Under each part the order is: Editions of the original texts chronologically arranged;—Versions, in the alphabetical order of the languages;—Illustrative works.
(c.) CONTENTS.
253. Arrange contents either in the order of the volumes or alphabetically by the titles of the articles.
- Alphabetical order.
- Contents.
- Argentile and Curan; a legendary drama, v. 2.
- Art of painting, by Du Fresnoy, v. 3.
- Caractacus; a dramatic poem, v. 2.
- Chronological list of painters to 1689, v. 3.
- Dryden’s preface to his translation of Du Fresnoy, v. 3.
- Elegies, v. 1.
- Elfrida; a dramatic poem, v. 2.
- English garden, The, v. 1.
- Epitaphs and inscriptions, v. 1.
- Essay on the meaning of the word angel, as used by St. Paul, v. 4.
- Essays on English church music, v. 3.
- Examination of the prophecy in Matthew 24th, v. 4.
- Hymns and psalms, v. 1.
- Musæus: a monody to the memory of Mr. Pope, v. 1.
- Odes, v. 1.
- Pygmalion; a lyrical scene, v. 2.
- Religio clerici, v. 1.
- Sappho; a lyrical drama, v. 2.
- Sermons, v. 4.
- Sonnets, v. 1.
- Contents.
- Volume order.
- Contents.
- Vol. 1. Musæus, a monody to the memory of Mr. Pope. — Odes, sonnets, epitaphs and inscriptions, elegies. — The English garden. — Religio clerici. — Hymns and psalms. 2. Elfrida, a dramatic poem. — Caractacus, a dramatic poem. — Sappho. — Argentile and Curan, a legendary drama. — Pygmalion, a lyrical scene. 3. Du Fresnoy’s art of painting. — Dryden’s preface to his translation of Du Fresnoy. — Chronological list of painters to 1689. — Essays on English church music. 4. Sermons. — Essay on the meaning of the word angel, as used by St. Paul. — Examination of the prophecy in Matthew 24th.
- Contents.
It is evident how much much more compendious the second method is. But there is no reason why an alphabetical “contents” should not be run into a single paragraph.
The titles of novels and plays contained in any collection ought to be entered in the main alphabet; it is difficult then to see the advantage of an alphabetical arrangement of the same titles under the collection. Many other collections are composed of works for which alphabetical order is no gain, because the words of their titles are not mnemonic words, and it is not worth while to take the trouble of arranging them; but there are others composed of both classes, in which such order is very convenient. {93}
(d.) SUBJECTS.
254. Care must be taken not to mix two subjects together because their names are spelled in the same way.
Thus Grace before meals, Grace of body, Grace the musical term, and Grace the theological term, must be four distinct headings.