PREFACE.
passions, or that they did not leave behind them many pieces on the gentler subjects of love or friendship. The misfortune bas been, that their compositions have fallen into the hands of none but professed antiquarians: and these have only selected such poems for publication as confirmed some fact in history, or served to throw light on the antiquities of their country.
The Editor was in some doubt whether he should subjoin or suppress the originals. But as they lie within little compass, and as the books whence they are extracted are very scarce, he was tempted to add them as vouchers for the authenticity of his version. They have also a further use.—It has been said by some critics[1] that the prevalence of rhyme in European poetry wasrived
- ↑ Crescembeni, &c.
