and many others. The chief object of this paragraph is to prevent any useless search after these trifles.

It would be most unjust to conclude this preface without publicly acknowledging the great obligation which the author owes to the printer’s reader while the sheets were passing through the press. He seems to have entered into the very spirit of the book; his judgment has been sound, his queries have been intelligent, his suggestions invaluable, and even some of the articles were supplied by him.

E. C. Brewer.