literature than the fact that the writings of so fine a poet as William
Strode should have remained for such a length of time neglected and
forgotten. He had a great reputation in his lifetime, and his poems
were largely circulated in manuscript among the literary circles of
the time. His play, entitled "The Floating Island," which had been
performed before Charles I. and his Court in 1636, was published in
1655, with a preface in which the editors promised that if it met
with a good reception, more of the author's writings should follow.
This promise, however, owing perhaps to the political disturbances of
the time, was never fulfilled; and Strode has ever since remained a
mere shadow so far as any knowledge of his writings and personality
is concerned. With the publication of this volume he will take the
place to which he is entitled besides such poets as Carew, Cartwright,
Randolph and Corbet.
_Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 6s. per volume._
GLEANINGS FROM MANUSCRIPTS
BEING POEMS AND DRAMATIC WORKS OF THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH
CENTURIES
Now first printed from manuscripts, most of which are in my own
possession.
This series, which will, I hope, extend to three or four volumes,
will consist chiefly of unprinted matter which I have discovered in
the course of my researches among manuscripts of the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. The works of several authors not hitherto known
to fame will be included in the contents of these volumes. Among them
the names of Nicholas Oldisworth and M. Johnson may be particularly
mentioned. Both of them are writers of very considerable merit, and
are well worthy of being rescued from the obscurity in which they have
so long rested. Another feature of the collection will be copies of
the poems of many well-known writers, which will be printed because
the manuscript versions which I possess exhibit many variations from
the printed texts. Altogether, I venture to say that all scholars and
students of our old literature will welcome these volumes and recognise
their value.
* * * * *
_For further particulars of the above works, and of others which I have
in contemplation, see a Prospectus which is now ready, and which will
be forwarded on application._
FOOTNOTES:
[A] See "Archæologia," vol. xxxvii, p. 204.
[B] "Roman Forgeries" must have had some popularity in its time, for
it is, unlike "Christian Ethicks," a tolerably common book. Fifteen
years after its publication Dean Comber, a writer of some note in his
day, published a work of similar character, and with the same title.
As Traherne's book was published anonymously, Dean Comber has usually
received credit for that as well as for his own work. The Dean was a
man of considerable ability, and he would hardly have been pleased had
he been told that he would only be remembered in future times as the
writer who helped himself to a striking title at the expense of one who
was far superior to himself in character and genius.
[C] See "Nova Solyma": an Anonymous Romance. With Introduction,
Translation, &c., by the Rev. Walter Begley. (1903.)
[D] "Nature is the great spendthrift. She will burn up the world some
day to attain what will probably seem to us a very inadequate end;
and in order to have things stated at their worst, once for all, in
English, she took a splendid genius and made him--an army schoolmaster;
starved his intellect, starved his heart, starved his body. All the
adversity of the world smote him; and that nothing should be wanting to
her purpose Nature took care that the very sun should smite him also!
Time will avenge him: he is among the immortals."--John Davidson, in
the _Speaker_, June 17, 1899.
[E] This poem is included in the "Oxford Book of English Verse"; and
the Rev. Orby Shipley has included two of Traherne's poems in his
"Carmina Mariana."
[F] It is not only in "My Spirit" that we find traces of Traherne's
Berkeleianism. See the "Hymn on St. Bartholomew's Day," "The
Preparative," and various passages in other poems. I do not contend,
however, that we have the idea in a clear and unmistakable form
anywhere but in "My Spirit."
[G] This title was probably the invention of the publisher--one Samuel
Keble--and not of the author.
[H] From certain indications in the folio manuscript, from which the
bulk of the poems in the present volume are derived, it seems clear
that there must be a considerable quantity of verse by Traherne which
has not yet been recovered. Appended to several poems in the folio
volume are references to other poems, as, for example, at the end of
"Innocence," "An Infant Eye, p. 1," and "Adam, p. 12." Other poems thus
mentioned are "News," "The Odor," "The Inheritance," "The Evidence,"
"The Center," and "Insatiableness." As the manuscript volume containing
these pieces consisted of at least 142 pages, it seems likely that the
present volume contains not more than one half of Traherne's poetical
works. It may be hoped, but hardly expected, that the volume containing
the poems mentioned above will some day be recovered. Possibly this
mention of it may, if it still exists, lead to its eventual discovery.
[I] In Traherne's "Centuries of Meditations" this poem is preceded by
the following note: "Upon those pure and virgin apprehensions which I
had in my infancy I made this Poem."
[J] These five lines have an alternative reading:
The Sun itself doth in its glory shine, And gold and silver out of
very mire, And pearls and rubies out of earth refine; While herbs and
flowers aspire To touch and make our feet divine.
[K] It is doubtful whether this poem is by Traherne.
[L] (?) Sparkle.
[M] Several passages in other poems are thus marked. Usually where
these marks appear--but not invariably so--there is a slight falling
off in the author's inspiration. As these passages, however, could
not be omitted without leaving palpable _lacunæ_ in the poems, I have
taken no notice of them (save in one instance where I have suppressed a
stanza which is clearly superfluous), preferring to leave the critical
reader to discover such inequalities for himself.
Transcriber's Note:
1. Caret letters are shown as ^x.
2. Italics are shown as _xxx_.
3. All original spelling has been retained.