Though some make slight of libels, yet you may see by them how the wind sits; as, take a straw and throw it up into the air, you may see by that which way the wind is, which you shall not do by casting up a stone. More solid things do not show the complexion of the times so well as ballads and libels."-SELDEN'S Table-Talk. *An ordinary song or ballad, that is the delight of the common people, cannot fail to please all such readers as are not unqualified for the entertainment by their affectation or their ignorance; and the reason is plain, because the same paintings of Nature which recommend it to the most ordinary reader will appear beautiful to the most refined."-ADDISON in Spectator, No. ze, Ann Arber Miss Getty THE CHANDOS CLASSICS. RELIQUES OF ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY, CONSISTING OF OLD HEROIC BALLADS, SONGS, ETC. BY THOMAS PERCY. A New Edition. EDITED BY EDWARD WALFORD, M.A. WITH A GLOSSARY AND LIFE LONDON AND NEW YORK: THE Reliques of Bishop Percy have for a century been favourites with all lovers of ancient poetry and of English literature; and as they were among the chief friends of my boyhood, it has been a great pleasure to me, in advanced manhood, to help in giving to the world a popular edition of them. I have added a few brief foot-notes, where the Author's meaning, or a passing allusion, seemed obscure; and the Glossaries to each of the three original volumes have been drafted into one in this edition. Those of the *Reliques" which are to be found also in Percy's "Folio Manuscript" have been duly noted; and I have prefixed to the volume a new biography of the venerable author himself. HAMPSTEAD, N.W. E. WALFORD. |