PREFACE.
As the occasion of this poem was real, not fictitious; so
the method pursued in it was rather imposed by what spontaneously
arose in the author's mind on that occasion, than
meditated or designed: which will appear very probable
from the nature of it; for it differs from the common mode
of poetry, which is from long narrations to draw short
morals. Here, on the contrary, the narrative is short, and
the morality arising from it makes the bulk of the poem.
The reason of it is, that the facts mentioned did naturally
pour these moral reflections on the thought of the writer.
It is evident from the First Night, where three deaths
are mentioned, that the plan is not yet completed; for two
only of those three have yet been sung. But, since this
Fourth Night finishes one principal and important theme,
naturally arising from all three, namely, the subduing
our fear of death, it will be a proper pausing-place for the
reader, and the writer too. And it is uncertain whether
Providence, or inclination, will permit him to go any
farther.
I say “inclination,” for this thing was entered on
purely as a refuge under uneasiness, when more proper
studies wanted sufficient relish to detain the writer's attention
to them. And that reason (thanks be to Heaven)
ceasing, the writer has no farther occasion—I should rather
say “excuse”—for giving-in so much to the amusements,
amid the duties, of life.
