1.

36

361

TAGE

Dryden's beginnings-Close of the poetic age-Cause of literary decline and regen-

eration ....

359

11. Family, Education-Studies - Reading-Habits-Position-Character-Audience
-Friendships-Quarrels-Harmony of his life and talent...

3-N
III. The theatres re-opened and transformed—The new public and the new taste-Dra.

matic theories of Dryden-His judgment of the old English theatre-His judg-
ment of the new French theatre--Composite works-Incongruities of his drama

-Tyrannic Love-Grossness of his characters, The Indian Emperor Aureng

sebe, Almanzor

IY Style of his drama—Rhymed verse-Flowery diction-Pedantic tirades—Want of

agreement between the classical style and romantic events-How Dryden bc -

rows and mars the inventions of Shakspeare and Milton-Why this drama fell

to the ground...

V. Merits of this drama-Characters of Antony and Don Sebastian-Otway-Life

-Works.....

370

VI, Dryden as a writer-Kind, scope, and limits of his mind-Clumsiness in flattery

and obscenity-Heaviness in dissertation and discussion-Vigor and funda-
mental uprightness...

31:

VII How literature in England is occupied with politics and religion-Political

poems of Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, The Medal-Religious poems,

Religio Laici, The Hind and the Panther-Bitterness and virulence of these

poems-Mac Flecknoe...

378

VIII. Rise of the art of writing-Difference between the stamp of mind of the artistic and

classic ages-Dryden's manner of writing-Sustained and oratorical diction., 38:

IX. Lack of general ideas in this age and this stamp of mind-Dryden's translations

Adaptations-Imitations-Tales and letters-Faults-Merits-Gravity of his

character, brilliancy of his inspiration, fits and starts of poetic eloquence-

Alexander's Feast, a song in honor of St. Cecilia's Day...:

X. Dryden's latter days—Wretchedness-Poverty—Wherein his work is incomplete

-Death....

381

CHAPTER III.

The Rebolution.

3&o

1. The moral revolution of the seventeenth century-It advances side by side with

the political revolution....

II. Brutality of the people-Gin Riots-Corruption of the great- Political manners

-Treachery under William III. and Anne-Venality under Walpole and Bute

-Private manners—The roisterers—The atheists-Chesterfied's Letters-His

polish and morality-Gay's Beggars' Opera–His elegance and satire.... 389

III. Principles of civilization in France and England Conversation in France ; how

it ends in a revolution-Moral sense in England; how it ends in a reformation. 391

IV. Religion-Visible signs--Its profound sentiment-Religion popular-Lifelike-

Arians-Methodists

394

V. The pulpit-Mediocrity and efficacy of preaching-Tillotson-His heaviness and

solidity-Barrow-His abundance and minuteness-South-His harshness and

energy_Comparison of French and English preachers....

391

VI. Theology-Comparison of the French and English apologetics-Sherlock, Stil-

lingfileet, Clarke-Theology not speculative but moral - The greatest minds
are on the side of Christianity--Impotence of speculative philosophy-Berkeley,
Newton, Locke, Hume, Red-Development of moral philosophy-Smith,
Price, Hutcheson...

104
TIL The Constitution-Sentiment of right-Locke's Essay on Government Theory

of personal right accepted-Maintained by temperament, pride, anı 'nterest
-Theory of personal right applied- Put in practice by elections, the press, the
tribunals....

40g

Vill Parliamentary cloquence-Its energy and harshness-Lord Chatham - Junius-Fox

-Sheridan-Pitt-Burke..

IX Issue of the century's labors—Economic and moral transformation-Comparison of

Reynolds' and Lely's portraits-Contrary doctrines and tendencies in France

and England-Revolutionists and Conservatives-Judgment of Barks and the

English people on the French revolution...

409

408
CHAPTER IV.

PAOL

Addison.

Addison and Swift in their epoch-Wherein they are alike and unlile..

II. The man-Education and culture-Latin verses Voyage in France and Italy,

Letter from Italy to Lord Halifax-Remarks on Italy--Dialogues on

Medals—CampaignGentleness and kindness-Success and happiness..... 419

II). Gravity and rationality-Solid studies and exact observation-His knowledge of

men and business habits-Nobility of his character and conduct-Elevation
of his morality and religion-How his life and character have contributed to

the pleasantness and usefulness of his writings...

IV. The moralist-His essays are all moral--Against gross, sensual, or worldly life-

This morality is practical, and yet commonplace and desultory-How it relies

on reason and calculation-How it has for its end satisfaction in this world and

happiness in the other-Speculative meanness of his religious conception-

Practical excellence of his religious conception..

V. The literary man-Harmony of morality and elegance--- The style that suits men of

the world--Merits of this style-Inconveniences-Addison as a critic-His

judgment of Paradise Lost-Agreement of his art and criticism-Limits of clas-

sical criticism and art-What is lacking in the eloquence of Addison, of the

Englishman and of the moralist.

VI Grave pleasantry, Humor - Serious and fertile imagination -- Sir Roger de

Coverley—The religious and the poetical sentiment-Vision of Mirsa-How

the Germanic element subsists under Latin culture..

....... tag

436

CHAPTER V.

Swift.

1. Swift's début--Character-Pride-Sensitiveness-His life in Sir William Tem-

ple's house-At Lord Berkeley's-Political life--Influence-Failure-Private

life-Lovemaking-Despair and insanity....

II. His wit-His power, and its limits-Prosaic and positive mind--Holding a posi-

tion between vulgarity and genius-Why destructive..

439

III, The pamphleteer-How literature now concerns itself with politics-Difference of

parties and pamphlets in France and England-Conditions of the literary pamph-
let-Of the effective pamphlet-Special and practical pamphlets-The Ex-
aminer-The Drapier's Letters-A Short Character of Thomas Earl
of Wharton-An Argument against Abolishing Christianity Political

invective-Personal defamation, Incisive common sense-Grave irony: .. 141

IV. The poet-Comparison of Swift and Voltaire-Gravity and harshness of his jests--

Bickerstaff-Coarseness of his galantry-Cadenus and Vanessa-His prosaic

and realistic poetry- The Grand Question Debated-Energy and sadness of

his shorter poems—Verses on his own Death-His excesses...

445

The narrator and philosopher-A Tale of a Tub His opinion on religion,

science,philosophy and reason-How he maligns human intelligence~Gulliver's

Travels-His opinion on society, government, rank, and professions—How

he maligns human nature--Last pamphlets-Composition of his character and

genius......

...... 49

CHAPTER VI.

The Nobelists.
Characteristic of the English novel-How it differs from others:
De Foe-His life-Energy, devotion, his share in politics-Spirit-Difference of

old and modern realists-Works--Career-Aim-Robinson Crusoe-How this
character is English-Inner enthusiasm-Obstinate will-Patience in work
-Methodical common sense-Religious emotions--Final piety.

431
III. Circumstances which gave rise to the novels of the eighteenth century-All these

novels are moral fictions and studies of character-Connection of the essay and
the novel-Two principal notions in morality-How they produce two kinds

of novels...
IV. Richardson-Condition and character-Connection of his perspicacity and his rigor

-Talent, minuteness, combinations--Pamela-Her mood-Principles-The
English wife-Clarissa Harlowe- The Harlowe family-Despotic and unsccia-
ble characteristics in England-Lovelace-Haughty and militant characteristics
in England--Clarissa-Her energy, coolness, logic —Kyr pedantry and scruples

PAGR

VI.

-Sir Charles Grandison-Incongruities of automatic and edifying heroes
Richardson as a preacher-Prolixity, prudery, emphasis..

461

1. Fielding-Mood, character, and life-Joseph Andrews-His conception of nature

Tom Jones -Character of the squire-Fielding's heroes-Amelia--Faults

in her conception.....

Smollett-Roderick Random- Peregrine Pickle-Comparison of Smollett and

Le Sage--Conception of life-Harshness of his heroes-Coarseness of his

pictures-Standing out of his characters---Humphrey Clinker.....

VII. Sterne-Excessive study of human particularities-Sterne's character-Eccentricity

-Sensibility-Obscenity-Why he depicts the diseases and degeneracies of humaa

476

VIII. Goldsmith-Purification of the novel-Picture of citizen life, upright happiness,

Protestant virtue-The Vicar of Wakefield—The English clergyman.

IX Samuel Johnson-His authority-Person-Manners-Life-Doctrines-His opin-

ion about Voltaire and Rousseau-Style-Works...

X Hogarth-Moral and realistic painting --Contrast of English temperament and

morality-How morality has disciplined temperament...

nature...

478

480

CHAPTER VII.

The Poets.

1. Rule and realm of the classical spirit-Its characters, works, scope, and limits-

How it is centred in Pope...
II. Pope-Education-Precocity-Beginnings-Pastoral peoms- Essay on Criticism

- Personal appearance-Mode of life-Character-Mediocrity of his passions
and ideas-Largeness of his vanity and talent-Independent fortune and
assiduous labor...

489
III. Epistle of Eloisa to Abelard-What the passions become in artificial poetry, The

Rape of the Lock-Society and the language of society in France and England
-Wherein Pope's badinage is painful and displeasing-Tke Dunciad-Ob-
scenity and vulgarities—Wherein the English imagination and drawing-room
wit are irreconcilable...

49
IV. Descriptive talent-Oratorical talent-Didactic poems—Why these poems are the

Jua. work of the classical spirit- The Essay on Mar- His deism and optimism

Value of nis conceptions - How they are connected witb the dominans
izgle- How they are deformed in Pope's hands-Methods and perfection:
of his style - Excellence of his portraits--Why they are superior-Translation

of the Iliad--Change of taste during the past century..
Lucongruity of the English mind and the classicai decorum--Prior-Gay --Ancien

pastoral impossible id northern climates. Conception of the country natura! .

England-• Thomson..

VI. Discredit of the drawing-room-Appearance of the man of teeling.-- Why the

return to nature took place earlier in England than in France-Sterne-

Richardson-Mackenzie-Macpherson-Gray, Aken side, Beattie, Collins,

Young, Shenstone-Persistence of the classical form-Domination of the

period—Johnson-The historical school-Robertson, Gibbon, Humc-Thoir

inlent and their limits-Beginning of the modern age....

... od

BOOK IV.-MODERN LIFE.

CHAPTER I.

ydeas and Productions.

1. Changes in society-Rise of democracy,The French Revolution--Desire al

getting in-Changes in the human mind-New notion of causes-German philor

ophy-Craving for the beyond....

son

Rebert Burns-His country-Family-Youth-Wretchedness-His yearnings and

efforts-Invectives against society and church-The Jolly Beggars -Attacks

conventional cant- His idea of natural life-of moral life-Talent-

Spontaneity-Style-Innovations-Success-Affectations-Studied letters and

academic verse Farmer's life--Employment in the Excise Disgust-Excesses

-Death...

510

III. Conservative rule in England-At first the Revolution affects the style only,

Cowper-Sickly refinement--Despair-Madness Retirement, The Taske

Modern idea of poetry-Of style.....

on

V.

PAGI
-Faults of this school-Why it succeeded less in England than elsewhere
-Sir Walter Scott- Education-Antiquarian studies–Aristocratic tastes-Life
-Poems--Novels-Incompleteness of his historical imitations-Excellence of
his national pictures-His interiors-Amiable raillery-Moral aim-Place in
modern civilization-Development of the novel in England-Realism and
uprightness-Wherein this school is cockneyfied and English..

521
Philosophy enters into literature-Wordsworth-Character-Condition-Life-

Painting of the moral life in the vulgar life--Introduction of the colorless
style and psychological divisions-Faults of this kind of literature-Loftiness
of Wordsworth's sonnets The Excursion- Austere beauty of this Protestant
poetry--Shelley-Imprudences-Theories-Fancy-Pantheism-Ideal charac-
ters-Life-like scenery-General tendency of the new literature-Gradual
introduction of continental ideas......

531

CHAPTER II.

53€

Lord Byron.

The Man-Family-Impassioned character-Precocious loves-Life of excess—

Combative character-Revolt against opinion-English Bards and Scotch

Reviewers — Bravado and rashness — Marriage - Extravagance of adverse

opinion-Departure-Political life in Italy-Sorrows and violence...

1. The poet-Reasons for writing-Manner of writing.--How his poetry is personal

-Classical taste-How this gift served him-Childe Harold-The hero-The

scenery—The style.....

543

II) His short poems-Oratorical manner-Melodramatic effects, Truth of his descrip-

tions of scenery-Sincerity of sentiments-Pictures of sad and extreme emotions
-Dominant idea of death and despair-Mazeppa, The Prisoner of Chillon,
The Siege of Corinth, The Corsair, Lara-Analogy of this conception with
the Edda and Shakspeare-Darkness..

54€

IV. Manfred-Comparison of Manfred and Faust--Conception of legend and life in

Goethe-Symbolical and philosophical character of Faust-Wherein Byron

is inferior to Goethe-Wherein he is superior-Conception of character and

action in Byron-Dramatic character of his poen-Contrast between the uni-

versal and the personal poet..

551

V. Scandal in England-Constraint and hypocrisy of manners-How and by what law

moral conceptions vary-Life and morals of the south-Beppo-Don Juan-
Transformation of Byron's talent and style-Picture of sensuous beauty and
happinesss-Haidée-How he combats British cant-Human hypocrisy--His
idea of man-Of woman-Donna Julia—The shipwreck-The capture of Ismail

- Naturalness and variety of his style-Excess and wearing out of his poetic

vein-His drama--Departure for Greece, and death...

556

VI. Position of Byron in his age-Disease of the age-Divine conceptions of happiness

and life-The conception of such happiness by literature-By the sciences
Future stability of reason-Modem conception of nature.....

363

CHAPTER III.'

The Past and the Present.

§ 1.

1. The past, The Saxon invasion-How it established the race and determined the

character-The Norman Conquest-How it modified the character and estab-

lished the Constitution...

II. The Renaissance-How it manifested the national mind-The Reformation-How

564

it fixed the ideal—The Restoration-How it imported classical culture and mis-

led the national mind-The Revolution-How it developed classical culture

and restored the national mind.

566

III. The modern age-How European ideas widened the national mould.

569

I. The present-Concordances of observation and history-Sky-Soil-Products-

Man..

men.......

The Nobel.-Dickens.

$ 1.--THE AUTHOR.

Connection of the different elements of each talent-Importance of the imaginative

faculty...

l. Lacidity and intensi*y of imagination in Dickens--Boldness and vehemence of his

fancy-How with him inanimate objects are personified and impassioned-

Whérein his conception is akin to intuition-How he describes idiots and mad-

581

II The objects to which he directs his enthusiasm–His trivialities and minuteness

Wherein he resembles the painters of his country- Wherein he differs from

George Sand--Miss Ruth and Geneviève--A journey in a coach....

589

IV Vehemence of the emotions which this kind of imagination must produce-His

pathos--Stephen, the factory hand-His humor-Why he attains to buffoonery

and caricature - Recklessness and nervous exaggeration of his gayety.

591

$ 2.—THE PUBLIC.

I, English novels are compelled to be moral-Wherein this constraint modifies the idea

of love-Comparison of love in George Sand and Dickens-Pictures of the

young girl and the wife-Wherein this

constraint qualifies the idea of passion-

Comparison of passions in Balzac and Dickens-Inconvenience of this foregons

conclusion-How comic or odious masks are substituted for natural characters

-Comparison of Pecksniff and Tartuffe-Why unity of action is absent in

Dickens.

594

$ 3.—THE CHARACTERS.

1. Two classes of characters-Natural and instinctive characters---Artificial and posi-

tive characters-Preference of Dickens for the first-Aversion against the

second..

597

II. The hypocrite-Mr. Pecksniff-Wherein he is English-Comparison of Pecksnif

and Tartuffe-The positive man-Mr. Gradgrind— The proud man-Mr. Dom-
bey-Wherein these characters are English...

598

III. Children-Wanting in French literature--Little Foas and David Copperfield

Men of the lower orders...

601

The ideal man according to Dickens-Wherein this conception corresponds to a

public need Opposition of culture and nature in England-Reassertion of sen,

sitiveness and instinct oppressed by conventionalism and rule--Success of

Dickens...

.......... bor

CHAPTER II.

The Nobel continued.—Thackeray.

L' Abundance and excellence of novels of manners in England-Supenority of Dickens
and Thackeray --Comparisca between them....

§ 1.—THB SATIRIST.
II. The satirist- His moral intentions-His moral dissertations...

bog
III Cumparison of raillery in France and England-Difference of the two tempera
ments, tastes, and minds...

bob
IV. Superiority of Thackeray in bitter and serious satire-Serious irony-Literary

snobs Miss Blanche Amory--Serious caricature-Miss Hoggartý... бо)
V. Solidity and

precision of this satirical conception-Resemblance of Thackeray and

Swift-The duties of an ambassador.
VI Misanthropy of Thackeray-Silliness of his heroines-Silliness of love-Inbred
vice of human generosities and exaltations.....

$13

Vli. His levelling tendencies--A want of characters and society in England-Aversions

and preferences—The snob and the aristocrat-Portraits of the king, the great

court noble, the county gentleman, the town gentleman-Advantages of thir

aristocratic institution-Exaggeration of the satire..oto....

613

IV.

God

61