Elizabeth Mant, The Parent's Poetical Anthology: Being a Selection of English Poems primarily designed to assist in forming the taste and the sentiments of young readers. 2nd edition. (London: Printed for P.C. and J. Rivington; J. Richardson; J. Mawman; Baldwin; Cradock and Joy; Sherwood; Neely and Jones; and G. & W.B. Whittaker, 1821)

Information about the collection: The first edition is 1814 and the TOC is the same in each; neither volume lists the name of the selector/editor. The title page contains these anonymous lines: "Like the humble bee I skim/ Woodland wild and garden trim,/ culling from the honied flow'r/ Sweets of salutary power." The TOC is ordered by genre and the name of the author is printed at the end of each poem. There are no headnotes and there is no biographical, critical, or bibliographic information. The collection is another good example of a miscellany, particularly in that the morally didactic object of the volume necessitates the exclusion of "some productions of our most admired poets" (see the preface reproduced below).

Preface: The occasion and objects of the following Selection of English Poems may be stated in a few words.

It was originally compiled for the use of the children of the Selector, who was desirous of putting into their hands a volume of poetry; which, at the same time that it should assist in forming their taste, might conduce to the infinitely more important purpose of storing their minds with religious and moral sentiments. After various inquiries, the result of which was that the Selector could not meet with any compilation exactly adapted to the proposed end, the present selection was planned, and for the most part executed more than a twelvemonth ago: and it is now offered to the public in compliance with a suggestion, that what was framed with such a design for the Selector's children, might be not unacceptable for the instruction of others.

With such an object in view, the Selector has sedulously guarded against every thing exceptionable either in sentiment or in language. On this account some productions of our most admired poets have not been admitted, however justly they may have been applauded for their poetical excellence. For, when the plant is poisonous, it is likely to prove more pernicious in proportion to its external beauty. The parent, it is humbly presumed, may place the present volume in his children's hands without scruple; assured that nothing will here be found, which can contaminate the purest mind, or reasonably offend the most rigid.

The Selector however has not been contented with avoiding evil: a farther endeavour in this compilation has been to do good. Whatever was the original aim and end of Poetry (a question which may be left to the critics to determine) it is undoubtedly capable of being made subservient to the best and noblest ends. In the following Selection therefore preference has been given to such pieces as breathe the purest strains of Religion and Morality. A few have been admitted, which have in them professedly more of the 'agreeable' than 'the useful:' uet even of these there are scarcely any, which are not in some degree made the vehicle of instruction. The Selector trusts it will be found, that this Anthology contains very few blossoms, which do not yield in a greater or less degree, 'sweets of salutary power.'

As to the pretensions of the present publication on the score of taste, it is not for the writer of this preface to enlarge. The opinions and feelings of readers differ widely on matters of this sort, that probably other compilers would have inserted some compositions, which will not be found in this volume; and have rejected some, which have been here introduced.

For the omission of some poems, which rank with the most celebrated in our language as to poetical excellence, and which ahve been found in former collections of English poetry, the foregoing remarks will perhaps satisfactorily account: to which it may be added, that, in a questionable case, the safer method appeared to be that of exclusion. Some other very beautiful, and at the same time unexceptionable, specimens would have been introduced, had it not been judged advisable to lay down a rule for the insertion of none but entire Poems: a rule, which has been punctually observed with the sole exception of Milton's Morning Hymn, unless Thomson's Hymn on the Seasons be regarded as a second. If it be thought, that other works might have contributed materials besides those from which this volume is compiled, it may be observed in reply, that assistance has been derived from all which were in the possession of the Selector, and which appeared adapted to the proposed object.

As to the poems which are inserted, although some of them would probably have been omitted by a different compiler, still the Selector hopes, that there are none, which, even in the light of compositions, will be thought worthy of very severe censure. Many of them are of great and acknowledged merit. With respect to the rest, it is presumed, that they are not written in a style, which will vitiate the taste of the youthful reader, or offend that of the more discerning.

Upon the whole the Selector hopes, that the following Poetical Anthology may prove a welcome offering to parents, and to others who are engaged in the very important office of forming the youthful mind. Dec. 22d, 1813

Table of Contents: 

To the Creator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merrick
On Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addison
On Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Addison
To the Saviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. T. Gisborne
On Gratitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addison
An Address to the Deity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Barbauld
Morning Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Kenn
Evening Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Kenn
Child's Morning Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
On waking in the Morning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Hawksworth
Adam and Eve's Morning Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Milton
Hymn on the Seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson

Jacob's Dream, Gen. xxviii. 10-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Original
The Leaf, Isaiah lxiv. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Horne
'God of all,' &c. Ps. viii. & cxliv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon.
'The spacious firmament,' Ps. xix . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addison
'The Lord, my pasture,' &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addison
'The festal morn,' &c. Ps. cxxii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merrick.
'Praise the Lord,' &c. Ps. cxlviii . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon.
'Go to the ant, thou sluggard,' &c. Prov. iv. 6-11 . . . . . . . Dr. Johnson
'Consider the lillies,' &c. Matt. vi. 25-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson
Song of Simeon. Luke ii. 29-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merrick.
'Tho' I have not Charity,' &c. 1 Cor. xiii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior
Song of the Three Children, or Benedicite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merrick

On the ignorance of Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merrick
Human frailty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
Mortality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Horne
On Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. T. Gisborne
Verses inscribed to a sorrowing Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
Benevolence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. Smyth
The Fire-side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Cotton
The Hermit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Beattie
A Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Hawksworth
'Live while you live' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Doddridge
What is Life? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cowper
The Death of the Righteous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cowper
The Hour of Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. T. Gisborne
The dying Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pope
A Father's Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
In a Thunder-storm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Carter
Night-piece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Carter
To-morrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anon
Sunday Morning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Mant
The Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Horne
The Rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cowper
The Dog and the Lily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cowper
The Glow-worm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cowper
To the Butterfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rogers
Comparison addressed to a young Lady . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
The Poplar Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
A Birth-day Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
To a Fly, after a severe Winter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miss Pearson
Constantine's Vision. In this conquer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Original

To Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mercer
To Solitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson
Against Suspicion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Akenside
To Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
To Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
To Friendship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Johnson
To Patience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Sheridan
To Melancholy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Carter
To Adversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
To Prosperity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. G. Richards
On Happiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Carter
To Contentment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parnell
To Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Barbauld
To Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Carter
On Vicissitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
The Passions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
On the Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
To Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
To Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Warton
On an AEolian Harp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson
To the Genius of Shakspeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Rev. W.L. Bowles
On Eton College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
To Fancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Warton
To Pity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
The Bard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
The Crusade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
The Fair Pilgrim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. G. Richards
Tintern Abbey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. G. Richards
Druid's War Song, from Caractacus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
Hohenlinden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Campbell
War Song in 1803 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
Ye Mariners of England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Campbell

Night Piece on Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parnell
Elegy in a Country Church-yard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gray
Elegy on Addison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tickell
On the Death of Thomson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
Monody on Garrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheridan
Elegy at the Hot-Wells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. W.L. Bowles
On visiting a former Place of Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Rev. E. Hamley
'How sleep the brave' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
Dirge on Lord Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
Dirge in Cymbeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins

On Mrs. Mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
On Mrs. Clarke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
On Mrs. Corbet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pope
On Mr. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
On Miss Drummond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
On a Sister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
On Mrs. Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Grove, Esq.
On Miss Hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. G.H. Drummond
On an Infant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
On Mr. Aikman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson
On James Quin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garrick
On Lord Clare's Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lord Clare.
An Epitaph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. E. Hamley
On Miss Stanley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomson
On Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hayley
On an Infant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Original

Abba Thule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. W.L. Bowles
Alexander Selkirk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
The Revenge of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Warton
The Maniac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Russell
To Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. E. Hamley
'I wish I was where Anna lies' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gifford
The Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
The Grave of Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. W.L. Bowles
The Negro's Complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
The Negro's Triumph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Original
The Beggar's Petition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
Apology for Vagrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anon
Lapland Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bedingfield
On the Birth of a Daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Ekins
To a young Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. E. Hamley
On Man's attachment to the Spot of his Nativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Rev. E. Hamley

In a Grotto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pope
Over a clear stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
On a Root-house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shenstone
In a Hermitage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
On a Hermitage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R. Cumberland
In an Arbour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Mant
In a shady Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shenstone
On a Negro's Burial-ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B. Edwards.
On Isaac Barrow's Eighth Sermon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sir William Jones
In Berkeley's Siris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sir William Jones

The Invitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mercer
To a Friend on leaving a favourite Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. Warton
Grongar Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dyer
The Sky-lark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. Smyth
The Hamlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
Song on May Morning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton
Echo, a Song in Comus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton
Italian Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rogers
Sketch of the Alps at Day-break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rogers
A Wish, 'Mine be a Cot, &c.' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rogers
The Morning Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
A Fairy Tale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parnell
The Hermit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goldsmith
The Friar of Orders Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Percy
Oriental Eclogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collins
The Cameleon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merrick
Epitaph on a Hare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper
The Three Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Thrale
John Gilpin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cowper

To a virtuous young Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton
On Mrs. Catherine Thomson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milton
On his Blindness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton
To Cyriac Skinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton
After seeing Wilton-house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
To Mr. Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
On King Arthur's Round Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
To the River Lodon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T. Warton
On the Death of West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gray
'No more, fond Father' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Russell
'Could then the Babes' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Russell
'Too long alas thro' Life's tempestuous Tide' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell
'Dear Babe whose meaning' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Russell
Anniversary, 1795 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
Anniversary, 1796 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason
'Sweet Bird, I blush to hear' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
'Seats of my childhood' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
'Strown is the path of life' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
'Amid the fading groves' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
'If by the trumpet's voice' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
'The genial gales return' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hamley
Bamborough Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
To the river Itchin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
At Dover Cliffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
At a Convent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
'How blest with thee the path' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
On the Death of the Rev. William Benwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bowles
To the Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. Smith
On the Departure of the Nightingale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. Smith
To Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. Smith
On seeing her Children playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. Smith
'Should the lone Wanderer' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. Smith

The Messiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pope
The Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. G. Richards
The Geneaology of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Lowth
Paraphrase on Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Young
Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Rev. Reginald Heber
The Hermit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parnell
The Traveller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goldsmith
The Deserted Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goldsmith
On the Superstitions of the Highlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Collins
The Choice of Hercules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Lowth
Reflections of King Hezekiah in his Sickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. H. More
The Vanity of Human Wishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Johnson
Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bishop Porteus
Day of Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Glynn