PLYMOinil INSriTU llON. 41 



Elizabeth's plans for the settlement of religion were energetic 

 and decisive, and on the whole were required by the exigencies 

 of that 9ge: they might be more duly estimated by a comparison 

 with those of Mary of England, Philip of Spain, and Charles 

 IX. of Irrince. 



The lecturer considered it impossible in one paper to enter 

 into all the details of this period, and not absolutely necessary 

 since they were enlarged upon in many histories. He rather 

 designed to view the Elizybethan age as a great moral and 

 intellectual epoch, in which ignorance gave place to knowledge 

 — poets and piiilosophers, wise and enlightended men found fame 

 by their mental energies — and in which invention was encouraged. 

 The Queen aided by safe counsellors, and loved by the people, 

 was the sovereign of the seas and the scourge of tyrants on the 

 land. Learning became fashionable, kings had written books, 

 noble ladies had studied Plato and Aristotle, Greek and Roman 

 literature became widely diffused, energies hitherto cramped, 

 were unfettered and a general awakening seemed to be taking 

 place. 



When Elizabeth ascended the throne, the English language 

 was much neglected, while a love of classical literature prevailed, 

 and persons of high rank deemed itnecessriry to be well acquainted 

 with the learned tongues: the laity and clergy also studied them, 

 and no rank nor office of stwte was inaccessible to the learned. 



In proceeding to remark on the learned men of this age, Mr. 

 Dusautoy observed, that on the revival of literature in any nation, 

 a fondness for poetry — nay an excellency in poetic productions, 

 has invariably preceded a proficiency in prose. Homer and Ilesiod 

 among the Greeks — Ennius and Livius Andronicus among the 

 Latins, and Chaucer, Shaksfjeare, and Spencer, in our own 

 country, might be cited as illustrations. At this period, poetical 

 writers were numerous, but prose writers few and indifferent; 

 many of the former were good, but their numbers were — for the 

 most part — rugged and inharmonious, they were too fond of 

 quaint conceits, metaphysical subtleties, and the ancient my- 

 thology. 



Fancy and fiction also, were rather too predominant. Shaks- 

 peare stood first in the list of writers, in Elizabeth's reign; but 

 as Mr. V\ ightwick had treated the genius of our dramatic bard 

 with so much ability the lecturer would leave him in his able 

 hands. 



Spencer's *' Faery Queene" next underwent examination, Mr. 

 Dusautoy claiming for the author an exalted ])osition as a poet, 

 he observed that this poem liad been compared to an extensive 

 picture-gallery, in ranging through which the eye is delighted 

 with detached groups and figures designed by a master painter, 

 and producing an enchanting effect, by their exquisite taste and 

 colouring. It is a poem which will not probably be often read 

 through, but detached parts will continue to give pleasure after 

 VOL. V. — 183.5. F 



