tone of manners changes. The poet's own spelling and punctuation
bear, or may bear, a gleam of his personality. But such last
drops of pleasure are the reward of fully-formed taste; and
fully-formed taste cannot be reached without full knowledge.
This, we have noticed, most readers cannot bring. Hence, despite
all drawbacks, an anthology may have its place. A book which
tempts many to read a little, will guide some to that more
profound and loving study of which the result is, the full
accomplishment of the poet's mission.

We have, probably, no poet to whom the reasons here advanced to
justify the invidious task of selection apply more fully and
forcibly than to Herrick. Highly as he is to be rated among our
lyrists, no one who reads through his fourteen hundred pieces can
reasonably doubt that whatever may have been the influences,
--wholly unknown to us,--which determined the contents of his
volume, severe taste was not one of them. PECAT FORTITER:--his
exquisite directness and simplicity of speech repeatedly take
such form that the book cannot be offered to a very large number
of those readers who would most enjoy it. The spelling is at
once arbitrary and obsolete. Lastly, the complete reproduction
of the original text, with explanatory notes, edited by Mr
Grosart, supplies materials equally full and interesting for
those who may, haply, be allured by this little book to master
one of our most attractive poets in his integrity.

In Herrick's single own edition of HESPERIDES and NOBLE NUMBERS,
but little arrangement is traceable: nor have we more than a few
internal signs of date in composition. It would hence be unwise
to attempt grouping the poems on a strict plan: and the