SYLVIE AND BRUNO CONCLUDED BY LEWIS CARROLL _WITH FORTY-SIX ILLUSTRATIONS BY HARRY FURNISS_ _New York_ MACMILLAN AND CO. AND LONDON 1894 _The Right of Translation and Reproduction is Reserved_ Dreams, that elude the Waker’s frenzied grasp— Hands, stark and still, on a dead Mother’s breast, Which nevermore shall render clasp for clasp, Or deftly soothe a weeping Child to rest— In suchlike forms me listeth to portray My Tale, here ended. Thou delicious Fay— The guardian of a Sprite that lives to tease thee— Loving in earnest, chiding but in play The merry mocking Bruno! Who, that sees thee, Can fail to love thee, Darling, even as I?— My sweetest Sylvie, we must say ‘Good-bye!’ PREFACE. I must begin with the same announcement as in the previous Volume (which I shall henceforward refer to as “Vol. I.,” calling the present Volume “Vol. II.”), viz. that the Locket, at p. 405, was drawn by ‘Miss Alice Havers.’ And my reason, for not stating this on the title-page—that it seems only due, to the artist of these wonderful pictures, that his name should stand there alone—has, I think, even greater weight in Vol. II. than it had in Vol. I. Let me call especial attention to the three “Little Birds” borders, at pp. 365, 371, 377. The way, in which he has managed to introduce the most minute details of the stanzas to be illustrated, seems to me a triumph of artistic ingenuity. Let me here express my sincere gratitude to the many Reviewers who have noticed, whether favorably or unfavorably, the previous Volume. Their unfavorable remarks were, most probably, well-deserved; the favorable ones less probably so. Both kinds have no doubt served to make the book known, and have helped the reading Public to form their opinions of it. Let me also here assure them that it is not from any want of respect for their criticisms, that I have carefully forborne from reading _any_ of them. I am strongly of opinion that an author had far better _not_ read any reviews of his books: the unfavorable ones are almost certain to make him cross, and the favorable ones conceited; and _neither_ of these results is desirable. Criticisms have, however, reached me from private sources, to some of which I propose to offer a reply. One such critic complains that Arthur’s strictures, on sermons and on choristers, are too severe. Let me say, in reply, that I do _not_ hold myself responsible for _any_ of the opinions expressed by the characters in my book. They are simply opinions which, it seemed to me, might probably be held by the persons into whose mouths I put them, and which were worth consideration.