Among these was the bold realism of the village-life described, and the minute painting of the scenery among which it was led.

Cowper had published his first volume a year before, but thus far it had failed to excite general interest, and had met with no sale.

Burns had as yet published nothing.
But two poetic masterpieces, dealing with the joys and sorrows of village folk, were fresh in Englishmen's memory.

One was _The Elegy in a Country Churchyard_, the other was _The Deserted Village_.

Both had left a deep impression upon their readers--and with reason--for two poems, more certain of immortality, because certain of giving a pleasure that cannot grow old-fashioned, do not exist in our literature.