OF

ENGLISH LITERATURE;

WITH

CONSIDERATIONS

ON THE

SPIRIT OF THE TIMES,

MEN, AND REVOLUTIONS.

BY

THE VISCOUNT DE CHATEAUBRIAND.

SECOND EDITION.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN,

13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1837.

535

1

PREFACE

CONTENTS

. OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

INTRODUCTION.

Of the Latin as the source of the Languages of Latin

Europe

The English Language, divided into five epochs

Manners continued.-Vigour and End of the Barbarous

Ages

39

PART THE FIRST.

FIRST AND SECOND EPOCHS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE.

Literature at the time of the Anglo-Saxons, the Danes,

and during the Middle Ages. Of the Anglo-Saxons

under William the Conqueror-The Britons-Tacitus

-Erse Poems

Anglo-Saxons and Danes

Page

-

47

THIRD AND FOURTH EPOCHS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE.

Anglo-Norman and Norman-French epochs from William

the Conqueror, and from Henry II. to Henry VIII.—

Anglo-Norman Trouvères

The Anglo-Norman Trouvères continued.-Terrestrial

Paradise-Descent to Hell

-

Miracles-Mysteries-Satires -

Change in Literature-Struggle between the two Lan-

guages

Return, by law, to the National Language

Chaucer-Gower-Barbour

-

65

-

73

-

79

Sentiment of political Liberty-Why different amongst

English and French writers of the 16th and 17th

centuries-Place held by the People in the ancient

Institutions of the two Monarchies

James I. King of Scotland - Dumbard

Worcester-Rivers

Popular Ballads and Songs

-

-

Douglas

85

93

98

Portrait of Luther by Maimbourg, Bossuet, and Voltaire 179

Opinion of Luther

- 185

My former Mis-judgment of Shakspeare-Mistaken Ad-

mirers of the Poet

- 235