many of the most familiar stanzas and lines of the chief poets of the
English language, with a few selections from Continental writers; and
also some less familiar selections from more modern poets, which may in
time become classic, or which at least have a contemporary interest.
Readers of English literature are aware that the few great poets of our
language have struck perhaps every chord of human sentiment capable of
illustration in verse, and even these few have borrowed the ideas, and
sometimes almost the exact words, of predecessors or contemporaries.

But often old ideas in a new dress are welcome to readers who might not
have been attracted by the old forms; and each generation has its
peculiar modes of expression if not its new lines of thought. It is
hoped that this mingling of the old and the new will not be without
interest. To carry out the plan of making this a "handy" dictionary of
quotations and, at the same time, as comprehensive as the space
permitted, it has been necessary to confine the illustration of the
topics selected to brief extracts from each author. Of course, in all
books of quotations the great name of Shakespeare fills the largest
space; and the compiler of this book, as well as all students of
Shakespeare, is under obligation to the painstaking compilers of the
concordances to this poet, and especially to Mr. Bartlett's monumental
work. To many other compilers of quotations, especially to the _Poetical
Quotations_ Anna L. Ward (published by Messrs. T.Y. Crowell & Co.),
the author is under obligations; while he has made an independent
examination of the more recent poets, as well as many of the older ones.
The topics illustrated number 2138, selected from the writings of 255
authors. The indexes, which will be found full and complete, were
prepared by Mrs. Grace E. Powers, who has also rendered valuable
assistance in preparing the copy for the press and in reading the
proofs.