sions, adopted from the elder poets; but in such a manner, that the language of his age was rather strengthened and dignified, than debased and disguised, by such a practice. In truth, the affectation of Spenser in this point is by no means so striking and visible as Jonson has insinuated; nor is his phraseology so difficult and obsolete as it is generally supposed to be. For many stanzas together we may frequently read him with as much facility as we can the same number? of lines in Shakespeare. But although I cannot subscribe to Jonson's opinion concerning Spenser's language, I must confess that the following sentiments of that critic, concerning the use of old words in poetry, are admirable. "Words borrowed of antiquity do lend a kind of majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes. For they have the authority of yeares, and out of their intermission do lend a kind of grace-like newnesse. But the eldest of the present, and the newest of the past language is the best *, But Jonson has literally translated the latter part of the paragraph, from Quintilian, without acknowledgment. Ergo ut novorum optima erunt maxime vetera, ita veterum maxime novat." I conclude this Section with a a passage from the nervous, poetical, and witty Satires of Bishop Hall; who having censured the petty poets of his age for their various corruptions. and licentious abuses of the English language, makes this compliment to Spenser. But lett no rebel satyr dare traduce * Discoveries. + Instit. Or. 1. 1. cap, 6. Salust of France, and Tuscan Ariost! *B. 1. s. 4. These satires [the three first books] were first printed by T. Creed, for R. Dexter, Lond. 1597. 12mo. The three last books appeared in an edi tion, entitled, "Virgidemiarum, The three last bookes of byting Satyres, Anon. Lond. printed by R. Bradocke, for R. Dexter, &c. 1598." 12mo. It begins with sat. 1. of lib. 4. The next edition [of the whole] is, “ Virgidemiarum, The three last [in reality all the six] bookes of the byting Satyres, corrected and amended, with some additions, by J. H. Lond. for R. Dexter, &c. 1599." 12mo. In a copy I have seen of this last edition, at the end are bound up, "Certaine worthye manuscript poems of great antiquitie, reserved long in the studie of a Northfolke Gentleman, now first published by J. S. Lond. R. D. 1597." 12mo. The poems are, "The stately Tragedy of Guiscard and Sismond." In two books, in the seven-lined stanza. It is Dryden's story, and seems about the age of Henry vii. "The Northern Mother's Blessing, written nine yeares before the death of G. Chaucer." "The Way to Thrift." They are dedi cated to the worthiest poet Maister Ed. Spencer. SECT. V. Of Spenser's Imitations from Chaucer. IT has been before observed in general, that Spenser copied the language of Chaucer: and it is evident, that in many passages he has imitated Chaucer's sentiment. It is frequently true, that parallelists mistake re\ semblances for thefts. But this doctrine by no means affects the instances which I shall give, in this section, of Spenser's imitations from Chaucer, and which I shall produce in the next, of the passages he has copied from Ariosto. Spenser is universally acknowledged to have been an attentive reader, and a professed admirer of both these poets. His imitations from the former are most commonly literal, couched in the expressions of the original. What he has drawn from Ariosto are artificial fictions, which consisting of unnatural combinations, could not, on account of their singularity, be fallen upon by both poets accidentally, as natural appearances might be, which lie exposed and obvious to all, at all times. We may therefore safely pronounce the resemblances in the sections here mentioned, to have been intended. But I proceed to collect some specimens of Spenser's imitations from Chaucer, both of language and sentiment. B. i. c. i. s. viii. Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sayling pine, the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elme, the poplar never dry, The builder oake, sole king of forests all, The aspine good for staves, the cypresse funeral. |