Ernestus Berchtold: Or, The Modern Oepidus, a Tale

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Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1819 - 275 pages
 

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Page iii - Yet man, vain man, would with his short-lined plummet Fathom the vast abyss of heavenly justice. Whatever is, is in its causes just, Since all things are by fate. But purblind man Sees but a part o' th' chain, the nearest links, His eyes not carrying to that equal beam That poises all above.
Page v - The tale here presented to the public is the one I began at 'Coligny, when Frankenstein was planned, and when a noble ' author, having determined to descend from his lofty range, gave ' up a few hours to a tale of terror, and wrote the fragment pub'lished at the end of Maseppa." To this passage Polidori adds the following note:— "The tale which lately appeared, and to which his lordship's 'name was wrongfully attached, was founded upon the ground' work upon which this fragment was to have been...
Page vi - of three mornings I produced that tale, and left it with her. ' From hence it appears to have fallen into the hands of some ' person, who sent it to the Editor in such a way as to leave it so 'doubtful from his words, whether it was his lordship's or not, ' that I found some difficulty in vindicating it to myself. These ' circumstances were stated in a letter sent to the Morning Chronicle ' three days after the publication of the tale, but in consequence of ' the publishers representing to me that...
Page vii - ... vindicating it to myself. These " circumstances were stated in a letter sent to the Morning Chronicle ' three days after the publication of the tale, but in consequence of 'the publishers representing to me that they were compromised ' as well as myself, and that immediately they were certain it was ' mine, that they themselves would wish to make the amende ' honorable to the public, I allowed them to recall the letter which ' ' had lain some days at that paper's office.
Page 9 - ... and practice. As a preacher, he wanted the attractive graces of elocution ; but he never failed to address to the understanding and the conscience the most clear and cogent exhibitions of the great practical truths of the Bible. For what is termed polite literature he had no particular fondness, but he was a good classical scholar, and was well versed in the Mathematics, and the several branches of Natural Philosophy. In moral science, also, we have known few better reasoners or more successful...
Page vi - Greece; while there one of them should die, but before his death, should obtain from his friend an oath of secrecy with regard to his decease. Some short time after, the remaining traveller returning to his native country, should be startled at perceiving his former companion moving about in society, and should be horrified at finding that he made love to his former friend's sister. (cited in ibid., 257) Polidori's own vampire story is certainly close to this sketch of Byron's tale: his vampire,...
Page v - To this passage Polidori adds the following note : — "The tale which lately appeared, and to which his lordship's "name was wrongfully attached, was founded upon the ground" work upon which this fragment was to have been continued. Two " friends were to travel from England into Greece ; while there, "one of them should die, but before his death, should obtain from " his friend an oath of secrecy with regard to his decease. Some " short time after, the remaining...
Page vii - A tale that rests upon improbabilities, must generally disgust a rational mind; I am therefore afraid that, though I have thrown the superior agency into the back ground as much as was in my power, still, that many readers will think the same moral, and the same colouring, might have been given to characters acting under the ordinary agencies of life; I believe it, but had agreed to write a supernatural tale, and that does not allow of a completely every-day narrative
Page vi - ... friends were to travel from England into Greece ; while there, one of them should die, but before his death, should obtain from his friend an oath of secrecy with regard to his decease. Some short time after, the remaining traveller returning to his native country, should be startled at perceiving his former companion moving about in society, and should be horrified at finding that he made love to his former friend's sister.
Page vi - This doctor tells us, that he left his Vampyre with a lady, that " from thence, — to use his own immaculate phraseology — it appears to have fallen into the hands of some person who sent it to the editor, in such a way as to leave it so doubtful from his words, whether it was his Lordship's (Lord Byron's,) or not, that I found some difficulty in vindicating it to myself.

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