"Crabbe's Tales" is mentioned in MP on p 175 (2nd ed.)

George Crabbe (1754 –1832) was an English poet, surgeon and clergyman. He is best known for his early use of the realistic narrative form and his descriptions of middle and working-class life and people. He is often called the last of the Augustan poets because he followed John Dryden, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson in using the heroic couplet, which he came to handle with great skill. He was admired by Byron and the Romantic poets, as well as Jane Austen.
Tales in Verse was published in the summer of 1812. It received a warm welcome from the poet's admirers, was favourably reviewed by the Edinburgh Review, and is considered to be his masterpiece.
Edmund finds George Crabbe’s Tales on Fanny’s desk. (2nd ed., p175)

Quotes:

"The game is never lost till won."

"Better to love amiss than nothing to have loved."