Printed for J. RIVINGTON and SONS, T. CASLON, XXVIII. כיח TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lord LANSDOWN. MY LORD, TH HE most amiable virtues and the brightest talents formed the character of that HERO, whofe travels I relate and to whom could I offer a picture of fo fine a genius and fo generous a mind, but to a perfon of YOUR LORDSHIP's tafte? The fingular friendship with which YOUR LORDSHIP honours me gave rife to this undertaking; and my obligaA 2 tions tions are of fuch a natnre, that to let pass the prefent opportunity of acknowledging them, would be the highest injuftice, as well as ingratitude. Accept this mark of the inviolable attachment and profound respect of, My LORD, YOUR LORDSHIP's moft obliged, Moft obedient, and Moft humble fervant, Andrew Ramfay. PREFACE. E VER fince the first edition of THE: TRAVELS OF CYRUS, the Author has liftened with refpect and deference to the judgment of the Publick; and as feveral fpecious objections have been made to the work, and many real faults difcovered in it, his defign in this Preface is to give the best answer he can to the one, and to acquaint the reader with what he has done to correct the other. The most general defect in the former editions, is the inaction of Cyrus, who through the whole courfe of his travels has too much of the indolent Philofopher, and too little of the Hero, who was one day to be the conqueror of Afia. The nature of this work not requiring the Action of an epick poem, this fault might have been excufed; the Author has nevertheless fubmitted to the judgment of the Publick, and has made Cyrus act in the feveral countries through which he paffes; and this without departing from the character of a young Hero upon his travels, or fhocking the reader with tales and fictions that have no foundation in antiquity. Befides this general defect, there are others peculiar to each book. |