BURNS.
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he meaning of such obsolete words is usually given at the bottomof the page. For explanation of the more common peculiarities of theScottish dialect, the English reader is referred to the excellentglossary annexed to the last edition of Burns' works. The Third Class of Ballads are announced to the public, as MODERNIMITATIONS of the Ancient Style of composition, in that department ofpoetry; and they are founded upon such traditions as we may suppose inthe elder times would have employed the harps of the minstrels. Thiskind of poetry has been supposed capable of uniting the vigorousnumbers and wild fiction, which occasionally charm us in the ancientballad, with a greater equality of versification, and elegance ofsentiment, than we can expect to find in the works of a rude age. But,upon my ideas of the nature and difficulty of such imitations, I oughtin prudence to be silent; lest I resemble the dwarf, who brought withhim a standard to measure his own stature. I may, however, hint at thedifference, not always attended to, betwixt legendary poems and realimitations of the old ballad; the reader will find specimens of bothin the modern part of this collection. The legendary poem, called_Glenfinlas_, and the ballad, entituled the _Eve of St. John_, weredesigned as examples of the difference betwixt these two kinds ofcomposition. It would have the appearance of personal vanity, were the editor todetail the assistance and encouragement which he has received, duringhis undertaking, from some of the first literary characters of ourage. The names of Stuart, Mackenzie, Ellis, Currie, and Ritson, withmany others, are talismans too powerful to be used, for bespeaking theworld's favour to a collection of old songs; even although a veteranbard has remarked, "that both the great poet of Italian rhyme,Petrarch, and our Chaucer, and other of the upper house of the muses,have thought their canzons honoured in the title of a ballad." To myingenious friend, Dr. John Leyden, my readers will at once perceivethat I lie under extensive obligations, for the poetical pieces, withwhich he has permitted me to decorate my compilation; but I am yetfarther indebted to him for his uniform assistance, in collecting andarranging materials for the work. In the notes, and occasional dissertations, it has been my objectto throw together, perhaps without sufficient attention to method,a variety of remarks, regarding popular superstitions, and legendaryhistory, which, if not now collected, must soon have been totallyforgotten. By such efforts, feeble as they are, I may contributesomewhat to the history of my native country; the peculiar featuresof whose manners and character are daily melting and dissolving intothose of her sister and ally. And, trivial as may appear such anoffering, to the manes of a kingdom, once proud and independent, Ihang it upon her altar with a mixture of feelings, which I shall notattempt to describe. "--Hail, land of spearmen! seed of those who scorn'dTo stoop the proud crest to Imperial Rome!Hail! dearest half of Albion, sea-wall'd!Hail! state unconquer'd by the fire of war,Red war, that twenty ages round thee blaz'd!To thee, for whom my purest raptures flow,Kneeling with filial homage, I devoteMy life, my strength, my first and latest song." APPENDIX. No. I.
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