Aubrey Beardsley was born on August 21, 1872, and died on March 16, 1898. During his short life he carried the art of Black and White further than any man since Albert Dürer. On his death prophetic assurances were not wanting that the "Beardsley cult" or "craze," as it was generally called, was doomed to extinction with the death of its high priest, but so far from this anticipation being realised, his work now enjoys a greater appreciation and more intelligent sympathy than was granted to it, save by an esoteric few, during his lifetime. Although it is impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to state to what extent Beardsley's popularity has increased during the last few years, evidence is not wanting to show that his following is both enthusiastic and loyal. This applies not only to Great Britain, but equally to America, whilst in Germany, France, Belgium, Russia and Holland, it is safe to affirm that his reputation is steadily growing, especially in Germany. Indeed, it is obvious to the most superficial observer that there is hardly a Black and White artist working to-day who has not in some subtle way been influenced by the master. More than three-fourths of Beardsley's work passed through my hands, and to my knowledge he never used Chinese White. I am the fortunate possessor of the originals of over eighty of his principal drawings. I get applications from would-be purchasers of these from different parts of the world almost daily, but as yet I have withstood all temptations to part with these treasures, which I regard as the chief monument of the greatest, most brilliant, the wittiest, and the most lovable man it has ever been my privilege to know. JOHN LANE. THE BODLEY HEAD, VIGO STREET, W. _July_ 1903. CONTENTS DEDICATION TO "UNDER THE HILL" UNDER THE HILL THE THREE MUSICIANS THE BALLAD OF A BARBER TRANSLATION OF CATULLUS: CARMEN CI TABLE TALK OF AUBREY BEARDSLEY TWO LETTERS OF AUBREY BEARDSLEY ILLUSTRATIONS _AUBREY BEARDSLEY AT MENTONE, IN THE ROOM IN WHICH HE DIED Frontispiece_ _THE ABBÉ_ _THE TOILET OF HELEN_ _THE FRUIT BEARERS_ _THE ASCENSION OF SAINT ROSE OF LIMA_ _FOR THE THIRD TABLEAU OF "DAS RHEINGOLD_" _THE THREE MUSICIANS_ _THE THREE MUSICIANS_ _TAILPIECE TO "THE THREE MUSICIANS"_ _THE COIFFING_ _CUL-DE-LAMPE TO "THE BARBER_" _ATE ATQUE VALE_ _TITLE-PAGE TO VOL. I. OF "THE YELLOW BOOK"_ _FRONTISPIECE TO "PLAYS" BY JOHN DAVIDSON _ _ARBUSCULA_ _PORTRAIT SKETCHES_ _L'ABBÉ MOURET_ UNDER THE HILL A ROMANTIC NOVEL TO THE MOST EMINENT AND REVEREND PRINCE GIULIO POLDO PEZZOLI