Whether the Diana obtained an extensive re gard from our Forefathers, as Mr. Warton alleged, I have not ascertained. Shakspeare, it is asserted, has in part traced from it the outline of the plot for his Two Gentlemen of Verona. In Spain it was a favourite Volume. When Cervantes supposes it to have been found in the Knight of La Mancha's Library he makes the Curate pronounce this to be the best of its kind, and interpose to rescue it from the general conflagration. Yong's Translation of this work was printed a few years after the Arcadia appeared. The fame of Sir Philip Sydney and the applause then given to this whimsical species of romantic fabling were probably the inducements to this publication; and might lend it a temporary popularity. Not to insist, that till the splendour of the Spanish Monarchy was far gone in its wane, the Writers of that Country were more studied here than those in any other living language, the Italian only excepted: therefore MILTON remarks while defending his determination to blank Verse for his epic Poem, that "some both Italian and Spanish Poets of prime note have rejected "rime."

It was, I think, the illusive brilliancy of Louis XIVth's reign which first drew the attention of Europe to French Literature. And is not the Anglomanie as to English Authours which prevailed in France after our victorious War against the aggressions of the Family Compact, attributable to the

same source? In short, before the Writers of any Nation gain a name among Foreigners must it not be great in military achievements?

ILLUSTRATION, G.

(Referred to in p. 85.)

The accusation against our Forefathers that they were too much addicted to sumptuous living was far from groundless. Chaucer made the luxuries of the table quite the occupation of the Franklin, or affluent Land-owner residing on his own estate.

"An housholder and that a grete was he ;
"Seint Julian he was in his contree.
"His brede, his ale, was alway after on;

A better envyned man was no wher non.
"Withouten bake mete never was his hous,
"Of fish and flesh, and that so plenteous,
"It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke,
"Of alle deintees that men coud of thinke,
"After the sondry sesons of the yere,
"So changed he his mete and his soupere.
"Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe,
"And many a breme, and many a luce in stewe.
"Wo was his coke, but if his sauce were
"Poinant and sharpe, and redy all his gere.
"His table dormant in his halle alway
"Stode redy covered alle the longe day."

Canterbury Tales; I. 15. 4to. Oxford. 1798.

It plainly appears too from Sir Thomas Elyot's remonstrance, that excess in this gratification pre

vailed to a great extent in his time. He was a Physician to Henry VIII. and laments it in forcible language: "It may seeme to al me that "have reasō what abuse is here in this Realme "in the cōtinuall gourmandise and dayly feeding "on sondry meates at one meale. the spirit of gluttony triumphing among vs in his glorious "chariot called welfare, dryuing vs afore hym, as "his prisoners, into his dungeon of surfet, "where we are tormented wyth catarres, feuers, goutes, pleuryses, frettynge of the guttes and many other sicknesses, and finally cruelly put "to death by them, oftentimes in youth or in the "most pleasaunte tyme of our lyfe whan we would "most gladly live. For the remedye whereof how

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many tymes have there bene deuised ordinaunces "and actes of counsayle." The Castell of Helth; &c. fo. 45. 12mo. 1576.

These notices on this national opprobrium, which, we find, lowered the English character among Foreigners, concur to show that something more appropriate was intended by Shakspeare, in Macbeth's taunt on the "English Epicures," than "a natural invective uttered by an inhabitant "of a barren country against those who have more opportunitities of luxury," as Johnson threw

out.

May corroborates that feasts and banqueting were still a reigning vice: "L Luxury in diet, and "excesse both in meat and drinke, was crept into

"the kingdome in an high degree, not only in "the quantity, but in the wanton curiosity." Hist. of the Parl. of England; p. 13. edit. 1812. And Clarendon confirms that this reproach of Epicurism was just.

ILLUSTRATION, H.

(Referred to in p. 86.)

Unconstraining Laws of vertuous Education, religious and civill nurture-] Nurture" is learning, "knowledge, art, or order." p. 88. of "The "Cabinet Council: Containing the Chief Arts of

Empire, and Mysteries of State; discabineted "in Political and Polemical Aphorisms, grounded "on Authority, and Experience: &c. By the "Ever-renowned Knight, Sir Walter Raleigh, pub"lished by John MILTON Esq." sm. 8vo. 1658. There has been much confusion about this publication (see Memoirs of T. Hollis; p. 519.), I will therefore add these notices relative to it. The second Edition, according to Oldys, was titled, "The Arts of Empire, and Mysteries of "State discabineted," &c. 8vo. Lond. 1692. (See his Life of Ralegh; p. 395. (n.) Svo. 1740.) I have a copy entitled, "The Secrets of Govern"ment, and Misteries of State, plainly laid open, "in all the several Forms of Government in the " Christian world. Published by John MII гON,

Esq." 1697. Probably, the same republication only with a new title page, to drop Ralegh's name.-Toland, confounding Sir Walter's Prince with the Cabinet Council, states erroneously, that MILTON printed both these Tracts.-MILTON has taken from Horace for a Motto to this latter work,

"Quis mortem tunicâ tectum adamantinâ
Digne scripserit ?"

Perhaps to apologize for not entering into the Authour's character. The following is his address to the Reader as Editor: "Having had the Manu"script of this Treatise, written by Sir Walter "Ralegh, many years in my hands, and finding "it lately by chance among other Books and

Papers, upon reading thereof, I thought it a "kinde of injury to withhold longer the work of so "eminent an Author from the publick; it being "both answerable in Stile to other Works of his "already extant, as far as the subject would per

mit, and given me for a true Copy by a learned "Man at his Death, who had collected several "such pieces."

Algernon Sydney, however, in the succeeding paragraph, strove to invalidate the authority of this and of others of Ralegh's posthumous pieces. He is contending, against Filmer, that the Parliament and the People have the power of making Kings, and he argues that, "This being built upon the "steady foundation of Law, History, and Reason,