ABSTRACT
Donne is the harshness of his versification. Admitting that he is frequently rugged and sometimes obscure, the judicious critic will yet not deny to this once favourite writer, the praise of a true and often a delightful poet; nor will it surprise him, that more than is needful has been said on both points, in times which abound with readers more capable of relishing voluptuous sweetness oflanguage than of appreciating depth of scntiment and originality of thought; and ignorant that it is necessary to reflect on what is read, if we would correctly judge and effectually profit. There is much, undoubtedly, in the volume of Donne's Pocms, which cannot be more fitly disposed of, than as 'Alms for Oblivion'; but there is also much, for the sake of which it is worth while making one more attempt to avert the fulfilment of Ben Jonson's prediction that 'for want of being understood he would perish'.
