HISTORY

OF

ENGLISH LITERATURE

I.

BOOK III.-THE CLASSIC AGE.

CHAPTER II.

Bryden.

Dryden's beginnings-Close of the poetic age-

Cause of literary decline and regeneration

-

-

II. Family- Education-Studies Reading - Habits

Position Character - Audience Friend-

ships-Quarrels-Harmony of his life and talent

III. The theatres re-opened and transformed-The new

public and the new taste-Dramatic theories of

Dryden His judgment of the old English

theatre-His judgment of the new French

theatre-Composite works-Incongruities of his

drama-Tyrannic Love-Grossness of his charac-

ters-The Indian Emperor, Aureng-zebe, Almanzor

IV. Style of his drama Rhymed verse - Flowery

diction-Pedantic tirades-Want of agreement

between the classical style and romantic events

-How Dryden borrows 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

PAGE

1

3

6

21

29

284263

VI. Dryden as a writer-Kind, scope, and limits of his

mind-Clumsiness in flattery and obscenity-

Heaviness in dissertation and discussion-Vigour

and fundamental uprightness .

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-Bitter-

ness and virulence of these poems-Mac Flecknoe

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

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 honour of St. Cecilia's

Day

Dryden's latter days-Wretchedness-Poverty-

Wherein his work is incomplete-Death.

IX.

X.

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43

51

59

62

71

L

CHAPTER III.

The Revolution.

The moral revolution of the seventeenth century-

It advances side by side with the political

revolution

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 roysterers-

73

II.

The atheists-Chesterfield's Letters-His polish

and morality-Gay's Beggars' Opera-His elegance

and satire

III. Principles of civilisation in France and England-

Conversation in France; how it ends in a revolu-

tion-Moral sense in England; how it ends in a

reformation

IV. Religion-Visible signs-Its profound sentiment

-Religion popular-Lifelike-Arians-Metho-

dists

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

VI. Theology-Comparison of the French and English

apologetics-Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Clarke-

Theology not speculative but moral-The

greatest minds are on the side of Christianity-

Impotence of speculative philosophy-Berkeley,

Newton, Locke, Hume, Reid-Development of

moral philosophy-Smith, Price, Hutcheson

VII. The Constitution-Sentiment of right-Locke's

Essay on Government-Theory of personal right

accepted-Maintained by temperament, pride,

and interest Theory of personal right applied-

Put in practice by elections, the press, the

tribunals

VIII. Parliamentary eloquence-Its energy and harshness

-Lord Chatham-Junius-Fox-Sheridan-

Pitt-Burke.

IX.

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73

85

91

99

111

119

128

Issue of the century's labours-Economic and moral
transformation-Comparison of Reynolds' and
Lely's portraits-Contrary doctrines and ten-

dencies in France and England-Revolutionists
and Conservatives Judgment of Burke and the
English people on the French revolution.

CHAPTER IV.

Addison.

140

I.

Addison and Swift in their epoch-Wherein they are

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-Campaign-Gentleness and kindness-
Success and happiness

UI. 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 pleasant-
ness 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-Agree-

151

158

163