other ballads bear the latter character. Of the Scotch songs, a number are formed upon that humorous delineation of incidents in common life which is proper to the ballad, the diction of which they also imitate in the comic and familiar cast of their dialect. That this dialect, however, is capable of the true pathetic, is evinced by the fine song or ballad of "Robin Gray," which has scarcely its equal for the touching effect of a story related in the most simple and unaffected manner, and with no exaggeration of feeling. To the list of pieces in which a little tale related in familiar language is adapted to vocal music, it gives me pleasure to add one of the latest productions of a real genius, Mr. Scott, who, in his

Marmion," has presented an excellent specimen of the sprightly ballad, divested of vulgarity, yet preserving a characteristic ease and negligence.

Another

Another class of compositions of this kind might be formed from those martial

songs which have been written on particular occasions for the purpose of preserving the memory of great actions among the people, and rousing the national spirit. Naval exploits have among us been especially celebrated in those ditties, which have doubtless much contributed to the popularity of the maritime character. The sea-fight at La Hogue was the subject of a ballad well-known a century ago, as and still preserved in collections. "Hosier's Ghost," written by Glover, had the double purpose of panegyrizing the success of admiral Vernon, and exciting discontent with the pacific ministry which was unwilling to enter into a war with Spain. It is written in a more cultivated style than fordinary ballads, yet does not deviate from a proper simplicity. Many persons may now recollect the first appearance of the

popular

popular ballad of Hearts of Oak," celebrating the triumphs of the glorious year fifty-nine, and have witnessed the warlike enthusiasm which it inspired in the hearers. It may be thought a degradation to the famous national song "Rule, Britannia," to rank it among these compo sitions, since its writer, Thomson or Mallet, evidently intended to give it a lyrical elevation of style and sentiment. present use, however, assimilates it with the ordinary strains of street poetry; and it cannot be doubted that it has produced a great effect in accustoming Britons to the claim of maritime empire.

Its

From the preceding observations relative to the different kinds of ballad-writing, it would appear that the essential character of these productions consists in the narrative strain of the subject, joined to a familiarity of language, often, for comic effect, approaching to vulgarity,

a

and

and always adapted to popular comprehension. It is, in fact, the vocal poetry of the lower classes; though sometimes its form is a mask put on for the purpose of giving a zest to wit and satire. It is usual to couple the words with some trivial tune already associated with vulgar humour; and in many ballads, as well as in the French vaudevilles, each stanza concludes with a whimsical combination of unmeaning syllables, called a burden.

There is another species of song, the ambiguous nature of which seems to entitle, it to a separate consideration-that resulting from the union of pastoral poetry with vocal music. Though the simplicity of language appropriated to these compositions might seem to refer them to the ballad class, yet they are separated from it by an essential character. Pastoral is a species of poetical fiction, in which the manners and sentiments are derived from

an

an imaginary state of society very different from any thing existing in modern times; it is therefore totally opposite to that tale of real life which constitutes the proper ballad. Yet, as its pictures of natural objects are real, and the affections of the

heart which it paints have an actual residence in the human breast, enough of

.

probability is retained to render them interesting to every one whose heart and fancy are not shut against the tender emotions, and the images of rural beauty. When these ideas, therefore, have been transferred to song, such compositions have often become general favourites with persons of all degrees of mental culture; for they have naturally been clothed in language simple, but not coarse; and in their subjects have appealed to feelings common to all ranks. Byrom's wellknown piece "My time, O ye Muses," first printed in the Spectator, has been familiarized