English Poetry; a work which may, perhaps, be by fome thought to have precluded every future attempt. But, in truth, there is not the leaft rivalfhip or even connection, between the two publications. And, indeed, if the contrary had been the cafe, the inaccurate, and fophifticated manner in which every thing that had real pretenfions to antiquity, has been printed by the right reverend editor of that admired and celebrated work, would be a fufficient apology for any one who might undertake to publish more faithful, though, haply, lefs elegant copies*. No liberties, beyond a neceffary modernifa tion of the orthography, have been taken with the language of these antique compofitions, unless in a few inftances, where a manifeft blunder of the prefs at once required and juftified the correction. The reader must be, therefor, content to take them, as they were probably written, at least, as they have come down to us, With all their imperfections on their head. The arrangement of this part of the collection is, in miniature, as near as could be, that of the firft and third. The names of authors could not be prefixed, because they are unknown in moft inftances, and only imperfectly gueffed at in the reft. Nor has the editor made any attempt to ascertain or distinguish their different ages; The truth of this charge, which will not, it is believed, much furprise any perfon converfant in the illuftrious editors authorities, may, on fome future occafion, be more minutely exemplified, and fatisfactorily proved. It will be, here, fufficient to obferve, that frequent recourfe has, in compiling materials for the prefent volumes, been neceffarily had to many of the originals from which the Reliques are profeffedly printed; but not one has, upon examination, been found to be followed with either fidelity or correctnefs. That the above work is beautiful, elegant, and ingenious, it would be ridiculous to deny; but they who look into it to be acquainted with the state of ancient poetry, will be miferably disappointed or fatally misled. Forgery and impofition of every kind, ought to be univerfally execrated, and never more than when they are employed by perfons high in rank or character, and those very circumstances are made use of to fanctify the deceit. a task, a task, perhaps, unneceffary, certainly, impoffible. The reader, not better informed, muft, therefor, remain fatisfied with this general affertion: That there is no reason to conclude any of them much older than the latter part of the reign of queen Elizabeth, nor any more modern than the time of king Charles the first. A TUNE is fo effentially requifite to perfect the idea which is, in ftrictness and propriety, annexed to the term SONG, in its most extenfive fenfe, that every compilation of this nature which does not, together with the words or poetical part of the fongs, likewife include their respective melodies or tunes, in the character appropriated to the expreffion of mufical language, must neceffarily be defective and incomplete. That this character is not familiar or intelligible to the general eye can be no objection. It is, indeed, much to be lamented that it is not rendered more fo, by becoming an èstablished branch of education. There are, however, many to whom the perufal of mufic is not more difficult, or lefs delightful, than the reading of poetry: and few, very few, are fo unfortunate as to be incapable of perceiving the force and beauty of the language conveyed by these technical characters, when communicated to the ear. Moft people can either fing, whistle or hum fome favourite air; and is not that ignorance to be lamented which does not permit them to read and write what they can thus utter? No apology is, therefor, neceffary for the most useful and effential appendix fubjoined to the present volumes, even to those who do not understand it; because they may eafily receive the full benefit of it from thofe who do; and the latter will, it is imagined, be too fenfible of its use and value to require one. Every reader, at all acquainted with the nature of this part of the undertaking, muft be fufficiently aware of the pains neceffarily used to amass such an unexampled number of original and authentic tunes; many of which are the production of the most eminent characters of the musical world, and difplay the fublimest efforts of genius. Readers of this defcription will, likewife, likewise, have the candour to make every proper allowance for whatever defects may be discovered in the mufical part of the work. The difficulties to be furmounted in the compilation were great: many of the old melodies (efpecially thofe of the ancient ballads) are, it is to be feared, irrecoverably loft; and, of later compofitions, fome have never been sent to the press, and others, which have, are not now to be obtained but by mere accident. This excufe is, however, fomewhat' more extensive than the nature and circumstances of the cafe feem to demand; as, it is believed, much fewer and lefs confiderable omiffions will occur than could reasonably have been expected. There are not many preceding publications which have made this their object; and a competition from these is not at all dreaded. To fuch fair readers as may complain of the want of a bafs part for their harpsichords, the editor will beg permiffion to fay, that, had it been practicable, however inconfiftent with the defign of the work, fo earnest was his defire to render it of the utmost service to them, he would have thought no trouble too great in procuring their gratification in this particular. But they will be pleased to remember, that most of the old melodies are without any accompaniment; that to others the bafs has been added by different and inferior compofers (a liberty which may ftill be taken for the accommodation of thofe who require it); and that the fole object of this compilation was the voice and fong, to which the bafs would have been of no fervice. For a fimilar reason, no regard has been paid to any fymphony or harmony, or to the compafs of any particular inftrument. It may not be impertinent to take notice, that several of the most eminent mufical compofers have frequently indulged theirfelves in great and unwarrantable liberties with the poetry they have fet: among thefe, none has offended more than the late dr. Arne, whofe own profeffional excellence might have better taught him the refpect due to that of another, and mr. Jackson of Exeter, who has even gone fo far as to prefix to one of his pub, lications lications a formal defence of the freedoms he has exercifed upon the unfortunate bards who have fallen into his clutches: it is well known, however, that this ingenious gentleman has increased neither his moral nor his scientific character by fuch reprehenfible and illiberal practices. Whereever a restoration of the original words could be effected without injuring, or creating any material variation in the mufic, they have been, uniformly, replaced; but, as this could not be always done, the reader will not be furprised at, fometimes, finding a few words in the mufical, different from those in the poetical part of the collection. On all occafions, however, where the alterations were violent and injudicious, the tune was totally omitted; and this, perhaps, would have been the method obferved with all thofe mufical compofitions in which the authors vanity has led him to attempt improvements upon the moft finished performances of real poets, had not the fuperior excellence of the melody pleaded too forcibly for their retention. The types here made use of presented the only mode of printing the mufic which could be adopted. The reader may be furprised to learn that, in this great kingdom, where all arts and sciences are fuppofed to flourish in their highest perfection, there is not, perhaps, above one printer poffeffed of a fufficient quantity of these useful characters, and that of no other fize. They who are acquainted with the degree of elegance to which this and every other branch of the typographical art are arrived upon the continent, or have even looked into that most beautiful fpecimen of it, the ANTHOLOGIE FRANÇOISE, will have fufficient reafon to condemn that purblind and selfish policy which can reftrain and prevent all emulation in fcience in favour of a private monopoly. Impelled by no lucrative or unworthy motives, the publisher of the prefent volumes has been folely careful to do juftice to the work; a purpose, to effect which neither labour nor expence has been fpared. And he is vain enough to flatter hisfelf that the public will have now 1 now in their poffeffion, what has been fo long wanted, fo much defired, fo frequently attempted, and hitherto, he thinks, fo imperfectly executed, A NATIONAL REPOSITORY OF MELODY AND SONG. The intrinfic value of the work, in both refpects, will be left to pronounce its own eulogium. The editor is, indeed, anfwerable for what may be deemed injudiciously preferved, or unjustly difcarded. But, whatever may be the defects of any of the poetical or mufical compofitions he has inferted, he can fafely aver that not a fingle performance of either kind was wilfully rejected without the moft deliberate confideration. And, though he is conscious of having exerted his utmost endeavours to recover every fong and melody of merit, he will not be forward to affirm that thofe endeavours have, in every inftance, been crowned with fuccefs. Some few compofitions there may undoubtedly be (for it is fcarcely poffible there fhould be many) which have eluded his researches, and with which he must be contented to refer his acquaintance to time, accident, more extenfive enquiry, or liberal communication. The collection, as it is, will, it is hoped, be found infinitely fuperior, in every refpect, to any publication of the like nature which has been yet offered to the public, to whofe juftice and candour it is refigned with pleasure; in a full confidence, that they will not think either that it is unworthy of their acceptance, or that too much has been here urged in its praise. A HISTORICAL |