Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by underscores. The oe ligature (one occurrence) has been replaced by 'oe'.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES,

ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR THEIR AMUSEMENT,

ARE DEDICATED TO

MY CHILDREN.

ORACLES FROM THE POETS.

I am Sir Oracle, And when I ope my lips let no dog bark.

Merchant of Venice.

ORACLES FROM THE POETS:

A FANCIFUL DIVERSION

FOR

THE DRAWING-ROOM.

CAROLINE GILMAN.

The enthusiast Sybil there divinely taught, Writes on loose foliage inspiration's thought. She sings the fates, and in her frantic fits The notes and names inscribed to leaves commits.

Dryden's and Symmon's Virgil.

Macbeth. I conjure you, by that which you profess, (Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me.

First Witch. Speak.

Second Witch. Demand.

Third Witch. We'll answer.

NEW YORK: JOHN WILEY

(OLD STAND OF "WILEY AND PUTNAM"), 161 BROADWAY: AND PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.

1848.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, BY WILEY & PUTNAM. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Stereotyped by RICHARD C. VALENTINE, 45 Gold-street, New York.

PREFACE.