in his cottage; such as was the ancient Egyptian wandering among the Pyramids, such is the modern Englishman making the tour of Europe, and the Poet, who "dips"-as Garrick said of Shakspeare," his pencil in the human heart," will produce forms and colours, the truth and beauty of which will be recognised, wherever such a heart beats. Chaucer's versatility was most extraordinary. No English Poet, Shakspeare alone excepted, exhibits such striking instances of Comic and Tragic powers, united in the same mind. His humour and wit are of the brightest and keenest character; but then his pathos is tremendous, and his descriptive powers are of the highest order. His diction and versification must be looked at with reference to the age in which he lived, and not to the splendid models which we now possess. He has been much censured by modern critics for a too liberal use of French and Norman words in his Poems; but Mr. Tyrwhitt, in his learned dissertation on the subject, has shewn most satisfactorily, that, as compared with his contemporaries, his diction is remarkably pure and vernacular; and Spenser has emphatically called him "a well of English undefiled." His verses have also been said to be imperfect, and sometimes to consist of nine syllables, instead of ten. This is, I think, an equally unfounded accusation; and, if the Reader will only take the precaution to make vocal the e final, whenever he meets with it, he will find few lines in Chaucer which are not harmonious and satisfactory to the ear. I have, perhaps, spoken more at large of the merits of Chaucer than is consistent with my plan in this Introductory Lecture, but his writings form so important an era in the history of English Poetry, that I feel myself justified in making an exception in his favour. Chaucer died, and left nothing that resembled him behind him. Those Authors who formed what is called the School of Chaucer, are in no particular entitled to the name, excepting that they professed and entertained the profoundest veneration for their illustrious Master. Gower, although senior both in years and in authorship to Chaucer, and although he claims the latter as his scholar, "Grete well Chaucer, when ye mete As my disciple and Poete," did not begin to write English Poetry until after him, and is therefore placed in his School. He is a tame and mediocre writer, but every page displays his erudition, and shews that he possessed all the learning and accomplishments of his age. Neither can much be said in favour of Occleve, or of Lydgate. The former, perhaps possessed more imagination, and the latter was the better versifier; but both are remembered only in the absence of superior talent. From the death of Chaucer to the middle of the reign of Henry the Eighth, the history of English Literature is one dull and gloomy blank. The civil disturbances by which the kingdom was then convulsed, are probably the principal cause of this. While men were trembling for their lives, they were not likely to occupy themselves greatly either in the production, or the perusal, of Literature. The Sceptre first passed from the strenuous grasp of Edward the Third into the feeble hands of his grandson. Then came the usurpation of Bolingbroke; the rebellion of Northumberland; and afterwards the long and bloody wars of the Roses. Henry the Eighth mounted the throne with an undisputed title. He himself possessed some Literary talent, and made a shew-probably in emulation of his illustrious contemporary Francis of France, of patronising letters and the Arts. Hence his reign was adorned by the productions of some men of real taste and genius, particularly by those of Lord Surrey, and Sir Thomas Wyatt. Neither of them were men of very commanding - powers, but they were both elegant and accomplished writers, and did much, at least to refine our English versification. Surrey is also distinguished as the first writer of narrative blank verse in our language, although he principally wrote in rhyme. Lord Vaux was also a very elegant lyrical writer, and some verses from one of his Songs are quoted by Shakspeare in the grave-digging scene in "Hamlet." Lord Buckhurst was-in conjunction with Thomas Norton,the Author of the first English Tragedy," Gorboduc;" a heavy, cumbrous performance, of but little value, except as a curious piece of antiquity. The noble Poet's fame is much better supported by his "Induction to the Mirror of Magistrates," a production of great power and originality. The tyrannical temper of the Sovereign, however, soon became manifest; and, together with the contests between the Papists and the Reformers, diverted the attention of the nation from Literature. The noblest and the best were seen daily led to the scaffold; and, among them, Surrey, the accomplished Poet whom I have just mentioned. The barbarous feuds stirred up by political and polemical animosity, which now again deluged the nation with blood, did not subside until Elizabeth ascended the throne. The Reign of Queen Eliza beth is the most illustrious period in the Literary history of modern Europe. Much has been said of the ages of Leo the Tenth, of Louis the Fourteenth, and of Queen Anne, but we are prepared to shew that the Literary trophies of the first mentioned period, are more splendid and important, than those of all the other three united. We are not alluding merely to what passed in our own country. The superiority of the literary efforts of that age to all the productions of English genius before or since, is too trite a truism to need our advocacy. But it is not so generally known, or, at least, remembered, that during the same period the other nations of Europe produced their master Spirits; and that Tasso, Camoens, and Cervantes, were contemporary with Shakspeare. Weigh these four names against those of all who have ever written, since the revival of Learning, to the present time, and the latter will be found to be but as dust in the balance. The accomplished scholars and elegant writers who adorned the Courts of Leo, of Louis, and of Anne, enjoy and deserve their fame; but they must not be put in competition with the mighty geniuses, who each, as it were, made the Literature of their respective countries; whose works are columns " high o'er the wrecks of Time that stand sublime;" and whose |