Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/10

ii or biographical information: even the names of the authors are in most instances dispensed with; and, altogether, the songs are in general collected and distributed with the disdainful indifference that might be supposed to accompany the handling of a pitchfork. One consequence of this is, that, puting aside those of modern date, a wide-spread ignorance prevails regarding the history of most of our lyrics; and on no literary points of inquiry, we venture to say, is more darkness to be found, even among the well-informed and intelligent classes, than on those connected with the songs of bygone generations. All that people, in most cases, can say of any one of them is, that it is an &apos;old&apos; song, because they know it was a favourite with their grandmother, or because they may happen to have it in some old collection; but as to its precise antiquity, or any other point of its history, they are wholly unacquainted. It has been one leading object of the present work to fix, as far as possible, the date and authorship of all the lyrics quoted, so that the reader may be put in possession of what is positively known regarding the ancient as well as modern Songs of Scotland. By stating where a song first appeared, or in what publication it was first printed, some definite notion is obtained as to its age; and even in those cases where its original appearance cannot be traced, the reader has at least the comfort of being assured, that he knows all that is to be known on the subject.

The difficulties encountered in following up the ambitious design of this work, of giving at once a complete and unobjectionable collection of Scottish Song, accompanied with illustrative notices, could not be readily comprehended by any but those who are in some measure familiar with the wide field of research—(rugged, dark, and dangerous in many places, though studded by numberless spots of delicious verdure)—over which it was necessary to wander; and it would be idle here, if not ungracious, to insist on the subject. Whatever, at all events, might be the difficulties encountered in accomplishing a work, which, though small in bulk, is more comprehensive in its scope and complete in its aim than any of a similar character hitherto attempted, the Editor is desirous of acknowledging that these difficulties were met under the most favourable auspices. From the first he has been encouraged in his labours by the interest which many of his countrymen have manifested in the work, attaching to it the importance of a national repository, and by the liberality with which the most successful song-writers of the day have permitted him to quote their verses. In the number of those who have