I have brought upon the stage, entertain of the Deity, as injurious to the character of his benevolence, is widely different from my own. In recommending also a great and important change in the spirit which animates the social institutions of mankind, I have avoided all flattery to those violent and malignant passions of our nature, which are ever on the watch to mingle with and to alloy the most beneficial innovations. There is no quarter given to Revenge, or Envy, or Prejudice. Love is celebrated every where as the sole law which should govern the moral world.1

In the personal conduct of my Hero and Heroine, there is one circumstance which was intended to startle the reader from the trance of ordinary life. It was my object to break through the crust of those outworn opinions on which established institutions depend. I have appealed therefore to the most universal of all feelings, and have endeavoured to strengthen the moral sense, by forbidding it to waste its energies in seeking to avoid actions which are only crimes of convention. It is because there is so great a multitude of artificial vices, that there are so few real virtues. Those feelings alone which are benevolent or malevolent, are essentially good or bad. The circum

tious persons whom I have brought upon the stage, express in the cruelty and malevolence of God, is widely different from my own." The words express in the cruelty and malevolence of God are underlined; and in the bottom margin are written the words entertain of the Deity, as injurious to the character of his mercy and benerolence, which words are signed with the initials of M'Millan the printer of the volume, "B. M'M." This suggestion is written in a brownish ink the

H

words mercy and are struck out in black ink such as all Shelley's corrections are made in; so that he would seem to have accepted his printer's suggestion in a modified form, and is not responsible for originating the illturned phrase of the text,-which, however, I leave, as it was adopted in Laon and Cythna before the poem was altered into The Revolt of Islam.

1 The Preface to The Revolt of Islam ends here, the final paragraph being cancelled.

stance of which I speak, was introduced, however, merely to accustom men to that charity and toleration which the exhibition of a practice widely differing from their own, has a tendency to promote.1 Nothing indeed can be more mischievous, than many actions innocent in themselves, which might bring down upon individuals the bigotted contempt and rage of the multitude.

1 The sentiments connected with and characteristic of this circumstance have no personal reference to the Writer. [SHELLEY'S NOTE.]

DEDICATION.

THERE IS NO DANGER TO A MAN, THAT KNOWS

WHAT LIFE AND DEATH IS: THERE'S NOT ANY LAW

EXCEEDS HIS KNOWLEDGE; NEITHER IS IT LAWFUL THAT HE SHOULD STOOP TO ANY OTHER LAW.

CHAPMAN.