" HE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD is characterised by Mr. Addison, as "one of the darling songs of the common people," and "the delight of most Englishmen in some part of their age.' In the motto prefixed to the essay in which he refers to it, he describes it, by a quotation from Horace, as "sine pondere et arte," " a plain and simple copy of nature, destitute of the helps and ornaments of art." Few compositions in the language have been more universally read, or more extensively popular, among all classes; so true it is, that One touch of nature makes the whole world kin ; There is, indeed, to borrow for the language is mean, and the style is poor. from the same classic authority, "even a despicable simplicity in the verse;" and he carries his notions of refinement so far as to add, that "the quoting any of it would look like a design to turn it into ridicule," an opinion by no means worthy of the critic, and which conveys an ill compliment to the taste and judgment of his readers. But it makes its way into the heart by a surer passage than that of poetic grace: the sentiments are genuine and unaffected; and, therefore, "they are able to move the mind of the most polite reader with inward meltings of humanity and compassion." Mr. Addison perceived and appreciated the intrinsic value of the gem, through its coarse natural coating; it gave him a "most exquisite pleasure," and he recommended it to popularity by a short paper in the "Spectator." According to Ritson, "it appears to have been written in 1595, being entered in that year on the Stationers' Books." Dr. Percy reprinted it,-collating it with another ancient edition,- from a black-letter copy in the Pepys' collection, where its title, at large, is, "The Children in the Wood; or, The Norfolk Gentleman's Last Will and Testament, to the tune of Rogero." This tune of "Rogero" we print, as it is given by Ritson: The But Dr. Percy and Ritson are at issue as to the date of the composition. former considers the subject of the ballad to have been taken from an old play, " Of a young child murthered in a wood, by two ruffins, with the consent of his unkle; by Robert Yarrington, 1601;" the story being similar in its leading features, although the scene of the drama is laid, not in Norfolk, but in Padua. Percy's reasons for giving the merit of originality to the play-wright are by no means conclusive, and the point must be considered as determined by the fact of its previous entry on the Stationers' Books. Indeed, the ballad may be said to carry with it internal evidence |