from the varied walks of literature the fairy track of Romance. On that enchanted path we purpose rambling from year to year, hoping to lead the adventurous reader through castles of delightful gloom, and forests of never-wearying perplexity; over meads of perennial verdure, and battle-fields as fraught with the elements of excitement, as the most devout lover of fiction could desire. In this introductory effort, the wish to give all the effect in our power to the graphic designs of Mr. Prout, has induced us to draw upon the resources of natives of the countries that supply the scenes illustrated. From the productions of German, French, Dutch, Italian, and even Danish genius, materials have been taken, and either partially or wholly remodelled; preserving those characteristics which impart an air of reality to Romantic narrative. A proportion of the tales is entirely original, and was furnished for the work by an accomplished foreigner. |