106 



plication of copies. A variety of learned men* arose, who 

 employed themselves, with infinite application, to present 

 the text of the classic anthers to the world, in the purest 

 form. The splendid court of Leo X., so much celebrated 

 by cotemporary and all succeeding poets, extended its ge- 

 nial influeiice to the protection and advancement of the 

 fine arts. At this time, also, the English taste began to be 

 really refined and reformed, and the English language be- 

 came regular and classical. The poetical dynasty, which 

 had commenced in Chaucer, Lydgatc, and Gower, was 

 continued in splendor, in Sackville, Wiat, and Surry. 

 Many of the first reformers were not only men of great 

 learning and ability, but of a true classical taste, and ele- 

 gance of mind. Erasmus, who was particularly severe on 

 the corruptions of the monks,f- and may, in some measure, 

 be reckoned one of the reformers, excelled in learning, cri- 

 tical refinement, wit, and classical style. The art of paint- 

 ing was, at this time, much encouraged in England. Hans 

 Holbein worked there, as well as other painters of emi- 

 nence; a proof of the refinement of taste which had then 

 taken place. The regular drama rose on the ruins of the 

 miracle plays and mysteries. |. The Italians, who excel so 

 much in music at the present, were the earliest improvers 



of 



* The Aldus family, including Paulus Manutius, and Asolas, some of the 

 refugee Greeks, Calliergi, &c. &c. 



t Erasmus, on some occasion, makes very free with the monks, whom he 

 calls cucullators, scm-tatores turpissimos, nebulones. 



X The first model of a regular tragedy was the Gorbeduc of Sackville. 



