The world's great epics told in story. This work contains almost every variety of epic, from that which treats of the deity in dignified hexameters, strictly conforms to the rule" one hero, one time & one action of many parts," and has "the massiveness & dignity of sculpture," to the simplest idylls, such as the Japanese "White Aster," or that exquisite French medieval compound of poetry & prose, "Aucassin et Nicolette."