PRAFACE THE book you're about to peruse has only one object,which is to amuse. If, as over its pages you may chanceto potter, you discover it's rather more pungent andhotter than this simple pretension might lead one tothink, recollect, if you please, there's a devil in ink;and a critic who starts without any intention to domore than recount, will find his apprehension of thepoets running on to minutely-limned pictures of themen as he sees them. Neither praises nor strictureswere in my design for I tried to elude them; but a man,plus his writings, must always include them inferentially,even if nothing be stated. As the picture emerges,the sitter stands rated.But who would be backward when others have donethe very same thing in a search of pure fun? Sixty·oddyears ago, a volume appeared called "A Fable forCritics," wherein were ensphered eighteen authors ofmerit. The poet who selected them dared many slyAbout the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org