Chapter I: Preface

The poetry and tales constituting the main part of the present volume, need no apology or introduction. Most of them were finished for publication by the author.[A]

But in reference to the biographical sketch which precedes them, a few words will not be out of place.

A life so private afforded but few materials. Incidents of early days, tending to illustrate the bent and development of his powers, are derived from memoranda in Mr. Roby's own handwriting, or from well-remembered conversations. The absence of that unconscious self-portraiture, which a man's own letters present, will be found supplied, to some extent, by short reminiscences, kindly furnished by friends. The memoir is not offered as a complete biography. It is simply an outline of a literary life, and of a character; the one as varied in its aspect, as the other was uniform in its tenor. That part of the life which fell under the writer's own observation, has of necessity been dwelt on most at length, and she fears lest too much prominence may at times have been given to what is personal to herself, and the double life be thus too strongly shown. Yet the shadow that brings out the principal object will scarcely be censured. No one can feel so deeply as herself the inadequacy of her talents to the subject. To one qualification alone she may lay claim, without fear of the charge of presumption, "that of the seeing heart," without which it has been truly said, "no _true_ seeing for the head is so much as possible."

The writer will esteem herself happy if, with all the imperfections of detail, she shall, in a measure, have succeeded in her aim. That aim has been to gather up, with a loving reverence, the scattered products of her husband's pen, by which the reader may estimate his powers, and to present a faithful mental portrait of one, with whom the pursuit of literature was no bar to the discharge of ordinary duties, and whose gifts were the Lares and Penates of his own fireside,--one who, as time advanced, learned the secret of self-renunciation and spiritual obedience, and having "left this life for a better," still, lives "in memory here," as a man of genius and a Christian.

December, 1853. E. R. R.

CONTENTS.

Page
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN ROBY 1

MUSIC.
AIR FROM A MODERN CONCERTO 121
SHEW PITY, LORD 122

LYRICS.
LINES WRITTEN ON THE DEPARTURE OF FRIENDS FROM ENGLAND 127
PREFACE TO A LADY'S ALBUM 129
TO ---- 132
STANZAS 133
STANZAS FOR MUSIC 134
THE FAIRIES' SONG 136
STANZAS FOR MUSIC 137
STANZAS FOR MUSIC 138
STANZAS FOR MUSIC 139
STANZAS 140
SONG 141
THE FRIEND 143
LINES TO A LADY WHOM THE AUTHOR HAD NEVER SEEN 145
THE BIRCH 147
ASTROLOGY 148
THE FIRST REVELATION 149
AN EVENING HYMN 151

THE DUKE OF MANTUA: A Tragedy 153

LEGENDS.
MOTHER RED CAP; OR, THE ROSICRUCIANS 247
THE DEATH PAINTER; OR, SKELETON'S BRIDE 305
THE CRYSTAL GOBLET, a Tale of the Emperor Severus 339