A Literary Half-Hour. 287 



It embodies only one idea or central thought, and 

 consists of only fourteen lines. But what a wealth of 

 grace and sweetness is sometimes found in so small a 

 compass ! — 



Richard Watson Gilder has written a Sonnet on 

 a Sonnet : — 



What is a Sonnet? 'Tis the pearly shell 

 That murmurs of the far-off murmuring sea ; 

 A precious jewel carved most curiously : 

 It is a little picture painted well." 



Nearly all the great poets have written Sonnets, and at 

 the present day William Watson stands at the head of 

 all writers of this form of verse. 



I quote here a favourite Sonnet of mine written by 

 Spenser : — 



Mark when she smiles with amiable cheer, 



And tell me whereto can you liken it. 



When on each eyelid sweetly do appear 



An hundred Graces as in shade to sit. 



Likest it seemeth, in my simple wit, 



Unto the fair sunshine in a summer's day. 



That when a dreadful storm away is flit, 



Through the broad world doth spread his goodly ray; 



At sight whereof, each bird that sits on spray. 



And every beast that to his den was fled, 



Comes forth afresh out of their late dismay, 



And to the light lift up their drooping head. 



So my storm-beaten heart likewise is cheered 



With that sunshine, when cloudy looks are cleared, 

 A propos of the subje6l of these hasty notes, written in 

 odd moments from day to day, could we not form a 

 Literary Society here? 



There are amongst us men of wide reading who would 

 be quite able to give the necessary impetus to such a 

 niovement. 



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