A OLLECTION OF OLD ALLADS. ted from the best and most cient COPIES Extant. nice Sir defpife the hapless Dame, fe Recording BALLADS chaunt her Name. many a Pitch above our modern Writers. LONDON: 7. Roberts; and fold by J. Brotherton in DCC XXIII. THE EFACE. HERE is not a more ungrateful Tribute any where paid, than what is generally expected by the Publick, from in his Preface. Something he ho' he cannot fay any thing to le; and a half Sheet of Pa7 must be taken up, with pointing A 2 ing out the Beauties of his Book, and begging the courteous Reader not to damn it: Tho' probably the poor Writer does not know where to find out thefe Beauties, or has not the leaft Reason to expect, but what his Book will be damn'd. The fulfome Praifes which a Modern Author is often obliged to bestow in a Dedication, must certainly be very grating to a generous Soul; but then the Hopes of being well paid for his Pains, is fome Eafe to his Confcience: But to court and flatter every Reader and not have a Farthing the more for one's Trouble — is hard, is unconscionable. As for my Part, I have not been accuftomed to fervile Fawning, and begging the Question; and am fully determin'd not to begin now. I would always put my felf upon the Level with a Reader, and think my felf under no manner of Obligation: I have his Money, and he has my Works; and I am fure he may keep the one in his Study, much longer than I fhall the other in my Pocket. If there |