A PASTORAL BALLAD. The ballads of Mr. Shenftone are chiefly commended for the natural fimplicity of the thoughts, and the harmony of the verfification. However they are not excellent in either. PHOEBE, A PASTORAL. This by Dr, Byron, is a better effort than the preceding. A SONG, "Despairing befide a clear stream." This by Mr. Rowe, is better than any thing of the kind in our language. AN ESSAY ON POETRY. This work by the Duke of Buckingham, is enrolled among our great English productions. The precepts are fenfible, the poetry not indifferent, but it has been praised more than it deferves. CADENUS AND VANESSA, This is thought one of Dr. Swift's correctest pieces; its chief merit, indeed, is the elegant ease with which a story, but ill conceived in itself, is told. ALMA; OR THE PROGRESS OF THE MIND, Πάντα γέλως, και πάντα κόνις, καὶ πάντα τὸ μηδένα What Prior meant by this poem I can't underftand by the Greek motto to it one would think it was either to laugh at the fubject or his reader. There are fome parts of it very fine; and let them fave the badness of the reft. PREFACE. DOCTOR FORDYCE'S excellent Sermons for Young Women in fome meafure gave rife to the following compilation. In that work, where he fo judiciously points out all the defects of female conduct to remedy them, and all the proper ftudies which they should purfue, with a view to improvement, Poetry is one to which he particularly would attach them. He only objects to the danger of purfuing this charming ftudy through all the immoralities and falfe pictures of happinefs with which it abounds, and thus becoming the martyr of innocent curiofity. In the following compilation care has been taken to felect, not only fuch pieces as innocence may read without a blufh, but fuch as will even tend to ftrengthen that innocence. In this little work a Lady may find the moft exquifite pleasure, while fhe is at the fame time learning the duties of life; and, while fhe courts only entertainment, be deceived into wifdom. Indeed, this would be too great a boast in the preface to any original work; but here it can be made with fafety, as every Poem in the following collection would fingly have procured an Author great reputation. They are divided into Devotional, Moral, and Entertaining, thus comprehending the three great duties of life; that which we owe to God, to our neighbour, and to ourselves. In the first part, it must be confeffed, our Englifh Poets have not very much excelled. In that department, namely, the praife of our which Poetry began, and from which it K 4 Maker, by deviated by time, |