I Edward FitzGerald's Polonius had never been reprinted in separate book form since 1 Polonius: /A Collection of / Wise Saws and Modern Instances. (motto) / London: / William Pickering. / 1852. Collation:- Square octavo: pp. [ii] and XVI and 146, consisting of Title-page with imprint, "John Childs and Son. Bungay," on verso; [i, ii]: Preface, pp. I-XVI; Text, pp. 1-142; Index, pp. 143-145; Errata, with imprint as before, p. 146. "Only the Preface has headlines; in the text the number of the page, in Roman figures, occupies the top centre. Every page is enclosed within double [ruled] borders. Issued in emeraldgreen cloth boards, lettered upwards along the back "Polonius " and with the motto "LA VERDAD ES SIEMPRE VERDE" stamped in gilt letters, within an ornamental wreath, upon the side." "Notes for a Bibliography of Edward FitzGerald. By Col. W. F. Prideaux. Octavo. Wrappers. Pp. 36. [London,] 1900. (50 copies privately printed.) the date of its first appearance in 1852. In so doing, and thereby bringing to our attention a golden opportunity, which Mr. W. Aldis Wright signally neglected in his recent volume of Miscellanies, it may be thought that this anonymous writer builded better than he knew. But for his article the little work so modestly put forth in green covers and a unique copy at that might have remained unknown to us. Why Polonius was never reissued is something of a literary mystery. Surely "a book of extracts made by a wise man like FitzGerald is as much an index to his character and personality as any words from his pen can be." It is in fact "very good, very FitzGeraldian ;" and "V," quoting in full the aphorisms under "Travel," "Content," 1 See The Academy (London) Nov. 10th and 17th, 1900. 2 Miscellanies By Edward FitzGerald, Pott 8vo. London, 1900. 3 The only reprint, strange to say, occurs in what we take to be an unauthorized edition made by Quaritch, and printed in New York - apparently to avoid English copyright complications. See Works of Edward FitzGerald. Octavo, 2 vols., New York and Boston. Houghton, Mifflin & Co.: London, Bernard Quaritch, 1887. |