Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

would be no lefs tedious than ufelefs. It will be fufficient to remark, that through want of care or judgment in their respective editors, they are all forgotten or neglected. From these the mifcellany known by the name of Mr. Pope perhaps ought to be excepted; tho' that, indeed, cannot properly be ftyled a collection of poems by different hands, which is fuch a one as we are speaking of at prefent, the greater part confifting of pieces by Mr. Pope only. The best mifcellany at this day extant in our language, and the first complete one of the kind which we have seen, is that lately publifhed by R. Dodfley, which boasts the greatest names of the prefent age among its contributors.

As to the poetical collection here exhibited to the public, we apprehend it challenges no small degree of regard, as it was made under the immediate infpection and conduct of several very ingenious gentlemen, whofe names it would do us the highest honour to mention; and as it contains a variety not to be found even in the admirable collection last spoken of; I mean the Intermixture of poems both Scotch and English. Nor is this variety lefs agreeable than ufeful; as from it we have an opportunity of forming a comparison and eftimate of the taste and genius of the two different nations, in their poetical compofitions.

It

It will be neceffary to take notice, that our chief care has been to furnish out the following mifcellany with those pieces, regard being first had to real merit, which have laid unknown and unobferved from their MANNER of publication; several of them having been printed by themfelves, and fo perifhed as it were for want of bulk, and others loft amid the rubbish of collections injudiciously made, and perhaps not eafily to be met with. Nor will it be improper to mention, that in order to render our volume still more compleat, we have had the favour of fome original poems, written by a late member of the univerfity of Aberdeen, whofe modefty would not permit us to prefix his name: one of which in this edition is printed with many improvements, from a corrected copy. And from thefe ingenious eflays, the public may be enabled to form fome judgment beforehand of a poem of a nobler and more important nature, which he is now preparing. Nor muft we forget to return our public thanks to this gentleman, for the fervice he has been to us, not only in making this collection more excellent by his own contributions, but in felecting fuch pieces of others as were fuitable to our defign.

It is hoped that the ancient Scottish poems (amongst which THE THISTLE AND THE ROSE, and HARDYKNUTE are more particularly distinguished) B 3

will

will make no disagreeable figure amongst those of modern date; and that they will produce the fame effect here, as Mr. Pope observes a moderate use of old words may have in a poem ; which, adds he, is like working old abbey-stones into a modern building, and which I have fometimes feen practifed with good fuccefs.

Upon the whole, as we have been favoured with the best assistance in compiling this volume, no further apology is neceffary; and as the approbation of the public has been already fecured to thefe poems separately, we hope they have no less reason to claim it, when thus published together.

Page

Tvers on the Death of Queen Caroline.

HE Thiftle and the Rofe, by W. Dunbar 1
Verses on the

By Mr. Shipley

The Genealogy of Chrift, by Mr. Lowth
A Fragment, by Mr. Mallet

10

13

24

The Eagle and Robin Red-Breast, a Fable, by Archibald Scott, written before the Year 1600. 28 Ode to Fancy, by Mr. Jofeph Warton

Ode to Evening, by the fame

Ode to Evening, by Mr. Collins

31

37

39

Ifis, an Elegy, by Mr. Mason of Cambridge 42 The Triumph of Ifis, by Mr. Thomas Warton of Oxford

A Love-Elegy, by Mr. Hammond

The Tears of Scotland, 1746.

An Elegy written in a country church-yard, by
Mr. Grey

47

47

62

65

70

On the Death of Prince Frederic. Written at
Paris, by David Lord Viscount Stormont
On the same, by Mr. James Clitherow of Oxford 75
Ode on the Approach of Summer, by a Gentle-
man formerly of the University of Aberdeen 81
A Paftoral in the manner of Spenser, from
Theocritus, Idyll. zo. By the fame
Infcribed on a beautiful Grotto near the Water 96
Love Elegy, by Mr. Smollet

94

97

« AnteriorContinuar »