The Younger Pliny, in closing the letter which gives the famous description of his Tuscan villa, makes the following wise observation, which I quote in Saintsbury's rendering: “I think it is the first duty of a writer to read his own title and constantly ask himself what he sat down to write, and to be sure, if he sticks to his subject, he will never be too long, but will be hopelessly so if he drags in other matters.” This warning is pertinent here because of the somewhat inflated title of my very modest contribution as announced in the MLA Program, and I feel that I should forecast in a few words what I propose to offer.