AN INTRODUCTION

TO THE

STUDY OF POETRY

7. 9. Shoi.

Ime 1.188.

AN INTRODUCTION

TO THE

STUDY OF POETRY

BY

H. B. COTTERILL, M.A.

EDITOR OF “SELECTIONS FROM THE INFERNO, AND OF ELTON'S

LAKES AND MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA

LONDON

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., I, PATERNOSTER SQUARE

1882

σκαιούς δε λέγων κουδέν τι σοφούς
τους πρόσθε βρoτους ουκ άν αμάρτοις,
οίτινες ύμνους επί μέν θαλίαις
επί τ' είλαπίνεις και παρά δείπνοις
εύροντο, βίου τερπνάς ακοάς,
στυγίους δε βροτών ουδείς λύπας
εύρετο μούση και πολυχόρδους
ωδαίς παύειν, εξ ών θάνατοι
δειναι τε τύχαι σφάλλουσι δόμους
καίτοι τάδε μεν κέρδος ακείσθαι
μολπαϊσι βρoτούς· ίνα δ' εύδειπνοι
δαϊτες, τι μάτην τείνουσι βοάν;
το παρόν γαρ έχει τέρψιν άφ' αυτού,
δαιτος πλήρωμα βροτοίσιν.

EUR., Med. 190.

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY
0C1 5 1960

(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.)

PREFACE.

The contents of this volume originally formed part of a course of lectures which were given some four years ago in connection with the Cambridge “University Extension," and afterwards before an English audience at Dresden. The interest which the subject elicited on these occasions has made me venture to hope that a few readers may be found, no less sympathetic and indulgent than my former hearers. I have left almost everything as it was written, instead of attempting to recast the whole into what might be thought a form more suitable for publication, although I am aware that much which in a lecture may be allowable, and even 'attractive, is apt to appear crude, superficial, and incoherent in a book.

I trust that the didactic and familiar tone, which one naturally assumes as a lecturer, will not be resented, though I feel that at times I have perhaps