s may occur to the reader.

In representing him, therefore, as under the control of
superstitious impressions, I trust I have not transgressed, at
least, poetical verisimilitude. An earthquake actually happened
about the period at which the poem commences, followed by storms
and inundations. Of these facts I have availed myself.

I fear the poem will be thought less interesting, from having
nothing of _love_ in it, except, in accordance with the received
ideas of the gentleness of Atheling's character, I have made him
not insensible to one of my imaginary females; and have, therefore,
to mark his character, made him advert to the pastoral scenes of
Scotland, where he had been a resident. There is a similarity
between my "Monk," and "The Missionary," but their offices and the
scenes are entirely different, and some degree of resemblance was
unavoidable in characters of the same description.

Filial affection, love of our country, bravery, sternness
(inflexible, except under religions fears); the loftier feelings of
a desolate female, under want and affliction, with something of the
wild prophetical cast; religious submission, and deep acquiescence
in the will of God;--these passions are brought into action, around
one centre, if I may use the word, THE GRAVE OF THE LAST SAXON.

That Harold's sons landed with a large fleet from Denmark, and were
joined by an immense confederate army, in the third year of
William's reign, is a well-known historical fact. That York was
taken by the confederate army, and that all the Normans, except Sir
William Malet, and his family, were killed, is also matter of
record.[89] That afterwards, the blow against William failing, the
whole country, from the Humber to Tyne, from the east to the west,
was depopulated by sword and famine, are facts which are also to be
found in all historians.

Some slight anachronisms may I hope, be pardoned--if anachronisms
they are--such as the year in which the Tower was built, _etc._

The plan of the Poem will be found, I trust, simple and coherent,
the characters sufficiently marked and contrasted, and the whole
conducive, however deficient in other respects, to the excitement
of virtuous sympathy, and subservient to that which alone can give
dignity to poetry--the cause of mor