ficiently guarded from offending that charming delicacy of the sex, which every man must admire, and ought to respect. These were the luxuriances of an age, when the men of pleasure lavished wit and genius, as well as health and fortune, upon their diversions. Had they lived at a time when taste was more refined, and manners were less licentious, their natural gallantry would have restrained them from offering an outrage to those, whom they most wished for readers and admirers.

I hope I have now said enough to intimate for what class of readers this Work is calculated. The soft warbler, who fills up a vacancy of thought with a tune, in which the succession of words gives no idea but that of a succession of sounds, will here be much disappointed in meeting with the names of Prior, Congreve, and Landsdowne, instead of Arne, Brent, and Tenducci. The midnight roarer of coarse jest and obscenity will be still farther out of his element. But to those who are enamoured with that sacred art, which beyond every other elevates and

refines the soul, to whom the sprightly lyre of Horace and Anacreon, and the melting music of Sappho still sound, though ages have passed since they vibrated on the ear, I will venture to promise a source of enjoyment, from the Works of those great masters whose names adorn this Collection, which I hope they will not think too dearly purchased by the perusal of such introductory matter as is submitted to their candid examination.

A TABLE OF FIRST LINES.

A CHIEFTAIN to the Highlands bound
A nymph of every charm possess'd
Ah ! Chloris could I now but sit
Ah! cruel maid how hast thou chang’d
Ah ! how sweet it is to love
Ah! the shepherd's mournful fate
Ah! why must words my flame reveal
Alexis sbunn'd his fellow swains
All in the Downs the fleet was moor’d
All my past life is mine no more
An amorous swain to Juno pray'd
As Amoret with Phyllis sat
As Ariana, young and fair,
As Granville's soft numbers tune Myra's just praise
As near a weeping spring reclind
As on a summer's day
As the snow in vallies lying
Ask if yon damask rose be sweet
Ask me why I send you

here
Ask'st thou how long my love shall stay
Aspasia rolls her sparkling eyes
At Cynthia's feet I pray’d, I wept
Away, let nought to love displeasing
Away with these self-loving lads

297 307 222 279 328 103 110 67 58 203 206 150 235 316 116

65 218 326 318 280 254 238 159 264

Bid me when forty winters more
Blest as th’immortal gods is he

152 101

Boast not, mistaken swain, thy art
Bow the head, thou lily fair
By the gaily circling glass

188 251 341

151 216 219 213 211 237 137

253 112

Can love be controll’d by advice
Celia hoard thy charms no more
Celia too late

you

would repent
Chloe brisk and gay appears
Chloe's the wonder of her sex
Chloris yourself you so excel
Come all ye youths whose hearts e'er bled
Come gentle god of soft repose
Come here fond youth, whoe'er thou be
Come, Leila, fill the goblet up
Come little infant love me now
Come live with me and be love
Come shepherds we 'll follow the hearse
Corinna cost me many a prayer
Cruel invader of my rest
Cupid instruct an amorous swain
Cynthia frowns whene'er I woo her

299 225

302

my

91 203 350 208 192

Damon, if you will believe me
Daphnis stood pensive in the shade
Dear Chloe what means this disdain
Dear Chloe while thus beyond measure
Dear Colin prevent my warm blushes
Dear is my

little native vale Despairing beside a clear stream Drink to me only with thine eyes

197

60 314 157 200 347

62 263

351

Encompass’d in an angel's frame

Fair Amoret is gone astray
Fair and soft, and gay

and

young Far in the windings of a vale

193 145 73