first volume, is perhaps superfluous; but may be convenient for the purpose of reference. The Title of these volumes will shew, that they are by no means intended to supersede Mr. Warton's very learned and entertaining, though desultory work, from which they are, in part, abridged; but rather to serve as an useful index to his History. Neither do they interfere with the valuable modern Miscellanies of Bishop Percy, Mr. Pinkerton, Mr. Ritson, the late Mr. Headley, and Mrs. Cooper; from all of which they differ materially, except in the general purpose of selecting what is most valuable from the scarcest and least accessible compositions of our early literature. It is only necessary to add, that the Saxon Ode, which in this work will be found to differ materially from the text of Dr. Hickes, and of Gibson's Saxon Chronicle, was kindly furnished by the Rev. Mr. Henshall, who collated the printed copies with two excellent MSS. in the Cotton Library; and who had the farther complaisance to supply the literal English version, as well as the learned notes with which it is accompanied. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. NOTWITHSTANDING the care with which the former edition of this work was revised during its progress through the press, it was found to contain very numerous, though not very important typographical errors. For the detection and the removal of these; for the collation of nearly all the extracts contained in the work with the earliest and best copies of the originals, whether printed or manuscript; for the insertion of some new Specimens; and for much additional information in the notices prefixed to the several authors; the editor is indebted to the kindness, of his friend Mr. Heber, and to the frequent assistance of Mr. Park. The defects which still remain are solely chargeable to the editor. Many of these, however, will, it is hoped, be removed by the publication of a second series of Specimens, selected from our Early Metrical Romances, which will complete the sketch of our poetical antiquities, and is now nearly ready for the press. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF POETS, FROM WHOSE WORKS EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN THESE VOLUMES. As in many instances it has not been possible to ascertain the precise year of an author's birth or death, the reader is requested to observe, that when the word about precedes the date, it must be understood to be correct within two or three years; where a mark of interrogation is annexed, the date is only offered as an approximation deduced from the author's earliest compositions. |