A History of Modern English Romanticism

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Not since the publication in 1893 of W. L. Phelps' "Beginnings of the English Romantic Movement" and of H. A. Beers' "History of English Romanticism in the Eighteenth Century" in 1899, has any attempt been made to write a fairly complete English history of the Rise of Modern Romantic Poetry, based upon what must always be the chief source of information for such a history, namely, the works of the poets themselves, that is, of all the poets.

Since the beginning of the twentieth century many excellent monographs and papers have appeared dealing with this or that portion of the history of eighteenth century romanticism, but no one has in modern times endeavoured to present the history of early romantic poetry in its entirety with any claim to extensive original research. Helene Richter's "Geschichte der Englischen Romantik" (1911-1916) is an admirably suggestive work, but, starting as it does with Goldsmith, Walpole, Chatterton, Burke and their contemporaries, it must be considered rather as a history of early nineteenth than of eighteenth century romanticism.

My First Volume is devoted to a discussion of the relations between Elizabethan Romanticism and the Rise of Modern Romanticism. The Second Volume will trace the relations between Medieval Romanticism and Modern Romanticism in the Eighteenth Century. To the Third Volume belongs the important task of following in detail the Rise of Modern Romanticism in the Eighteenth Century. The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Volumes will trace the course of Modern Romanticism down to the year 1914. Two additional volumes will contain extracts in prose and verse illustrative of the text of the History, the first will chiefly exemplify the romantic literature of the eighteenth, the second that of the nineteenth century.

I plead guilty to the charge of lack of conventional proportions. At first sight it may seem absurd to devote more space to Samuel Croxall than to William Shenstone, or to John Philips than to James Thomson. But I have not primarily viewed my material in the light of its intrinsic literary worth, which lies outside my plan, but in the light of its contribution of something characteristic towards the general movements of English poetry, and of its value as documentary evidence helping to throw light on the history of Modern Romanticism. If the reader wishes to know more about Shenstone and Thomson than he can find here, there are excellent books in plenty to suit his purpose; but if he desires to see the position, viewed from the standpoint of the historian of Romance, - of Croxall and J. Philips, he may experience some difficulties in finding works on which to base his judgment.

The wealth of material has made the task of selection exceedingly difficult. When limits of space were against me, I have frequently had to be satisfied with choosing a few examples only of the principles and tendencies which I wished to demonstrate. It is hoped that the concise bibliographies will show the way to any one who may desire to pursue the path mapped out here.

So much has been written about the "classical" eighteenth century, about Spenserian and Miltonic "revivals" and romantic "revolts", that I sometimes doubt if the facts given in the following pages are facts after all. In these days of critical research, when from hour to hour our fund of information is being constantly increased, it may be shown that I have made mistakes in matters of minor importance. I hope, however, that I have at least given some novel and interesting facts concerning the beginnings of the greatest metamorphosis in English literature.

I gratefully acknowledge the help I have derived from the learned articles and books of that splendid band of American scholars who have done so much to create a better understanding and greater appreciation of that fine century, the eighteenth. In addition to the obligations acknowledged in the following chapters and bibliographies, I wish to mention here my special indebtedness to the works of Beers, Cory, Good, Havens, Morton, Phelps and Sherburn. Chapters VIII, IX, X and XI of the present volume were already finished when Havens' magnum opus appeared. Though I am mainly interested in a different aspect of the subject, it was a great satisfaction to me to see many of my larger generalisations and more minute points confirmed by one who had devoted so much profound thought and research to the study of Milton's influence on English poetry. I have had to re-write part of the chapters dealing with Milton in consequence of the stimulating suggestion of Havens' book, for which I hope I have made full acknowledgment.

It is a pleasure to me to record my special obligations to Mr. D. Nichol Smith of the University of Oxford.

In conclusion I cannot do better than let Roger Ascham speak for me:

"If any man would blame me, either for taking such a matter in hand, or else for writing it in the English tongue, this answer I may make him, that what the best of the realm think it honest for them to use, I, one of the meanest sort, ought not to suppose it vile for me to write. And though to have written it in another tongue, had been both more profitable for my study, and also more honest for my name, yet I can think my labour well bestowed, if with a little hindrance of my profit and name may come any furtherance to the pleasure or commodity of the gentlemen and yeomen of England, for whose sake I took this matter in hand".

82 van Boetzelaerlaan The Hague

August
1924.

H. G. DE M.

CONTENTS

Chapter

I. Romanticism in English Literature

II. English Editions of Spenser, Shakespeare and

Milton in the Eighteenth Century.

III. The Spenserian Stanza in the Seventeenth and

Eighteenth Centuries

IV. Spenserian Diction in the Seventeenth and

Eighteenth Centuries.