a race of Anakim proportionate to the withstanding of these other monsters.  I say Anakim rather than Nephelim, because there seem reasons for supposing that the race of those whose heads (though no giants) are constantly enveloped in clouds (which that name imports) will never become extinct.  The attempt to vanquish the innumerable heads of one of those aforementioned discourses may supply us with a plausible interpretation of the second labor of Hercules, and his successful experiment with fire affords us a useful precedent.

But while I lament the degeneracy of the age in this regard, I cannot refuse to succumb to its influence.  Looking out through my study-window, I see Mr. Biglow at a distance busy in gathering his Baldwins, of which, to judge by the number of barrels lying about under the trees, his crop is more abundant than my own,—­by which sight I am admonished to turn to those orchards of the mind wherein my labors may be more prospered, and apply myself diligently to the preparation of my next Sabbath’s discourse.—­H.W.]

MELIBOEUS-HIPPONAX

* * * * *

THE

Biglow Papers

SECOND SERIES

[Greek:  ’Estin ar o idiotismos eniote tou kosmou parapolu
  emphanistkoteron.’]

LONGIXUS.

’J’aimerois mieulx que mon fils apprinst aux tavernes a parler, qu’aux escholes de la parlerie.’

MONTAIGNE.

“Unser Sprach ist auch ein Sprach und fan so wohl ein Sad nennen als die Lateiner saccus.”

FISCHART.

‘Vim rebus aliquando ipsa verborum humilitas affert.’

QUINTILIANUS.

’O ma lengo,
Plantarey une estelo a toun froun encrumit!’

JASMIN.

* * * * *

’Multos enim, quibus loquendi ratio non desit, invenias, quos curiose potius loqui dixeris quam Latine; quomodo et illa Attica anus Theophrastum, hominem alioqui disertissimum, annotata unius affectatione verbi, hospitem dixit, nec alio se id deprehendisse interrogata respondit, quam quod nimium Attice loqueretur.’—­QUINTILIANUS.

’Et Anglice sermonicari solebat populo, sed secundum linguam Norfolchie ubi natus et nutritus erat.’—­CRONICA JOCELINI.

’La politique est une pierre attachee an cou de la litterature, et qui en moins de six mois la submerge....  Cette politique va offenser mortellement une moitie des lecteurs, et ennuyer l’autre qui l’a trouvee bien autrement speciale et energique dans le journal du matin.’—­HENRI BEYLE.

[When the book appeared it bore a dedication to E.R.  Hoar, and was introduced by an essay of the Yankee form of English speech.  This Introduction is so distinctly an essay that it has been thought best to print it as an appendix to this volume, rather than allow it to break in upon the pages of verse.  There is, however, one passage in it which may be repeated here, since it bears directly upon the poem which serves as a sort of prelude to the series.]