CURRENT LITERATURE.
Coridon's Song, and other Verses. With Illustrations by Hugh Thomson, and an Introduction by Austin Dobson. (Macmillan and Co.)—We have ten pieces, beginning with " Coridon's Song," from Isaac Walton's " Compleat Angler," written in Walton's day, according to common account, by a certain Mr. Jo Cbalkbill, according to some sceptical persons, by Walton himself. This is followed, as in the "Angler," by " Piscator's Song," made, says Walton, at my request by Mr. William Besse. William False has been almost forgotten, and, in spite of a gallant effort lately
made to resuscitate his fame, will probably remain so. Then come two songs of an older date. Of the remaining six pieces
Gay's "Journey to Exeter" is the most important, and gives excellent subjects to Mr. Thomson's pencil. Here are the poet's lines about Stockbridge, the borough which returned Sir Richard Steele to Parliament:— "Sutton we pass, and leave her spacious down, And with the setting sun reach Stockbridge town. O'er our 'arched tongue the rich me thevlin glides, And the red dainty trout our knife divides. Fad melancholy every visage wears:
What, no e'ecticn come in seven long years Of all our race of Mayors. shall Shaw alone 138 by Fir Richard a dedication known ?
Our streets no more with tides of ale shall float, Nor c.bbkrs feast three years upon one vote."
Mr. Thomson's illustrations are invariably delightful. He works with this advantage, that one has no very strong preconceived notions of how this and that personage is to be represented. Conventional figures serve both for Coridon and Piscator, whereas, when he comes, as he lately did, to illustrate Miss Austen, it is not easy to satisfy, say, the admirers of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. A more dainty and pleasant book we have not often seen.
Previous page
