Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

or in criticising the merits of Boiardo and Ariosto, as the cha'racters of Henry VIII. and Cromwell."

After inspecting the remaining volumes of Mr. Hallam's work, we do not feel disposed to withdraw one particle of the praise we bestowed on the first. In some respects, indeed our admiration is increased by the manner in which he has completed his task. While the rapid accumulation of materials, as he descended the stream of ages, rendered his work incomparably more difficult, he has shown himself fully equal to its exigencies. It may at first sight be thought, that, as he navigated his vessel out of the narrow straits and tortuous creeks of early European literature, and launched forth on the bosom of wider waters, his course would be more easy, and his perplexities rapidly diminish. In some respects this conjecture would undoubtedly be well founded; but the advantages derived from this exchange are, we apprehend, rather apparent than real; and are more than counterbalanced by other considerations. If, as he proceeded, research became less difficult, it was necessary that it should be far more extensive; if materials were more accessible, they were also prodigiously increased in quantity; if investigations became less tedious, they must needs be also more enlarged and profound; if the authors were less obscure, and their writings less dry and uncouth, the importance and variety of their works demanded a more deliberate and subtle examination. To criticise them in a philosophical manner, and yet to compress all that was to be said within a few pages, required no ordinary skill. In a word (and to recur to the metaphor with which we set out above), if the navigation in these latter volumes has become less difficult and tedious, that advantage is more than outweighed by the extent of the voyage and the novel dangers of the deep.

As we think the last three volumes fully entitled to the commendation we bestowed upon the first, we shall say no more on the general merits of this truly great work, or on those of its author. Referring our readers for a more full expression of our opinions and feelings to the review already mentioned, we shall content ourselves with giving a brief abstract of the voluminous contents of the second, third, and fourth volumes, and then justify our praise by a few extracts.

In general, it may be said, that the perusal of these volumes will prove far more interesting to the bulk of readers than the first possibly could. How indeed can it be otherwise? In these volumes, we come to those periods in the history of European literature, which may justly be called its epochs, and which are at the same time epochs in the history of the mind of the species. In gorgeous and imposing procession, all those mighty minds pass before us, which have been the great instruments of instruction and delight-the objects of universal veneration and

wonder to all succeeding ages; the great luminaries of science and philosophy, of poetry and eloquence, of learning and criticism-Bacon, Galileo, Des Cartes, Locke, Grotius, Jeremy Taylor, Barrow, Shakspeare, Milton, Tasso; and a host of others, who, if secondary, are secondary only as compared with these. By the way, we may here just remark, that we have been particularly struck with the nice sense of proportion-of the relative importance of the authors whose merits are discussed-of the space they occupy in the public eye, and the influence they have exerted on literature, which Mr. Hallam has evinced, and according to which he has determined the extent of disquisition and criticism, he has allotted to each. By this we do not mean, of course, that there has been as much said upon the character and works of each author as would be demanded, if he alone were the subject of criticism; for many of the above-mentioned names would require each a volume to do them justice, and, we may add, have often had it without getting justice even then. But we mean, that the space allotted to them is always admirably proportioned to their importance, viewed in relation to the limits of the work. All the criticisms are reduced to the same scale; it is a scale of proportionate parts. But though the space allotted to each name, however great, is necessarily small, many of the criticisms are expressed with such weighty and pregnant brevity -with such condensation both of thought and expression-with such a cautious abstinence from vain repetitions and superfluous epithets, that they convey far more than many a fluent disquisition of ten times the bulk. Indeed it is one of the most singular and felicitous peculiarities of our author, that he can express himself worthily on a great subject within a very moderate compass; can be concise, yet give us something more than a few vague or obvious generalities. This is an admirable art, and of very rare attainment. Indeed, we were not without some apprehensions, we must confess, that when Mr. Hallam came to the names of Bacon, Locke, Milton, Shakspeare, and others like them, even he would fail. Our satisfaction at his success has been proportionate to our fears of his failure. Many of the critical disquisitions on celebrated writers are not only far more ample than could be reasonably expected, considering the limits of the work in which they appear, but would be considered masterly sketches anywhere. The criticisms on Bacon and Shakspeare, besides many incidental notices of these great men in other parts of the work, extend, the one to sixty-two pages, the other to nearly forty; that of Grotius (De Jure Belli et Pacis), occupies sixty pages; Hobbes has thirty-seven pages, and Descartes forty.

We now proceed to give a brief analysis, chapter by chapter (we shall take no notice of sections), of the principal contents of

these three deeply interesting volumes; in fact we shall do with them just as we formerly did of the first.

The second volume is divided into eight chapters, and embraces the latter half of the sixteenth century; that is, from 1550 to 1600.

[ocr errors]

The first chapter contains the history of Ancient Literature' during this period, and relates the progress which was made in the study and elucidation of classical authors. Here the characters and critical labors of many of the greatest scholars, philologists, and antiquaries which Europe has ever produced come under review; amongst the rest, Muretus, Gruterus, Lipsius, HENRY STEPHENS, Scapula, Sanctius, Buchanan, JOSEPH SCALIGER, Isaac Casaubon, Saville. This chapter of course includes the history (deeply interesting to a large class of readers) of the first editions of the classics, and of the compilation of the earliest grammars and lexicons.

The second chapter contains the History of Theological Literature in Europe' during this period, and is occupied with the progress of Protestantism after the diet of Augsburg, 1556; the reaction of Catholicism, with the history of the Jesuits, their colleges, and the tremendous and to a great extent successful efforts they made to restore the balance of power; the rise and progress of the various religious controversies maintained either between the two great parties, or between the sects into which they were divided. This chapter includes an admirable sketch of the great champion of Rome, Bellarmin.

[ocr errors]

The third chapter contains the History of Speculative Philosophy' during this period, and is occupied with an account of the state of the scholastic philosophy, and of those now obscure writers who ushered in the dawn of a brighter day in this department of science. The principal works reviewed here are those of Bruno, the Principles of Nizolius, and the 'Logic' of Ramus.

6

The fourth chapter relates the history of Moral and Political Philosophy, and of Jurisprudence. The chief works noticed, are the Ecclesiastical Polity of Hooker, so far as his Theory of Natural Law' is concerned; the Essays of Montaigne, of whom a delightful sketch is given; the Essays of Bacon; Buchanan's De Jure Regni ;' an extensive analysis is also given of the Republic' of Bodin. This chapter contains some powerful and philosophical remarks on the 'spirit generated by the oppression of the governments of this period,' and on the discussions respecting politics and law, to which it naturally gave rise.

The fifth chapter contains the history of Poetry, and is rich in literary information and criticism. It comprises a review, amongst many others, of Tasso, of whom there is a very spirited sketch, though if any thing rather too favorable; of Camoens and his

Lusiad; of Sackville; of Spenser, to whose Faery Queen ten pages are worthily devoted; of Chapman, Marston, Hall, and Donne. These notices are interspersed with many valuable observations on matters connected with diction and metre; on the history of the early translations from the classics; on the Scots and English ballads; and on the state of Latin poetry during this period.

The sixth chapter embraces the history of Dramatic Literature. It opens with an account of the Italian and Spanish drama, and contains criticisms on Tasso, Lope de Vega (of whom a full account is given), and Cervantes. It then passes on to the early English drama; and after a rapid review of inferior writers, closes with a compressed but philosophical and profound critique on the early plays of Shakspeare.

The seventh chapter contains the history of Polite Literature in prose, during the above-mentioned period. Here Tasso again passes under review in treating of the Italian writers, and Montaigne in treating of the French. Amongst the English writers, and those viewed principally with reference to style, are Ascham, Sydney, and Hooker. This chapter contains many valuable remarks on the state of the language and the chief peculiarities which then prevailed in diction and style, together with an account of the rise and progress of poetical criticism and rhetoric amongst us. The merits of the earliest works on both these subjects are ably discussed. In particular, there is a very full account of Scaliger's once celebrated Poetics.

The eighth chapter is taken up with the history of Physical and Miscellaneous Literature. The principal names in natural philosophy, are those of Copernicus and Tycho Brahe. There is also a full account of the state of optics, mechanics, natural history, botany, medicine, and anatomy, and of the precious additions which were made during this period in all these departments. The miscellaneous' matter contains discussions on many subjects amongst the most interesting which can be found in any literary history: as for example, the rise and progress of universities and academies, of literary and antiquarian societies, the state of literary correspondence, the earliest bibliographical works, and the condition of the press.

The third volume extends from 1600 to 1650, and is divided into seven chapters.

The first is taken up with the history of Ancient Literature. Here Casaubon, Viger, Salmasius, Saville, Grotius, Scioppius, Vossius, Claverius, and a host of other voluminous contributors to classical criticism, philology, and antiquities, are subjected to a rapid and succinct, but perspicuous and discriminating criticism. The second chapter is on Theological Literature' during this period. We need only mention the names of Father Paul

[ocr errors]

Sarpi, Perron, Daillé, Grotius, Chillingworth, Hales, Usher, Jeremy Taylor, Hall, Donne, and Lord Herbert, in order to show that this must prove to theological readers one of the most interesting in the whole work. Nor is this all; it contains notices as usual of all the most important controversies of the period, as well as remarks on the state of sacred criticism, on the English commentators, on the style of preaching, and on the character of English sermons.

The third chapter is by far the most important and interesting in this volume. After a few remarks on the state of the scholastic philosophy, on the methods of the universities,' on Campanella, on Jacob Behmen, Lord Herbert's De Veritate, and Gassendi's Defence of Epicurus, our author commences his eminently beautiful and comprehensive critique on the character, genius, and writings of Lord Bacon, to whom not less than sixty pages are devoted. This is followed by a scarcely less elaborate review of Descartes, and this again by another of very considerable merit on the Philosophy of Hobbes.

The fourth chapter contains the history of Moral and Political Philosophy, and of Jurisprudence. Our author commences it by some remarks on casuistry, on the attention which was paid at this period to this species of literature, and on the causes of it. He then proceeds to notice Suarez De Legibus, and the English casuists, Perkins and Hall. Then follow notices of Selden De Jure Naturali juxta Hebræos; of Hobbes' political writings; and above all, a very long and able critique on Grotius' great work, De Jure Belli et Pacis. This chapter contains some brief notices of Bacon's Essays, Feltham's Resolves, Browne's Religio Medici, Selden's Table Talk, and several other works of minor impor

tance.

The fifth chapter contains the history of Poetry. After a rapid review of Italian, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and Danish poetry, which do not present during this period very much of interest, he comes to the English poets, who appeared in great numbers, and furnish some names of great merit. The principal which attract the eye of the reader here, are Phineas and Giles Fletcher, Brooke, Denham, Crashaw, Cowley, Beaumont, Ben Jonson, Wither, Suckling, Lovelace, Herrick; the early poems of Milton, are also noticed. To the last poet on whom a brief though splendid eulogy is pronounced, but whose great work had not yet been published, a more lengthened criticism is devoted in the next volume.

The sixth chapter resumes the history of Dramatic Literature. The names of Calderon and of Corneille are the principal ones in the former part of the chapter; of the character and principal productions of the latter a very full and detailed account is given. Our author then proceeds to the English theatre, and

« ElőzőTovább »