Page:The poetical works of William Cowper (IA poeticalworksof00cowp).pdf/28

xx 2. The Olney Hymns, pp. 24-44.

3. The first published volume, pp. 45-179.

4. The second published volume, pp. 181-309.

5. Poems added by the Author in later editions of his works, pp. 311-325.

6. Poems written in middle and later life, but never published by the Author among his works, pp. 327-400.

7. Translations, pp. 403-512.

No notes are placed at the foot of the page, except those that were written by the Author himself. It was thought better to put my own Notes at the end, so as to present an unbroken page—easy to do in this case, because, except in the translations from Milton, there are few recondite allusions in Cowper's works. But I hope it will be found that all needful explanations have been given, and that the Notes are more complete than in any other edition. I have not burdened them with discussion of every variation in reading, only naming these in special cases. But all the editions have been most scrupulously and carefully collated, and each reading has been duly weighed.

In my frequent references to Macaulay's Essays and Mahon's (Lord Stanhope's) History, necessary to explain Cowper's allusions, it may save time to mention that I have always used the "People's Edition" of Macaulay, and the "Cabinet" of Mahon.