text:  It may perhaps be explained by the circumstance that the verses are in the original exceedingly well adapted to be sung--one of the highest merits of this class of poetry--for all ancient ballads in every language throughout the world were specifically intended to be sung or chanted; and all modern productions therefore written in imitation of these ancient compositions--the first lispings of the Muse--can only be successful in proportion as they possess the essential and characteristic quality of being capable of being sung