PREFACE
THE following POEMS were written originally for the Amusement of theAuthor, as they were the Products of her leisure Moments. She had noIntention ever to have published them; nor would they now have madetheir Appearance, but at the Importunity of many of her best, and mostgenerous Friends; to whom she considers herself, as under the greatestObligations.
With all their Imperfections, the Poems are now humbly submitted to thePerusal of the Public.
The following is a Copy of a LETTER sent by the Author's Master to thePublisher.
As to her WRITING, her own Curiosity led her to it; and this she learntin so short a Time, that in the Year 1765, she wrote a Letter to theRev. Mr. OCCOM, the Indian Minister, while in England.
She has a great Inclination to learn the Latin Tongue, and has made someProgress in it. This Relation is given by her Master who bought her,and with whom she now lives.
Words in this poem
- amusement n.
- Deep thought; muse. [Cf. F. amusement.]
- generous a.
- Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]
- humbly adv.
- With humility; lowly.
- perusal n.
- The act of carefully viewing or examining. Tatler. [From Peruse.]
- publisher n.
- One who publishes; as, a publisher of a book or magazine.
- curiosity n.
- The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. [OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosit, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Currious, and cf. Curio.]
- wrote v. i.
- To root with the snout. See 1st Root. [OE. wroten. See 1st Root.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
PREFACE is in the public domain. This text is taken from Poems on various subjects, religious and moral, Project Gutenberg ebook #409; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Phillis Wheatley, PREFACE, in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #409, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/wheatley-poems/preface.html, id L07702.
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