Adelaide : or The Emigrants :: :: University of Virginia Library

Adelaide : or The Emigrants

A Tragedy

Sheil, Richard Lalor (1791-1851)

ADELAIDE;

TO MISS O'NEILL.

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TO MISS O'NEILL.

Madam,

I am indebted to your great talents for the success of this tragedy, and dedicate it to you as a feeble testimony of my gratitude.

The part of Adelaide was written for you. In adapting it, I endeavoured to combine beauty, innocence, and feeling. I knew that your representation of such a character would not be the effort of art, but the spontaneous effusion of nature.

The lines which the author of Zaire has addressed to Mademoiselle Gaussin, are applicable to yourself:

Ce sont tes yeux, ces yeux si pleins de charmes,
Ta voix touchante, et tes sons enchanteurs,
Qui du critique ont fait tomber les armes.
Ta seule vue adoucit les censeurs:
L'illusion, cette reine des cœurs,
Marche à ta suite, inspire les alarmes,
Le sentiment, les regrets, les douleurs,
Et le plaisir de repandre des larmes.

I have the honor to be, Madam, Your most obedient and very Humble Servant, RICHARD SHEIL.