Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. This also is all he can plead in regard to a point even more liable to question – what degree of merit should give rank among the Best. That a poem shall be worthy of the writer’s genius, – that it shall reach a perfection commensurate with its aim, – that we should require fin ish in proportion to brevity, – that passion, colour, and originality cannot atone for serious imperfections in clearness, unity or truth, – that a few good lines do not make a good poem, that popular estimate is serviceable as a guidepost more than as a compass, – above all, that excellence should be looked for rather in the whole than in the parts, – such and other such canons have been always steadily regarded. He may however add that the pieces Chosen, and a far larger number rejected, have been carefully and repeatedly considered; and that he has been aided throughout by two friends of independent and exercised judgment, besides the distinguished person addressed in the Dedication. It is hoped that by this procedure the volume has been freed from that one-sided ness which must beset individual decisions – but for the final choice the Editor is alone responsible.