The mythology of ancient Greece and Italy

VI
PREFACE.
The subjects of the plates are all genuine antiques, chiefly
taken from the Galerie Mythologique. The errata, which I
have carefully marked, are I think very few considering the
bulk and nature of the work. In this praise however I claim
no share ; it all belongs to the printers, to whom also belongs
the praise or blame of the peculiarities in orthography or
grammar.
The following digression will I hope be excused. It is on
a subject—that of literary property—in which, from the nature
of my works, I feel myself interested. As our silence is made
an argument against us, it becomes every author to take an
opportunity of expressing his sentiments on it. The follow-
ing are mine.
No fallacy can be greater than that of supposing that the
public have any rights in this matter unless it be the right of
the stronger, according to
the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can.
A literary work, whether the creation of genius, like Waverley,
or the product of toil and patient industry, like the present,
is I conceive property in the fullest sense of the word, as much
so as lands or houses. To these last the public have a right, but
it is only on giving the full value of them, and on the prin-
ciple that private feelings and interests are not to stand in the
way of the public good. But this principle does not apply
in any way to literature. What, we may ask, is to be derived
from Waverley and such books ? Simply amusement ; and it
surely seems very absurd to say that the public has a right
to be amused, to which right those of individuals must give
way. It is very much as if the public were to insist on ad-
mission to theatres and exhibitions on its own terms, the prin-
ciple of the O. P. riots of our younger days. No man, be it
observed, will be the worse statesman, lawyer, or physician for
not having read Waverley, so that the plea of public utility
cannot be urged. Even in books of instruction I deny any
right in the public. Supposing (a most improbable event)