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Prefatory Sonnet,

BY THE REV. JOHN MITFORD, B. 4.

VICAR OF BENHALL,

AND RECTOR OF WESTON ST. PETER.

Deem not inelegant his Mind, who loves
'Mid the rude Chronicles of Elder Time
Awhile to sojourn ; and, with fabled rhyme,
In these late days, again in fancy roves

Through moated Halls, and Fields, and ancient
Groves,

Beneath whose shade our Fathers, in their prime,
Have sate ;—but now corroding age and crime
Have left but what their ancient glory proves.
Yet come :-and 'mid these mouldering Relics trace
The pensive shadows of departed years;
Mark, how again, with renovated grace,
Its front the long-forgotten Mansion rears;
And all, upstarting in its wonted place,
As touch'd by some enchanter's wand, appears.

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"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 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.

"I took a particular delight in hearing the SONGS "and FABLES that are come from father to son, and

are most in vogue among the common people: for "it is impossible that any thing should be universally "tasted and approved of by a multitude, which hath "not in it some peculiar aptness to please and gratify "the mind of man." SPECTATOR, No. 70.

UR County Readers are here presented with some select specimens of their native Bards, and provincial Rhymers.

While the spacious pages of the County Historian, says the ingenious Editor of the "Northern "Garlands," are too exclusively engrossed by topographical surveys, genealogical tables, statistical numbers, or agricultural refinements; the humble and amusing village strains, founded upon the squabbles of a wake; tales of untrue love; superstitious rumors; or miraculous traditions of the

hamlet; are very slightly regarded, if not glanced over unnoted. A COUNTY GARLAND is one of those minor publications scarcely considered worthy the attention of a county editor; and from the motley basket of an itinerary mendicant, the reader is alone supplied with such an entertainment. To glean for EACH COUNTY its appropriate Ballads might, therefore, be an acceptable task. If they neither vied for adventures with the deeds of chivalry, nor eclipsed the gallant knight and courtly dame in marvellous amours; yet their characteristics would be a just and faithful representation of domestic manners and provincial customs; they would exhibit nature without the foil of art; and " the short "and simple annals" of the rustic would often be found preserved in the ditty, which " at her wheel "the village-maiden sings." It may be easy to jumble together a parcel of Songs, of all dates, and upon all subjects, indiscriminately, and from their historical allusions, or novelty of romantic incident, excite and partly gratify curiosity; but this medley must fail to convey an equal interest with the record of some domestic tale, founded upon the attractive scenes of youth; when, however rude the combination of language and numbers, our partia

lity may be said to " grow with our growth." To

the mind that has once imbibed an hereditary love of rural haunts, fancy, amid the vicissitudes of life, the toil of worldly pursuits, or the visitation of foreign climes, can mock the lapse of time, and, like the wandering Swiss, still fondly picture home, and dwell with enthusiastic delight on native

strains.

The English have always been a great Balladnation, and once abounded with various Songs of Trades, and numerous Songs for the People. The Ballad, says Aikin in his " Essay on Ballads and "Pastoral Songs," may be considered as the native species of poetry in this country. It very exactly answers the idea formerly given of original poetry, being the rude, uncultivated verse in which the