ROBERT CHAMBERS, IN TWO VOLUMES: VOL. I. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY GOULD, KENDALL AND LINCOLN, NO. 59 WASHINGTON STREET. 1847. PREFACE. This work originated in a desire, on the part of the Publishers, to supply what they considered a deficiency 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 Eng. land. 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 dorg enjoying popularity as a selection of polite literature for youths between school and college,"baş of tate-years súrk 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 eight çerdh century, overlooking even the great names of Chaucer and Spenser, as well as nearly the whole dange-of-rich, though not faultless productions extending between the times of Shakspeare and Dryden., The riore seemed to have come for a substitute work, in which at once the revived taste for our early litterature slioułu bé ğrašified, 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 throughout the Cyclopædia of English Literature, and particularly in the poetical department, by Mr Robert Carruthers of Inverness. EDINBURGH, August 15, 1843. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. . Page Page Illumination-Monk writing, 1 Autograph of Sir Philip Sidney, 434 232 View of St Lawrence Church, Chair of Bede, 3 Portrait of Richard looker, 441 235 Portrait of Dr Robert South, 8 Portrait of Lord Bacon, Illumination-a Minstrel, 441 239 View of Islip Church, Portrait of Chaucer, 12 Autograph of Bacon, 454 239 Portrait of Richard Baxter, 14 241 Monument of Bacon, Chaucer's Tomb, 461 View of Ury House, Tabard Inn, Southwark, 14 Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh, 466 244 Portrait of John Bunyan, Portrait of Gower, 24 Autograph of Raleigh, 467 244 View of the Birthplace of Bunyan, 25 Cathedral of Aberdeen, View of Hayes Farm, the Birth place 475 Portrait of Lord Clarendon, View of Lochleven, 28 of Raleigh, 244 View of Dunkirk Ilouse, the London 35 Portrait of Wickliffe, Stow's Monument in the church of 476 residence of Lord Clarendon, 35 249 Portrait of Gilbert Burnet, St Andrew under Shaft, London, Chair of Wickliffe, 486 Portrait of James Howell, 255 Portrait of Sir William Temple, 501 Illumination-Early Printing-Office, 36 Portrait of James I. of Scotland, 36 | Autograph of Howell, 508 256 Portrait of John Locke, 44 View of Dunkeld Cathedral, Portrait of William Camden, 508 202 Autograph of Locke, Portrait of Howard, Earl of Surrey, 46 | Autograph of Camden, 509 262 View of the Birthplace of Locke, 49 Portrait of Sir David Lyndsay, Portrait of Thomas May, 510 264 Seal of Locke, 55 Portrait of William Caxton, Portrait of Thomas Hobbes, 266 Portrait of the Ilonourable Robert 69 272 Portrait of Robert Burton, Portrait of Sir Thomas More, Boyle, 516 59 Tomb of Burton, Autograph of Sir Thomas More, 521 274 Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, 69 Bust of John Leland, Portrait of John Selden, 521 282 View of the Birth place of Newton, Portrait of William Tyndale, 73 Autograph of Selden, 282 Portrait of Thomas Rymer, 527 Portrait of Sir John Cheke, 74 View of the House of Selden, 530 283 Portrait of Sir George Mackenzie, 285 76 Portrait of Archbishop Usher, Monument of Sir George Mackenzie, Autograph of Roger Ascham, Portrait of William Chillingworth, 285 Illumination-Spenser introduced Greyfriars Church yard, Edinburgh, 539 by Sydney to Elizabeth, 79 Portrait of Jeremy Taylor, 290 | Illumination-Rape of the Lock, 80 Portrait of Sir Thomas Browne, Portrait of Thomas Sackville, 535 298 | Portrait of Matthew Prior, 86 Portrait of Edmund Spenser, Portrait of John Knox, 5:35 303 Autograph of Prior, 87 303 View of the Birthplace of Knox, Portrait of Joseph Addison, View of Kilcolinan Castle, 540 99 Portrait of Michael Drayton, 540 Portrait of Archbishop Spottiswood, 306 Autograph of Addison, 104 Portrait of Sir Henry Wotton, Illumination-Milton Dictating to View of Addison's Walk, Magdalen 110 312 his Daughter, Monumental Effigy of Dr Donne, 541 College, Oxford, 114 312 Portrait of Abraham Cowley, View of Holland House, View of Peashurst, 542 312 116 | Autograph of Cowley, View of Norwich Cathedral, 545 Portrait of Jonathan Swift, 119 313 View of the Ilouse of Cowley, • Portrait of Francis Beaumont, 545 Autograph of Swift, 131 Portrait of George Herbert, View of the Tomb of Swift in DubView of the Poets' Corner, West 139 Bust of Robert Herrick, minster Abbey, 547 lin Cathedral, 325 139 Portrait of Edmund Waller, Autograph of Robert llerrick, 554 Portrait of Alexander Pope, 326 554 Autograph of Pope, Portrait of Sir William Davenant, 146 Portrait of John Milton, 328 View of Pope's Villa, Twickenham, 553 View of Lethington Castle, 155 View of Ludlow Castle, 329 Portrait of Jolin 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 Fac-simile of Milton's Second ReView of the llouse of the Earl of 580 Autograph of Somerville, 158 Stirling, 330 ceipt to Simmons, Urn erected by Shenstone to SomerView of the Remains of Milton's Portrait of Drummond of Haw ville, 581 158 Ilouse at Forest Ilill, 335 thornden :::: Portrait of Allan Ramsay, View of llanthonden; the seatof. Hordait of Andrew Marvell, 582 343 Autograph of Ramsay, Drummond, 1591 Portrait of Samuel Butler, 345 View of Ramsay Lodge, 583 Portrait of Buchanaa,161 | View of Rose Street, London, in 590 Portrait of Nicholas Rowe, Autograph of Buchagan, 1610 which Butler died, 346 Autograph and Seal of Vanbrugh, 597 View of Gray's Ini llall; 16+ Portrait of John Dryden, 300 Mlumination--Steele Writing the View of Globe Thentio, 165 Autograph of John Dryden, 360 Tatler in a Coffee-Room, 602 Bust of Shakspeare, 576 View of Burleigh House, 361 Portrait of Sir Richard Steele, 602 Autograph of Shakspěxtre, 376 Portrait of Thomas Otway, 386 View of Steele's llouse at LlanView of the Birthplace of Shak. Illumination-Preacher of the Se gunnor, 605 177 speare, venteenth Century, 617 396 Portrait of Daniel Defoe, 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, Tavern, 190 Portrait of Thomas Fuller, 411 | Autograph of Lord Boling broke, 646 Portrait of Ben Jonson, 191 View of Old St Bride's Church, 412 Boling broke's Monument in BatterAutograph of Ben Jonson, 191 Portrait of Izaak Walton, 415 647 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 llouse of Evelyn, 420 Portrait of the Earl of Shaftesbury, 656 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, 680 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, COUNENCENENT OF THE PRESENT FORM OF ENGLISH, James I, a Prisoner in Windsor, first sees Lady Jane Beaufort, who afterwards was his Queen, SPECIMENS OF ANGLO-SAXON and English Previous Extract from the Saxon Chronicle, 1154, 5 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 DENRYSON, 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, The Moster for the First Crusade, The Interview of Vortigern with Rowen, the beautiful Tidings fra the Session, Of Discretion in Giving and Taking, Fabulous account of the first Ilighways in England, Extract from the King of Tars, Extract from the Squire of Low Degree, IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS OF CHAUCER, Prisoner in Windsor, he recounteth his Pleasure there 11 Description and Praise of his Love Geraldine, How no age is content with his own estate, and how the Select Characters from the Canterbury Pilgrimage, age of children is the happiest, if they had skill to un- Description of a Poor Country Widow, The Means to attain Happy Life, The Lover's lute cannot be blamed, though it sing of his 22 An Ironical Ballad on the Duplicity of Women, The re-cured Lover exulteth in his Freedom, and voweth Last Verses of Chaucer, written on his Deathbed, That Pleasure is mixed with every Pain, The Envious Man and the Miser, Directions for Cultivating a Hop-Garden, 26 Moral Reflections on the Wind, A Carman's Account of a Law-suit, Interview of St Sert with Sathanas, Supplication in Contemption of Side Tails, Tbe Return of King David II. from Captivity, The Building of the Tower of Babel, and Confusion of 29 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES OF THE SECOND PERIOD, 51 A Praise of his (the Poet'sı Lady, 31 Amantium Iræ Amoris Redintegratio est. By Richard PROSE WRITERS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. Characteristic of an Englishman. By Andrew Bourd SIR JORX MANDRVILLE, 32 A Mohamedan's Lecture on Christian Vices, The Devil's Head in the Valley Perilous, 1 |
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