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ZOPHIEL,
A Poem,
By Mrs. Brooks.
——————Forse la sorte
F. stanca di me tormentar—Metastasio.
Boston:
Published by Richardson & Lord.
* * *
J. H. A. Frost, Printer.
1825.
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit:
District Clerk's Office.
Be it remembered, that on the twelfth day of August, A. D. 1825, inthe fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States ofAmerica, Richardson & Lord, of the said District, have deposited inthis office the Title of a Book, the right whereof they claim asProprietors, in the words following, to wit:
Zophiel, a Poem, by Mrs. Brooks.
—————Forse la sorte
E stanca di me tormentar.—Metastasio.
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States,entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing theCopies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors ofsuch Copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to anAct, entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act forthe encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Chartsand Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during thetimes therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to theArts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints."
JOHN W. DAVIS,
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.
PREFACE.
Wishing to make a continued effort, in an art which, though almostin secret, has been adored and assiduously cultivated from earliestinfancy, it was my intention to have chosen some incident from Paganhistory, as the foundation of my contemplated poem. But, looking overthe Jewish annals, I was induced to select for my purpose, one oftheir well-known stories which besides its extreme beauty, seemed toopen an extensive field for the imagination which might therein availitself not only of important and elevated truths but pleasing andpopular superstitions.
Having finished one Canto I left the United States for the WestIndies in the hope of being able to sail thence for Great Britain,where I might submit what I had done to the candour of some ablewriter; publish it, if thought expedient; and obtain advice andmaterials for the improvement and prosecution of my work. But asevents have transpired to frustrate that intention I have endeavoredto make it as perfect, as with the means I have access to, ispossible.
It is, now, far beneath what might have been done, under theinfluence of more decided hopes and more auspicious circumstances.Yet, as it is, I am induced to place it before the public, with thatanxiety which naturally attends the doubtful accomplishment of anyfavourite object, on the principle that no artist can make the sameimprovement, or labour with so much pleasure to himself, in private,as when comparing his efforts with those of others, and listening tothe opinions of critics and the remarks of connoisseurs. The beauty,thou