This theatrical work was, however, only on the fringe of Mrs. Cooper's real interest. In 1737 she published a book entitled _The Muses Library; Or, a Series of English Poetry, from the Saxons, to the Reign of King Charles II containing, The Lives and Characters of all the known Writers in that Interval, the names of their Patrons; Complete Episodes, by way of Specimen of the larger Pieces, very near the intire works of some, and large Quotations from others. Being a General Collection of almost all the old valuable Poetry extant, now so industriously enquir'd after, tho' rarely to be found, but in the Studies of the Curious, and affording Entertainment on all Subjects, Philosophical, Historical, Moral, Satyrical, Allegorical, Critical, Heroick, Pastoral, Gallant, Amorous, Courtly and Sublime._ But one volume of this projected work was published. The early Georgian public was not trained to an interest in the past. Mrs. Cooper suffered the not infrequent fate of pioneers. There was even difficulty in working off one edition of the first volume, as is evident from its appearance in 1738 and 1741 with changed title-pages.[277] That Mrs. Cooper expected to publish the second volume, including the poets from Samuel Daniel to the time of Charles II, is shown not only by the statement in her Preface, but by interesting notes in the _Diary of William Oldys_ (1696-1761), the famous antiquary. In 1736 he was in London employed in seeing through the press a new edition of Raleigh's _History of the World_. His Chambers were in Gray's Inn and he was frequently consulted there "on obscure and obsolete writers by eminent men of letters." Two of the people in whom he was particularly interested were Thomas Hayward, who was compiling his _British Muse_, and Mrs. Cooper. In his _Diary_ are the following records: 1737, June 22. Mrs. Cooper came to my chambers: said she would return Puttenham's _Art of Poesy_, Browne's _Pastorals_, and Sir Henry Wotton, when she had finished her extracts for the second volume of her _Muses' Library_ to be published by Christmas. July 4, Monday. Returned Sir T. More's works: some of his English poetry therein might be for Mrs. Cooper's work, or Mr. Haywards, on Fortune, etc. Aug. 13. Rec'd letter from Mrs. Cooper to borrow old Marlowe's poem of _Hero and Leander_ for the continuation of her _Muses' Library_; sent by the servant a very scarce collection of old poetry, called _The Paradise of Dainty Devices_, in which are several pieces by the old Lord Vaux in King Henry the Eighth's time, the Earl of Oxford, Sir W. Raleigh, Mr. Edwards, Jasper Haywood, Hunis, Churchyard, Kinwelmarsh, Lloyd, Whetstone, etc., printed 4^o. 1578. To borrow one of Caxton's books of Sir Hans Sloane and remember to apply the story of Absyrtus in the preface for Mr. Hayward's Collection of select thoughts from our old poets.[278]