Transcriber’s Notes: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_) and ^{} encloses superscripted material. Sidenotes are identified as: [SN: text of sidenote]. Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. * * * * * Periods of European Literature EDITED BY PROFESSOR SAINTSBURY VI. THE LATER RENAISSANCE * * * * * PERIODS OF EUROPEAN LITERATURE. EDITED BY PROFESSOR SAINTSBURY. “_The criticism which alone can much help us for the future is a criticism which regards Europe as being, for intellectual and spiritual purposes, one great confederation, bound to a joint action and working to a common result._” --MATTHEW ARNOLD. In 12 Crown 8vo Volumes. Price 5s. net each. The DARK AGES Professor W. P. KER. The FLOURISHING OF ROMANCE AND THE RISE OF ALLEGORY THE EDITOR. The FOURTEENTH CENTURY F. J. SNELL. The TRANSITION PERIOD G. GREGORY SMITH. The EARLIER RENAISSANCE The LATER RENAISSANCE DAVID HANNAY. The FIRST HALF OF 17TH CENTURY The AUGUSTAN AGES OLIVER ELTON. The MID-EIGHTEENTH CENTURY J. HEPBURN MILLAR. The ROMANTIC REVOLT Professor C. E. VAUGHAN. The ROMANTIC TRIUMPH T. S. OMOND. The LATER NINETEENTH CENTURY THE EDITOR. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, EDINBURGH AND LONDON. THE LATER RENAISSANCE BY DAVID HANNAY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCXCVIII _All Rights reserved_ PREFACE.