The Golden Treasury / Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

19221

Title

The Golden Treasury / Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Francis Turner Palgrave's *The Golden Treasury* curates the finest lyrical poetry in English from the Elizabethan era to the mid-19th century. Selected for their emotional depth and unity of thought, these poems range from Shakespeare's passion to Wordsworth's nature reflections. This anthology offers a timeless collection designed to provide innocent pleasure, animation for friends, and solace in solitude.

Summary up to 500 words

Francis Turner Palgrave's *The Golden Treasury* stands as a definitive anthology of the finest original lyrical poetry and songs in the English language, curated from writers who had passed away by the mid-19th century. Palgrave structures this collection into four distinct books, each representing a ninety-year period: concluding around 1616, extending to 1700, reaching 1800, and covering the half-century preceding its publication. This chronological framework allows the volume to reflect the natural evolution of English poetry, tracing its growth from the Elizabethan era through the Romantic age. Palgrave's selection criteria are rigorous and specific. He explicitly excludes narrative, descriptive, and didactic poems unless they possess a rapidity of movement, brevity, and the coloring of human passion. Humorous poetry is largely rejected, as are blank verse and ten-syllable couplets, to maintain a strictly lyrical tone. His editorial philosophy prioritizes excellence in the whole rather than isolated parts; he seeks perfection commensurate with the poem's aim, relying on independent judgment alongside popular fame to ensure caprice-free selection. The arrangement of the poems avoids a rigid chronological sequence within each book. Instead, Palgrave organizes pieces by gradations of feeling or subject, aiming to create a poetic unity akin to musical symphonies. This approach ensures that the reader experiences a cohesive flow rather than a disjointed historical survey. The anthology is designed to offer appropriate treasures for every stage of life: providing experience for youth, calm for maturity, and a renewed sense of youthfulness for age. The collection spans a vast array of voices and styles. The First Book focuses on Elizabethan poetry, featuring works from Wyatt to Shakespeare and Drummond, characterized by natural sweetness and straightforwardness. Subsequent books introduce the grandeur of Milton, the melancholy of Gray, and the revolutionary spirit of Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Byron, and others. By presenting these works in a carefully curated order, Palgrave hopes the volume will serve as a lifelong fountain of innocent pleasure, teaching those indifferent to poetry to love it, and deepening the appreciation of those who already do. Ultimately, *The Golden Treasury* aims to be a storehouse of delight that interprets the lessons of Nature and offers a higher form of society through the companionship of the wise and the good.

LLM editorial rating

4.5/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19221.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg19221.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-21 20:00 UTC

Categories

• Poetry