Ballads of the Brave. Selected and arranged by Frederick Langbridge,
M.A. (Methuen and Co.)—This "Collection of Poems of Chivalry, Enterprise, Courage, and Constancy, from the earliest times to the present day," shows a very happy conception happily carried out. It occurred tothe editor. that" whilethere are many collections of poems whicb-we_shanla like boys to like, there are few collections of poems which they do like." These" ballads of the brave" are intended to suit their real tastes, and, we doubt not, will suit the taste ef the great majority of those who are fond of reading. At the same time, we must remember that this majority is itself but a minority of the whole race of boys. Most care for nothing but athletics. Talk to them or write for them what you will, and about what you will, yet "Ia3va in parte mamillae nil salit ArCadiC0 juveni." This does not diminish the praise that is Mr. Langbridge's due. He has gone over a wide range of reading for his choice, and made it, we think, excellently well. It is not an ordinary selector who would have so happily put together Mr. Way's translation from the sixth Iliad (the Aristeia of Diomede), Pope's "Arming of Achilles," and " Entellus and Dares," as the passage has been rendered by Conington. Other readers besides boys may learn much from these characteristic samples. Lord Macaulay's "Lays of Ancient Rome," the" Old English Ballads," and we know not how many more authors, have been laid under contribution. Difficulties of copyright have doubtless prevented the inclusion of one of the noblest ballads in the language, "The 'Revenge.'"
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