ients in the preface to the second edition of "An
Egyptian Princess."

With these lines I send Uarda into the world; and in them I add my
thanks to those dear friends in whose beautiful home, embowered in
green, bird-haunted woods, I have so often refreshed my spirit and
recovered my strength, where I now write the last words of this book.

Rheinbollerhutte, September 22, 1876.
GEORG EBERS.

PREFACE TO THE FIFTH GERMAN EDITION.

The earlier editions of "Uarda" were published in such rapid succession,
that no extensive changes in the stereotyped text could be made; but
from the first issue, I have not ceased to correct it, and can now
present to the public this new fifth edition as a "revised" one.

Having felt a constantly increasing affection for "Uarda" during the
time I was writing, the friendly and comprehensive attention bestowed
upon it by our greatest critics and the favorable reception it met with
in the various classes of society, afforded me the utmost pleasure.

I owe the most sincere gratitude to the honored gentlemen, who called
my attention to certain errors, and among them will name particularly
Professor Paul Ascherson of Berlin, and Dr. C. Rohrbach of Gotha. Both
will find their remarks regarding mistakes in the geographical location
of plants, heeded in this new edition.

The notes, after mature deliberation, have been placed at the foot of
the pages instead of at the end of the book.

So many criticisms concerning the title "Uarda" have recently reached
my ears, that, rather by way of explanation than apology, I will here
repeat what I said in the preface to the third edition.

This title has its own history, and the more difficult it would be for
me to defend it, the more ready I am to allow an advocate to speak for
me, an advocate who bears a name no less distinguished than that of G.
E. Lessing, who says:

"Nanine? (by Voltaire, 1749). What sort of title is that? What thoughts
does it awake? Neither more nor less than a title should arouse. A title
must not be a bill of fare. The less it betrays of the contents, the
better it is. Author and spectator are both satisfied, and the ancients
rarely gave their comedies anything but insignificant names."

This may be the case with "Uarda," whose character is less prominent
than some others, it is true, but whose sorrows direct the destinies of
my other heroes and heroines.

Why should I conceal the fact