poems): and in prose, Greene's Groatsworth of Wit; Lord Brook's Life of Sydney, &c. These form almost a little library of themselves; nor were any of them (except Drayton), easily accessible, till the Editor reprinted them.* The very few copies taken of all these works will make them shortly almost as rare as the originals. If every hour of our lives could be employed in the most solid and beneficial, or most sublime occupations, a strong argument might be urged against wasting our intellectual attention on that which is comparatively trifling or unimportant. But Provi-, dence has ordered it otherwise. There are innu * Mr.Park's Heliconia, in three 4to. vols. containing all the early poetical miscellanies except those already mentioned and except Tottell's Miscellany, (consisting of Lord Surrey's Poems, with Sir Thomas Wyatt's, and some anonymous, which are now about to appear under the learned editorship of Dr. Nott), together with Mr. Haslewood's laborious and exact edition of the Mirror for Magistrates, 3 vols. 4to.-his Puttenham, Webbe, and other tracts of poetical criticism—and his Painter's Palace of Pleasure, add materially to this revival of our Elizabethan literature; to which the Roxburgh reprints will in a short time furnish a splendid appendage. merable varying duties, and innumerable varying pleasures, by which it is decreed that the hours of business and of relaxation of the different characters and stations of mankind shall be filled. Every one who discharges the lot assigned to him innocently and virtuously, deserves praise, and will finally attain it. The Editor has borne the charge of dulness in his pursuits, and sacrifice of time in his amusements, with a calm contempt, from the proud consciousness that the accusation of petty and confined studies does not belong to him. If there be one merit above all others, without which he thinks excellence cannot be attained in literary composition, it is animation and feeling. In many ancient productions these must be admitted to be wanting. But the mere modern reader, ignorant of the changes of language and accentuation, must not always assume that old writings are wanting in spirit, because they are without the fashionable point of his own day. Narrowness of mind marks him who has limited his attention to a few objects; and thus, for want of comparison, magnifies them into an undue and fancied importance. To him, whom so many lite rary ambitions have by turns occupied; who has been engaged in the business as well as in the speculations of life; to whom politics and legislation, as well as the whole range of the Belles Lettres, have not been unfamiliar; such a stigma will scarcely with any shew of justice be affixed. But, warm as have been the energies of his better days, he is at length growing weary of these employments. The charm is gone; his industry is past; and all appears flat and uninteresting. Domestic losses of the most afflicting kind have spread a gloom over the charms of life; and have palsied the hand and the mind, which once were not lightly wearied either with the pen or with books. All therefore, which shall now be farther said, shall be an acknowledgement of the constant aid of the kind coadjutor, to whom these volumes are principally indebted. In naming MR. PARK, whose acquaintance with poetical bibliography is familiar to the public, all is contained that is necessary. His signature (¶) will point out the extent of the Editor's obligations to him. His modesty forbids more to be added; and the Editor reluctantly obeys his wishes. The RESTITUTA, with the BIBLIOGRAPHER, and CENSURA LITERARIA, make eighteen volumes of contribution to the study of Old English Literature, which the Public will deem at least sufficient for the task of one man. Ramsgate, July 22, 1816. Postscript. The Editor owes it to himself to say, that not having had time to compile the Indexes himself, he cannot be answerable for them: while he is aware that great difficulties must have occurred in the execution of this task by any one less familiar with the nature and object of these volumes than himself. Though less perfect than he could wish, he still hopes that these Indexes will be of great assistance to him who has occasion to consult this work. THE POETRY. Certaigne Psalmes or Songues of David, translated by Sir Tho. Smith, 1549.... Googe's Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonettes, 1563.... Drant's Horace, his Arte of Poetrie, &c. 4to. 1567..... 8vo. 1578...... The Pope's Pittifal Lamentation for the Death of Don Joan of Austria, 185 359 316 149 Countesse of Pembroke's Tragedie of Antonie, small 8vo. 1595...... 272 Cynthia, with certaine Sonnets, and the Legend of Cassandra, 12mo. Excerpta Poctica, from Lok's Christian Passions, &c. 1597.... 292 --- from Francis Rous's Thule, 1598.. The Encomium of Lady Pecunia; or the Praise of Money, 1598... Excerpta Poetica, from Breton's Melancholike Humours, 1600 ............. 7 |