in its nature, all its changes and intricacies must surely be at length explored, after it has in so many ages and countries exercised the utmost abilities of human genius.

2

Nothing therefore remains to produce novelty, but a variation of circumstances, whether relating to the subjects of the passion, or the accompanying scenery.

The pastoral song formed upon the Ballad

The

model, is capable of being made the most pleasing piece of the pastoral kind. simplicity of language gives it an air of nature and reality, though the fictitious character be entirely kept up; and throwing the subject into a little tale, gives an opportunity of novelty in description from the variety of incidents. When the story has a tender and mournful turn, the ballad simplicity has a peculiarly happy effect. Perhaps the English alone, of all the moderns, have known how to unite the most perfect simplicity with real elegance and poetical expression; and it is to be hoped we shall never want taste to

relish the beauties of this kind that we are possessed of. The little collection of Ballads and Pastoral Songs here offered, contains some of the sweetest flowers of English poetry.

BALLADS

AND

PASTORAL SONG S.

FRIAR OF ORDERS GRAY.

[By Percy.]

Ir was a friar of orders gray,*
Walk'd forth to tell his beads;

And he met with a lady fair,

Clad in a pilgrim's weeds.

* In the Reliques of ancient English Poetry, Dr. Percy gives us the following Ballad, as formed upon a number of detached fragments of ancient composition, which he has attempted to fill up and throw into a little connected tale. Though his modesty has induced him to place it among his antique remains, I think ft but justice to him and to my own collection to place it here as a very judicious and beautiful imitation of the ancient Ballad; for certainly he has the best right to it, since the merit of the story is all his own, and the difficulty of interweaving the few ancient stanzas into it, and suiting his own language to them with such judgment, was greater than that of producing an entirely new piece.

Now Christ thee save, thou reverend friar,

I pray thee tell to me,

If ever at yon holy shrine

My true love thou did'st see.

And how should I know your true love
From many another one?

O by his cockle* hat and staff,
And by his sandal shoon.

But chiefly by his face and mien,
That were so fair to view ;

His flaxen locks that sweetly curl'd,
And eyne of lovely blue.

O lady he is dead and gone!
Lady he's dead and gone!
And at his head a green grass turf,
And at his heels a stone.

Within these holy cloisters long

He languish'd, and he died,

Lamenting of a lady's love,

And 'plaining of her pride.

These are the distinguishing marks of a Pilgrim. The chief places of devotion being beyond the sea, the pil grims were wont to put cockle-shells in their hats to denote the intention, or performance of their devotion.