apparent. The division of Middle English into three stages, commencing severally with 1154, 1250, and 1350, seemed inevitable. During this period the language was travelling, in accordance with fixed laws, from one permanent condition to another; and, like everything else that is moving steadily in a definite direction, reached its destination by a slow but regular process. These Middle English Spec ens will supply the beginner with the means of tracing the language in the different stages of that progress by which it has, passed from its earliest to its latest forms. The Notes, which form an important feature of the work, have been drawn up by Mr. James Rowley, of Trinity College, Dublin. Besides elucidating the Extracts from the several authors, an attempt has been made, so far as was compatible with the limited space at command, to kindle in the minds of the learners some interest in the vocabulary itself of our language. With this view the history of individual words has been frequently given, and reference made to the linguistic law of Grimm and to other results of comparative philology. In the execution of this part of the Work it was necessary to consult brevity and to give the maximum of knowledge in the minimum of space; but it is hoped that each Note will be found to supply all the information that is necessary. W. S. August 2, 1869. (v) 10. John Gower. Tale of the Collers Character or'a I'rne Gentleman 20 15. James 1. From the King's Quair 26 D. MIDDLE ENGLISH; THIRD STAGE. 9. The Vision of Piers Ploughman.. 10 CHAPTER II.--continued. Walier Raleigh. The 37. Michael Drayton. From the 52 38. Sir John Davies. From the 35. Samuel Daniel. Richard II. on the Morning before his 39. Giles Fletcher. Justice address- 36. Michael Drayton. Pigwiggen The New PHILOSOPHY AND PROSE LITERATURE IN THE Reigns Of 42. Sir Philip Sidney. In Praise of 66 46. From the Essays - Of Beauty 71 43. Sir Walter Raleigh. The Folly 48. Robert Burton. The Power of 44. Richard Hooker. The Neces- 50. Christopher Marlowe. Death- 53. Mercy. The Merchant of Ve- 54. Oberon's Vision. Midsummer 56. Richard's Despair. Richard II. 86 59. Hamlet's Soliloquy on Death. 60. Why the Shakespeare Cliff at Dover is so called. King Lear 92 61. Ulysses and Achilles. Troilus 63. Macbeth's Irresolution before 67. Catiline Soliloquizes. Catiline 100 69. Epitaph on Mary, Countess of 71. Beaumont and Fletcher. From 72. Philip Massinger. From the .. 125. Character of Atticus (Addi- Omnipresence of the Deity .. 177 127. From the Rape of the Lock .. 178 129. Jonathan Swift. From the Battle of the Books. The Thoughts ' -- Procrastination 186 CHAPTER XI. THE ESSAYISTS. Joseph Addison :- 134 From The Spectator '—The Vision of Mirza 188 135. From Cato'-Cato's Solilo- quy on the Immortality of the Soul 136. Sir Richard Steele. The Dream 193 137. Lord Bolingbroke. The Use of History 194 138. Bishop Berkeley. Luxury the Cause of National Ruin 195 .. 191 |
