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INTRODUCTION

It is now four years since it fell to my lot to make

known to the world the poems of Thomas Traherne.

For considerably more than two centuries they had

remained in manuscript, unknown and uncared for.

They had fallen into my hands by what I must needs

think was a very remarkable series of accidents ; and

I account it as one of the most fortunate incidents of

my life that I immediately discerned their value and

importance. When I published them I did not fear to

express my belief that they were the work of one of

the finest and noblest spirits that ever existed, and it

was a great gratification to me that my own estimate of Traherne was accepted as a true one by all competent judges. I do not think that any one whose opinions are worth consideration would now deny that this successor of George Herbert, and contemporary of Milton, Crashaw and Vaughan, is worthy to be men- tioned in the same breath with them. Or, if indeed any one should think that Traherne's poems, fine as

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