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PREFATORY NOTICES. |
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delightful Melodies to produce *, yet it cannot be denied that we should soon experience some difficulty in equalling the richness and novelty of the earlier numhers, for ■which, as we had the choice of all before us, we naturally selected only the most rare and beautiful. The Poetry, too, would be sure to sympathise with the decline of the Music ; and, however feebly my words have kept pace with the excellence of the Airs, they would follow their falling off, I fear, with wonderful alacrity. So that, altogether, both pride and prudence counsel us to stop, while the Work is yet, we believe, flourishing and attractive, and in the imperial attitude " stantes mori," before we incur the charge either of altering for the worse, or what is equally unpardonable, continuing too long the same.
We beg, however, to say, it is only in the event of our failing to find Airs as exquisite as most of those we have given, that we mean thus to anticipate the natural period of dissolution—like those Indians who put their relatives to death when they become feeble— and they who wish to retard this Euthanasia of the Irish Melodies, cannot better effect it than by contributing to our collection, not what are called curious Airs, for we have abundance of them, and they are, in general, only curious, but any real sweet and expressive Songs of our Country, which either chance or research may have brought into their hands.
T. M. Mayjietd Cottage, Ashbourne, December, 1813.
* Among these is Savourna Declisfi, which I have hitherto only withheld from the diffidence I feel in treading upon the same ground with Mr. Campbell, whose beautiful words to this fine Air have taken too strong possession of all ears and hearts, for me to think of producing any impression after him. I suppose, however, I must attempt it for the next Number. |
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