PREFACE.

THIS selection of Sonnets is designed for the student of poetry; not for the reader who takes up a volume of verse in order to pass away an idle hour. A beautiful song gladdens the ear at once, a noble ode, or a pathetic ballad, sends the blood bounding or brings tears to the eyes, and a great drama affords to the mind infinite delight even upon a first perusal ; but "the sonnet is a form of poetry, in which style is put under high pressure," and the wealth it contains is rarely to be won without toil. Condensation of thought, exactitude of language, and unity of design are demanded of the sonnet writer, and through his fourteen lines, and knitting them together, must run the golden thread of poetry. Perfection in this most difficult branch of the poetic art is of course not easily attained, and even in this little volume several Sonnets will be found whose intrinsic value is comparatively slight, although from association, or from other causes, they possess a literary interest.

It will be observed that the names of living writers

are not included in the list. It is difficult to judge wisely, it is scarcely possible to judge impartially, of the works of men whose presence is perhaps familiar, and whose poetry is associated with the charm of personal intercourse. And even when this link is wanting, the rigid estimate of the critic can scarcely be given to works which, as it were, belong to ourselves and form a part of our lives. The contemporary poet may or may not be a greater poet than one of his predecessors, who belongs to the crowned kings of poesy, but it is probable that his influence over us will be more penetrating. He speaks the language of the age, knows the thoughts of the age, takes his share in it, and belongs to it even while rising above it. Some of his popularity is therefore due to temporary causes, and he must be a rash man or a consummate critic who shall venture to say how much of the living poet's work is fulfilling a passing service, and how much of it is destined to an enduring life.

There are two selections of English verse, and, as far as the Editor knows, two only which will thoroughly satisfy the student and lover of poetry. One is Mr. Palgrave's Golden Treasury of Songs and

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Lyrics, a little volume which it may be safely said will prove a joy to future generations as well as to our own the other, less known, perhaps, but scarcely less precious, is Archbishop Trench's Household Book of English Poetry. these anthologies will be as evident to any one who has toiled in the same field, as the fine taste and judgment of which every reader of culture must be The range covered by these selections is far wider than that now chosen. Variety, which gives a zest to life, also adds to the charm of poetry, and a book which consists wholly of Sonnets cannot boast the attraction of volumes which embrace almost every class of poetry save the epic and the dramatic. And yet there are reasons, perhaps, why the Editor may hope without presumption, to secure a place for this collection, on the shelf which holds the two admirable volumes edited by Archbishop Trench and by Mr. Palgrave.

The patient labour expended on

Archbishop Trench has well said that "poems of the highest order are in their very essence sources of a delight which is inexhaustible." This delight is afforded in no stinted measure by the Sonnet, which concentrates within a narrow space such rare and

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often peerless beauty. A Sonnet, brief though it be, is of wide compass, and contains, to use the words of Marlowe, infinite riches in a little room. What depth of emotion, what graceful fancy, what majestic organ-notes, what soft flute-like music is it not capable of expressing !

It may be admitted that no one will care to read many Sonnets successively. They must be studied at intervals, thoughtfully and without haste. A collection of really fine Sonnets therefore, a collection containing, we believe, the noblest Sonnets in the language, with the exception of those (and what an exception it is!) written by living poets, though it can never interest the multitude, should have a strong claim on the regard of thoughtful readers of poetry. They are not likely to throw it aside after a careless glance, but will rather, let us hope, turn to it again. and yet again, for solace and delight. To make the anthology worthy of such students, no trouble has been spared. The labour of editorial work like this is not evident to the casual reader, since the heaviest portion of it leaves no mark upon the page. Very bad sonnets are easily rejected, very good sonnets