He his felicitous genius, we do not hesitate to pronounce him THE VERY BEST OF ENGLISH LYRIC POETS. is the most joyous and gladsome of bards, singing like the grasshopper, as if he would never grow old. He is as fresh as the spring, as blithe as the summer, and as ripe as the autumn. We know of no English poet who is so abandonné, as the French term it, who so wholly gives himself up to his present feelings, who is so much heart and soul in what he writes, and this not on one subject only, but on all subjects alike. The spirit of song dances in his veins, and flutters around his lips now bursting into the joyful and hearty voice of the epicurean; sometimes breathing forth strains soft as the sigh of 'buried love,' and sometimes uttering feelings of the most delicate pensiveness. It is that delicate pathos, which is at the same time natural and almost playful, which most charms us in the writings of Herrick. As for his versification, it presents one of the most varied specimens of rhythmical harmony in the language, flowing with an almost wonderful grace and flexibility." The same writer observes, that "Herrick had so very high a notion of the value of his compositions, that he conceived it necessary only to mention his friends in this volume in order to confer immortality upon them. He constituted himself high priest of the temple of fame, and assumed the power of apotheosizing such writers as he conceived deserving of that honour, never once dreaming of the possibility of both himself and his works being neglected or forgotten. Many addresses to his friends and relations, avowing his potency in this high vocation, are scattered through his works. Some of them, however, have juster titles to immortality than the lay of the poet can confer-such as Selden and Ben Jonson, &c." Having indicated to the reader, and in some cases adduced the testimony to the claim our poet has to his attention, he can well dispense with any fur ther observations on our part, and we cannot do better than to take our leave of him and the poet in the words of his most ardent admirer. "And now farewell, young Herrick! for young is the spirit of thy poetry, as thy wisdom is old: mayest thou flourish in immortal youth, thou boon companion and most jocund songster! May thy purest poems be piped from hill to hill, throughout England; and thy spirit, tinged with superstitious lore, be gladdened by the music! May the flowers breathe incense to thy fame, for thou hast not left one of them unsung! May the silvery springs and circumambient air murmur thy praises, as thou hast warbled theirs! And may those who live well, sing, and those who love well, sigh sweet panegyrics to thy memory! Ours shall not be wanting, for we have read thee much, and like thee much." Thou shalt not all die; for while Love's fire shines S. W. S[INGER]. MICKLEHAM, Feb. 1846. Printed for John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be fold at the Crown and Marygold in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1648. TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS, AND Most Hopefull PRINCE, CHARLES, Prince of Wales. Ell may my Book come forth like When fuch a Light as You are leads the way: Who are my Works Creator, and alone The Flame of it, and the Expanfion. And look how all thofe heavenly Lamps acquire с |