PREFACE. THE present work, the first of its kind in Great Britain, was originally published in 1843. It was designed and commenced by the late Dr ROBERT CHAMBERS-always zealous and indefatigable, as he was successful, in the promotion of literature and public improvement. The work was undertaken for the purpose of supplying what was considered a deficiency in the literature addressed at that time to the great body of the people—namely, a chronological series of extracts from our national authors —a concentration of the best productions of English intellect, from Anglo-Saxon to recent times, set, as it were, in a popular biographical history of our literature. Great efforts had previously been made for the diffusion of useful knowledge, and for popularising scientific information; but there was no work, at once cheap and comprehensive, which sought to bring the treasures of imaginative and historical literature within the reach of the busy mercantile and industrial classes of society. This CYCLOPÆDIA, which aimed at supplying the want, was received with great favour, both in this country and in America. Gratifying proofs of its usefulness have been received from various quarters and from numerous readers, who have acknowledged that their earliest love of literature, and their veneration for our great authors from CHAUCER to WORDSWORTH, were first called forth by the successive monthly parts of this work. After the lapse of fifteen years, during which literature and literary information had greatly increased, a Second Edition of the CYCLOPÆDIA was issued, bringing it down to the year 1858. This edition also was highly successful. A further interval of eighteen years having taken place, a Third Edition is now offered to the public, carefully revised, continuing the extracts and biographical notices to the present time. One distinguishing feature of this period has been the advance in American literature. The New World has nobly vindicated its claim to be associated with the Old in the arts which dignify and adorn social life; and there only wants an international law of copyright to completely assimilate and do equal justice to British and American authors. It would have been impossible to have rendered the present work as complete as it now appears, without the sanction of living authors and publishers, proprietors of copyrights; and the great liberality and courtesy with which permission to make extracts has been granted, demands the grateful acknowledgments of the Editor and Publishers. It remains to be added that, for the revision of the second and third editions of the work, we have been indebted to ROBERT CARRUTHERS, LL.D., of Inverness, whose excellent literary knowledge and taste are conspicuously observable in the present improved edition. W. & R. C. EDINBURGH, March 1876. CONTENTS OF FIRST VOLUME. FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO 1400 A.D. ENGLISH LANGUAGE-THE GAEL AND CYMRY. Extracts from BEOWULF and JUDITH Extracts from Cædmon's Creation ALFRED THE GREAT (with Extracts).. ALFRIC, CANUTE, THE SAXON CHRONICLE. ODE ON THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH ANGLO-NORMAN OR SEMI-SAXON WRITERS.. WACE, LAYAMON, &c. (with Extracts). SONG, 'Summer is Coming in'-Squire of Low Degree.. ANDREW WYNTOUN (died after 1420).. Macbeth and the Weird Sisters.. St Serf and Satan.... JOHN FORDUN (died about 1385). SIR JOHN DE MANDEVILLE (circa 1300-1372).. The Beginning of Mohammed.. Lecture on Christian Vices PAGE JOHN DE TREVISA (translator, 1387) JOHN WYCLIFFE (1324-1384). Gospel of St Mark, chap. i..... The Magnificat... The Mendicant Friars. ...... Interview of Vortigern with Rowen LAWRENCE MINOT, RICHARD ROLLE, WILLIAM LANGLAND 10 How Edward the King came to Brabant Extracts from Piers the Plowman GEOFFREY CHAUCER (died in 1400). Opening of the Canterbury Tales. The Knight, the Squire, the Prioress The Monk, Friar, Franklin, Wife of Bath, Poor Parson On Gathering and Using Riches.. JOHN GOWER (circa 1325—1408).. Oldest Fragment of Scottish Poetry JOHN BARBOUR (circa 1316-1395).. 1400-1558: HENRY IV. TO QUEEN ELIZABETH. THOMAS OCCLEVE (circa 1370-1454) Specimen of More's Juvenile Poetry, note Epigram of a New-married Student, note.. Sheep-masters Decayers of Husbandry. The Utopian Idea of Pleasure... BISHOP JOHN FISHER (1459-1535). Habits of a Pious Lady of Rank. SIR THOMAS ELYOT (circa 1495-1546). BISHOP LATIMER (circa 1485-1555). Germany made a Mingle-mangle of their Religion. Bishop Latimer gives place to Robin Hood's men Goodwin Sands and Tenderden Steeple..... The Devil the most Diligent Preacher...... JOHN LELAND (circa 1506-1552), and GEORGE CAVENDISH (circa 1500-1562).. King Henry's Visits to Wolsey's House LORD BERNERS (circa 1474—1532).. The Magnificat and Lord's Prayer.. Part of St Matthew's Gospel... Passage from Book of Genesis.. ARTHUR BROOKE (died about 1563). The Nurse to Romeus.. 64 65 65 66 Epistle to the Countess of Cumberland.. Richard II. the Morning before his Murder. Early Love....... The Queen of the Fairies visiting Pigwiggen. EDWARD FAIRFAX (died after 1631)... Armida and her Enchanted Girdle. SIR JOHN HARRINGTON (circa 1561—1612). Epigrams: Of Treason, Of Fortune, &c. WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE (1564-1616).. Reasons for the Soul's Immortality.. EDWARD VERE, EARL OF OXFORD (circa 1540-1604). SIR EDWARD DYER (circa 1540—1607).. THOMAS STORER (died in 1604).. 1558-1625: THE REIGNS OF ELIZABETH AND JAMES I. THOMAS SACKVville, Lord BUCKHURST (1527-1608)... Characters from the Mirror for Magistrates.. .......... 73 73 75 ... 75 75 75 75 76 76 76 76 77 77 77 78 81 82 82 83 83 84 84 86 86 86 86 87 87 Satan's Temptation of Eve..... Morning-The Sun-Plurality of Worlds. Raleigh's Verses before his Execution. Passions are likened best to Floods and Streams. 89 89 JOHN MARSTON (died about 1634), THOMAS CHURCHYARD Sonnets by THOMAS WATSON... THOMAS LODGE (circa 1555-1625), and RICHARD Barnfield CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE (1564-1593), and SIR WALTER .107 JOHN HEYWOOD (died in 1565), and BISHOP BALE (1495 THOMAS NASH (circa 1564—1600). ROBERT GREENE (circa 1560-1592) Sephestia's Song to her Child.. The Shepherd and his Wife..... THOMAS LODGE (circa 1555-1625).. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE (1564-1593). Scene from Arden of Feversham... WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE (1564-1616). Garden Scene in Romeo and Juliet.. Mark Antony over Cæsar's Body. The Nobles remonstrate with Edward II. ANTHONY MUNDAY (1554-1633), and HENRY CHETTLE (died .....141 .....141 PAGE ..132 .133 .134 .134 ..135 .135 ..135 ..136 ..136 Picture of Court-life.. JOHN WEBSTER (early half of 17th century).. ...137 ..138 ...139 ...140 .140 A Simpleton and a Braggadocio..... Bobadil's Plan for Saving the Expense of an Army..........156 Advice to a Reckless Youth.................... ........157 .......................................157 COURT MASKS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY..............158 Extracts-Venus and the Graces, &c.. Scene from the Duchess of Malfi Death of the Duchess, and Dirge. THOMAS MIDDLETON (died in 1627). Witches going about the Caldron. Flight of the Witches, and Song.. Prologue from Antonio and Mellida.. Short Extracts: Day Breaking-One who died Slandered- |
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