10 JUNE 1922, Page 23

POEMS WORTHY OF CONSTDMATION.—Spanish Folk Songs. Selected and Translated by

S. Salvador de Madariaga. (Con- stable. 3s. 6d. net.)—In his Shelley and Calderon and Other Essays, S. de Madariaga extolled the merits of Spanish popular poetry. These translations at least justify his enthusiasm. In some instances the neatness of phrasing and rhythm in the

original has been lost. Yet others of the songs, such as those quoted below, have, even in translation, undeniable directness and lack of sophistication :- "Your love is like a pool " Black curse upon money And mine is like a spring. For money is the cause The sun comes out, the pool That the little eyes of her dries up, whom I love But the spring remains." Are not in my house."

—Via Triumphalis. By Ed. J. Thompson. (Milford. 6s. net.) —Conventional thought disguised by Oriental imagery and violent colouring.—Poems of To-day ; Second Series. (Sidgwick and Jackson. 2s. 6d. net, paper; 3s. 6d. net, cloth.)—The omis- sions in the second volume of this well-known anthology are surprising, but some of the contents are more so. However, this could be said truthfully of any anthology, and the present volume is " fit for much praise " as well as for much blame. The short biographies of the poets represented are useful and the price of the book is low.