would have gladly drawn even more largely from the
sources open to her, not only from the older authors,
but from many writers of our own day also. It was
desirable, however, that the volume should not reach
an unwieldy size, as it was intended for pleasant com-
panionship the summer-seat, under a shady tree, or
the chimney corner in winter-rather than for the
prouder position allotted to the ponderous quarto on
the library shelf. A word of especial apology is per-
haps needed, regarding some of our omissions; "Co-
mus," the "Allegro and Penseroso," Gray's "Elegy"
and "Ode to Spring," with other poems of that class,
though peculiarly fitted for a compilation of this kind,
will not be found in our table of Contents. But they
have already been so often printed and misprinted,
quoted and misquoted!

"Dono infelice di bellezza, ond' hai

Funesta dota d' infiniti guai."

In this instance their very absence will serve to recall
them to the reader's memory.