THE FOLLOWING LETTER, ADDRESSED TO THE Printer of the St. James's Chronicle, APPEARED IN THAT PAPER, IN JUNE, M DCC LXVII. SIR, As there is nothing I dislike so much as newspa per controversy, particularly upon trifles, permit me to be as concise as possible in informing a correspondent of yours, that I recommended Blainville's Travels, because I thought the book was a good one; and I think so still. I said, I was told by the bookseller that it was then first published; but in that, it seems, I was misinform'd, and my reading was not extensive enough to set me right. * Another correspondent of yours accuses me of having taken a ballad, I published some time ago from one by the ingenious Mr. Percy. I do not think there is any great resemblance between the two pieces in question. If there be any, his Ballad is taken from mine. I read it to Mr. Percy some years ago; and he (as we both considered these things as trifles at best,) told me, with his usual good humour, the next time I saw him, that he had taken my plan to form the fragments of Shakspeare into a Ballad of his own. He then read me his little Cento, if I may so call it, and I highly approved it. Such petty anecdotes as The Friar of Orders Gray. "Reliq. of Anc. Poetry.” Vol. I. Book 2. No. 18. these, are scarcely worth printing: and were it not for the busy disposition of some of your correspondents, the public should never have known that he owes me the hint of his Ballad, or that I am obliged to his friendship and learning for communications of a much more important nature. Note. On the subject of the preceding letter, the reader is desired to consult "The Life of Dr. Goldsmith," under the year 1765. THE HERMIT. A BALLAD. I. "TURN, gentle Hermit of the dale, "And guide my lonely way, "To where yon taper cheers the vale, "With hospitable ray. II. "For here forlorn and lost I tread, "With fainting steps and slow; "Where wilds, immeasurably spread, "Seem length'ning as I go." III. "Forbear, my son," the Hermit cries, "To tempt the dangerous gloom; "For yonder faithless phantom flies "To lure thee to thy doom. IV. "Here to the houseless child of want "My door is open still; "And though my portion is but scant, "I give it with good will. V. "Then turn to-night, and freely share "Whate'er my cell bestows; "My rushy couch and frugal fare, "My blessing and repose. VI. "No flocks that range the valley free, "To slaughter I condemn ; "Taught by that power that pities me, "I learn to pity them : VII. "But from the mountain's grassy side "A guiltless feast I bring; "A scrip with herbs and fruits supply'd, "And water from the spring. VIII. "Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego; "All earth-born cares are wrong; "Man wants but little here below, "Nor wants that little long." IX. Soft as the dew from Heav'n descends, The modest stranger lowly bends, X. Far in a wilderness obscure The lonely mansion lay, A refuge to the neighb'ring poor XI. No stores beneath its humble thatch Requir'd a master's care; The wicket, op'ning with a latch, Receiv'd the harmless pair. |