Page:Saint Theresa of Avila (Gilman 1889).djvu/9

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PREFACE.
vii

Hungary for a present to his wife on their wedding day, and he says: “When it is finished, I have another work of the same kind to begin,—the life of Saint Theresa as a specimen of the dreamy Mystic, in contrast with the working ascetic, Saint Elizabeth, and to contrast the celibate saint with the married one.” Now, among the list of Kingsley’s published writings this work has not found a place. If such a life had been prepared, the writer of this sketch would have found her pleasant work unnecessary; for surely Charles Kingsley would have treated Saint Theresa’s life more rationally than have any of her score of ecclesiastical biographers.

In order to make Theresa’s life seem real, the writer has thought best to allow her letters and journals to speak for themselves, and has endeavored to retain in her translations the quaint expressions of the time.

For French translations from the Spanish of these journals and letters the writer wishes to express her obligations to Mr. Martin Brimmer; and for other valuable books of reference thanks are due to the kind courtesy of the librarians