The following remarks are interesting in this con- | Round Table. . . . . It will be seen by this briof review or nection: "The poetry of the Anglo-Saxons was neither modulated according to foot-measure, like that of the Greeks and Romans, nor written with rhymes, like that of many modern languages. Its chief and universal characteristic was a very regular alliteration, so arranged that, in every couplet there should be two principal words in the first line beginning with the same letter, which letter must also be the initial of the first word on which the stress of the voice falls in the second line. The only approach to a metrical system yet discovered is that two risings and two fallings of the voice seem necessary to each perfect line. Two distinct measures are met with, a shorter and a longer, both commonly mixed together in the same poem, the former being used for the ordinary narrative, and the latter adopted when the poet sought after greater dignity. In the manuscripts, the Saxon poetry is always written continuously like prose, perhaps for the sake of convenience, but the division of the lines is generally marked by a point. "The popular literature of the Normans in France and England previous to the twelfth century is totally unknown to us. . . . . However, as most of the popular literature of this period was confined to the jongleurs, who were at the same time authors and minstrels, and as it was probably seldom or never committed to writing, we have no difficulty in accounting for its loss. We know that there were jongleurs in Normandy at an early period, and that they followed their patrons to England. But we only become acquainted with their compositions at a later period. In literature, the Anglo-Norman language first makes its appearance in poems of a religious and serious character; and it seems to have first found a distinguished patron in Adelaide of Louvaine, queen of Henry I. . . . . Most of this religious and serious poetry consisted in mere translations or paraphrases from the Latin, and the writers make no further pretension. . . . . The only known Engfish writers of Anglo-Saxon prose are Walter Mapes, Robert de Borron, and Luces de Gast, the authors of zome of the most popular romances of the cycle of the .... .... the literature of the Anglo-Norman language during the twelfth century, that, until the close of the century, it has no great attraction beyond a few historical production which might as well have been written in Latin, and one or two metrical romances. . . . . It would be in vain to .... attempt a history of English literature in the twelfth century, because every thing connected with it is vague and uncertain."-See Introduction to Biog. Brit. Lit. The reader will refer to the articles, CEDMON, the monk (died about 680); BEDE (died 735); King ALFRED (died 901); ALFRIC of Canterbury (died 1006); CYNEW, Bishop of Winchester (died 1008); WULFSTAN, Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York (died 1023), &c.-for notices of some of the principal wri ters from the death of Gildas to the termination of the Saxon Chronicle. The Saxon Chronicle, the production of a number of authors, professes to give a history of English affairs from A. D. 1-1150, at which date it abruptly con cluded. About 1180? we have Layamon's metrical translation of the Brut d'Angleterre, of Wace, written about 1160, and itself a translation from Geoffrey of Mon mouth. This ingenious monk obliges us with his tory of British occurrences from Brutus of Troy, who is placed long before the Christian era, to Cadwallader, A.D. 689. Layamon seems to know the original history only through the version of Maister Wace. Upon the same history principally, is founded the Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, (temp. Henry III. and Edward 1.) who professes to narrate the history of England from the time of Brutus to the death of Sir Henry of Almaine. "The orations with which he occasionally diversifies the thread of his story, are, in general, appropriate and dramatic, and not only prove his good sense, but exhibit ne unfavourable specimens of his eloquence. In his descrip- | feats of dexterity: throwing his lance into the air as if it were a small stick; catching it by the point before he cast it against the enemy; and repeating the same operation with his sword, so that they who beheld him considered him as a conjuror tion of the first crusade, he seems to change his usual character, and becomes not only entertaining, but even animated."-ELLIS. This Chronicle consists of more than ten thousand lines, and Alexandrines at that! The Bodleian, Cottonian, and Harleian MSS. of it are considered the best. There is also one in the Library of the Heralds' College. The next of the Rhyming Chronicles is Robert Manning, or Robert de Brunne, (temp. Edward I. and II.) the translator of Manuel des Pèches and Peter de Langtoft's Chronicle. This verse is shorter than that of Robert of Gloucester, approaching the octosyllabic stanza of a later period. L'un dit à l's'tre ki coveit, Now, unless it could be proved that the Normans adopted the profession of minstrelsy from the French, of which there is no evidence, it must follow that they carried it with them from Denmark; and as Bishop Percy has shown that a character nearly analogous existed among the Danes, as well as the Anglo-Saxons the derivation of the minstrels from the Scalds and Glee-men of the North, as established in the Essay prefixed to the 'Reliques of Ancient Poetry,' seems to rest upon as fair historical testimony as can be required in confirmation of such an opinion."-Introduction to the Rise and Progress of Romantic Composition, &c.; also peruse the Essay prefixed to Per About the middle of the thirteenth century, the ap The plication of poetry-heretofore confined to, 1. Chroni- The reader will find some specimens of the changes of language in the periods which have now been referred to in an excellent work accessible to all-W. & R. Chambers's Cyclopædia of English Literature. Some valuable dissertations in the introductions to Shaw's and Spalding's Histories of English Literacy's Reliques. ture should also be carefully perused. For a history of the English Metrical Romances, the period of which we may assume to be 1800-1500, Warton's History of English Poetry, and Halliwell's and Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, should be consulted. The literature of this character was almost exclusively composed of versions from French originals. The theory of Sir Walter Scott respecting Sir Tristem, and Mr. Warton's ascription of The Life of Alexander the Great to Adam Davie, are per-gical poetry, are two of the prominent names of the haps hardly tenable in the present day. Among the best known compositions of this period may be mentioned, SIR GUY, THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE, SIR DEGORE, KING ROBERT OF SICILY, THE KING OF TARS, IMPOMEDON, LA MORT ARTUR, SIR THOPAS, SIR BEVIS, SIR ISENBRAS, SIR LIBIUS, and GAWAN AND GALOGRAS. Let the reader carefully peruse Ellis's Historical Introduction on the Rise and Progress of Romantic Composition in France and England; prefixed to the Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances. Of this valuable work a new edition has been published, under the editorial care of the eminent antiquary, philologist, and enthusiastic philomath, J. Orchard Halliwell, Esq., F. R. S. (Bohn's Antiquarian Library, Lon., 1848: also procure The Chronicles of the Crusades; indeed all of the volumes of this valuable series should be in the hands of the curious student.) fourteenth century. About 1360 was completed the Vision of Piers Plowman, the composition of a secular priest named Robert Langlande. The poet sets forth by allegorical representations the corruptions prevailing among the ecclesiastics, and predicts a severe punishment as the consequences of such disorder. We have in this singular allegory the characters of Mercy, Truth, Conscience, Pride, Sir In-witt, See-well, Saywell, Hear-well, Work-well, Go-well, &c. The reader will not be surprised that such similarity of characters has led some critics to compare this ancient poem with the Pilgrim's Progress. It was about this period, say 1350, that the cha racter styled Black-Letter, or Old English, was first used. We have now reached a most important landmark, at which we may properly conclude our synopsis_ the name of the Great Father of English Poetry, The following remarks are not without interest in GEOFFREY CHAUCER, born between 1328 and 1346. this connection: We need hardly remark that the inscription on his "That a class of men who cultivated the arts of amuse- tomb, stating him to have died in the year 1400, at ment as a profession, were known and esteemed by the the age of 72, is not based upon any known authority, Normans of the time of the Conquest, is undeniably proved having been placed where it is, about 150 years after by the evidence of Domesday-book; in which we find a his death. However, these are matters which are certain Bedric possessed of a large tract of land in Glouces- discussed in the following pages, and therefore biotershire, under the title of joculator regis. The register, graphical details respecting individuals, and biblioof course, does not explain the talents of this joculator, or graphical and critical information regarding their jongleur; but it may be fairly assumed that they were similar to those of the minstrel Taillefer, who, as Wace works, will not be expected here. We may now apinforms us, 'moult bien chantont,' and who preceded the propriately introduce from the tables in the CompaDuke of Normandy at the battle of Hastings, singing nion to the British Almanac, as improved in George about Charlemagne, and Rolland, and Olivier, and the P. Putnam's World's Progress, New York, 1851, a vassals who died at Roncesvalles.' We are further in- Chronological Table of some of the principal British formed by Gaimar, that he performed many marvellous | Authors and their works, A. D. 500-1850. 1600 Wm. Dunbar, 1465-1530, 'This- 1500 R. Fabyan, d. 1512, Chron. of 1500 Thos. Linacre, 1460-1524, Phi England and France. lology, Medicine. Anth. Fitzherbert, Husbandry. J. Ford, b. 1586, Drama. ma. P. Massinger, 1585-1639, Dra ma. J. Harrington, 1561-1612, Trans. Ariosto. E. Fairfax, d. 1632, Trans. Tasso. M. Drayton, 1563-1631, Poems. 3. Sandys, 1577-1643, Translations, Poems. S. Daniel, 1562-1619, Poems. W. Drummond, 1585-1649, Po ems. John Donne, 1573-1662, Satires, Essays. Geo. Wither, 1588-1657, Satires. James Shirley, 1594-1666, Dra ma. Sir John Suckling, 1609-1641, Poems. John Denham, 1615-1668, Tragedies, Cooper's Hill. Samuel Butler, 1612-1688, Hudibras. Kings, Bishops, &c. Richard Knolls, d. 1610, History of the Turks. Wm. Camden, 1551-1623, Antiquities. R. Hakluyt, 1553-1616, Naval Histories. W. Raleigh, 1552-1617, History of the World. Samuel Daniel, 1567-1619, History of England. John Heyward, d. 1627, English History. J. Speed, 1555-1629, Hist. of Great Britain. Henry Spelman, 1562-1641, Antiquities. Sir R. B. Cotton, 1570-1631, Antiquities. S. Purchas, 1577-1628, Collection of Voyages. Thomas Roe, 1580-1641, Travels in the East. E. (Lord) Herbert, 1581-1648, Thomas Fuller, 1608-1661, History and Biography. Clarendon, 1608-1673, History of Rebellion. Thomas May, d. 1650, History of Parliament. Izaak Walton, 1593-1683, Biography. Thomas Elyot, Philology. mons. Roger Ascham, 1515-1568, 'The Schoolmaster.' Thomas Wilson, d. 1581, Logic and Rhetoric. Thomas Tusser, d. 1580, Husbandry. J. Jewel, 1522-1570, Divinity. R. Hooker, 1553-1600, Ecclesiastical Polity. W. Gilbert, 1540-1603, On the Loadstone.' L. Andrews, 1565-1626, Sermons. 1600 Edward Coke, 1550-1634, Law. John Napier, 1550-1617, Logarithms. Robert Burton, 1576-1639, 'Anat. of Melancholy.' Francis Bacon, 1560-1626, Philosophy, History. Wm. Harvey, 1578-1657, Circulation of Blood. John Selden, 1584-1654, Antiquities, Law, History. J. Harrington, 1611-1677, 'Oceana.' James Usher, 1580-1656, Divinity, Sermons, History. Thomas Hobbes, 1588-1679, Metaphysics. W. Dugdale, 1605-1686, Antiquities, History. W. Chillingworth, 1602-16, Theology. Isaac Barrow, 1630-1677, Divinity, Mathematics. J. Pearson, 1612-1686, Divinity. SPECULATIVE AND SCIENTIFIC. 1600 Brian Walton, 1600-1661, Poly glot Bible. Jeremy Taylor, d. 1667, Divinity. Edmund Castell, d. 1685, Lexicos R. Cudworth, 1617-1688, Meta- J. Evelyn, 1620-1706, 'Sylva.' W. Sherlock, d. 1689, Divinity. R. Baxter, 1615-1691, Saint's R. Boyle, 1627-1691, Theology, Robert Blair, 1699-1746, The Grave.' S. Richardson, 1689-1761, Clarissa,' 'Pamela,' &c. D. Garrick, 1716-1779, Drama. I. Watts, 1674-1748, Hymns. Alex. Pope, 1688-1744, Poetry. Allan Ramsay, 1696-1758, 'The Jas. Thomson, 1700-1748, Sea S. Ockley, 1678-1720, Oriental History. Thos. Hearne, 1678-1735, History and Antiquities. John Strype, 1643-1737, History and Antiquities. Gilbert Burnet, 1643-1715, 'History of his Times.' L. Echard, 1671-1730, History of England. Thos. Carte, 1686-1754, History of England. John Potter, 1674-1747, Antiquities. Sir W. Petty, 1623-1682, Statistics. Nathanael Hooke, d. 1763, History of Rome. C. Middleton, 1683-1750, Life of Cicero, &c. John Swinton, 1703-1767, History, Antiquity. Lord Lyttelton, 1709-1778, His- 1700 John Ray, 1628-1705, Botany, Natural History. John Locke, 1632-1704, Metaphysics. R. South, 1633-1716, Divinity. Isaac Newton, 1642-1719, 'Principia.' J. Flamsteed, 1642-1719, Astronomy. R. Hooke, 1635-1702, Philosophy. B. de Mandeville, 1670-1733, 'Fab. of the Bees.' Edm. Halley, 1656-1742, Astronomy. Hans Sloane, 1660-1753, Natural History. S. Clarke, 1675-1729, Divinity, Philosophy. D. Waterland, 1683-1740, Divinity. R. Bentley, 1661-1740, Divinity, Philology. A. Baxter, 1687-1750, Metaphysics. Lord Bolingbroke, 1672-1751; Politics, Literature. G. Berkeley, 1684-1753, Metaphysics, Ethics. P. Doddridge, 1701-1751, Di vinity. Jas. Bradley, 1692-1762, Astronomy. F. Hutcheson, 1694-1747, Moral Philosophy. T. Sherlock, 1678-1761, Divinity. C. Maclaurin, 1696-1746, Mathematics. Earl of Chesterfield, 1694-1773, Letters. Eph. Chambers, d. 1740, Cyclopædia. B. Hoadley, 1676-1761, Polemics. Bishop Butler, 1692-1752, Divinity. J. Wesley, 1703-1791, Divinity. D. Hartley, 1704-1757, Observations on Man.' Soame Jenyns, 1704-1787, Theology. W. Warburton, 1709-1779, The ology, Criticism. |