51 6 Modern Languages. [Chap. XY. 



One of the first steps in this course of cultivation 

 was the publication of the JMesmih, by Klopstock. 

 When that celebrated poem made its appearance, 

 the many new combinations of words, and the va- 

 rious licences of language with which it abounded, 

 excited much complaint among the countrymen of 

 the author; but these innovations soon became fa- 

 miliar, gradually gained admirers, and at no great 

 distance of time were generally adopted by the 

 best German writers. Klopstock was particularly 

 successful in improving the versification of his na^ 

 tive language. He introduced a new style of poe- 

 try into his country ; and has been generally fol- 

 lowed as one of the best authorities in polite lite- 

 rature. Tills celebrated poet has also done much 

 to improve the oi^tfwgraphj of his language. • He 

 first suggested, and by his own example enforced, 

 the propriety and necessity of reform in this de- 

 partment of the German tongue. His proposals, 

 indeed, were not adopted in their full extent ; but 

 they led others to direct their attention towards^ 

 this object ; and to Inm therefore is due a large 

 share of the credit arising from the improvement^ 

 which have since taken place. 



Next to the radical reform introduced by Klop- 

 stock, the writings of many others of the literati 

 of that country have had a considerable influence 

 in promoting the same object. Among these the 

 pofuis oF Hallcr; the Ichjlls, and Death of Abel , 

 of Crcssner; the fables and moral writings of Gel- 

 lert ; the numerous and diversified productions of 

 Wifland ; and tlie various works of Lessing, Her- 

 der, Goeihe, Schiller, \o^ii, and many others. 



