3 1 8 Nations lately become Literary. 



terati, and were soon afterwards, in a considerable 

 degree, transfused into their own tongue. From 

 this period we are told that German prose became 

 more concise, copious, and energetic, as well as 

 more lofty and bold in its port. 



The third and last epocha in the progress of 

 German style is that formed by the writings of a 

 number of eminent men, since the improvements 

 of Lessing and his contemporaries. Among these, 

 Klopstock, Zimmerman, Wieland,Unzer, Her- 

 der,"" Garve, Engel, Lavater, and a number of 

 others, hold a high place. These writers enriched 

 the language in which they wrote with new words 

 and phrases; taught new and improved modes of 

 constructing periods; introduced ornaments of 

 speech more simple, natural, and elegant, than those 

 which had been commonly in use before; and in- 

 fused a sprightliness and vigour into their pages 

 which scarcely any preceding writers had attained. 

 The German constitution has confined eloquence 

 almost entirely to the pulpit. We must therefore 

 look to the Sermons of that country for some of 

 the best specimens of style. Mosheim was the 

 first who introduced any kind of refinement and 

 elegance of composition into the sacred desk. He 

 was followed bySpALDiNG, who is said to have been 

 the first pulpit orator in Germany, who, in a supe- 

 rior degree, united simplicity with elegance, energy, 

 and pathos. Zollikofer stands in the same high 

 rank, with the addition of a philosophical cast to 

 the elegant and popular form of his discourses. Be- 

 sides these, the names of Sturm, Cramer, Sack, 

 Less, Seiler, Reinitard, Wurz, Braun, and 

 many others, are considerably distinguished in the 

 annals of sacred eloquence. 



iv Of all the German writers it is generally supposed that Klopstock, 

 Lessing, Wieland, and Herder, discover the most profound and inti- 

 mate acquaintance with their native language, 



