II. IV. Formation and character of Feudalism. The Norman invasion; character of the Normans-Contrast with the Saxons- The Saxons in England-Endurance of the Saxon nation, and formation of the English constitution-Endurance of the Saxon character, and formation of the V. VII-IX. Comparison of the ideal hero in France and England-Fabliaux of Reynard, and ballads of Robin Hood-How the Saxon character makes way for and supports political liberty-Comparison of the condition of the Commons in France and England-Theory of the English constitution, by Sir John Fortescue-How the Saxon constitution makes way for and supports political liberty-Situation of the Church, and precursors of the Reformation in Eng- land-Piers Plowman and Wycliffe-How the Saxon character and the situ- ation of the Norman Church made way for religious reform-Incompleteness and importance of the national literature-Why it has not endured......... 199 How the middle age degenerated-Decline of the serious element in manners, books, and works of art-Need of excitement-Analogies of architecture and IV. V. Wherein Chaucer belongs to the middle age-Romantic and ornamental poems- Le Roman de la Rose - Troilus and Cressida - Canterbury Tales- Order of description and events-The House of Fame-Fantastic dreams and visions-Love poems-Troilus and Cressida-Exaggerated development of love in the middle age--Why the mind took this path-Mystic love-The Flower and the Leaf-Sensual love-Troilus and Cressida.. Wherein Chaucer is French-Satirical and jovial poems-Canterbury Tales-The Connection of philosophy and poetry-How general notions failed under the Idea which men had formed of the world, since the dissolution o the old Why the ideal changes-Improvement of the state of man in Europe-In England -Peace-Industry-Commerce-Pasturage-Agriculture-Growth of public wealth-Buildings and furniture-The palace, meals and habits-Court pageantries-Celebrations under Elizabeth-Masques under James I.......... 108 Manners of the people-Pageants-Theatres-Village feasts-Pagan development. 112 Models-The ancients-Translation and study of classical authors-Sympathy for the manners and mythology of the ancients-The moderns-Taste for Italian writings and ideas-Poetry and painting in Italy were pagan-The ideal is the The English Renaissance is the Renaissance of the Saxon genius.. The forerunners-The Earl of Surrey-His feudal and chivalrous life-His English individual character-His serious and melancholy poems-His conception of III. His style-His masters, Petrach and Virgil-His progress, power, precocious perfection-Birth of art-Weaknesses, imitation, research-Art incomplete.... 118 IV. Growth and completion of art-Euphues and fashion-Style and spirit of the Re- VI Pastoral poetry-The great number of poets-Spirit and force of the poetry-State of mind which produces it-Love of the country-Reappearance of the ancient gods-Enthusiasm for beauty-Picture of ingenuous and happy love-Shak- speare, Jonson, Fletcher, Drayton, Marlowe, Warner, Breton, Lodge, Greene -How the transformation of the people transforms art...... love and beauty-Copiousness of his imagination-How far it was suited for the epic-Wherein it was allied to the "faërie"-His tentatives-Shepherd's Calendar-His short poems-His masterpiece-The Faerie Queene-His epic is allegorical and yet life-like-It embraces Christian chivalry and the Pagan Olympus-How it combines these.... VII. The Faerie Queene-Impossible events-How they appear natural-Belphœbe and Chrysogone-Fairy and gigantic pictures and landscapes-Why they must be so -The cave of Mammon, and the gardens of Acrasia-How Spenser composes Limit of the poetry-Changes in society and manners-How the return to nature 130 143 147 Robert Burton-His life and character-Vastness and confusion of his acquirements IV Sir Thomas Browne-His talent-His imagination is that of a North-man- 149 Hydriotaphia, Religio Medici-His ideas, curiosity, and doubts belong to the 158 The public-The stage. II. Manners of the sixteenth century-Violent and complete expansion of nature.... 160 III. English manners-Expansion of the energetic and gloomy character.... The poets-General harmony between the character of a poet and that of his age Formation of this drama-The process and character of this art-Imitative sympathy, which depicts by expressive examples-Contrast of classical and Germanic art-Psychological construction and proper sphere of these two arts. 173 Male characters-Furious passions-Tragical events-Exaggerated characters- The Duke of Milan by Massinger-Ford's Annabella-Webster's Duchess of Malfi and Vittoria Corombona-Female characters-Germainic idea of love and marriage-Euphrasia, Bianca, Arethusa, Ordella, Aspasia Amoret, in Beaumont and Fletcher-Penthea in Ford-Agreement of the moral and 188 The masters of the school, in the school and in their age-Jonson-His mood-- Character-Education-First efforts-Struggles- Poverty-Sickness-Death. 186 Learning-Classical tastes-Didactic characters-Good management of his plots -Freedom and precision of his style-Vigor of his will and passion.... Dramas-Catiline and Sejanus-How he was able to depict the personages and the passions of the Roman decadence... Comedies-His reformation and theory of the theatre-Satirical comedies- Volpone-Why these comedies are serious and warlike-How they depict the passions of the Renaissance-His farces-The Silent Woman-Why these comedies are energetic and rude-How they conform with the tastes of the Limits of his talent-Wherein he is inferior to Molière-Want of higher philosophy and comic gayety-His imagination and fancy-The Staple of News and Cynthia's Revels-How he treats the comedy of society, and lyrical comedy -His smaller poems-His masques-Theatrical and picturesque manners of the court-The Sad Shepherd-How Jonson remains a poet to his death...... 201 General idea of Shakspeare-The fundamental idea in Shakspeare-Conditions of human reason-Shakspeare's master faculty-Conditions of exact represen. III. Manners-Familiar intercourse-Violent bearing-Harsh language-Conversation The dramatis persona-All of the same family-Brutes and idiots-Caliban, Ajax, Cloten, Polonius, the Nurse-How the mechanical imagination can precede Men of wit-Difference between the wit of reasoners and of artists-Mercutio, VII. Villains-Iago, Richard III.-How excessive lusts and the lack of conscience are Fancy Agreement of imagination with observation in Shakspeare-Interesting nature of sentimental and romantic comedy-As you like it-Idea of exist- ence-Midsummer Night's Dream-Idea of love-Harmony of all parts of the work-Harmony between the artist and his work............ 234 Vices of the pagan Renaissance-Decay of the Southern civilizations.. The Anglicans-Close connection between religion and society-How the religious sentiment penetrates literature-How the sentiment of the beautiful subsists in religion-Hooker-His breadth of mind and the fulness of his style-Hales and Chillingworth-Praise of reason and tolerance-Jeremy Taylor-His learning, imagination, and poetic feeling... The Puritans-Opposition of religion and the world-Dogmas-Morality- Scruples-Their triumph and enthusiasm-Their work and practical sense..... 263 Bunyan-His life, spirit, and poetical work-The Prospect of Protestantism in III. Combative energy-Polemic against the bishops-Against the king-Enthusiasm and sternness-Theories on government, church, and education-Stoicism Milton's residence in London and the country-General appearance.. Mütor as a prose-writer-Changes during three centuries in countenances and ideas-Heaviness of his logic-The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce- Heavy Humor-Animadversions upon the Remonstrant's Defence-Clumsi- ness of discussion-Defensio Populi Anglicani-Violence of his animosities- The reason of Church Government-Eikonoklastes-Liberality of Doctrines -Of Reformation-Areopagitica-Style-Breadth of eloquence-Wealth of imagery-Lyric sublimity of diction.. VI. Milton as a poet-How he approaches and is distinct from the poets of the Renais- sance-How he gives poetry a moral tone-Profane poems-L'Allegro and II Penseroso-Comus-Lycidas-Religious poems-Paradise Lost-Conditions PAG of genuine epic-They are not to be met with in the age cri: he poet-Com- BOOK III.-THE CLASSIC AGE. The excesses of Puritanism-How they induce excesses of sensuality... ཎྜ;ཊྛ; Butler's Hudibras-Platitude of his comic style, and harshness of his rancorous Baseness, cruelty, brutality, debauchery, of the court-Rochester, his life, poems, 314 Philosophy consonant with these manners-Hobbes, his spirit and his style-His curtailments and his discoveries-His mathematical method-In how much he resembles Descartes-His morality, æsthetics, politics, logic, psychology, metaphysics-Spirit and aim of his philosophy.. The theatre-Alteration in taste, and in the public-Audiences before and after VII. Dryden-Disparity of his comedies-Unskilfulness of his indecencies-How he Appearance of the worldly life in Europe-Its conditions and causes- How it was established in England-Etiquette, amusements, conversations, manners, and Dawn of the classic spirit in Europe-Its origin-Its nature-Difference of conver- Sir William Temple-His life, character, spirit, and style. VII. Action-Complication of intrigues-Frivolity of purpose-Crudeness of the charac- ters-Grossness of manners-Wherein consists the talent of Wycherley, Con. greve, Vanbrugh, and Farquhar-Kind of characters they are able to produce. 344 VIII. Natural characters-Sir John Brute, the husband; Squire Šullen-Sir Tunbelly, the father-Miss Hoyden, the young lady-Squire Humphry, the young gentleman-Idea of nature according to this theatre Artificial characters-Women of the world-Miss Prue, Lady Wishfort, Lady The continuation of comedy-Sheridan-Life-Talent-The School for Scandal- How comedy degenerates and is extinguished-Causes of the decay of the |