PRE F A C E. As the mind of a man is ever fond of variety, nothing feems better calculated to entertain, than a judicious collection of the fmaller, though not on that account lefs laboured productions of eminent poets: an entertainment, not unlike that which we receive from surveying a finished landfcape, or well difpofed piece of fhell-work; where each particular object, tho' fingly beautiful, and fufficiently ftriking by itfelf, receives an additional charm, thus, as Milton exprefles it, swEETLY INTERCHANGED. The first mifcellaneous collection of poems, that ever appeared in Great Britain with any reputation, is that publifhed by Dryden, which was afterwards continued by Tonfon. There are many pieces of the highest merit in this collection, by Dryden, Denham, Creech, Drayton, Garth, Marvell, and many others; yet the compilers, it is evident, were not always fufficiently fcrupulous and cautious in their choice, as feveral pieces are admitted, among the reft, which would otherwise |