ΤΟ

JOHN AIKIN, M. D.

ON HIS VOLUME OF

VOCAL POETRY:

AND ON HIS

" ESSAYS ON SONG-WRITING;

WITH A COLLECTION OF SUCH

ENGLISH SONGS

AS ARE MOST

EMINENT FOR POETICAL MERIT."

Published originally by himself in the year 1772; and re-published
by R. H. Evans, in the year 1810.

.C

BY JAMES PLUMPTRE, B.D.

FELLOW OF CLARE-HALL, CAMBRIDGE.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

A COLLECTION OF SONGS

REVISED AND ALTERED BY THE EDITOR;
WITH SOME

ORIGINAL SONGS.

To sway the judgment, while he sooths the ear;

To curb mad passion in its wild career;

To wake by sober touch the useful lyre,

And rule, with reason's rigour, fancy's fire:
Be this the Poet's praise.

MASON'S MusÆUS.

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED BY F. HUDSON,

AND SOLD BY F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, NO. 62, st. paul's
CHURCH-YARD, LONDON; AND J. DEIGHTON, AND
J. NICHOLSON, CAMBRIDGE.

CONTENTS.

918f

A292

P736

1811

PREFACE.

These Letters submitted to a Friend, Page xiii. On making

quotations and using Italics, p. xiv. On making references

to Books, xxi. On altering Songs, xxvii. Mr. Dibdin, xxix.

On the Poetry of the Author, xxx.

LETTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Reasons for undertaking this work, Page 1. On the Influence

of Poetry, p. 8. On the importance of forming a correct

Taste, 16. On Indecency and Licentiousness, 18. Оп

Heathenism, 23. On altering Songs, 25. Sources of Vocal

Poetry, 27.

LETTER II.

ON BALLADS AND PASTORAL SONGS.

On Ballads, p. 29. On Pastoral Songs, 32. On Nature and

Art and the Love of Novelty, 32. On Reality in Poetry, 34.

On the state of Morals among the lower Classes, 38. Re-

quisites in Pastoral or Rural Poetry, 42. Review of the

Ballads and Pastoral Songs in Vocal Poetry :, 45.-Despair,

50, 51. Dying for love, 51. 53. 57. 58, 63. Predestination,

51. 55. Superstition, 52. 58. 59. 63.

M709280

POSTSCRIPT.

Review of Ballads, &c. in Mr. Evans's Publication: 57. On

comparing human beings to Angels, 63.

Lines from the

ON MORAL AND MISCELLANEOUS SONGS.

The subjects of Moral Songs, p. 93. The Epicurean System

of ethics, 94. Review of the Moral and Miscellaneous

Songs in Vocal Poetry, 99. Some remarks on a work called

Poetry for Children, 104. Note.