grad, P.18. 2 English Galloway 8.11.28 16704 4-9-69 PREFACE. WO or three years ago, I had several conversations with the publisher of the present edition of Herrick's works on the subject of a new and improved issue of the Hesperides and other Poems. The publisher has had it indeed in his thoughts for a very long time to reprint the book; but his plan, unluckily, did not extend beyond a mere verbatim copy of the two volumes, which appeared under the auspices of the late Mr. Singer in 1846.' I believe that he subsequently, on the representations of myself and others, was induced to enlarge his scheme to the extent of including in an Appendix the few pieces found in the Ashmolean and Rawlinson MSS. But much more was capable of being done for Herrick; and it appeared to me, that it was emphatically desirable that no new edition of the poet should be allowed to pass the press without such additions and corrections as I and others felt to be necessary and feasible. Thus stood the question, when it came to my knowledge, that the "Hesperides" and "Noble Numbers" were printed off, and that the volume was expected to be out very shortly. Under these circumstances and at this stage it was that I presumed, in the absence of any one else, to interpose, and I 1 Mr. Singer's "Biographical Notice" is little more than a lame paraphrase of that attached to the edition of 1823. prevailed on the publisher to put the book into my hands, and to postpone its appearance, until it could be rendered a little worthier of the poet, whose delightful compositions it enshrines. Very numerous emendations and augmentations have now, as will be seen, been introduced into the preliminary pages, and many errors by Nichols, Singer, and others, have been rectified. I think it just to remark, that there is very little, if any thing, however, in my new notes and particulars, which it would not have been practicable for my predecessors to have obtained and utilized, if they had chosen to take the trouble. I have indicated my share in the Memoir and Notes by insertions between brackets. It is strange enough that none of the editors of Herrick should have observed, that in the first and subsequent impressions of "Witts Recreations," 1640, &c. are printed a considerable number of pieces by this writer, some common to the miscellany mentioned and to "Hesperides," others peculiar to the former, yet (if my opinion be correct) unquestionably from the same pen. Those which fall within the latter category are as follow :— 1. On Julias Weeping. 2. On a Beautifull Virgin. 3. On Chloris Walking in the Snow. 4. A Loving Bargain. 5. To Celia Weeping. 6. The Wake. Six or 7. Domina Margarita Sandis. Anagr., &c. These now form part of the Appendix. eight other poems also occur, but the text presents no noticeable variations from that given in the common printed collection. The titles, however, sometimes differ. The poem headed in Hesperides "A Short Hymne to Venus" is called in Witts Recreations "A Vow to Cupid; " the verses in |