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This work is in the Canadian public domain, but may be under copyright in some countries. If you live outside Canada, check your country's copyright laws. Proofer, Formatter, Project Manager,. I T is to be hoped that the purpose of this book is sufficiently explained in the text, and the preface need therefore be occupied with nothing but thanks where thanks, so far as I can recall, are due. Webb for his helpful interest in the second; to the Medieval Society of Manchester University and specially to Professor Vinaver for their kind hearing and useful discussion of the third; to Dr.
Onions for subjecting my attempts at Middle English verse to that best criticism in which all distinction between the literary and the linguistic is resolved; and to Dr. Abercrombie, for all that is not erroneous in the Appendix on Danger. The first chapter was read and commented upon by Mr.
Macfarlane and Professor Tolkien so long ago that they have probably forgotten the labour, but I do not therefore forget the kindness. Thus far my task is easy; but behind these unmistakable creditors I detect a far larger circle of those who have helped me, directly or indirectly, when neither they nor I supposed that any such matter was toward.
There seems to be hardly any one among my acquaintance from whom I have not learned. The greatest of these debtsβthat which I owe to my father for the inestimable benefit of a childhood passed mostly alone in a house full of booksβis now beyond repayment; and among the rest I can only select.
