Chambers's Cyclopćdia of English Literature: A History, Critical and ...

"HIS period presents several illustrious names, | any who have appeared since the last_national ment of literature. In poetry, the period was pre- unfailing herald, companion, and follower of the eminently distinguished, and is the only one which awakening of a great people to work a beneficial challenges comparison, in any degree, with the change in opinion or institution, is poetry. At brilliant Elizabethan age. In fiction, or imagina- such periods there is an accumulation of the tive invention, the name of Scott is inferior only power of communicating and receiving intense to that of Shakspeare ; in criticism, a new era and impassioned conceptions respecting man and may be dated from the establishment of the nature. The persons in whom this power resides Edinburgh Review; and in historical composi- may often, as far as regards many portions of tion, if we have no Hume or Gibbon, we have the their nature, have little apparent correspondence results of valuable and diligent research. Truth with that spirit of good of which they are the and nature have been more truly and devoutly ministers. But even whilst they deny and abjure, worshipped, and real excellencé more highly they are yet compelled to serve the power which prized." It has been feared by some that the is seated on the throne of their own soul. It is principle of utility, which is recognised as one of impossible to read the compositions of the most the features of the present age, and the progress celebrated writers of the present day, without of mechanical knowledge, would be fatal to the being startled with the electric life which burns higher efforts of imagination, and diminish the within their words. They measure the circumterritories of the poet. This seems a groundless ference and sound the depths of human nature fear. It did not damp the ardour of Scott or with a comprehensive and all-penetrating spirit, Byron, or the fancy of Moore, and it has not pre- and they are themselves perhaps the most sinvented the poetry of Wordsworth from gradually cerely astonished at its manifestations, for it is working its way into public favour. If we have less their spirit than the spirit of the age. Poets not the chivalry and romance of the Elizabethan are the hierophants of an unapprehended inspiraage, we have the ever-living passions of human tion; the mirrors of the gigantic shadows which nature and the wide theatre of the world, now futurity casts upon the present; the words which accurately known and discriminated, as a field for express what they understand not; the trumpets the exercise of genius. We have the benefit of all which sing to battle, and feel not what they past knowledge and literature to exalt our stand- inspire; the influence which is moved not, but ard of imitation and taste, and a more sure reward moves. Poets are the unacknowledged legislators in the encouragement and applause of a populous of the world.? and enlightened nation. “The literature of England,' says Shelley,'has arisen, as it were, from

SIR WILLIAM JONES. a new birth. In spite of the low-thoughted envy It is not Sir William Jones's poetry,' says which would undervalue contemporary merit, our Southey, that can perpetuate his name. This own will be a memorable age in intellectual is true: it was as an oriental scholar and judge, achievements, and we live among such philos. an enlightened lawyer and patriot, that he earned ophers and poets as surpass beyond comparison his laurels. His varied learning and philological

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Chambers's Cyclopćdia of English Literature: A History, Critical ..., Volume 2