arranging their poems in the form of drums, swords, circles, crescents, trees, &c., and that the Alexandrian rhetoricians used to amuse themselves by writing their satires and invectives in the shape of an axe or a spear. He gives the following erotic triplet, composed by a Hindu poet, the first line representing a bow, the second its string, the third an arrow aimed at the heart of the object of his passion:— [Illustration: O lovely maid, thou art the fairest slave in all God’s mart! Those charms to win, with all my empire I would gladly part. One kiss I send, to pierce, like fire, thy too reluctant heart. ] THE WINE GLASS. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine! They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the CUP; when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. The following specimen of this affectation was written by George Wither, who lived from 1588 to 1677. It is called by Mr. Ellis a RHOMBOIDAL DIRGE. Farewell, Sweet groves, to you! You hills that highest dwell, And all you humble vales, adieu! You wanton brooks and solitary rocks, My dear companions all, and you my tender flocks! Farewell, my pipe! and all those pleasing songs whose moving strains Delighted once the fairest nymphs that dance upon the plains. You discontents, whose deep and over-deadly smart Have without pity broke the truest heart, Sighs, tears, and every sad annoy, That erst did with me dwell, And others joy, Farewell! The Christian monks of the Middle Ages, who amused themselves similarly, preferred for their hymns the form of THE CROSS.