4111856

Edited by

JOHN DENNIS.

"Fortunatus et ille, Deos qui novit agrestes,

Panaque Sylvanumque senem Nymphasque sorores!"

LONDON:

RICHARD BARRETT, PRINTER,

MARK LANE.

EL

Prologue

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Hartley opens his Chaucer—A discussion about Chaucer's Eng-
lish--Mr. Bell's edition-Dryden's imitation of Chaucer's
tales-Chaucer in the fields-His love of Spring, of flowers,
and of early rising-The cheerful character of his poetry—
His residence in cities-Edmund Spenser-The leading
facts of his life-A great Christian poet-Variety of his
powers-One reason for reading the "Faerie Queene”-
Why that poem is considered tedious-Religious literature
-Mr. Craik's Spenser and his poetry-Extracts from the
work-Spenser as a rural poet-The Shepherd's Calendar
-Pope's definition of pastoral poetry-Dr. Johnson's
definition-His Lives of the Poets-Hartley expresses his
dislike of the eclogue Cites the opinion of James Mont-
gomery-The old pastoral obsolete-Modern poets, their
gains and losses

PAGE

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CHAPTER II.

A drive through Exmoor Forest-Shakspeare's dramas deficient

in rural passages-Extracts from his plays-His love of

nature subordinate to higher feelings-His description of

natural objects-His female characters-Collins's opinion of

them, and Sir Walter Scott's-Men of genius not often good

critics-Michael Drayton, his poetry and his fame-A sonnet

-His copiousness contrasted with the fertility of Spenser

-Remarks of Professor Wilson

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