Choice specimens of English literature; selected from the chief English writers, and arranged chronologically

Front matter

it 'SflJ^ i LIBRARY OF COSGRKSS. l

^ Q

^UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. |

Preface

TO THE ENGLISH EDITION.

The following extracts from the Chief English Writers were selected by the late Mr. Shaw to accompany his History of English Literature, and are divided into the same number of chapters, that they may be read with the biographical and critical account of each author. They pi'esent Specimens of all the chief English Writers from the earliest times to the present century. In making these Selections, two objects have been chiefly kept in view : first, the illustration of the style of each Writer by some of the most striking or characteristic specimens of his woi'ks ; and, secondly, the choice of such passages as are suitable, either from their language or their matter, to be read in schools or committed to memory.

W. S.

• (3)

PREFACE

TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

In furnishing to American students an edition o'f Dr. Shaw's "Specimens of English Literature," which should be adapted to their wants, the Editor deems it proper to state what changes have been made in the volume.

It appeared, upon examination^ that, even with Dr. William Smith's additions to the original work of Dr. Shaw, some of the best English writers were not represented in the selections. As it seemed desirable to make the representation of approved authors as complete as a moderate limit would allow, it became necessary to revise the whole work; and, in order to gain space for a more extended view, to omit whatever was of inferior interest. It was found, too, that many passages, either not of the highest jnerit, of needless length, or unsuitable to be read in seminaries, might with advantage be abbreviated, or exchanged for others.

By these methods, it became possible, without increasing the size, materially to extend the scope of the work. While no important writer represented in the original has been excluded from this reprint, opportunity has been gained, by judicious condensation, to present to the reader specimens of the following list of English authors not included in the English edition, viz. : Algernon Sydney, Hay, John Hozue, Sir Isaac JVewton, Doddridge, Waits, Bishop Butler, Bentham, Foster, Chalmers, Pollok, Hallam, Mrs. Hemans, Mrs. Brovjning, Hugh Miller, Ed-ward Irving, Macaulay, Hazlitt, and Hood.

In addition to the changes involved in this more enlarged representation, alterations have been made upon some one or ether of the following grounds.

Passages containing Greek or Latin quotations have generally been omitted, as embarrassing in seminaries in which the ancient

6 PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

classics are not studied : an extract has occasionally been stricken out on the score of coarseness and bad taste : others of questionable truth, or of doubtful morality, have been either omitted or abridged ; and prosaic or sombre passages have been exchanged for those of a more poetic or cheerful cast. A few brief foot-notes have also been added. The number, however, of such changes is not so great as to affect the identity of the two works ; and has not seemed to require any other than this general acknowledgment.

The Editor indulges the hope that, while the changes which have been introduced will impart to the work an increased interest, they will not be found to impair at all its representative character; and that an improved tone, both of taste and of sentiment, in the selections, will justify the alterations with which it is now submitted to the American public.

B. N. M.

CHAPTER I. Anglo-Saxon, Semi-Saxon, and Old English Literature

A. Anglo-Saxon.

Caedmon, A. D. 650.

1. The Creation.

Kin<f Alfred

Page

2. dither's Narrative, in Translation of Bo-

ethius.

3. Translation of the Pastorale of St. Gregory.

B. Semi-Saxon.

4. Tlic Dream of Arthur.

5. The Ormulum.

Page

Henry IH 22

6. Proclamation in A. D. 1258.

7. King Alisaunder. . . * 23

8. Havelok 24

9. Robert of Gloucester. . . 24 10. Robert Mannyng, or Robert of Brunne 25

CHAPTER II. The Age of Chaucer

The Vision of Piers Ploughman, 1350 26

11. Satire of Lawyers.

12. " Confessio Amai\tis :" Tale of the Cof-

fers or Caskets.

Prom the Prologue to the Canterbury

Tales.

The Knight.

The Prioress.

The Friar.

The Doctor of Physic.

The Miller.

John Barbour, d. A. D. 1396. . 35

14. Apostrophe to Freedom.

Chaucer (Prose) 36

15. Taie of Meliboeus (from the Parson's

Tale). Counsel of Prudence.

i6. Sir John de Mandeville,

1300-1371 -36

17. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. VUI.

Chapter III

From the Death of Chaucer to the Age of Elizabeth, A. D. 1400-1558.

A. Scottish Poets.

James I., 1394-1437 40

18. On his Beloved.

William Dunbar, about 1465- 1520 41

lU. Ire, Pride, and Envy.

Sir David Lyndsay, 1490-1557. 42

2U. Mcldrum's Duel with the English Champion Talbart.

B. English Poets.

John Skelton, d. 1529. . .

21. Attack upon Wolsey.

Sir Thomas Wyatt, 1 503-1 541. 45

'12. Tohis Beloved.

2o. A Prisoner in Windsor Castle, he Reflects on Past Hap[iiues3.

24. Description of Spring.

Thomas, Lord Vaux. ... 47

25. Upon his White Hairs.

C. English Prose.

Caxton, d. 1491 48

2C. Introduction to the Jlortc d' Arthur.

CONTENTS.

27. Lord Berners's Froissart. 49

Tjndale, d. 1536 50

i8. Matthew's Gospel, Chap. VIII.

Sir Thomas More, 1480-1535. 52

30. Description of Richard III.

D. Ballads.

32. The Ancient Ballad of

Chevy Chase 54

33. The more Modern Ballad

of Chevj Chase. ... 61

34. Sir Patrick Spens. ... 68

35. The Two Corbies. ... 71

Chapter IV

The Elizabethan Poets (including the Reign of James I.).

Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. 84

George Gascoigne, 1530-1577. 73

36. The Vanity of the Beautiful.

Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst 73

37. Allegorical Personages in Hell.

Edmund Spenser, 1553-1599. 75

38. Una and the Lion. 3!). Prince Arthur.

*>. Belphocbe.

41. The Care of Angels over Men.

it. The Seasons.

43. Sonnet LXXXVin.

Sir Philip Sydney, 1554-15S6.

44. Sonnet to Sleep.

Sir Walter Raleigh, 1552-1618.

43. A Passionate Siiepherd to his Love.

The Nymph's Reply to the Passionate

Shepherd.

The Soul's Errand.

Samuel Daniel, 1562-1619.

46. Richard U. on the Morning before hia Miurder.

47. Pigwiggen Arming.

48. From the Poly-olbion. Song XIH.

49. From the Nosce Teipsum.

50. From his Elegies.

51. From the Satires.

Robert Southwell, 1560-1595. 88

52. Times go by Turns.

Giles Fletcher 89

53. Justice addressing the Creator.

William Drummond, 1585-

1649 89

54. On Sleep.

Chapter V

The New Philosophy and Prose Literature in the Reigns of Elizabeth and James I.

Sir Philip Sydney, 1554-1586. 90

55. In Praise of Poetry.

Sir Walter Raleigh, 1552-1618. 91

5G. The Folly of Ambition and Power of Death.

57. The Necessity and Majesty of Law.

m. Of studies.

Sy. Of Adversity.

«). Of Discourse.

61. Atheism ignoble.

62. Desigii of the Inductive Philosophy.

63. The Benefit of Learning.

64. The Dignity of Literature.

63. Vindication of Natural Theology.

66. Philautia, or Self-Love, a Cause of Mel-

ancholy.

67. The Power of Love.

Lord Herbert of Cherbury,

1581-1648 100

68. From Life of Henry VIH.

69. Thomas Hobbes,i588-i679. loi

Emulation and Envy.

Laughter.

Weeping.

Admiration and Curiosily.

CHAPTER VI. The Dawn of the Drama

Christopher Marlowe, 1563 .'-1593.

70. From Kdward II.

I 71. From Doctor Faustus.

CONTENTS.

Chapter VII

A. Comedies.

72. The World a Stage.

7.'J. The Abuse of Authority.

"4. ileicy.

75. Oberon's Vision.

76. The Power of Imagination.

B. Historical Plays.

77. Lamentation of Constance.

78. Clarence's Dream.

79. Wolsey and Cromwell.

£0. Death of Queen Katharine.

C. Tragedies.

81. Hamlet and the Ghost.

82. I-Iamlet's Soliloquy on Death.

83. Mark Antony's Oration over the dead

Body of Cffisar.

84. Macbcth's Irresolution before the Murder

of Duncan.

85. ■Witches.

D. Songs.

86. Ariel's Song.

87. The Fairy to Puck.

88. Sonnet XCIX.

CHAPTER VIII. The Shakspearian Dramatists

89. From the Sad Shepherd; or, a Tale of

Robin Hood.

90. From Sejanus.

Beaumont, 15S6-1615, and

91. From the Faithful Shepherdess.

92. From the Two Noble Kinsmen.

Philip Massinger, 15S4-1640. 129

93. From the 'Virgin Martyr.

94. From the Lover's Aleluncholy.

John Webster. Fl. 1623. . . 131

ft"). From the Duchess of Malfy.

96. From the Lady of Pleasure.

CHAPTER IX. The so-called Metaphysical Poets

97. The Steadfast Shepherd.

98. O that Thou wouldst hide Me in the

Grave, that Thou wouldst keep Me in secret until Thy wrath be past.

99. Sunday.

Richard Crashaw, 1620-1650. 138

100. Lines on a Prayer-Book sent to Mrs. R.

loi. Robert Herrick,i59i-i674. 139

Song.

To Bleadows.

Sir John Suckling, 1609-1641. 140

Sir Richard Lovelace, 1618-

1658 141

103. To Altliea from Friflon.

1(M. Song.

105. Evening.

William Habington, 1605-

1654 143

106. Cupio Dissolvi.

On a Girdle.

Sir William Davenant, 1605-

1668 144

108. Character of Birtha.

109. The Thames.

110. Hymn to Light.

111. Character ol Cromwell.

CONTENTS.

Chapter X

Theological Writers of the Civil War and the Commonwealth.

112. Peace in the Church.

William Chillingworth, 1602-

16+4. . / 149

113. The Religion of Protestants.

Sir Thomas Browne, 1605-

114. Thoughts on Death and Immortality.

115. The Good Schoolmaster.

Marriage.

Ou Prayer.

On Content.

Against Anger.

Comforting tlie Afflicted.

Richard Baxter, 1615-1691.

117. From the " Saints' Rest."

lis. The Pleasure of Study.

Owen Feltham. Circa 1610- 1677- • "

119. Sedulity and Diligence.

Sir Thomas Overbury, 1581- 1613

120. A Fair and Happy Milkmaid.

CHAPTER XI. John Milton, I608-1674

121. From the Hymn of the Nativity.

122. From Comus.

123. From Lycidas.

124. From L'Allegro.

125. From II Penseroso.

126. E.tordiuni of Book I. Par. Lost.

127. .Satan. (Book I.)

128. Pandemonium. (Book I.)

129. De:ith and Satan. (Book H.)

130. Invocation to Light. (Book III.)

131. Eden. (Book IV.)

1.32. Adam and Eve. (Book TV.) ]:«. Evening in Eden. (Book IV.)

134. Morning Prayer of Adam and Eve.

(Book V.)

135. Athens. (Book IV.) Par. Regained. 1.31). Lament of Samson.

137. Sonnet on his own Blindness.

138. On the late Massacre in Piedmont.

139. Argument for the Liberty of tlie Press.

140. The Xymph complaining for the Death

of her Fawn.

CHAPTER Xn.

The Age of the Restoration.

Honor.

Caligula's Campaign in Britain.

The Procession of the Skinnnington.

The Opposition in the Long Parliament.

142. London after the Fire.

143. On Milton.

144. Character of Shaftesbury (Achitophel).

145. Character of Zimri (Villiers, Duke of

Buckingham).

146. Veni, Creator Spiritus.

147. Faith.

148. Epistle to Congreve.

149. Dreams.

150. Alexander's Feast.

151. Chaucer and Cowley.

1.52. Shakspeare and Ben Jonson.

Algernon Sidnejs 1621-1684. . 195

153. Influence of Government ou the Character of a People.

154. Civilization designed by the Creator.

The Valley of HumiUation.

The Golden City.

Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, 1608-1674 201

156. Character of .John Hampden.

157. E.\-ecution of Montrose.

158. Fishing.

Contentment.

John Evelyn, i62»-i7o6. . . 205

159. St. Paul's Cathedral and the Fire of

London. .

160. Mr, Pepys quarrels with his Wife.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIII. The Second Revohjtion

161. Uses of Pleasure and Pain.

God.

What is Wit?

103. Happiness is Goodness.

164. Tlie State of Man before the Fall.

William Sherlock, 1678-1761. 212

165. Charity.

166. Practical Sufficiency of the great Prin-

ciples of Morals.

167. The Temple in Ruins.

168. Character of William III.

Sir Isaac Newton, 1642-1727. 216

169. Effect of an Experiment upon Light.

Chapter XIV

Pope, Swift, and the Poets in the Reigns of Queen Anne, George I., and George II.

177. The Chameleon.

178. The Hare and many Friends.

179. Hymn to Contentment.

180. Procrastination.

181. Evidence for Christianity sufficient.

170. From the " Essay on Criticism."

Pride.

Sound an Echo to the Sense.

171. From the " Essay on Man."

The Scale of Being.

■ OmnipreBeiice of the Deity.

Address to Bolingbroke.

172. Description of Belinda.

173. The Dying Christian to his Soul.

174. Country Hospitality. 17.5. Tlie Academy of Legado. 176. Thoughts on Various Subjects.

CHAPTER XV. The Essayists

. 232

Joseph Addison, 1672-1719.

182. The Political Upholsterer.

183. The Vision of Mirza.

184. Reflections in Westminster Abbey. 186. Cato's Soliloquy on the Immortality of

the Soul.

Sir Richard Steele, 1675-1729. 237

186. The Dream.

Sir William Temple, 1628-

1699 238

187. Against Excessive Grief.

Lord Shaftesbury, 1671-1713. 239

188. The Deity unfolded in his Works.

Lord Bolingbroke, 1678-1751. 240

189. The Use of History.

190. The Patriot King.

191. Luxury the Cause of National Ruin.

Lady Mary Montagu, 1690-

1762. . 243

192. From her Letters.

CHAPTER XVI. The Great Novelists

193. From " The Great Plague in London."

194. From " Tom Jones."

Tobias George Smollett, 1721-

1771 247

195. The Soldier's Return.

196. Death of Le Fevre.

Oliver Goldsmith, 1728-1774. 250

197. The Stern Moralist.

198. A Fable.

199. France.

200. The Village Inn.

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

Historical, Moral, Political, and Theological Writers of THE Eighteenth Century.

201. The Earnest Student.

Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751. 254

202. Obligation of Harmony among Chris-

tians.

203. Character of Queen Elizabeth.

204. On the iMiddle Station of Life.

William Robertson, 1721-1793. 258

20.5. Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.

2OG. Conception and Completion of his History.

207. Charlemagne.

208. Mahomet.

209. Invention and Use of Gunpowder.

210. Letter to the Earl of Chesterfield.

211. From the Preface to his Dictionary.

212. The Right Improvement of Time.

213. Drydeu and Pope.

214. Reflections on Landing at lona. 21.5. The Fate of Poverty.

216. Charles XII.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778. .... 270

217. Speech on American Affairs.

218. Sympathy a Source of the Sublime. 210. Close of his Speech to the Electors of

Bristol.

220. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.

221. From the " Impeachment of Warren Hastings."

222. From "A Letter to a* Noble Lord" (Dulic of Bedford).

The Letters of Junius, 1769- 1772

223. To his Grace the Duke of Bedford.

224. On the Division of Labor.

William Paley, 1743-1S05. . .

225. Character of Paul.

277 279 280

CHAPTER XVIII. The Dawn of Romantic Poetry

22G. From " The Grave."

227. Evening in Autumn.

228. Reflections suggested bv Winter.

229. From "The Castle of Indolence."

William Shenstone, 1714-1763. 285

230. The Shepherd's Home.

23L Ode to Fear.

232. Genius.

233. Elegy written in a Country Churchyard. 2<M. On a Dis'ant Prospect of Eton College. 2;i3. The Progress of Poesy.

2,36. On the Receipt of my Mother's Picture.

237. Mercy to Animals.

288. Pleasures of a Winter Evening.

239. The Play-Place of Early Days.

240. The Diverting History of John Gilpin.

William Falconer, 1730-1769. 307

241. From " The Shipwreck."

242. Steel.

James Macpherson, 1738-1796. 30S

243. The Songs of Selraa.

Thomas Chatterton, 1752-

1770 310

244. Resignation.

245. The Dying Sailor.

246. An English Peasant.

247. To Mary in Heaven.

248. John Anderson.

249. Bannockburn. •

250. The Banks o' Doon.

251. The Cotter's Saturday Night.

252. The Razor Seller.

Richard Bi-inslej Sheridan,

1751-1816 323

253. The Old Husband and the Young Wife.

CHAPTER XIX. Walter Scott Walter Scott, 1771-1832. . . 326

254. Description of Melrose Abbey.

255. Love of Country. 2.-)6. Pitt and Fox.

257. The Parting of Douglas and Marmion.

258. The Deatli of Marmiou.

259. Ellen — The Lady of the Lake.

260. Paternal Affection.

261. Sunset and the Approach of a Storm.

262. Description of Richmond.

263. Rebecca describes the Siege to the

wounded Ivanhoe.

CONTENTS.