PREFACE. THIS work originated in a desire, on the part of the Publishers, to supply what they considered a deflciency in the Literature addressed at the present time to the great body of the People. In the late efforts for the improvement of the popular mind, the removal of mere ignorance has been the chief object held in view: attention has been mainly given to what might be expected to impart technical knowledge; and in the cultivation of what is certainly but a branch of the intellectual powers, it has been thought that the great end was gained. It is not necessary here to present arguments establishing that there are faculties for cognising the beautiful in art, thought, and feeling, as well as for perceiving and enjoying the truths of physical science and of fact. Nor is it needful to show how elegant and reflective literature, especially, tends to moralise, to soften, and to adorn the soul and life of man. Assuming this as granted, we were anxious to take the aid of the press-or rather of the Printing Machine, for by it alone could the object be accomplished—to bring the belles lettres into the list of those agencies which are now operating for the mental advancement of the middle and humbler portions of society. It appeared that, for a first effort, nothing could be more suitable than a systematised series of extracts from our national authors ; "a concentration"—to quote the language of the prospectus—“ of the best productions of English intellect, from Anglo-Saxon to the present times, in the various departments headed by Chaucer, Shakspeare, Milton—by More, Bacon, Locke-by Hooker, Taylor, Barrowby Addison, Johnson, Goldsmith-by Hume, Robertson, Gibbon-set in a biographical and critical history of the literature itself.” By this a double end might, it seemed, be served; as the idea of the work in. cluded the embodiment of a distinct and valuable portion of knowledge, as well as that mass of polite literature which was looked to for the effect above described. In the knowledge of what has been done by English literary genius in all ages, it cannot be doubted that we have a branch of the national history, not only in itself important, as well as interesting, but which reflects a light upon other departments of history—for is not the Elizabethan Drama, for example, an exponent, to some extent, of the state of the national mind at the time, and is it not equally one of the influences which may be presumed to have modified that mind in the age which followed? Nor is it to be overlooked, how important an end is to be attained by training the entire people to venerate the thoughtful and eloquent of past and present times. These gifted beings may be said to have endeared our language and institutions-our national character, and the very scenery and artificial objects which mark our soil—to all who are acquainted with, and can appreciate their writings. A regard for our national authors enters into and forms part of the most sacred feelings of every educated man, and it would not be easy to estimate in what degree it is to this sentiment that we are indebted for all of good and great that centres in the name of England. Assuredly, in our common reverence for a Shakspeare, a Milton, a Scott, we have a social and uniting sentiment, which not only contains in itself part of our happiness as a people, but much that counteracts influences that tend to set us in division. A more special utility is contemplated for this work, in its serving to introduce the young to the Pantheon of English authors. The “ Elegant Extracts” of Dr Knox, after long enjoying popularity as a selection of polite literature for youths between school and college, has of late years sunk out of notice, in consequence of a change in public taste. It was almost exclusively devoted to the rhetorical literature, elegant but artificial, which flourished during the earlier half of the eighteenth century, overlooking even the great names of Chaucer and Spenser, as well as nearly the whole range of rich, though not faultless productions extending between the times of Shakspeare and Dryden. The time seemed to have come for a substitute work, in which at once the revived taste for our early literature should be gratified, and due attention be given to the authors who have lived since the time of Knox. Such a work it has been the humble aim of the editor to produce in that which is now laid before the public. He takes this opportunity of acknowledging that very important assistance has been rendered through. out the Cyclopædia of English Literature, and particularly in the poetical department, by Mr Robert Carruthers of Inverness. . . . . . . Page Page 1 | Autograph of Sir Philip Sidney, 232 View of St Lawrence Church, 434 Chair of Bede, 3 | Portrait of Richard Ilooker, 235 Portrait of Dr Robert South, 441 Illumination-a Minstrel, 8 Portrait of Lord Bacon, 239 View of Islip Church, 441 Portrait of Chaucer, 12 Autograph of Bacon, 239 Portrait of Richard Baxter, 454 Chaucer's Tomb, 14 Monument of Bacon, 241 View of Ury House, 461 Tabard Inn, Southwark, 14 Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh, 244 Portrait of John Bunyan, 466 Portrait of Gower, 24 | Autograph of Raleigh, 244 View of the Birthplace of Bunyan, 467 Cathedral of Aberdeen, 25 View of Ilayes Farm, the Birthplace Portrait of Lord Clarendon, 475 View of Lochleven, 28 of Raleigh, 244 View of Dunkirk House, the London Portrait of Wickliffe, 35 | Stow's Monument in the church of residence of Lord Clarendon, 476 35 Chair of Wickliffe, St Andrew under Shaft, London, 249 Portrait of Gilbert Burnet, 486 Illumination-Early Printi fice, 36 Portrait of James Howell, 255 Portrait of Sir William Temple, 501 Portrait of James L. of Scotland, 36 Autograph of Howell, 256 Portrait of John Locke, 508 View of Dunkeld Cathedral, 44 Portrait of William Camden, 262 Autograph of Locke, 508 Portrait of Howard, Earl of Surrey, 46 Autograph of Camden, 262 | View of the Birthplace of Locke, 509 Portrait of Sir David Lyndsay, 49 Portrait of Thomas May, 264 Seal of Locke, 510 Portrait of William Caxton, 55 Portrait of Thomas Hobbes, 206 Portrait of the Honourable Robert Portrait of Sir Thomas More, 59 Portrait of Robert Burton, 272 Boyle, 516 Autograph of Sir Thomas More, 59 | Tomb of Burton, 274 Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, 521 Bust of John Leland, 69 Portrait of John Selden, 282 View of the Birthplace of Newton, 521 Portrait of William Tyndale, 73 Autograph of Selden, 282 Portrait of Thomas Rymer, 527 Portrait of Sir John Cheke, 74 View of the Ilouse of Selden, 283 Portrait of Sir George Mackenzie, 530 Autograph of Roger Ascham, 76 Portrait of Archbishop Usher, 285 Monument of Sir George Mackenzie, Illumination-Spenser introduced Portrait of William Chillingworth, 285 Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, 530 by Sydney to Elizabeth, 79 Portrait of Jeremy Taylor, 290 Illumination-Rape of the Lock, 534 Portrait of Thomas Sackville, 80 'Portrait of Sir Thomas Browne, 298 Portrait of Matthew Prior, 535 Portrait of Edmund Spenser, 86 | Portrait of John Knox, 303 Autograph of Prior, 535 View of Kilcolman Castle, 87 View of the Birthplace of Knox, 303 Portrait of Joseph Addison, 540 Portrait of Michael Drayton, 99 Portrait of Archbishop Spottiswood, 306 Autograph of Addison, 540 Portrait of Sir Henry Wotton, 104 Mumination-Milton Dictating to View of Addison's Walk, Magdalen Monumental Effigy of Dr Donne, 110 his Daughter, 312 College, Oxford, 541 View of Penshurst, 114 Portrait of Abraham Cowley, · 312 View of Holland House, 542 View of Norwich Cathedral, 116 | Autograph of Cowley, 312 Portrait of Jonathan Swift, 545 Portrait of Francis Beaumont, 119 View of the Ilouse of Cowley, - 313 Autograph of Swift, 545 Portrait of George Ilerbert, 131 View of the Poets' Corner, West- View of the Tomb of Swift in DubBust of Robert Herrick, 139 minster Abbey, 323 lin Cathedral, Autograph of Robert Ilerrick, 139 Portrait of Edmund Waller, 325 Portrait of Alexander Pope, 554 View of the Birthplace of Randolph, 145 View of Waller's Tomb, 326 Autograph of Pope, 554 Portrait of Sir William Davenant, 146 Portrait of John Milton, 328 View of Pope's Villa, Twickenham, 655 View of Lethington Castle, 155 View of Ludlow Castle, 329 Portrait of John Gay, 570 View of Logie Kirk, 156 | View of Milton's Cottage at Chal- Autograph of Gay, 570 View of Falkland Palace, 157 font, 330 Portrait of Thomas Parnell, 576 View of the Ilouse of the Earl of Fac-simile of Milton's Second Re- Autograph of Somerville, 580 Stirling, 158 ceipt to Simmons, 330 Urn crected by Shenstone to SomerPortrait of Drummond of HawView of the Remains of Milton's ville, 581 thornden, 158 Ilouse at Forest Hill, 335 Portrait of Allan Ramsay, 582 View of llawthornden, the seat of Portrait of Andrew Marvell, 343 Autograph of Ramsay, Drummond, 159 Portrait of Samuel Butler, 345 View of Ramsay Lodge, 583 Portrait of Buchanan, • 161 View of Rose Street, London, in Portrait of Nicholas Rowe, 590 Autograph of Buchanan, 161 which Butler died, 346 Autograph and Seal of Vanbrugh, 697 View of Gray's Inn Hall, 164 Portrait of John Dryden, 360 Hlumination-Steele Writing the View of Globe Theatre, 165 | Autograph of John Dryden, 360 Tatler in a Coffee- Room, 602 Bust of Shakspeare, 176 View of Burleigh House, 361 Portrait of Sir Richard Steele, 602 Autograph of Shakspeare, 176 Portrait of Thomas Otway, 386 View of Steelo's llouse at Llan. View of the Birthplace of Shak- Illumination-Preacher of the Se gunnor, 605 speare, 177 venteenth Century, 396 Portrait of Daniel Defoe, 617 View of Charlecote House, 178 Portrait of Algernon Sidney, 405 View of Stanton Harcourt, Oxford. Goblet from the Boar's - Head Portrait of Lady Rachel Russell, 407 shire, 638 Tavern, 190 Portrait of Thomas Fuller, 411 | Autograph of Lord Bolingbroke, 646 Portrait of Ben Jonson, 191 View of Old St Bride's Church, 412 Bolingbroke's Monument in BatterAutograph of Ben Jonson, 191 Portrait of Izaak Walton, 415 sca Church, 647 View of Falcon Tavern, 193 View of Walton's Ilouse, . 415 Portrait of Lady Mary Wortley Portrait of Fletcher, 203 Portrait of John Evelyn, 419 Montagu, 650 Portrait of Philip Massinger, • 217 View of the House of Evelyn, 420 Portrait of the Earl of Shaftesbury, 655 Illumination-Raleigh writing in Portrait of Sir Roger L'Estrange, 423 View of Bentley's Seat, in Trinity Prison, 232 Portrait of Dr Isaac Barrow, 428 College Chapel, 660 Portrait of Sir Philip Sidney, 232 Portrait of Archbishop Tillotson, 434 Portrait of Charles Leslie, 667 . . . . CONTENTS OF FIRST VOLUME. . FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO 1400. INTRODUCTION OF NORMAN FRENCH, COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT FORM OF ENGLISH, 4 James I., a Prisoner in Windsor, first sees Lady Jane SPECIMENS OF ANGLO-SAXON AND ENGLISH PREVIOUS Beaufort, who afterwards was his Queen, Extract from the Saxon Chronicle, 1154, Description of a Sylvan Retreat, Extract from the account of the Proceedings at Arthur's The London Lyckpenny, Coronation, given by Layamon, in his translation of ROBERT II ENRYSON, 5 Dinner given by the Town Mouse to the Country Mouse, 38 Extract from a Charter of Henry III., A. D. 1258, in the From the Moral, 39 The Muster for the First Crusade, The Interview of Vortigern with Rowen, the beautiful Tidings fra the Session, 43 8 Of Discretion in Giving and Taking, Fabulous account of the first Highways in England, 8 Gavin DOUGLAS, Extract from the King of Tars, Extract from the Squire of Low Degree, . 10 To Mistress Margaret Iussey, IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS OF CHAUCER, Prisoner in Windsor, he recounteth his Pleasure there 11 Description and Praise of his Love Geraldine, 12 How no age is content with his own estate, and how the Select Characters from the Canterbury Pilgrimage, 15 age of children is the happiest, if they had skill to un- Description of a Poor Country Widow, 18 The Means to attain Ilappy Life, 19 The Lover's lute cannot be blamed, though it sing of his An Ironical Ballad on the Duplicity of Women, 22 The re-cured Lover exulteth in his Freedom, and voweth Last Verses of Chaucer, written on his Death bed, 23 to remain free until Death, 48 23 That Pleasure is mixed with every Pain, The Envious Man and the Miser, 25 Of the Mean and Sure Estate, 26 Directions for Cultivating a IIop-Garden, 26 Moral Reflections on the Wind, 28 A Carinan's Account of a Law-suit, Interview of St Serf with Sathanas, 28 Supplication in Contemption of Side Tails, The Return of King David II. from Captivity, 28 The Building of the Tower of Babel, and Confusion of Adventure of Wallace while fishing in Irvine Water, 29 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES OF THE SECOND PERIOD, 51 30 A Praise of his (the Poet's) Lady, 31 Amantium Iræ Amoris Redintegratio est. By Richard PROSE WRITERS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY, Characteristic of an Englishman. By Andrew Bourd 51 A Mohamedan's Lecture on Christian Vices, The Devil's Head in the Valley Perilous, . . . . . . . 54 CHRISTOPHER MARLOW-JOSHUA SYLVESTER--RICHARD The Deposition of King Vortigern, 55 The Passionate Shepherd to his Love, The Nymph's Reply to the Passionate Shepherd-Raleigh, 84 Scene in the Council-Room of the Protector Gloucester, 58 The Soul's Errand, 58 Address to the Nightingale, Adventure of Una with the Lion, Character and Habits of the Countess of Rlohmond, 64 Wedding of the Medway and the hames, Fable of the Oak and the Briar, The Death of Queen Anne Boleyn, A notable IIistory of William Hunter, a young man of SAMUEL DANIEL, 19 years of age, pursued to death by Justice Brown for From the Epistle to the Countess of Cumberland, 97 70 Selections from Daniel's Sonnets, King Henry's Visits to Wolsey's House, 71 Morning in Warwickshire-Description of a Stag-Hunt, 99 71 Part of the Twenty-Eighth Song of the Polyolbion, 100 The New Maneris and the Auld, of Scottis, 72 Description of Armida and her Enchanted Girdle, 103 Extract from the Complaynt of Scotland, 72 Rinaldo at Mount Olivet and the Enchanted Wood, 103 74 Against Writers that carp at other Men's Books, 104 Passage from Tyndale's Version of the Bible, Passage from Coverdale's Version, 74 To his Mistress, the Queen of Bohemia, 75 A Farewell to the Vanities of the World, 75 The Character of a Happy Life, Simplicity of Style Recommended, 76 Venus's Prophecy after the Death of Adonis, Study should be relieved by Amusement, 76 Selections from Shakspeare's Sonnets, 77 Selections from Shakspeare's Songs, Occupations should be chosen suitable to the Natural SIR JOHN DAVIES, Detached Observations from the Schoolmaster, 78 Reasons for the Soul's Immortality, Qualifications of a Historian, Address to Bishop Valentine, on the Day of the Marriage of the Elector Palatine to the Princess Elizabeth, 110 Valediction-Forbidding Mourning, THE REIGNS OF ELIZABETH, JAMES I., AND A Character from Donne's Satires, Selections from Tall's Satires, Allegorical Characters from the Mirrour for Magistrates, 80 The Sweet Neglect, Henry Duke of Buckingham in the Infernal Regions, 82 Hymn to Diana, Sonnet made on Isabella Markham, Song-(Oh do not wanton with those eyes), BIR WALTER RALEIGH-TIMOTHY KENDAL-NICHOLAS Good Life, Long Life, 114 83 Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke, The Country's Recreations-Raleigh, 84 To Penshurst, 108 . To the Memory of my Beloved Master, William Shak. The Votaress of Diana, speare, and what he hath left us, On the Portrait of Shakspeare, Sir John BEAUMONT-DR HENRY KING, On my dear Son, Gervase Beaumont, Song-(Dry those fair, those crystal eyes), 118 To the Virgins, to make much of their Timo, 119 Twelfth Night, or King and Queen, Song-(Ask me no more where Jove bestows), Song-(Would you know what's soft ? Song-(Give me more love, or more disdain), 121 To Primroses, filled with Morning Dew, Happiness of the Shepherd's Life, Song-(Why should you swear I am forsworn ?) Description of Parthenia, or Chastity, Song-(Amarantha, sweet and fair), The Sorceress of Vain Delight, 124 To Li ta, on going to the Wars, The Companionship of the Muse, To a Lady admiring herself in a Looking-Glass, Madrigal -(Amaryllis I did woo), Song--The lark now leaves his watery nest), Description of the Virgin Birtha, 129 On Phillis, Walking before Sunrise, Temperance, or the Cheap Physician, Song-The Saint's Encouragement, Song-("Tis now, since I sat down before), Song-(I prithee send me back my heart), Song—(Why so pale and wan, fond lover ?) 136 EARL OF ANCRUM-EARL OF STIRLINO, Song-(Hast thou seen the down in the air Sonnet in Praise of a Solitary Life, |