E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Labyrinths, Bill Tozier,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(/)
THE
AMOURS
OF
ZEOKINIZUL,
King of the Kofirans.
Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol.
With a KEY.
LONDON:
Printed for G. Smith, near Temple-Bar. 1749.
[Price One Shilling and Sixpence.]
PREFACE.
The Bookseller, who has taken upon him to print this little Work,having absolutely insisted upon my introducing it with a Preface, Iwas unwilling to refuse him so easy a Matter; and the rather as theOmission might greatly prejudice it. He urged his Request, by saying,that a Preface was no less essential to a Book, than an Exordium toa Sermon. As few read the one, as listen to the other; however, ifeither be wanting, the Performance is defective, and, is not so much asthought worthy to be read in order to be censured. Nevertheless, whatcan be said with Regard to a useless Discourse? Why, really, I think, itis best to say nothing at all. This little Work places Truth in so justa Light, that no Characters are wanting to point it out. But perhaps,the real Truth may be amplified in it, and there may be Applicationsmade of it as false as injurious. This is what ought strongly to beguarded against; and to this Purpose I sincerely declare, that I haveintermix'd nothing of my own in the Amours of Zeokinizul: But, like afaithful Translator, I have constantly kept close to Krinelbol'sManuscript. I have related the Facts just as he himself says they weretold him by the Kofiran Nobility. This sincere Protestation, is allthat I can do, In order to remove any Suspicion of Interpolations. TheArabian Manuscript is still in my Possession, and if desired, shall beprinted. But I own, with Concern, that it is quite beyond my Power, toprocure such a Number of Types as will be requisite to give thisSatisfaction; therefore, let those who are willing and equal to such anExpence, set the Printer to work. I promise to deliver him theManuscript on Demand. I cannot help thinking, but that the Malice of theWorld is at its highest Pitch. Formerly People were overjoy'd at theCertainty of the Antipodes; and to hear that the Inhabitants of thoseClimates came nearest to us in Industry, and the Love of Arts andSciences; and that the Sun approached to, and receded from them, as itdoes with Regard to us. In fine, that their Temperature, their Seasons,their Manners, and Inclinations, were the same as our own. Yet, in thismy Endeavour to verify such a Resemblance, by Proofs extracted fromtheir own History, demonstrating by notorious and certain Facts thatthey think and act just like ourselves, I shall be branded for anImposture; or some, who affect to be more sharp-sighted, will suspectthat under fictitious Names, I have represented Persons for whom myHeart is filled with the most respectful Sentiments. Let this suffice,[Pg 1]as the shorter a Preface is the better it is liked.
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