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PRINTED FOR R. BALDWIN, IN PATERNOSTER-ROW.

M.DCC.LIX.

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BODLEIAN

L

77 FEB 1927

OXFORD

PREFACE.

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S the mind of man is ever fond of variety, nothing feems better calculated to entertain, than a judicious collection of the smaller, though not on that account lefs laboured, productions of eminent poets: an entertainment, not unlike that which we receive from furveying a finished landschape, or well difpofed piece of fhell-work: where each particular object, tho' fingly beautiful, and fufficiently striking by itself, receives an additional charm, thus, as Milton expreffes it, SWEETLY

INTERCHANGED.

The firft mifcellaneous collection of poems, that ever appeared in Great-Britain with any reputation, is that published by Dryden: which was afterwards continued by Tonfon. There are many pieces of the highest merit in this collection, by Dryden, Denham, Creech, Drayton, Garth, Marvell, and many others; yet the compilers, it is evident, were not always fufficiently fcrupulous and cautious in their choice, as feveral pieces are admitted, among the reft, which would otherwife utterly have perifhed, and which had no other recommendation, than that they served to fwell the volume. Since this, many mifcellanies have been published both in Scotland and England: to enumerate which would

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would be no lefs tedious than useless. 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 miscellany 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 beit mifcellany at this day extant in our language, and the first complete one of the kind which we have feen, is that lately published by R. Dodsley, 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 fmall degree of regard, as it was made under the immediate infpection and conduct of several very ingenious gentlemen, whose 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 less agreeable than useful; as from it we have an opportunity of forming a comparison and estimate of the taste and genius of the two different nations, in their poetical compofitions.

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It will be necessary to take notice, that our chief care has been to furnish out the following mifcellany with thofe pieces, regard being first had to real merit, which have laid unknown and unobferved from their MANNER of publication; feveral of them having been printed by themselves, and fo perished as it were for want of bulk, and others loft amid the rubbish of collections injudiciously made, and perhaps not easily to be met with. Nor will it be improper to mention, that in order to render our volume ftill more compleat, we have had the favour of fome original poems, written by a late member of the university of Aberdeen, whose 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 effays, 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 must we forget to return our public thanks to this gentleman, for the service 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) A 3

will

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