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CONTENTS.

I.

BOOK III.-THE CLASSIC AGE.

CHAPTER II.

Dryden.

1. Dryden's beginnings-Close of the poetic age-

Cause of literary decline and regeneration

II. Family- Education-Studies Reading. Habits

III.

-

Audience

ships-Quarrels-Harmony of his life and talent

The theatres re-opened and transformed-The new
public and the new taste-Dramatic theories of
Dryden-His judgment of the old English
theatre-His judgment of the new French
theatre-Composite works-Incongruities of his
drama-Tyrannic Love-Grossness of his charac-
ters—The Indian Emperor, Aureng-zebe, Almanzor
IV. Style of his drama Rhymed verse Flowery
diction-Pedantic tirades-Want of agreement
between the classical style and romantic events
-How Dryden borrows and mars the inventions

of Shakspeare and Milton-Why this drama fell

to the ground

-

v. Merits of this drama-Characters of Antony and

Don Sebastian-Otway-Life-Works

VI.

Dryden as a writer-Kind, scope, and limits of his

mind-Clumsiness in flattery and obscenity-

Heaviness in dissertation and discussion-Vigour

and fundamental uprightness .

VII. How literature in England is occupied with politics

and religion-Political poems of Dryden, Absalom

and Achitophel, The Medal-Religious poems,

Religio Laici, The Hind and the Panther-Bitter-

ness and virulence of these poems-Mac Flecknoe

VIII. Rise of the art of writing-Difference between the

stamp of mind of the artistic and classic ages-

Dryden's manner of writing-Sustained and

oratorical diction .

Lack of general ideas in this age and this stamp of

mind Dryden's translations-Adaptations-

Imitations-Tales and letters-Faults-Merits

--Gravity of his character, brilliancy of his

inspiration, fits and starts of poetic eloquence-

Alexander's Feast, a song in honour of St. Cecilia's

Day

IX.

PAGE

43

51

59

62

X.

Dryden's latter days-Wretchedness-Poverty --

Wherein his work is incomplete-Death.

L

II.

CHAPTER III.

The Revolution.

The moral revolution of the seventeenth century-

It advances side by side with the political

revolution

.

Brutality of the people-Gin Riots-Corruption of
the great-Political manners-Treachery under
William III. and Anne-Venality under Walpole
and Bute Private manners--The roysterers-

73

The atheists-Chesterfield's Letters-His polish

and morality-Gay's Beggars' Opera-His elegance

and satire

III. Principles of civilisation in France and England——

Conversation in France; how it ends in a revolu-

tion-Moral sense in England; how it ends in a

reformation

IV.

V.

Religion-Visible signs-Its profound sentiment

-Religion popular-Lifelike-Arians-Metho-

dists

The pulpit-Mediocrity and efficacy of preaching-
Tillotson-His heaviness and solidity-Barrow
-His abundance and minuteness-South-His

harshness and energy-Comparison of French

and English preachers

The

VI. Theology-Comparison of the French and English.

apologetics Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Clarke-

Theology not speculative but moral

greatest minds are on the side of Christianity—

Impotence of speculative philosophy-Berkeley,

Newton, Locke, Hume, Reid-Development of

moral philosophy-Smith, Price, Hutcheson

VII. The Constitution-Sentiment of right-Locke's

Essay on Government-Theory of personal right

accepted—Maintained by temperament, pride,

and interest-Theory of personal right applied-

Put in practice by elections, the press, the

tribunals

vi. Parliamentary eloquence-Its energy and harshness

-Lord Chatham-Junius-Fox-Sheridan

Pitt-Burke.

IX.

Issue of the century's labours-Economic and moral
transformation-Comparison of Reynolds' and
Lely's portraits-Contrary doctrines and ten-

dencies in France and England-Revolutionists
and Conservatives-Judgment of Burke and the
English people on the French revolution.

CHAPTER IV.

Addison.

PAGE

140

I.

Addison and Swift in their epoch-Wherein they are

II. The man-Education and culture-Latin verses-

Voyage in France and Italy-Letter from Italy to

Lord Halifax-Remarks on Italy-Dialogues on

Medals-Campaign-Gentleness and kindness-

Success and happiness

UI. Gravity and rationality-Solid studies and exact
observation-His knowledge of men and business
habits-Nobility of his character and conduct—
Elevation of his morality and religion-How his
life and character have contributed to the pleasant-
ness and usefulness of his writings
IV. The moralist-His essays are all moral-Against
gross, sensual, or worldly life-This morality is
practical, and yet commonplace and desultory-
How it relies on reason and calculation-How it
has for its end satisfaction in this world and
happiness in the other-Speculative meanness of
his religious conception-Practical excellence of
his religious conception.

v. The literary man-Harmony of morality and elegance

-The style that suits men of the world-Merits

of this style-Inconveniences-Addison as a

critic-His judgment of Paradise Lost-Agree-

151

158

163