PREFACE

he plan of this Work is simple, and yet it is novel. In its distinctive features it differs from any compilation that has yet been made. Its main purpose is to present to American households a mass of good reading. But it goes much beyond this. For in selecting this reading it draws upon all literatures of all time and of every race, and thus becomes a conspectus of the thought and intellectual evolution of man from the beginning. Another and scarcely less important purpose is the interpretation of this literature in essays by scholars and authors competent to speak with authority.

The title, "A Library of the World's Best Literature," is strictly descriptive. It means that what is offered to the reader is taken from the best authors, and is fairly representative of the best literature and of all literatures. It may be important historically, or because at one time it expressed the thought and feeling of a nation, or because it has the character of universality, or because the readers of to-day will find it instructive, entertaining, or amusing. The Work aims to suit a great variety of tastes, and thus to commend itself as a household companion for any mood and any hour. There is no intention of presenting merely a mass of historical material, however important it is in its place, which is commonly of the sort that people recommend others to read and do not read themselves. It is not a library of reference only, but a library to be read. The selections do not represent the partialities and prejudices and cultivation of any one person, or of a group of editors even; but, under the necessary editorial supervision, the sober judgment of almost as

many minds as have assisted in the preparation of these volumes. By this method, breadth of appreciation has been sought.

The arrangement is not chronological, but alphabetical, under the names of the authors, and, in some cases, of literatures and special subjects. Thus, in each volume a certain variety is secured, the heaviness or sameness of a mass of antique, classical, or mediaeval material is avoided, and the reader obtains a sense of the varieties and contrasts of different periods. But the work is not an encyclopaedia, or merely a dictionary of authors. Comprehensive information as to all writers of importance may be included in a supplementary reference volume; but the attempt to quote from all would destroy the Work for reading purposes, and reduce it to a herbarium of specimens.

In order to present a view of the entire literary field, and to make these volumes especially useful to persons who have not access to large libraries, as well as to treat certain literatures or subjects when the names of writers are unknown or would have no significance to the reader, it has been found necessary to make groups of certain nationalities, periods, and special topics. For instance, if the reader would like to know something of ancient and remote literatures which cannot well be treated under the alphabetical list of authors, he will find special essays by competent scholars on the Accadian-Babylonian literature, on the Egyptian, the Hindu, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Icelandic, the Celtic, and others, followed by selections many of which have been specially translated for this Work. In these literatures names of ascertained authors are given in the Index. The intention of the essays is to acquaint the reader with the spirit, purpose, and tendency of these writings, in order that he may have a comparative view of the continuity of thought and the value of

tradition in the world. Some subjects, like the Arthurian Legends, the Nibelungen Lied, the Holy Grail, Provençal Poetry, the Chansons and Romances, and the Gesta Romanorum, receive a similar treatment. Single poems upon which the authors' title to fame mainly rests, familiar and dear hymns, and occasional and modern verse of value, are also grouped together under an appropriate heading, with reference in the Index whenever the poet is known.

It will thus be evident to the reader that the Library is fairly comprehensive and representative, and that it has an educational value, while offering constant and varied entertainment. This comprehensive feature, which gives the Work distinction, is, however, supplemented by another of scarcely less importance; namely, the critical interpretive and biographical comments upon the authors and their writings and their place in literature, not by one mind, or by a small editorial staff, but by a great number of writers and scholars, specialists and literary critics, who are able to speak from knowledge and with authority. Thus the Library becomes in a way representative of the scholarship and wide judgment of our own time. But the essays have another value. They give information for the guidance of the reader. If he becomes interested in any selections here given, and would like a fuller knowledge of the author's works, he can turn to the essay and find brief observations and characterizations which will assist him in making his choice of books from a library.

The selections are made for household and general reading; in the belief that the best literature contains enough that is pure and elevating and at the same time readable, to satisfy any taste that should be encouraged. Of course selection implies choice and exclusion. It is hoped that what is given will be generally approved; yet it may well happen that some readers will miss the names of authors whom they desire to read. But this Work, like every other, has its necessary limits; and in a general compilation the classic writings, and those productions that the world has set its seal on as among the best, must predominate over contemporary literature that is still on its trial. It should be said, however, that many writers of present note and popularity are omitted simply for lack of space. The editors are compelled to keep constantly in view the wider field. The general purpose is to give only literature; and where authors are cited who are generally known as philosophers, theologians, publicists, or scientists, it is because they have distinct literary quality,

or because their influence upon literature itself has been so profound that the progress of the race could not be accounted for without them.

These volumes contain not only or mainly the literature of the past, but they aim to give, within the limits imposed by such a view, an idea of contemporary achievement and tendencies in all civilized countries. In this view of the modern world the literary product of America and Great Britain occupies the largest space.

It should be said that the plan of this Work could not have been carried out without the assistance of specialists in many departments of learning, and of writers of skill and insight, both in this country and in Europe. This assistance has been most cordially given, with a full recognition of the value of the enterprise and of the aid that the Library may give in encouraging and broadening literary tastes. Perhaps no better service could be rendered the American public at this period than the offer of an opportunity for a comprehensive study of the older and the greater literatures of other nations. By this comparison it can gain a just view of its own literature, and of its possible mission in the world of letters.

THE ADVISORY COUNCIL

CRAWFORD H. TOY, A.M., LL.D.,

Professor of Hebrew,

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Cambridge, Mass.

THOMAS R. LOUNSBURY, LL.D., L.H.D.,

Professor of English in the Sheffield Scientific School of

YALE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, Conn.

WILLIAM M. SLOANE, PH.D., L.H.D.,

Professor of History and Political Science,

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Princeton, N.J.

BRANDER MATTHEWS, A.M., LL.B.,

Professor of Literature,

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York City.

JAMES B. ANGELL, LL.D.,

President of the

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, Mich.

WILLARD FISKE, A.M., PH.D.,

Late Professor of the Germanic and Scandinavian Languages and Literatures,

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, N.Y.

EDWARD S. HOLDEN, A.M., LL.D.,

Director of the Lick Observatory, and Astronomer

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Berkeley, Cal.

ALCÉE FORTIER, LIT.D.,

Professor of the Romance Languages,

TULANE UNIVERSITY, New Orleans, La.

WILLIAM P. TRENT, M.A.,

Dean of the Department of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of English and History,

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH, Sewanee, Tenn.

PAUL SHOREY, PH.D.,

Professor of Greek and Latin Literature,

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, Ill.

WILLIAM T. HARRIS, LL.D.,

United States Commissioner of Education,

BUREAU OF EDUCATION, Washington, D.C.

MAURICE FRANCIS EGAN, A.M., LL.D.,

Professor of Literature in the

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington, D.C.

NOTE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT

wing to the many changes in the assignment of topics and engaging of writers incident to so extended a publication as the Library of the World's Best Literature, the Editor finds it impossible, before the completion of the work, adequately to recognize the very great aid which he has received from a large number of persons. A full list of contributors will be given in one of the concluding volumes. He will expressly acknowledge also his debt to those who have assisted him editorially, or in other special ways, in the preparation of these volumes.

Both Editor and Publishers have endeavored to give full credit to every author quoted, and to accompany every citation with ample notice of copyright ownership. At the close of the work it is their purpose to express in a more formal way their sense of obligation to the many publishers who have so courteously given permission for this use of their property, and whose rights of ownership it is intended thoroughly to protect.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOL. I

ABÉLARD AND HÉLOISE (by Thomas Davidson) — 1079-1142

Letter of Héloise to Abélard

Abélard's Answer to Héloise

Vesper Hymn of Abélard

EDMOND ABOUT — 1828-1885

The Capture ('The King of the Mountains')

Hadgi-Stavros (same)

The Victim ('The Man with the Broken Ear')

The Man without a Country (same)

ACCADIAN-BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN LITERATURE (by Crawford H. Toy)

Theogony

Revolt of Tiamat

Descent to the Underworld

The Flood

The Eagle and the Snake

The Flight of Etana

The God Zu

Adapa and the Southwind

Penitential Psalms

Inscription of Sennacherib

Invocation to the Goddess Beltis

Oracles of Ishtar of Arbela

An Erechite's Lament

ABIGAIL ADAMS (by Lucia Gilbert Runkle) — 1744-1818

Letters—To her Husband:

May 24, 1775; June 15, 1775; June 18, 1775;

Nov. 27, 1775; April 20, 1777; June 8, 1779

To her Sister:

Sept. 5, 1784; May 10, 1785;

July 24, 1784; June 24, 1785

To her Niece

HENRY ADAMS — 1838-

Auspices of the War of 1812

What the War of 1812 Demonstrated

Battle between the Constitution and the Guerrière

JOHN ADAMS — 1735-1826

At the French Court ('Diary')

Character of Franklin (Letter to the Boston Patriot)

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS — 1767-1848

Letter to his Father, at the Age of Ten

From the Memoirs, at the Age of Eighteen

From the Memoirs, Jan. 14, 1831; June 7, 1833; Sept. 9, 1833

The Mission of America (Fourth of July Oration, 1821)

The Right of Petition (Speech in Congress)

Nullification (Fourth of July Oration, 1831)

SARAH FLOWER ADAMS — 1805-1848

He Sendeth Sun, He Sendeth Shower

Nearer, My God, to Thee

JOSEPH ADDISON (by Hamilton Wright Mabie) — 1672-1720

Sir Roger de Coverley at the Play

Visit to Sir Roger de Coverley

Vanity of Human Life

Essay on Fans

Hymn, 'The Spacious Firmament'

AELIANUS CLAUDIUS — Second Century

Of Certain Notable Men that made themselves Playfellowes with Children

Of a Certaine Sicilian whose Eyesight was Woonderfull Sharpe and Quick

The Lawe of the Lacedaemonians against Covetousness

That Sleep is the Brother of Death, and of Gorgias drawing to his End

Of the Voluntary and Willing Death of Calanus

Of Delicate Dinners, Sumptuous Suppers, and Prodigall Banqueting

Of Bestowing Time, and how Walking Up and Downe was not Allowable among the Lacedaemonians

How Socrates Suppressed the Pryde and Hautinesse of Alcibiades

Of Certaine Wastgoodes and Spendthriftes

AESCHINES — B.C. 389-314

A Defense and an Attack ('Oration against Ctesiphon')

AESCHYLUS (by John Williams White) — B.C. 525-456

Complaint of Prometheus ('Prometheus')

Prayer to Artemis ('The Suppliants')

Defiance of Eteocles ('The Seven against Thebes')

Vision of Cassandra ('Agamemnon')

Lament of the Old Nurse ('The Libation-Pourers')

Decree of Athena ('The Eumenides')

AESOP (by Harry Thurston Peck) — Seventh Century B.C.

The Fox and the Lion

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

The Ass Eating Thistles

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

The Countryman and the Snake

The Belly and the Members

The Satyr and the Traveler

The Lion and the other Beasts

The Ass and the Little Dog

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse

The Dog and the Wolf

JEAN LOUIS RODOLPHE AGASSIZ — 1807-1873

The Silurian Beach ('Geological Sketches')

Voices ('Methods of Study in Natural History')

Formation of Coral Reefs (same)

AGATHIAS — A.D. 536-581

Apostrophe to Plutarch

GRACE AGUILAR — 1816-1847

Greatness of Friendship ('Woman's Friendship')

Order of Knighthood ('The Days of Bruce')

Culprit and Judge ('Home Influence')

WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH — 1805-1882

Students of Paris ('Crichton')

MARK AKENSIDE — 1721-1770

From the Epistle to Curio

Aspirations after the Infinite ('Pleasures of the Imagination')

On a Sermon against Glory

PEDRO ANTONIO DE ALARCÓN — 1833-1891

A Woman Viewed from Without ('The Three-Cornered Hat')

How the Orphan Manuel gained his Sobriquet ('The Child of the Ball')

ALCAEUS — Sixth Century B.C.

The Palace

A Banquet Song

An Invitation

The Storm

The Poor Fisherman

The State

Poverty

BALTÁZAR DE ALCÁZAR — 1530?-1606

Sleep

The Jovial Supper

ALCIPHRON (by Harry Thurston Peck) — Second Century

From a Mercenary Girl—Petala to Simalion

Pleasures of Athens—Euthydicus to Epiphanio

From an Anxious Mother—Phyllis to Thrasonides

From a Curious Youth—Philocomus to Thestylus

From a Professional Diner-out—Capnosphrantes to Aristomachus

Unlucky Luck—Chytrolictes to Patellocharon

ALCMAN — Seventh Century B.C.

Poem on Night

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT — 1832-1888

The Night Ward ('Hospital Sketches')

Amy's Valley of Humiliation ('Little Women')

Thoreau's Flute (Atlantic Monthly)

Song from the Suds ('Little Women')

ALCUIN (by William H. Carpenter) — 735?-8o4

On the Saints of the Church at York ('Alcuin and the Rise of the Christian Schools')

Disputation between Pepin, the Most Noble and Royal Youth, and Albinus the Scholastic

A Letter from Alcuin to Charlemagne

HENRY M. ALDEN — 1836-

A Dedication—To My Beloved Wife ('A Study of Death')

The Dove and the Serpent (same)

Death and Sleep (same)

The Parable of the Prodigal (same)

THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH — 1837-

Destiny

Identity

Prescience

Alec Yeaton's Son

Memory

Tennyson (1890)

Sweetheart, Sigh No More

Broken Music

Elmwood

Sea Longings

A Shadow of the Night

Outward Bound

Reminiscence

Père Antoine's Date-Palm

Miss Mehetabel's Son

ALEARDO ALEARDI — 1812-1878

Cowards ('The Primal Histories')

The Harvesters ('Monte Circello')

The Death of the Year ('An Hour of My Youth')

JEAN LE ROND D'ALEMBERT — 1717-1783

Montesquieu (Eulogy in the 'Encyclopédie')

VITTORIO ALFIERI (by L. Oscar Kuhns) — 1749-1803

Scenes from 'Agamemnon'

ALFONSO THE WISE — 1221-1284

What Meaneth a Tyrant, and How he Useth his Power ('Las Siete Partidas')

On the Turks, and Why they are So Called ('La Gran Conquista de Ultramar')

To the Month of Mary ('Cantigas')

ALFRED THE GREAT — 849-901

King Alfred on King-Craft

Alfred's Preface to the Version of Pope Gregory's 'Pastoral Care'

From Boethius

Blossom Gatherings from St. Augustine

CHARLES GRANT ALLEN — 1848-

The Coloration of Flowers ('The Colors of Flowers')

Among the Heather ('The Evolutionist at Large')

The Heron's Haunt ('Vignettes from Nature')

JAMES LANE ALLEN — 1850-

A Courtship ('A Summer in Arcady')

Old King Solomon's Coronation ('Flute and Violin')

WILLIAM ALLINGHAM — 1828-1889

The Ruined Chapel

The Winter Pear

O Spirit of the Summer-time

The Bubble

St. Margaret's Eve

The Fairies

Robin Redbreast

An Evening

Daffodil

Lovely Mary Donnelly

KARL JONAS LUDVIG ALMQUIST — 1793-1866

Characteristics of Cattle

A New Undine (from 'The Book of the Rose')

God's War

JOHANNA AMBROSIUS — 1854-

A Peasant's Thoughts

Struggle and Peace

Do Thou Love, Too!

Invitation

EDMONDO DE AMICIS — 1846-

The Light ('Constantinople')

Resemblances (same)

Birds (same)

Cordova ('Spain')

The Land of Pluck ('Holland and Its People')

The Dutch Masters ('Holland and Its People')

HENRI FRÉDÉRIC AMIEL (by Richard Burton) — 1821-1881

Extracts from Amiel's Journal:

Christ's Real Message

Duty

Joubert

Greeks vs. Moderns

Nature, and Teutonic and Scandinavian Poetry

Training of Children

Mozart and Beethoven

VOLUME I.

VIGNETTE PORTRAITS

Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. I know they are as lively, and as vigorously productive, as those fabulous dragon's teeth; and being sown up and down, may chance to spring up armed men. And yet on the other hand, unless wariness be used, as good almost kill a man as kill a good book: who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were in the eye. Many a man lives a burden to the earth; but a good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. JOHN MILTON.

First English Printing (Fac-simile).

(1079—1142)

BY THOMAS DAVIDSON

ierre, the eldest son of Bérenger and Lucie (Abélard?) was born at Palais, near Nantes and the frontier of Brittany, in 1079. His knightly father, having in his youth been a student, was anxious to give his family, and especially his favorite Pierre, a liberal education. The boy was accordingly sent to school, under a teacher who at that time was making his mark in the world,—Roscellin, the reputed father of Nominalism. As the whole import and tragedy of his life may be traced back to this man's teaching, and the relation which it bore to the thought of the time, we must pause to consider these.

In the early centuries of our era, the two fundamental articles of the Gentile-Christian creed, the Trinity and the Incarnation, neither of them Jewish, were formulated in terms of Platonic philosophy, of which the distinctive tenet is, that the real and eternal is the universal, not the individual. On this assumption it was possible to say that the same real substance could exist in three, or indeed in any number of persons. In the case of God, the dogma-builders were careful to say, essence is one with existence, and therefore in Him the individuals are as real as the universal. Platonism, having lent the formula for the Trinity, became the favorite philosophy of many of the Church fathers, and so introduced into Christian thought and life the Platonic dualism, that sharp distinction between the temporal and the eternal which belittles the practical life and glorifies the contemplative.

This distinction, as aggravated by Neo-Platonism, further affected Eastern Christianity in the sixth century, and Western Christianity in the ninth, chiefly through the writings of (the pseudo-) Dionysius Areopagita, and gave rise to Christian mysticism. It was then erected into a rule of conduct through the efforts of Pope Gregory VII., who strove to subject practical and civil life entirely to the control of ecclesiastics and monks, standing for contemplative, supernatural life. The latter included all purely mental work, which more and more tended to concentrate itself upon religion and confine itself to the clergy. In this way it came to be considered an utter disgrace for any man engaged in mental work to take any part in the institutions of civil life, and particularly to marry. He might indeed enter into illicit relations, and rear a family of "nephews" and "nieces," without losing prestige; but to marry was to commit suicide. Such was the condition of things in the days of Abélard.