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    ** The more haste a man makes to unravel a sfcain of thread , the more he entangles it . 4 C The most ignorant have knowledge enough to discern the faults of others : the most clear-sighted are blind to their owr . '

    On the Fragments of Chinese Puetry , the Editor remarks , much in the manner of Dr . Hurd , in the LHscourse before mentioned , that ** the only kinds of Poetry , that are cultivated much among the Chinese , are either shorter the

    pieces , rea ^ mblin ^ epigram . * , rondeaus and madrigals of the lost age , or else collections of moral apothegms , which are their only essays of any length . " The account of this publicaion has been extended , perhaps ,

    excusably , from the translation and the review of it having now the antiquity and rareness produced "by the lapse of half a century . We shall conclude this part of our Memoir , with the following specimen of Mr . Percy ' s versification ,

    in a translation of verses , extracted from a Chinese Romance , and entitled an Eulogium on the Willow Tree ± which it seems ^ has among the Chinese il a prime place in their gardens , " where it is cultivated with as much care as the

    tnost delicate flower . *' Scarce dawns the genial year > its yellow sprays The sprightly willow cloaths in robes of green ; Blushing with shame , the gaudy peach is seen ; She sheds her blossoms and with

    spleen decays . Soft harbinger of spring ! what glowing rays , What colours with thy modest charms may vie ? fro silkworm decks thy shade ; nor could supply The Velvet down thy shining leaf di *~ |> lays ;

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    The publication bf this Chinese JJqyet , was followed , in 1762 » j by * fc Miscellaneous Piec ^ , relatrng to the Chfcose . " Of . these * Ae onJy one original was 4 i a Dissertation on the language and writings of the Chinese . * ' - _; Among the Pieces , is a translation , as we have mentioned from Du-tlalde , of The Orphan oj the House vf Chaoi with Dr . Hurd ' s criticism on that drama .

    In 1763 appeared the Jirst fruits of Mr . Percy ' s researches in another quarter . " This little tract was drawn up for the press in the year J 761 . ' * 1 * is entitled 6

    < Five Pieces of Runic Poetry : Translated [ in prose ] from the Islandic Language , " the originals beinfr annexed , ** as vouchers for the authenticity of his version /* * c This attempt 7 ' is described as cc owing jto the success of the Erse fragments } " the authenticity of which Mr . Percv is inclined to dispute , " till the translator of Ossian ' s poems , - thinks proper to produce his Originals . "

    In his preface , our translator has the following ingenious -remarks on the contrarieties in the character of u the ancient inhabitants of the northern pajrts of Europe . " " If we sometimes revere them for that generous plan

    of government , which they every where established , we cannot help lamenting that they raised the fabric upon the ruins of literature

    and the fine arts . Yet they had an amazing fend ness for poetry , and it will be thought a paradox , that the same people , whose furif ous ravage * destroyed the last poor remains of expiring genius arnpng the Romans , should cherish it with all possible care , among their own countrymen / ' These trans-

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    it Literary Memoir of Dr . Percy , late Bishop of Dromore *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1812, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1744/page/4/