OF THE LITERATURE OF THE SOUTH OF EUROPE; BY J. C. L. SIMONDE DE SISMONDI: OF THE ACADEMY AND SOCIETY OF ARTS OF GENEVA, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WILNA, OF THE ITALIAN ACADEMY, &c. &c. ADVERTISEMENT. 555 1823 THE acknowledged want in our own language of a work exhibiting a comprehensive view of foreign Literature, and the established reputation of M. de Sismondi, as an elegant and accomplished writer, will preclude the necessity of any apology, on the part of the Translator, for presenting to the public the following volumes, which have already, in their original form, acquired an extensive and merited celebrity. It has been the object of the Translator, in the execution of his task, to adhere as closely as possible to the text of the original; no part of which he has taken upon himself either to suppress or enlarge, with the exception of one or two peculiar instances, where the extent of the alteration is pointed out. With regard to the poetical extracts, introduced by M. de Sismondi, and which are generally translated by him into French prose, the Editor has adopted, where practicable, such established English translations as already existed. In other instances he has either been indebted to the kindness of his friends, or has been compelled to insert his own metrical versions. |
