Balladen und Lieder altenglischer und altschortischer Herausgegeben von August Friedrich Ursinus. Berlin, 1777. An ordinary SONG or BALLAD, that is the Delight of the common People, can not 'fail to please all fuch Readers, as are not unqualified for the Entertainment by their Affectation or their Ignorance; and the Reafon is plain, because the fame Paintings of Nature which recommend it to the most or dinary Reader, will appear Beautiful to the moft refined. ADDISON, in SPECTATOR, No. 70. I have heard that the late Lord DORSET, who had the greatest Wit temper'd with the greatest Candour, and was one of the finest Criticks, as well as the best Poets of his Age, had a numerous Collection of old Englifh Ballads, and took a particular Pleafure in the reading of them. I can affirm the fame of Mr. DRYDEN, and know feveral of the most refined Writers of our present Age who are of the fame Humour. IBID. No. 85. La poefie populaire et purement naturelle a des naivetés et des graces, par où elle fe compare à la principale beauté de la poefie parfaite felon l'art. MONTAGNE, L. 1, c. 54. |