PREFACE. 



hopes, without impropriety into his account of 

 those remote periods of human society. 



In the Eleusinian mysteries the philosophy 

 of the works of Nature, with the origin and pro- 

 gress of society, are believed to have been taught 

 by allegoric scenery explained by the Hierophant 

 to the initiated, which gave rise to the machi- 

 nery of the following Poem. 



PRIORY NEAR DERBY, 

 Jan. 1, 180:2. 







