PREFACE THE desire of the reader of these poems should be to gain as lively a sense as possible of the civilization, the manners, the customs, and the ideals of Ancient Rome, and also to respond to the thrilling style in which Macaulay made the events dramatic. In The Lays of Ancient Rome the poet became an impassioned champion of patriotism and a revealer of the sturdy gifts of the orator who speaks, impromptu, on a subject near his heart. The lays should be read early in the pupil's course in literature, for the fiery sweep of Macaulay's popular measure, the excitement of his narrative, and the brilliant picturesqueness of his allusions, win the loyal admiration of young readers, and teach them many truths of history and of literature. It will be a comparatively simple matter to lead students on from the metallic charm of Macaulay's verse to the more genuinely melodious and imaginative beauty of The Ancient Mariner, or of L'Allegro, or of the lyrics in The Golden Treasury. The arrangement of notes in this volume will be clear at a glance. Geographical names are treated briefly in foot-notes, the aim being to suggest the district in which each town was, and thus to state whether it was, or was not, near Rome. Students can find the exact location by referring to the map. The notes explanatory of the text do not contain comment upon purely poetic values, for all suggestions in regard to the study and appreciation of Macaulay's art have been grouped together (page 106), in the belief that pupils will gain more literary insight if they are made to study the poetry in unified fashion, viewing the subject of poetics systematically. If students devote themselves, in the first reading of the lays, to understanding the subject-matter, they will be able in a second reading to think attentively of the style. Noting how Macaulay brought a wealth of figures and of concrete beauties to supplement the bare narrative, each reader will gain a certain individual power of appreciation; and he will realize that every word gives such a challenge to the imagination that he must read slowly enough to allow the poet's art to cast its spell. The text of the lays is that of Lady Trevelyan's edition of Macaulay's works. Macaulay's learned introductions have been omitted, for they occupy an amount of space out of proportion to their value to the general reader. WELLESLEY, MASS., April 22, 1907. M. H. S. CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF MACAULAY 1800. Thomas Babington Macaulay was born at Rothley Temple, Leicestershire, England. 1818. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where he had a distinguished career, winning prizes for his composi tions in verse. 1822. He received at Cambridge University the degree of Bachelor of Arts. 1824. He was appointed Fellow of Trinity College. 1825. He published his essay on Milton in the Edinburgh Review and from this time on continued to publish critical essays. 1826. He was admitted to the Bar. 1830. He entered Parliament. 1834-8. He resided in India, where he held a high administrative office. 1839. He was made Secretary of War and Member of the Privy Council. 1842. He published The Lays of Ancient Rome. 1844. He published his essay on Addison. 1849. He published the first two volumes of the History of England. 1855. He published the third and fourth volumes of the History of England. 1857. He was created Baron Rothley, in recognition of his services to literature. 1859. He died December 28, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. |