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141

13. Maria Maior, O gloriosa Domina

173

14. A second Illustration from the Bodleian copy

173

Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are reproduced in fac-
simile from the author's own designs of 1652, by Pouncey of Dor-
chester, expressly for our edition of Crashaw. Besides the above
there are a number of head- and tail-pieces by W. J. Linton, Esq.

PREFACE.

I HAVE at last the pleasure of seeing half-fulfilled a longcherished wish and intention, by the issue of the present Volume, being Vol. I. of the first really worthy edition of the complete Poetry of RICHARD CRASHAW, while Vol. II. is so well advanced that it may be counted on for Midsummer (Deo favente).

This Volume contains the whole of the previouslypublished English Poems, with the exception of the Epigrams scattered among the others, which more fittingly find their place in Vol. II., along with the Latin and Greek originals, and our translation of all hitherto untranslated. Here also will be found important, and peculiarly interesting as characteristic, additions of unprinted and inedited poems by CRASHAW from Archbishop SANCROFT'S MSS., among the TANNER MSS. in the Bodleian. These I have named 'Airelles,' after the little Alpine flowers that are dug out beneath the mountain masses of snow and ice, with abiding touches of beauty and perfume, as though they had been sheltered within walls and glass. The formerly printed Poems have been collated and recollated anxiously with the original and other early and authoritative editions, the results of which are shown in Notes and Illustrations at the close of each poem. Many

of the various readings are of rare interest, and collation has revealed successive additions and revisions altogether unrecorded by modern editors. In their places I have pointed out the flagrant carelessness of the last Editor, W. B. TURNBULL, Esq., in Smith's Library of Old Authors.'

As was meet, I have adhered to the first titles of Steps to the Temple' and 'The Delights of the Muses,' the former embracing the SACRED, and the latter the SECULAR Poems. The original Editor (whoever he was), not the Author, gave these titles. In the Preface to 'the learned Reader,' he says, 'we stile his sacred Poems, Steps to the Temple.' At one time I was disposed to assign the editorship of the volumes of 1646 and 1618 to SANCROFT; but inasmuch as both contained Bp. RAINBow's verses prefixed to ISAACSON's 'Chronologie,' while the piece is not in the SANCROFT MS., it seems he could not have been the editor. His pathetic closing words reveal much love: I will conclude all that I have impartially writ of this learned young Gent. (now dead to us) as hee himselfe doth, with the last line of his poem upon Bishop Andrewes' picture before his Sermons, Verte paginas-Look on his following leaves, and see him breath.'

I would now give an account of previous editions of our Worthy, and our use of them. The earliest of his publications-excluding minor pieces in University. Collections as recorded in our Essay- -was a volume of Latin Epigrams published at Cambridge in 1634 in a small 8vo. The name of CRASHAW nowhere appears, but his initials R. C. are appended to the Dedication to his friend LANEY. The title page was as follows:

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