drama of which the Maid of Shulam is the centre,
'.)oth that which considers it as symbolical, and that which looks upon it simply as a picture of quite earthly passion. Mr. Falconer sums up this literature thus :-" Should the careful reader, interpreting the Song literally, discern in it the character of the Maid of ShuLam set in bright relief against a dark background of Oriental passion, he will be grateful that the Old Testament Canon includes a book framing a portrait of such haunting loveliness and spiritual and historical significance. Better see this alone in the Canticle than imagine it may be neglected, as either having no clear meaning at all, or containing only a puzzling esoteric sym- bolism which none but the initiated can understand." But Mr. Falconer will give special satisfaction to the class of readers for whom, it is not too much to say, he writes by his insistence on the theory that the Song becomes diviner and grander when it is looked at from the symbolical standpoint, and "when its chords of human affection pass into the complex music of earth's sub- Ernest symphony-the converse of loyal and loving hearts with the God of Redemption."
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