The Project Gutenberg EBook of Frondes Agrestes, by John Ruskin

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Title: Frondes Agrestes
Readings in 'Modern Painters'

Author: John Ruskin

Release Date: January 22, 2010 [EBook #31045]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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FRONDES AGRESTES.

READINGS IN 'MODERN PAINTERS.'

CHOSEN AT HER PLEASURE,
BY THE AUTHOR'S FRIEND,
THE YOUNGER LADY OF THE THWAITE,
CONISTON.

'Spargit agrestes tibi silva frondes.'

Thirty-Eighth Thousand.

London: George Allen, 156, Charing Cross Road. 1902.

Printed By Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
At the Ballantyne Press

PREFACE.

I have been often asked to republish the first book of mine which the
public noticed, and which, hitherto, remains their favourite, in a
more easily attainable form than that of its existing editions. I am,
however, resolved never to republish the book as a whole; some parts
of it being, by the established fame of Turner, rendered unnecessary;
and others having been always useless, in their praise of excellence
which the public will never give the labour necessary to discern. But,
finding lately that one of my dearest friends, who, in advanced age,
retains the cheerfulness and easily delighted temper of bright youth,
had written out, for her own pleasure, a large number of passages from
'Modern Painters,' it seemed to me certain that what such a person
felt to be useful to herself, could not but be useful also to a class
of readers whom I much desired to please, and who would sometimes
enjoy, in my early writings, what I never should myself have offered
them. I asked my friend, therefore, to add to her own already chosen
series, any other passages she thought likely to be of permanent
interest to general readers; and I have printed her selections in
absolute submission to her judgment, merely arranging the pieces she
sent me in the order which seemed most convenient for the reciprocal
bearing of their fragmentary meanings, and adding here and there an
explanatory