For the privilege of copying so liberally from Mr. Emerson's poems, I am indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin &Co.; and to Mr. C. H. Brainard, of Washington, for the right to reduce for an appropriate frontispiece the admirable litho graph of Emerson, which had its origin in a photograph owned by Theodore Parker, and which was Mr. Parker's favorite picture of this author. To many others, also, no other portrait of Emerson recalls him so perfectly in his best attitude, as he was in his prime.

I am sure, whatever judgment this essay may provoke, that the addition of Mr. Kennedy's Concordance to Mr. Emerson's poetry, which he has kindly permitted me to make, will prove a welcome feature in this offering.

Amenia, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1882.

J. B.

MR. EMERSON AS A POET.

I hold it of little matter

Whether your jewel be of pure water,
A rose diamond or a white,

But whether it dazzle me with light.

EMERSON.

Charm is the glory which makes

Song of the poet divine.

MATTHEW ARNOLD.

ANDOR says, in his "Imaginary Conversations," that "a rib of Shakespeare would have made Milton-the same portion of Milton, all poets born ever since." Something of this largeness and intensity-this su premacy of genius-belongs to Emerson.

So dense and pervading is his peculiar and individual force, it might, if properly distributed, be made to equip and light a literary constellation. We must go back to Shakespeare and Milton, among English names, to find an equally enormous endowment. If it does not stream in versatility, it towers in commanding altitude.* Among his contemporaries we may name, to be sure, notable men of a more composite orderbut no personality at once so compact, so essence-like, so opulent, so strong. While his power is well authenticated in one direction by all who are competent to speak of it, it is curious, and not quite explicable, that the current literary criticism conspires to go so completely around his poetry. It leaves it, indeed, in almost

* Dr. Bartol says: "If Shakespeare or Goethe be the Mont Blanc, Emerson is a neighboring Aiguille of lesser breadth, but well-nigh equal height."