第1部分(第5/8 頁)

　in　him　an　intellect　profounder　and　more　unique　than　his　contemporaries　have　yet　recognised；　because　I　regard　him　as　the　first　social　regenerator　of　the　day—as　the　very　master　of　that　working　corps　who　would　restore　to　rectitude　the　warped　system　of　things；　because　I　think　no　mentator　on　his　writings　has　yet　found　the　parison　that　suits　him；　the　terms　which　rightly　characterise　his　talent。　They　say　he　is　like　Fielding：　they　talk　of　his　wit；　humour；　ic　powers。　He　resembles　Fielding　as　an　eagle　does　a　vulture：　Fielding　could　stoop　on　carrion；　but　Thackeray　never　does。　His　wit　is　bright；　his　humour　attractive；　but　both　bear　the　same　relation　to　his　serious　genius　that　the　mere　lambent　sheet…lightning　playing　under　the　edge　of　the　summer…cloud　does　to　the　electric　death…spark　hid　in　its　womb。　Finally；　I　have　alluded　to　Mr。　Thackeray；　because　to　him—if　he　will　accept　the　tribute　of　a　total　stranger—I　have　dedicated　this　second　edition　of　“JANE　EYRE。”

CURRER　BELL。

December　21st；　1847。

Note　to　the　Third　Edition

I　avail　myself　of　the　opportunity　which　a　third　edition　of　“Jane　Eyre”　affords　me；　of　again　addressing　a　word　to　the　Public；　to　explain　that　my　claim　to　the　title　of　novelist　rests　on　this　one　work　alone。　If；　therefore；　the　authorship　of　other　works　of　fiction　has　been　attributed　to　me；　an　honour　is　awarded　where　it　is　not　merited；　and　consequently；　denied　where　it　is　justly　due。

This　explanation　will　serve　to　rectify　mistakes　which　may　alre