Louisa : a poetical novel, in four epistles / by Miss Seward.

  • Seward, Anna, 1742-1809
Date:
1784
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Louisa : a poetical novel, in four epistles / by Miss Seward. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. TH E enfuing epiftolary poems contain a defcription rather of paffions than of incidents. They refulted from an idea of it being poffible to unite the impaffion’d fondnefs of Pope's E L O I S A, with the charter tendernefs of Prior's EMMA; avoiding the voluptuoufnefs of the firrt, and the too conceding foftnefs of the fecond. It is hoped the Reader will dirtinguirti between the apprehended poflibility of exhibiting in verfe a more faaltkfs female Charadler than the E LOIS A of Pope, or the EMMA of Prior, and the rarti and vain defign of equalling, much lefs of furparting the tranfcendent poetic excellence of either of thofe Compofitions. The LOUISA of the following pages has all that enthufiafm which fprings from an heart warmly aftedlionate, joined to a glow- ing and pifturefque imagination. Her fenfibilities, heightened, and refined in the bofom of Retirement, know no bounds, except thofe which the dignity of confcious Worth, and artrong fenfe of Religion prcfcribe. It is feared the modern young Ladies will have little fympathy with her, fince flie is unfafliionably enthufiartic, aud un« fafhionably tender. An ingenious Friend, after reading the firrt epirtle, remarked, that LOUISA might have defcribed with more intererting par- ticularity her Lover's declaration of his paflion, and the manner in which flie received that declaration; but the Author thought the prefent method of conveying that circumrtance to the mind of the Reader more poetic. Pope's E L O I S A is minute in her def- cription of the awful Scenery, formed by the rocks, the rtreams, and mountains of Paraclete, but by no means minute concerning the amorous eclaircirtcment between herfelf and Abelard. LOUISA difcriminates her Lover’s early attentions to her, tho' rtie leaves the manner of his declaring their fource very much to the Imagination. Her