The rise of the ballad in the eighteenth century . ersons. As an example he quotes, Sir Charles Murrel of Ratcliff tooHis sisters son was David Lamh so well esteemcL,Yet saved coula not be. The familiar sound in these names destroys the majesty of the description; for this reason I do not mention this part of the poem but to show the natural cast of thought which appears in it, as the two last verses look almost like a translation of Virgil* In the catalogue of the English who fell, Witheringtons behavior is in the same manner particularized very artfully, as the reader is prepared for
The rise of the ballad in the eighteenth century . ersons. As an example he quotes, Sir Charles Murrel of Ratcliff tooHis sisters son was David Lamh so well esteemcL,Yet saved coula not be. The familiar sound in these names destroys the majesty of the description; for this reason I do not mention this part of the poem but to show the natural cast of thought which appears in it, as the two last verses look almost like a translation of Virgil* In the catalogue of the English who fell, Witheringtons behavior is in the same manner particularized very artfully, as the reader is prepared for it by that account which is given by him in the beginning or the battle; though I am satisfied your little buffoon readers (who have seen that passage ridiculed in Hudibras) will not be able to take the beauty of it: for which reason I dar not so much as quote it. •Then stept a gallanx squire forth,Witherington was his nameWho said, I would not have it toldTo Henry our king for shame. That eer my Captain fought on foot,_And I stood looking: -33 ii7e meet with the sane heroic sentiment in Virgil» What can be more natural or more moving, thanthe circiimstances in which he describes the behaviours ofthose women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day? Thus we see how the thoughts of this poemwhich naturally arise from the subject, are always simple,and sometimes exquisitely noble; that the language isoften very sounding, and that the whole is written witha true poetical spirit. If this song had been written in the GrOthicmanner which is the delight of all our little wits, whetherwriters or readers, it would not have hit the taste of somany ages, and have pleased the readers of all ranks andconditions* I shall only beg pardon for such a profusionof Latin quotations; which I should not have made useof, but that I feared my own judgment would have lookedTioo singular on such a subject had not I supported it bythe -^practice and authority of Virgil. Again, in the Spectat
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttheses, bookyear1911
