as well as a collection of the various Songs found in his Plays,
making a total number of about 400 Poems, embraced in the present
volume.

A sketch of the life of Goethe is prefixed, in order that the
reader may have before him both the Poet himself and the Poet's
offspring, and that he may see that the two are but one--that
Goethe lives in his works, that his works lived in him.

The dates of the different Poems are appended throughout, that
of the first publication being given, when that of the
composition is unknown. The order of arrangement adopted is that
of the authorized German editions. As Goethe would never arrange
them himself in the chronological order of their composition, it
has become impossible to do so, now that he is dead. The plan
adopted in the present volume would therefore seem to be the
best, as it facilitates reference to the original. The
circumstances attending or giving rise to the production of any
of the Poems will be found specified in those cases in which they
have been ascertained by me.

Having said thus much by way of explanation, I now leave the
book to speak for itself, and to testify to its own character.
Whether viewed with a charitable eye by the kindly reader, who
will make due allowance for the difficulties attending its
execution, or received by the critic, who will judge of it only
by its own merits, with the unfriendly welcome which it very
probably deserves, I trust that I shall at least be pardoned for
making an attempt, a failure in which does not necessarily imply
disgrace, and which, by leading the way, may perhaps become the