This attachment, which is no other than
patriotism, is only deepened by his removal into a distant land, and
among a strange people. Perhaps no people in modern times have
cultivated their patriotic songs more ardently or even more successfully
than the Scotch; though probably most of this may be owing to their great
minstrel Scott, who transformed their rude ballads into immortal song.
Moore did a similar, though smaller, service for the Irish branch of the
Celtic race. And we most truly think that a Welsh Scott or Moore is only
wanting to marry the lays of Wales to undying verse. The third part of
this collection will contain some of the most spirited of the patriotic
poems of Wales.
Humour is inherent in every people, and is more or less characteristic of
every nation. Cervantes among the Spaniards, the Abbate Casti among the
Italians, Jean Paul Richter among the Germans, Voltaire among the French,
Samuel Butler, the author of Hudibras, and Dr. John Wolcot among the
English, Jonathan Swift among the Irish, and Robert Burns among the
Scotch, have introduced humorous writing into the literature of their
respective countries with more or less of success.
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