The Philosophy of History, in a course of lectures delivered at Vienna ... Translated, with a memoir of the author, by J. B. Robertson

Front matter

THE PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY; IN A COURSE OF LECTURES, DELIVERED AT VIENNA, BY FREDERICK VON SCHLEGEL. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN, WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR, BY JAMES BURTON ROBERTSON, ESQ. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET. MDCCCXXXV. B. BENSI.KY, PRINTER. MEMOIR OF THE LITERARY LIFE OF FREDERICK VON SCHLEGEL. In the following sketch of the literary life of the late Frederick Von Schlegel, it is the intention of the writer to take a rapid review of that author's principal productions, noticingthe circumstances out of which they grew, and the influence they exerted on his age ; giving at the same time a fuller analysis of his political and metaphysical systems : — an analysis which is useful, nay almost necessary to the elucidation of very many passages in the work, to Avhich this memoir is prefixed.

Of the inadequacy of his powers to the due execution of such a task, none cau be more fully sensible than the writer himself; but he trusts that he will experience from the kindness of the rea der, an indulgence proportionate to the difficulty of the undertaking. In offering to the British public a translation of one of the last works of one among the most illustrious of German writers, the Translator is aware, that after the excellent translation which appeared in 1818 b of this author's " History of Literature," and also after the admirable translation of his brother's " Lec tures on Dramatic Literature," by Mr. Black, his OAvn performance must appear in a very disadvantageous point of view. But this is a circumstance which only gives it additional claims to indulgent consideration. The family of the Schlegels seem to have been peculiarly favoured by the Muses.

Elias Schlegel, a member of this family, was a distinguished dramatic writer in his own time ; and some of his plays are, I believe, acted in Germany at the present day. Adol phus Schlegel, the father of the subject of the present biography, Avas a minister of the Lutheran church, distinguished for his literary talents, and particularly for eloquence in the pulpit. His eldest son, Charles Augustus Schlegel, entered with the Hanoverian regi ment to which he belonged into the service of our East India Company, and had begun to prosecute Avith success his studies in Sanscrit literature — a field of knowledge in which his brothers have since obtain ed so much distinction — when his youthful career Avas unhappily terminated by the hand of death. Augustus William Schlegel, the second son, Avho was destined to carry to so high a pitch the literary glory of his family, Avas born at Hanover in 1769— a year so propi tious to the birth of genius.

Preface

. main result, I trust, will in no case be thereby materially impaired. The following sketch of the subject will shew the order of the Lectures, and give a general in sight into the plan of the work. The first two Lectures embrace, along with the Introduction, the question of man's relation towards the earth, the division of mankind into several nations, and the two-fold condition of humanity in the primitive world. The subjects discussed in the seven succeed ing Lectures are as follows : — the antiquity of China, and the general system of her empire — the mental culture, moral and political institu tions, and philosophy of the Hindoos — the sci ence and corruption of Egypt — the selection of the Hebrew people for the maintenance of Di vine revelation in its purity — the destinies and special guidance of that nation — next an account of those nations of classical antiquity, to whom Avere assigned a mighty historical power, and a paramount influence over the world — such as the Persians, with their Nature-worship, their manners, and their conquests — the Greeks, with the spirit of their science, and dominion — and the Romans, together with the universal em pire which they were the first to establish in Europe.

The next five Lectures treat of Chris tianity, its consolidation and wider diffusion lxxxiii throughout the world — of the emigration of the German tribes, and its consequences — and of the Saracenic empire in the brilliant age of the first Caliphs. Then follows an account of the various epochs and the various stages of the progress which the modern European nations have made in science and civil polity, according to their use and application of the light of truth vouchsafed to them. So the subjects here treated are — the establishment of a Christian imperial dignity in the old Ger man empire — the great schism of the West, and the struggles of the middle age and the period of the Crusades, down to the discovery of the New World, and the new awakening of science. The three following Lectures are devoted to the Religious Wars, the period of Illuminism, and the time of the French Revolution.

The eighteenth and concluding Lecture turns on the prevailing spirit of the age, and on the universal regeneration of society. We have yet to make the following observations with respect to this undertaking, in which we have attempted to lay the foundations of a new general Philosophy. The first awakening and excitement of hu man consciousness to the true perception and THE AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. knowledge of truth has been already unfolded in my work on " the Philosophy of Life." To point out now the progressive restora tion in humanity of the effaced image of God, according to the gradation of grace in the various periods of the world, from the revelation of the beginning, down to the middle revelation of redemption and love, and from the latter to the last consummation, is the object of this Philo sophy of History. A third Avork, treating of the science of thought in the department of faith and nature, will with more immediate reference to the Phi losophy of Language, comprehend the complete restoration of consciousness, according to the triple divine principle. It is my wish that this Avork should as soon as circumstances will permit, speedily follow the two works " The Philosophy of Life," and " The Philosophy of History," now presented to the Public.

Vienna, Sept. 6th, 1828. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Memoir of the Literary Life of Frederick Von Schlegel. iii Author's Preface. . . . . . lxxix lxxix LECTURE I.