Dr. Hannah has edited for "The Aldine Edition of British
Poets" The Courtly Poets from Raleigh to Montrose. (Bell and Daldy.)—The chief feature of this volume is the complete collection which it contains of Raleigh's poems. Dr. Hannah has carefully gathered together all his genuine verses, even to the fragments of translation which are to he found in the "History of the World," at the same time rejecting a number of spurious pieces. We see nothing, it is true, so good as the well- known "Lie," the authenticity of which the editor vindicates against. the doubts of Hallam ; but some of the other poems are curious and. interesting. Among the other authors are Edward Earl of Oxford, Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, Queen Elizabeth, Earl of Essex, and Sir H. Wotton. One piece, singularly characteristic of the age, we cannot forbear to quote. It is a dialogue between God and the Soul, in imitation of the "Donee gratus eram tibi :"- SOUL.—" Whilst my soul's eye beheld no light
But what streamed from Thy gracious sight,
To me the world's greatest King Seemed but some little vulgar thing.
GOD.—" Whilst thou provedst pure, and that in thee I could glass all my deity ;
How glad did I from heaven depart,
To finds lodging in thy heart:
SOUL—' Now fame and greatness bear the sway ; 'Tis they that hold my prison's key ; For whom my soul would die, might she Leave them her immortality.
GOD.—" I and some few pure souls conspire And barn both in a mutual fire, For whom I'd die once more, ere they Should miss of heaven's eternal day.
SOUL.—" But, Lord, what if I turn again, And, with an adamantine chain, Lock me to Thee ? what if I chase The world away to give Thee place?
GOD.—" Then, though these souls, in whom I joy, Are Seraphim—thou but a toy,
A foolish toy, yet once more I Would with thee live, and for thee die."
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