judgment and description, general and particular, in the following pages to be, unless the contrary is stated, based on original reading and thought. My dates and my biographical facts I take for the most part from others; and though I shall be glad (after verification) to make any correction, I shall not feel deeply convinced of sin if it turns out that I have dated this poet's Tears of Melancholy in March 1593, when the true date is May 1595; or asserted that that poet's grandmother was Joan Smith, who is buried at Little Peddlington, instead of Jane Smith, who was married at Kennaquhair. These things, interesting perhaps and sometimes valuable in their own way, are but ancillary, if even that, to the history of literature in the proper and strict sense; and it is the history of literature in the proper and strict sense with which I have to deal. As to my manner of dealing with it, that, I suppose, must be left to the appreciation of the reader. Being strongly convinced that in order to understand the literary history of a period it is necessary to study the minor as well as the major illustrations of it, I have given what some may think disproportionate space to authors who have seldom before found much if any room in succinct histories of the kind; and I have endeavoured rather to map out the country carefully than to write about it brilliantly. In regard to the extracts which, though they curtail the available space somewhat, it seemed, to others besides myself, desirable to give, I have neither been afraid of a piece because it has been frequently given before, nor thought myself obliged to give it for the same Of Shakespere, Spenser, Milton, and Bacon I have thought it best to give no extracts at all. reason. CONTENTS The starting-point-Tottel's Miscellany-Its method and authorship-The characteristics of its poetry-Wyatt-Surrey-Grimald-Their metres- The stuff of their poems-The Mirror for Magistrates-Sackville-His contributions and their characteristics-Remarks on the formal criticism of poetry-Gascoigne - Churchyard-Turberville-Googe-The trans- lators-Classical metres-Stanyhurst-Other miscellanies Pages 1-27 Outlines of Early Elizabethan Prose—Its origins-Cheke and his contem- 28-49 Spenser-His life and the order of his works-The Shepherd's Calendar—The minor poems-The Faërie Queene-Its scheme-The Spenserian stanza-— Spenser's language-His general poetical qualities—Comparison with other English poets-- His peculiar charm--The Sonneteers-Fulke Greville -Sidney-Watson-Barnes-Giles Fletcher the elder-Lodge-Avisa -Percy-Zepheria — Constable — Daniel - Drayton — Alcilia—Griffin--- Lynch-Smith-Barnfield-Southwell-The song and madrigal writers-- Raleigh-Dyer-Oxford, etc.-Gifford -Howell, Grove, and their con- temporaries -The historians-Warner-The larger poetical works of Difficulty of writing about Shakespere—His life—His reputation in England 157-206 Sylvester-Davies of Hereford-Sir John Davies-Giles and Phineas Fletcher MILTON, TAYLOR, CLARENDON, BROWNE, HOBBES The quintet---Milton's life-His character-His periods of literary production -First Period, the minor poems-The special excellences of Comus- Lycidas-Second Period, the pamphlets--Their merits and defects— Milton's prose style-Third Period, the larger poems-Milton's blank verse—His origins-His comparative position—Jeremy Taylor's life—His principal works-His style-Characteristics of his thought and manner- Sir Thomas Browne-His life, works, and editions-His literary manner- Characteristics of his style and vocabulary-His Latinising-Remarkable adjustment of his thought and expression-Clarendon-His life-Great merits of his History-Faults of his style-Hobbes-His life and works— Herrick-Carew-Crashaw-Divisions of Minor Caroline poetry-Miscellanies |