English Lands, Letters and Kings, vol. 2: From Elizabeth to AnneMitchell, Donald Grant
History
English Lands, Letters and Kings, vol. 2: From Elizabeth to Anne
Mitchell, Donald Grant
English literature -- History and criticism; Great Britain -- Intellectual life
[88] Thomas Browne, b. 1605; d. 1682. Full collection of his works (with
Johnson’s _Life_), Bohn, 1851. A very charming edition of the _Religio
Medici_--so good in print--so full in notes--so convenient to the hand--is
that of the “Golden Treasury Series,” Macmillan. Nor can I forbear
reference to that keen, sympathetic essay on this writer which appears in
Walter Pater’s _Appreciations_, Macmillan, 1889.
[89] William Temple, b. 1628; d. 1699. His works, mainly political
writings, were published in two volumes folio, 1720; a later edition,
1731, including the Letters of Temple (edited, and as title-page
says--published by Jonathan Swift), was dedicated to his Majesty William
III.
[90] This old country home, very charming with its antique air, its mossy
terraces, its giant cedars, is still held by a Sir Henry Dryden.
[91] Otway, b. 1631; d. 1685, son of a Sussex clergyman, was author of
many poor plays, and of two--“The Orphan” and “Venice Preserved”--sure to
live. With much native refinement and extraordinary pathetic power, he
went to the bad; was crazed by hopeless love for an actress (Mrs. Barry)
in his own plays; plunged thereafter into wildest dissipation, and died
destitute and neglected.
[92] Shall I except his re-telling of the tale of Cymon and “Iphigene the
Fair?”
[93] John Locke, b. 1632; d. 1704. The best edition of Locke’s works is
said to be that by Bishop Law, four volumes, 4to, 1777. For Life, Fox
Bourne (1876) is latest authority.
[94] This was a weak scion of the house, “born a shapeless lump, like
anarchy,” as Dryden savagely says; but--by this very match--he became the
father of the brilliant author of the _Characteristics_ (1711).
[95] February 6, 1685.
[96] Matthew Prior, b. 1664; d. 1721.
[97] William Congreve, b. 1670; d. 1729. See edition of his dramatic
works, with pleasant introduction by Leigh Hunt (1840).
[98] Daniel Defoe, b. 1661; d. 1731. Little is known of his very early
life. Of _Robinson Crusoe_ there have been editions innumerable. Of his
complete works no full edition has ever been published--probably never
will be.
[99] Richard Steele, b. 1672; d. 1729. He was born in Dublin, and died on
his wife’s estate at Llanngunnor, near Caermarthen, in Wales.
[100] The _Christian Hero_ appeared in 1701; and it was in the same year
that Steele’s first play of “The Funeral” was acted at Drury Lane. “The
Lying Lover” appeared in 1703, and “The Tender Husband” in 1705.
[101] I take the careful reckoning of Mr. Dobson in his _Life of Steele_,
1886.
[102] It is, however, seriously to be doubted if Addison ever saw the
“Atticus” satire.
[103] “_Je tire vers ma fin._” Smollett (Book I., chap. vi.); not a strong
authority in most matters, but--from his profession of medicine--an apt
one to ferret out actual details in respect to royal illness.
[104] Sir John Vanbrugh, b. (about) 1666; d. 1726. His comedies were
better thought of than his buildings, both in his own day and in ours.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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