FROM THE ACCESSION OF GEORGE III. TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.-A.D. 1760 TO A.D. 1789

FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION TO THE BATTLE OF WATERL00.-A.D. 1789 TO A.D. 1815

346-397

CHAPTER XI.

FROM THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO TO THE ACCESSION OF QUEEN VICTORIA.- A.D. 1815 TO A.D. 1837 .

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TIME Mowing. (From Title-page

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

V

vi

viji

1

1

7

8

10

11

12

12

14

33

37

39

40

a

or

'HYTHM is associated with the middle of the fourteenth century. But when

the first utterances de- Chaucer and Gower followed the example of his signed for frequent repeti- story-telling, their English tales were still in verse, tion and continued life. except that Chaucer included two prose pieces in The praise of chiefs, the his Canterbury Tales—a moral story from the cherished memories French, and a homily for his Parson. The direct beliefs of a people, formed preaching of Wiclif, and his urging of reform

into musical sequences of upon the Church and people, are represented also words with alliteration, or other device by English prose tracts and sermons, which are to secure for each important word thoroughly simple and straightforward, as it is the both emphasis and good help to its nature of right prose to be. The word “Prose” means recollection, make the substance of straightforward. It is derived from the Latin that early literature which lives on prorsus, and so was the name of a Roman goddess, the lips of its authors and in the Prorsa, called also Prosa, who presided over ordinary memories of those who learn it from births with the head foremost. Prose signifies, therethem and diffuse it pleasantly in fore, the direct manner of common speech without cadenced chant among the people. twists or unusual ways of presentation. Prose was not written when few read Coleridge said that he wished our clever young and literature lay between the reciters poets would remember his “homely definition of and a world of listeners. When there prose and poetry, that is, prose is words in their best were more readers, cultivated men and order; poetry, the best words in the best order.” The women, with the written page before definition may be homely, but it is not true. No them, could recite at will for pleasure writer of prose would wish to use second-best words. of their friends. Still, they were sup- Setting aside the difference that lies deep in the plied chiefly with verse; but the good nature of the thought, there remains only the stories current among daily talk could mechanical distinction that verse is a contrivance for be collected and written in the manner

of those who told them well in the calamus and an ink-stand. Behind is another kind of table hanging Initial from direct phrase of common speech. Such

from a metal pen or style, here used as a pin. To the right of that is

a thick book of tables. In front are a style and a group of single MS. of Mande- tales in prose Boccaccio told again for ville's Travels.

volumes in cases or unrolled, with their titles attached, sometimes to (Cotton.) the Italians in his “Decameron," about the papyrus, sometimes to the wood in the centre.

: Part of this homily-on Anger—is quoted on pages 103-106 of the 1 Next to the case containing six books rolled and labelled, are volume of this Library illustrating English Religion. In the same tables, hinged and wax-covered, for writing. Below are a reed pen or volume, on pages 71-73, will be found specimens of Wiclif's prose.