HOMERE

PINAR

COWY

J.Pine imu. Suupi

A

COLLECTION

OF OLD

BALL ADS.

Corrected from the best and most

Ancient COPIES Extant.

WITH
INTRODUCTIONS
HISTORICAL, CRITICAL,

or

HUMORO U S.

Illustrated with COPPER PLATES.

Let no nice Sir despise the hapless Dame,
Because Recording BALLADS chaunt her Name.
Those Venerable Ancient Song-Enditers
Soard many a Pitch above our modern Writers.
With rough Majestick Force they mov'd the Heart,
And Strength and Nature make amends for Art.

ROWE.

L O N D ON:
Printed for 7. Roberts ; and sold by 7. Brotherton in

Cornhill ; A. Bettesworth in Pater-Nofter-Row;
7. Pemberton in Fleetstreet; 7. Woodman in Bow-
street, Covent Garden; and 7. Stag in Westminster-
Hall. M DCC XXIII.

THE

PREF A CE.

HERE is not a more ungrateful Tribute any where paid, than what is generally

expected by the Publick, from an Author in his Preface. Something he must say, tho he cannot say any thing to the Purpose ; and a half Sheet of Paper at least must be taken up; with pointA 2

ing

ing out the Beauties of his Book, and begging the courteous Reader not to damn it: Tho' probably the poor Writer does not know where to find out these Beauties, or has not the least Reason to expeft, but what his Book will be damn'd.

The fulsome Praises which a Modern Author is often obliged to bestow in a Dedication, must certainly be very grating to a generous Soul; but then the Hopes of being well paid for his Pains, is fome Ease to his Conscience : But to court and flatter every Reader and not have a Farthing the more for one's Trouble - is hard, is unconscionable.

As for my Part, I have not been accustomed to servile Fawning, and begging the Question ; and am fully determind not to begin now.

I would always put my self upon the Level with a Reader, and think my self under no manner of Obligation : I have his Money, and he has my Works ; and I am sure he may keep the one in his Study, much longer than I Mall the other in my Pocket. If

there