SELECTED BY THE EDITOR OF "QUIET HOURS," IN THE SOUL," ETC. BOSTON: Preface. THIS little volume is intended to contain lovepoems of a pure and elevated character, and those alone. Poems of jealousy, remorse, and hopeless longing and regret are omitted, and this rule excludes a very large number of well-known and sometimes very fine poems. I have not left out such as treat of the sorrow of absence and similar trials; but I have wished to make the book, as a whole, inspire cheerfulness and hope, and not sadness. It contains sonnets of Shakespeare and Mrs. Browning, songs of Lovelace and Burns, and poetry by Tennyson, Coventry Patmore, and many other less-known singers. Some specimens are given of the ingenious and melodious versification of the younger English poets, such as Payne and Munby. It gives me pleasure to express my thanks to the authors who have kindly permitted me to make use of their poems for this purpose. I would especially |