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", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Book Cover]") ?>
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", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Frontispiece]", SmallCapsText("Darius crossing the Bosporus")) ?>
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", "
", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Title Page]") ?>
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", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Copyright Page]") ?>
describing the character and the action of the personages
whose histories form the subjects of this series, the
writer makes no attempt to darken the colors in which he
depicts their deeds of violence and wrong, or to
increase, by indignant denunciations, the obloquy which
heroes and conquerors have so often brought upon
themselves, in the estimation of mankind, by their ambition,
their tyranny, or their desperate and reckless
crimes. In fact, it seems desirable to diminish, rather than
to increase, the spirit of censoriousness which
often leads men so harshly to condemn the errors and sins of
others, committed in circumstances of temptation
to which they themselves were never exposed. Besides, to
denounce or vituperate guilt, in a narrative of the
transactions in which it was displayed, has little influence
in awakening a healthy sensitiveness in the
conscience of the reader. We observe, accordingly, that in
the narratives of the sacred Scriptures, such
are seldom found. The story of Absalom's undutifulness and
rebellion, of David's adultery and
murder, of Herod's tyranny, and all other narratives of
crime, are related in a calm, simple, impartial, and
forbearing spirit, which leads us to condemn the sins, but
not to feel a pharisaical resentment and wrath
against the sinner.
This example, so obviously proper and right, the writer of
this series has made it his endeavor in all respects
to follow.
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", "
", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Contents]") ?>
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", "center", "70", "0", "0", "[Engravings]") ?>