The Poet's Farewell to his Old Shoes Thomas and Kitty, a pathetic story The Laurel Disputed, or the Comparative Merits of Allan Ramsay and Robert Ferguson contrasted Song, Come, my Fair, the E'enin's clear, &c. Invitation to Delia, an Anacreontic Song, How vext am I now whan I think o't Chloe is gone, a Pastoral Ode, to Miss Nancy G***** PREFACE. A FEW of the following Pieces were published by the Author in early Life, when he was more conversant with Literary subjects than he has been for some time past. All of these Juvenile Pieces have, on the present occasion, undergone considerable alteration. Those that have been added, forming by much the greatest part of the Collection, were composed in the hours of relaxation, occasionally enenjoyed in the midst of laborious, but ultimately unsuccessful Commercial Industry, and owe their appearance chiefly to the urgent solicitations of many kind Friends, which the Author, in his peculiar circumstances, felt himself bound to respect as much as if they had been positive commands. With the pursuits in which he has been lately engaged, the cultivation of a taste for Poetry seems almost incompatible, and he conceives this apology necessary for his appearance in a character which has so little relation to commercial life. Vanity, at least, has had no share in influencing the present publication. The Author would be far indeed from challenging comparison with the illustrious Poets who have preceded him in the present age, yet if he can contribute to relieve an hour of that tædium vita, which sometimes hangs heavy on the hands of the best, he cheerfully gives his mite without ostentation, hoping that his kind Readers will at least not refuse to his good intentions, that compliment which, with Justice perhaps, they may refuse to his Genius. Edinburgh, 20th Jan. 1813. |