History of English literature, tr. by H. van Laun

CONTENTS.·

I.

BOOK II. THE RENAISSANCE.

CHAPTER III.

Ben Jonson.

The masters of the school, in the school and in their

age-Jonson-His mood-Character-Educa-

tion-First efforts-Struggles-Poverty-Sick-

ness-Death

1. Learning-Classical tastes-Didactic characters-

Good management of his plots-Freedom and

precision of his style-Vigour of his will and

passion

III. Dramas-Catiline and Sejanus-How he was able

to depict the personages and the passions of the

IV. Comedies-His reformation and theory of the theatre
Satirical comedies - Volpone — Why these
comedies are serious and warlike-How they
depict the passions of the Renaissance-His
farces-The Silent Woman-Why these comedies
are energetic and rude-How they conform with
the tastes of the Renaissance

V.

Limits of his talent-Wherein he is inferior to
Molière-Want of higher philosophy and comic

21

gaiety-His imagination and Fancy-The Staple

of News and Cynthia's Revels-How he treats the

comedy of society, and lyrical comedy-His

smaller poems-His masques-Theatrical and

picturesque manners of the court - The Sad

Shepherd-How Jonson remains a poet to his

VI. General idea of Shakspeare-The fundamental idea

in Shakspeare-Conditions of human reason—

Shakspeare's master faculty-Conditions of exact

Life and character of Shakspeare-Family-Youth

-Marriage He becomes an actor-Adonis—

Sonnets - Loves - Humour - Conversation -

Melancholy-The constitution of the productive

and sympathetic character-Prudence-Fortune

-Retirement

II. Style-Images-Excesses-Incongruities-Copious-

Difference between the creative and

analytic conception

ness

III. Manners-Familiar intercourse-Violent bearing-

Harsh language-Conversation and action-

Agreement of manners and style

IV. The dramatis persona-All of the same family-Brutes

and idiots-Caliban, Ajax, Cloten, Polonius, the

Nurse-How the mechanical imagination can

precede or survive reason

V.

Men of wit-Difference between the wit of reasoners

and of artists-Mercutio, Beatrice, Rosalind,

Benedict, the clowns-Falstaff

74

83

90

VI. Women-Desdemona, Virginia, Juliet, Miranda,
Imogen, Cordelia, Ophelia, Volumnia-How
Shakspeare represents love-Why he bases virtue
on instinct or passion

VII. Villains-Iago, Richard III.-How excessive lusts
and the lack of conscience are the natural pro-
vince of the impassioned imagination

VIII. Principal characters-Excess and disease of the

imagination-Lear, Othello, Cleopatra, Corio-

lanus, Macbeth, Hamlet-Comparison of Shak-

speare's psychology with that of the French

IX. Fancy-Agreement of imagination with observation

in Shakspeare-Interesting nature of sentimental

and romantic comedy-As you like it—Idea of

existence-Midsummer Night's Dream-Idea of

love-Harmony of all parts of the work—

Harmony between the artist and his work

The Christian Renaissance.

Vices of the Pagan Renaissance-Decay of the

Southern civilisations

The Reformation-Aptitude of the Germanic races,
and suitability of Northern climates-Albert
Durer's bodies and souls-His martyrdoms and
last judgments-Luther-His idea of justice-
Construction of Protestantism-Crisis of the
conscience-Renewal of heart-Suppression of
ceremonies-Transformation of the clergy
III. Reformation in England-Tyranny of the ecclesias-
tical courts-Disorders of the clergy-Irritation
of the people-The interior of a diocese-Perse-

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cutions and convulsions-The translation of the

Bible-How biblical events and Hebraic senti-

ments are in accordance with contemporary

manners and with the English character-The

Prayer Book-Moral and manly feeling of the

prayers and church service-Preaching-Latimer

-His education-Character-Familiar and per-

suasive eloquence-Death-The martyrs under

Mary-England thenceforth Protestant . 158

IV. The Anglicans-Close connection between religion
and society-How the religious sentiment pene-
trates literature-How the sentiment of the
beautiful subsists in religion - Hooker-His
breadth of mind and the fulness of his style-
Hales and Chillingworth-Praise of reason and
tolerance-Jeremy Taylor - His learning, im-
agination, and poetic feeling

V.

The Puritans-Opposition of religion and the world

-Dogmas-Morality-Scruples-Their triumph

and enthusiasm Their work and practical

sense

VI. Bunyan-His life, spirit, and poetical work-The

Prospect of Protestantism in England