the Erse Language; though hardly
one reader in ten believes the specimens produced to be genuine. Much
greater attention would be due to an editor, who rescues the original
itself from oblivion, and fixes its meaning by an accurate version. I
entirely agree with you, that a Latin version, as literal as possible,
should accompany such ancient pieces, but then I would also have you
subjoin at the same time a liberal English translation. By this means
your book will take in all readers, both the learned and the superficial.
This method of publication has been attended with great success among the
northern nations, where all their Runic Pieces have been confronted both
with a literal version in Latin, and a more spirited one in the modern
languages either of Sweden or Denmark. Were you to endeavour to collect
into a corpus all the remains of your ancient poetry, and print it by
subscription begun among your own countrymen, and warmly recommended by
them to us, it would certainly pay well, and be a very valuable present
to the public; but then you ought to send forth a few select pieces into
the world, previous to such an undertaking, to bespeak the good opinion
of mankind, and this, whenever you please to execute it, shall be
attended with my warmest services. In the mean time I hope you will
continue to favour me with specimens of your ancient poetry as often as
your leisure will permit; and, if any thing else that is curious should
occur in the course of your studies, you will confer a great pleasure by
imparting it to,

Dear Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant,
THOMAS PERCY.

_Easton Maudit_, _Oct._ 15, 1761.

N.B. I shall defer sending a specimen of Runic Poetry till I send you
the whole collection printed, which you may depend on. May I hope to see
your Latin Essay on British Poetry?

* * * * *

The same to the same.

DEAR SIR,

I know not whether the favour you have done me, in having wrote to me
once or twice, entitles me to address you with the familiarity of a near
acquaintance; but I have ventured to trouble you with a voluntary letter.
I presume you have received a very long one from me through the medium of
Mr. Williams. In that I requested to know if you had any good old
popular ballads in the Welsh language on historical and romantic
subjects. This was not a random