Love's Old Sweet Song: A Sheaf of Latter-day Love-Poems Gathered from Many Sources

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As will be apparent at a glance, the selections are all from modern, and largely from living poets; the dominant chord is lyrical; and in the general unisance the minor prevails over the major key. No excuse seems called for in presenting a new anthology; for, given the same theme, each compiler must of necessity present a different score, subject to individual taste and preferences. “To apologize for a new anthology is but one degree less sensible than to prepare it,” pertinently remarks the editor of Ballades and Rondeaus. Such were but another case of qui s’excuse, s’accuse. It may be observed, nevertheless, that the path of the compiler is far from being strewn with flowers. Indeed, it has been truly said that Æsop’s old man and boy with the donkey had not a harder task than the maker of selections and collections of verses. Of recent years a number of excellent anthologies have been published on a similar theme. But these deal mainly with the rhythmic fancies of the elder bards, or in fewer instances, combine the older and the younger schools. In the present instance the editor has been guided solely by his own taste or predilections, having had no recourse to other collections, beyond that of avoiding excerpta too oft repeated; the aim being so far as possible to include such examples of merit as are not generally familiar to the average lover of poetry. Whether these be by well-known authors, or by those who are little known, has not entered into consideration, the prime object being to present as intrinsically meritorious a collection, by both British and American modern lyrists, as is possible within the limits of the space at command. The writer is not aware of a similar compilation having been previously attempted, there being few who would care to brave the “omissions” that must naturally be thrust at one’s door, more especially in the case of an abstract from the works of living writers. Yet while fault may be found, perchance, on the score of selection both by those who may be excluded, as well as by those who are included, the editor of an anthology should at least be thanked for placing many selections before the reader that in the ordinary course of things he would miss,—either through lack of time, or the inability to possess or consult the multitudinous volumes he would be called upon to peruse. “The purchasing public for poetry,” says Mr. Lang, “must now consist chiefly of poets, and they are usually poor.” The anthologist is the bee, therefore, to extract the honey from the fragrant garland of song, at the least fatigue to the reader. For every poet has not a hive of sweets to draw from; and though the blooms be many in the parterre of poesy, still these require to be plucked with reference not only to individual beauty, but to general harmony as well. A single line may sadly mar an otherwise flawless verse, as a single sonnet rendered immortal the name of Félix Arvers. Many no doubt will miss some favourites. Of such it may be observed that not a few lovely apostrophes have been omitted on account of too great length, or, as previously stated, owing to their being familiar to the great majority of readers. Some poems, moreover, beautiful in themselves, have not been included, despite their intrinsic merits, because they seemed to be out of accord with the prevailing key, as in the case of numerous lyrics approaching the form of so-termed Vers de Société. Still others, and many of these extremely beautiful amatory poems, somewhat free in motif or treatment, have been excluded as not fulfilling the precise requirements of the present collection; these were more appropriate grouped in a volume by themselves.