PREFACE.

and close at hand; as if the Holy Spirit himself granted the Art of Poetry more freedom for this purpose. The theologian and excellent Poet J. Vollenhove Joannes Vollenhove (1631–1708) was a prominent Dutch minister and poet known for his epic religious works. made use of this same freedom in his superb poem, the Triumph of the Cross, in the following verses, in which he follows the trail of the thoughts of the clever Kaspar van Baarle Caspar Barlaeus (1584–1648), a famous Dutch polymath and poet., in his oration on the manger of Christ:

What wonder-filled salvation, what a sight
My soul perceives upon this stake: The "stake" refers to the Cross on which Christ was crucified.
Here I find God's wrathful vengeance;
And here, merciful pardon.
Justice insisted upon punishment;
Mercy pleaded for safe passage,
Here God's Wisdom stepped between them,
Which gave satisfaction to them both.

Such a Reader, whom I now imagine having led by the hand across these heights, I now dare to let go alone, and wish him a good journey, not doubting that he will now step more lightly over the lesser poetic liberties; especially when he reminds himself how often