ber only that Cain's wife was called Mahala, and Abel's Thirza: in the following pages I have called them “Adah” and "Zillah," the earliest female names which occur in Genesis; they were those of Lamech's wives: those of Cain and Abel are not called by their names. Whether, then, a coincidence of subject may have caused the same in expression, I know nothing, and care as little.

The reader will please to bear in mind (what few choose to recollect) that there is no allusion to a future state in any of the books of Moses, nor indeed in the Old Testament. For a reason for this extraordinary omission he may consult "Warburton's Divine Legation ;” whether satisfactory or not, no better has yet been assigned. I have therefore supposed it new to Cain, without, I hope, any perversion of Holy Writ.*

With regard to the language of Lucifer, it was difficult for me to make him talk like a Clergyman upon the

* In the course of the Notes, it will be seen that I differ from Lord Byron and Bishop Warburton on this subject. But to enter largely upon this discussion is no part of the business of the Notes. Yet a kind friend has since adverted to the instances of Elijah and Enoch ; and Saul's idea that Samuel could be raised; also Daniel's declaration

they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars-forever and ever:" also David's “waking up" after the divine likeness; et alia: and I apprehend that though it be generally admitted that the Old Testament abounds with less clear, indeed, yet, still, evident testimonies of a future state.-G.

same subjects; but I have done what I could to restrain him within the bounds of spiritual politeness.

If he disclaims having tempted Eve in the shape of the Serpent, it is only because the book of Genesis has not the most distant allusion to any thing of the kind, but merely to the Serpent in his serpentine capacity.*

Note.-The reader will perceive that the author has partly adopted in this poem the notion of Cuvier, that the world had been destroyed several times before the creation of man. This speculation, derived from the

different strata and the bones of enormous and unknown animals found in them, is not contrary to the Mosaic account, but rather confirms it; as no human bones have yet been discovered in those strata, although those of many known animals are found near the remains of the unknown. The assertion of Lucifer, that the pre-adamite world was also peopled by rational beings much more intelligent than man, and proportionably powerful to the mammoth, &c. &c. is, of course, a poetical fiction to help him to make out his case.

I ought to add, that there is a "Tramelogedie" of Alfieri, called "Abel."—I have never read that nor any other of the posthumous works of the writer, except his Life.

* In the Notes, however, this is rather differently imagined.-G.

PREFACE

TO THE

NOTES.

Ir may possibly be thought by some, that the dramatic poem which is the subject of the following annotations, is not a proper one for extended comment. The writer however has a contrary persuasion. Nor does he yield to the painful idea, that English minds, and the spirit and taste of the present age or day, are so sunken, and lost to rationality, as to be wholly and universally averse to serious subjects, merely because they are the opposite of light and frivolous, and invite thought ; —or because man's spiritual and eternal concerns form their prominent feature.

In this undertaking, the author is aware that his professed province is that of Annotator. To guard against the censure of having sometimes exceeded his due limits, or drowned the text in his Notes; he avows that he intends no promulgation of the original (so well known) but for the sake of his accompanying comment, as a frank exposition of his own sentiments on the subjects (deemed by him important to human welfare) to which the original work affords occasion. He therefore relies upon immunity from condemnation on the score of

length at any rate; whilst, on the score of sense, he is conscious he must bear the shock. Yet he entertains a hope, that, to some extent at least, the impressions, under the influence of which (satisfactorily to himself) he has written, may be destined to find their way to the minds of those who read; and if so, his end will be most happily gained.

Should some, of more advanced years and mature knowledge, be of opinion that many, or all of the points which come under consideration, are so obviously selfantidoted, as neither to require nor deserve discussion; he would observe, that those matters which some may think thus obvious and self-antidoted, may not be so to others; especially those of earlier years, and consequently of less matured and established experience and reflection. In this latter class, there may be many, in whom PRINCIPLE is yet fluctuating. But he further thinks, that complete and desirable disentanglement of right from wrong, and truth from error, is often not to be effected on a cursory perusal. Many also who may read these lines, are well aware, that propositions are sometimes advanced not only concisely, but so artfully, that what is contained in very few words, may require the use of many to confute them effectually. They know too, that it is far easier, often, to feel intuitively, a position or assertion to be false, than to shew it to be so; because several subjects or ideas are in such cases involved in the confutation of one short dictum, the unravelling of which therefore, to detect its error, may require both time and thought. Charges are easily made; but often not so

easily answered; yet does not that imply that they can not be answered. And if something of this kind be not done on some occasions, error and vice triumph, and make progress and impression. The only way to prevent this (if desirable to be prevented; which will not be denied by any who love the truth) is to expose, the selfcontradiction very often, and always the irrationality, of error and of vice, by solid and convincing argument. He has also felt, that the very habit of practically extricating truth from falsehood, by a right process, may be useful to those who are beginning life. This effect he has sincerely intended. His success or failure in his attempt, he is aware, must be left to other judgment than his own.

He disclaims preachment. Yet, if Lucifer himself be sometimes found to preach as well as to philosophize, his annotator perhaps may be excusable, if his annotation should occasionally also bear some unavoidable resemblance to the text in that respect. And although he would not (if able) entrench upon that higher office; yet he trusts it is not a literary, or any other offence in a layman for laymen also are not forbidden to consult for souls if he venture to express opinions connected with spiritual and religious, as well as moral and philosophical subjects, where and when the occasion seems to demand it. He relies too on not being inculpated (for the topics are sometimes, as he conceives, important) nor too closely curtailed, if he be found using the privilege of an Englishman (friend to all constitutional and righteous government) in expressing his mind freely upon matters he deems too