This anthology collects the works of the greatest British poets from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. Spanning more than six centuries of literary history, this volume is an essential reference for anyone interested in the history of English literature. The poems are accompanied by a comprehensive introduction and notes, providing valuable historical and cultural context. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.