SOURCE: Bullen, A. H. “Introduction.” In The Works of John Day, edited by A. H. Bullen, pp. 639-67. London: Holland Press, 1963.

The following essay is taken from a reprint of Bullen's 1881 edition of Day's works. In this introduction, Bullen focuses on the dating of Day's works and appraising his level of talent. He offers praise for the author's delicacy and sweetness, singling out Parliament of Bees and Humour out of Breath as works reflecting Day's poetic strengths.

In this age of reprinting, when so much pious care is being spent in preserving fresh and sweet the memories of our good old English writers, it is somewhat curious that the author of the Parliament of Bees should have been left unnoticed. But, perhaps, the causes of this neglect are not far to seek. Day's merits are unobtrusive: his brightest work is of the thinnest texture. It is only in...