Title:  Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations

Author:  Various

Release Date:  February 21, 2005 [EBook #15119]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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[Illustration:  Henry W. Longfellow.]

Handy dictionary
of
poetical quotations

COMPILED BY GEORGE W. POWERS

Author of “Important events,” Etc.

New York
Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 
Publishers

1901 By T.Y.  Crowell & company.

PREFACE.

It has been the aim of the compiler of this little book to present a Dictionary of Poetical Quotations which will be a ready reference to many of the most familiar stanzas and lines of the chief poets of the English language, with a few selections from Continental writers; and also some less familiar selections from more modern poets, which may in time become classic, or which at least have a contemporary interest.  Readers of English literature are aware that the few great poets of our language have struck perhaps every chord of human sentiment capable of illustration in verse, and even these few have borrowed the ideas, and sometimes almost the exact words, of predecessors or contemporaries.

But often old ideas in a new dress are welcome to readers who might not have been attracted by the old forms; and each generation has its peculiar modes of expression if not its new lines of thought.  It is hoped that this mingling of the old and the new will not be without interest.  To carry out the plan of making this a “handy” dictionary of quotations and, at the same time, as comprehensive as the space permitted, it has been necessary to confine the illustration of the topics selected to brief extracts from each author.  Of course, in all books of quotations the great name of Shakespeare fills the largest space; and the compiler of this book, as well as all students of Shakespeare, is under obligation to the painstaking compilers of the concordances to this poet, and especially to Mr. Bartlett’s monumental work.  To many other compilers of quotations, especially to the Poetical Quotations Anna L. Ward (published by Messrs. T.Y.  Crowell & Co.), the author is under obligations; while he has made an independent examination of the more recent poets, as well as many of the older ones.  The topics illustrated number 2138, selected from the writings of 255 authors.  The indexes, which will be found full and complete, were prepared by Mrs. Grace E. Powers, who has also rendered valuable assistance in preparing the copy for the press and in reading the proofs.