E-text prepared by R. W. Jones <rwj@freeshell.org> Transcriber's note: This file was proofed, using a text-to-speech reader, against the hard copy 2nd. edition published in 1819. No attempt has been made to change the text of any of the quoted verse to reflect later editors' amendments. _Italics_ are indicated thus. The footnotes are serially numbered from the first to the last Lecture, unlike in the original. LECTURES ON THE ENGLISH POETS Delivered at the Surrey Institution by WILLIAM HAZLITT CONTENTS. LECTURE I. INTRODUCTORY.--ON POETRY IN GENERAL. LECTURE II. ON CHAUCER AND SPENSER. LECTURE III. ON SHAKSPEARE AND MILTON. LECTURE IV. ON DRYDEN AND POPE. LECTURE V. ON THOMSON AND COWPER. LECTURE VI. ON SWIFT, YOUNG, GRAY, COLLINS &c. LECTURE VII. ON BURNS, AND THE OLD ENGLISH BALLADS. LECTURE VIII. ON THE LIVING POETS. LECTURE I.--INTRODUCTORY ON POETRY IN GENERAL. The best general notion which I can give of poetry is, that it is the natural impression of any object or event, by its vividness exciting an involuntary movement of imagination and passion, and producing, by sympathy, a certain modulation of the voice, or sounds, expressing it. In treating of poetry, I shall speak first of the subject-matter of it, next of the forms of expression to which it gives birth, and afterwards of its connection with harmony of sound.