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Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They LivedLong, William J. (William Joseph)

History

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

Name: Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived
Author: Long, William J. (William Joseph)

Long, William J. (William Joseph)

American literature -- History and criticism; English literature -- History and criticism

"My name and memory I leave to foreign nations, and to mine own country
_after some time is passed over_," said Bacon in his will. That
reference to the future meant, not that England might learn to forget and
forgive (for Bacon was not greatly troubled by his disgrace), but that she
might learn to appreciate his _Instauratio Magna_. In the same
document the philosopher left magnificent bequests for various purposes,
but when these were claimed by the beneficiaries it was learned that the
debts of the estate were three times the assets. This high-sounding will is
an epitome of Bacon's life and work.

    LIFE. Bacon belongs with Sidney and Raleigh in that group of
    Elizabethans who aimed to be men of affairs, politicians,
    reformers, explorers, rather than writers of prose or poetry. He
    was of noble birth, and from an early age was attached to
    Elizabeth's court. There he expected rapid advancement, but the
    queen and his uncle (Lord Burghley) were both a little suspicious
    of the young man who, as he said, had "taken all knowledge for his
    province."

    Failing to advance by favor, Bacon studied law and entered
    Parliament, where he rose rapidly to leadership. Ben Jonson writes
    of him, in that not very reliable collection of opinions called
    _Timber_:

        "There happened in my time one noble speaker who was full
        of gravity in his speaking.... No man ever spake more
        neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less
        emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered.... The fear
        of every man that heard him was lest he should make an
        end."

    [Illustration: FRANCIS BACON]

    [Sidenote: HIS TRIUMPH]

    When Elizabeth died, Bacon saw his way open. He offered his
    services to the royal favorite, Buckingham, and was soon in the
    good graces of King James. He was made Baron Verulam and Viscount
    St. Albans; he married a rich wife; he rose rapidly from one
    political honor to another, until at sixty he was Lord High
    Chancellor of England. So his threefold ambition for position,
    wealth and power was realized. It was while he held the highest
    state office that he published his _Novum Organum_, which
    established his reputation as "the first philosopher in Europe."
    That was in 1620, the year when a handful of Pilgrims sailed away
    unnoticed on one of the world's momentous voyages.

    [Sidenote: HIS DISGRACE]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

Long, William J. (William Joseph)

American literature -- History and criticism; English literature -- History and criticism

"My name and memory I leave to foreign nations, and to mine own country
_after some time is passed over_," said Bacon in his will. That
reference to the future meant, not that England might learn to forget and
forgive (for Bacon was not greatly troubled by his disgrace), but that she
might learn to appreciate his _Instauratio Magna_. In the same
document the philosopher left magnificent bequests for various purposes,
but when these were claimed by the beneficiaries it was learned that the
debts of the estate were three times the assets. This high-sounding will is
an epitome of Bacon's life and work.

    LIFE. Bacon belongs with Sidney and Raleigh in that group of
    Elizabethans who aimed to be men of affairs, politicians,
    reformers, explorers, rather than writers of prose or poetry. He
    was of noble birth, and from an early age was attached to
    Elizabeth's court. There he expected rapid advancement, but the
    queen and his uncle (Lord Burghley) were both a little suspicious
    of the young man who, as he said, had "taken all knowledge for his
    province."

    Failing to advance by favor, Bacon studied law and entered
    Parliament, where he rose rapidly to leadership. Ben Jonson writes
    of him, in that not very reliable collection of opinions called
    _Timber_:

        "There happened in my time one noble speaker who was full
        of gravity in his speaking.... No man ever spake more
        neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less
        emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered.... The fear
        of every man that heard him was lest he should make an
        end."

    [Illustration: FRANCIS BACON]

    [Sidenote: HIS TRIUMPH]

    When Elizabeth died, Bacon saw his way open. He offered his
    services to the royal favorite, Buckingham, and was soon in the
    good graces of King James. He was made Baron Verulam and Viscount
    St. Albans; he married a rich wife; he rose rapidly from one
    political honor to another, until at sixty he was Lord High
    Chancellor of England. So his threefold ambition for position,
    wealth and power was realized. It was while he held the highest
    state office that he published his _Novum Organum_, which
    established his reputation as "the first philosopher in Europe."
    That was in 1620, the year when a handful of Pilgrims sailed away
    unnoticed on one of the world's momentous voyages.

    [Sidenote: HIS DISGRACE]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

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