And I forgive

"And I forgive Thee, Milton, those thy comic-dreadful wars Where, armed with gross and inconclusive steel, Immortals smite immortals mortalwise And fill all heaven with folly."*4*

Few better things have been said of Langland than this,—

"That with but a touch Of art hadst sung Piers Plowman to the top Of English songs, whereof 'tis dearest, now And most adorable;"*5*

or of Emerson than this,—

"Most wise, that yet, in finding Wisdom, lost Thy Self, sometimes;"*6*

or of Tennyson than this,—

"Largest voice Since Milton, yet some register of wit Wanting."*7*

`The Crystal' abounds in such happy characterizations.

— *1* See Dowden's `Studies in Literature', pp. 468-523. *2* See Symonds's `Walt Whitman: A Study'. London, 1893. *3* Ward's `Memorial', p. xxxviii. *4* `The Crystal', ll. 66-70. *5* Ibid., ll. 87-90. *6* Ibid., ll. 93-94. *7* Ibid., ll. 95-97. —