Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England by Bell, Robert, 1800-1867, Unknown

In the arrangement of so multifarious an anthology, gathered from nearly all parts of the kingdom, the observance of chronological order, for obvious reasons, has not been attempted; but pieces which possess any kind of affinity to each other have been kept together as nearly as other considerations would permit.

The value of this volume consists in the genuineness of its contents, and the healthiness of its tone. While fashionable life was masquerading in imaginary Arcadias, and deluging theatres and concert rooms with shams, the English peasant remained true to the realities of his own experience, and produced and sang songs which faithfully reflected the actual life around him. Whatever these songs describe is true to that life. There are no fictitious raptures in them. Love here never dresses its emotions in artificial images, nor disguises itself in the mask of a Strephon or a Daphne. It is in this particular aspect that the poetry of the country possesses a permanent and moral interest.

R. B.

ANCIENT POEMS, BALLADS, AND SONGS OF THE PEASANTRY.

Contents

Poems:

The plain-dealing man. The vanities of life. The life and age of man. The young man's wish. The midnight messenger; or, a sudden call from an earthly glory to the cold grave. A dialogue betwixt an exciseman and death. The messenger of mortality; or life and death contrasted in a dialogue betwixt death and a lady. England's alarm; or the pious christian's speedy call to repentance Smoking spiritualized. The masonic hymn. God speed the plow, and bless the corn-mow. A dialogue between the husbandman and servingman. A dialogue between the husbandman and the servingman. The Catholick. The three knights. The blind beggar of Bednall Green.

Ballads: