PREFACE. My Bookfeller having informed me that there was no collection of English Poetry among us, of any eftimation, I thought a few hours fpent in making a proper felection would not be ill beftowed. Compilations of this kind are chiefly defigned for fuch as either want leifure, fkill, or fortune, to choose for themselves; for perfons whose profeffions turn them to different pursuits, or who, not yet arrived at fufficient maturity, require a guide to direct their application. To our youth, particularly, a publication of this fort may be useful; fince, if compiled with any fhare of judgment, it may at once unite precept and example, fhew them what is beautiful, and inform them why it is fo: I therefore offer this, to the best of my judgment, as the best collection that has as yet appeared; though, as taftes are various, numbers will be of a very different opinion. Many, perhaps, may wish to fee in it the poems of their favourite authors, others may wish that I had felected from works lefs generally read, and others ftill may wish that I had felected from their own. But my defign was to give a useful, unaffected compilation; one that might tend to advance the reader's tafte, and not imprefs him with exalted ideas of mine. Nothing is fo common, and yet fo abfurd, as affectation in criticifm. The defire of being thought to have a more difcerning taste than others, has often led writers to labour after error, and to be foremoft in promoting deformity. In this compilation I run but few rifques of that kind; every poem here is well known, and poffeffed, or the public has been long miftaken, of peculiar merit: every poem has, as Ariftotle expreffes it, a be-, ginning, a middle, and an end, in which, however trifling the rule may feem, moft of the poetry in our language is deficient: I claim no merit in the choice, as it was obvious, for in all languages beft productions are most eafily found. As to the fhort introductory criticisms to each poem, they are rather defigned for boys than men; for it will be feen that I declined all refinement, fatisfied with being obvious and fincere. In fhort, if this work be useful in fchools, or amufing in the clofet, the merit all belongs to others; I have nothing to boaft, and at beft can expect, not applause, but pardon. OLIVER GOLDSMITH, THE THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. This feems to be Mr. Pope's most finished production, and is, perhaps, the moft perfect in our language. It exhibits ftronger powers of imagination, more harmony of numbers, and a greater knowledge of the world, than any other of this Poet's Works: and it was probable, if our country were called upon to fhew a specimen of their genius to foreigners, this would be the work here fixed upon. IL PENSEROSO. I have heard a very judicious Critic fay, that he had an higher idea of Milton's ftile in poetry, from the two following poems, than from his Paradife Loft. It is certain the imagination fhewn in them is correct and strong. The introduction to both in irregular measure is borrowed from the Italians, and hurts an English ear. AN ELEGY, WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. This is a very fine poem, but overloaded with epithet. The heroic measure with alternate rhime is very properly adapted to the folemnity of the fubject, as it is the floweft movement that our language admits of. The latter part of the poem is pathetic and interefting. LONDON. IN IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL. This poem of Mr. Johnfon's is the best imitation of the original that has appeared in our language, being poffeffed of all the force and fatyrical refentment of Juvenal. Imitation gives us a much truer idea of the ancients than even tranflation could do. THE |