The story on which this opera is founded, appeared originally in that famous collection of French romances, «La bibliothèque bleue», under the title of «Huon de Bordeaux». Wieland adopted the principal incidents, and weaving them into a web of his own, composed his justly celebrated poem of «Oberon», which has been tastefully translated into English by mr. Sotheby. The subject has been frequently dramatized, twice at least in Germany, and twice in England, not counting a masque by mr. Sotheby himself, which I believe was never acted. As the baron von Weber desire, the task has been again attempted; and I am indebted principally to mr. Sotheby's elegant version for the plot of the piece; but the demerits of the dialogue and lyrical portions must be visited on my head: they are presented to the public but as the fragile threads on which a great composer has ventured to string his valuable pearls; and fully conscious of the influence that thought has had on my exertions, I feel that, even as regards these threads,

If aught like praise to me belong,

with him I must divide it;

«I am not the rose,» says the persian song,

«but I have dwelt beside it.»