Lars Porsena

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LARS PORSENA
or
THE FUTURE OF SWEARING AND IMPROPER LANGUAGE
ROBERT GRAVES
New York E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 681 Fifth Avenue
LARS PORSENA, COPYRIGHT 1927, BY E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN U. S. A.

LARS PORSENA


Of recent years in England there has been a noticeable decline of swearing and foul language, and this, except at centres of industrial depression, shows every sign of continuing until a new shock to our national nervous system, a European war on a large scale or widespread revolutionary disturbances at home, may (or may not) revive the habit of swearing, simultaneously with that of praying. While, therefore, obscene and blasphemous tongues are temporarily idle, it would be well to inquire intelligently into the nature and necessity of their employment: a ticklish theme and one seldom publicly treated except in comminations from orthodox pulpits. It is to be hoped that this essay will steer its difficult course without private offence to the reader as without public offence to the Censor.