42 Milton D. Baumgartner 



lated the idea that genius is superior to any rule. This declaration 

 is coupled with Shakspere in a letter to Dennis (1693) : " He had 

 a genius for tragedy and we know that genius alone is a greater 

 virtue than all other qualifications put together. "^^ Although he 

 formulated the idea of genius, it was Young who developed the 

 idea/* which Lessing accepted, and the " Sturm und Dranger " 

 disseminated.-^ 



While Lessing probably did not know the Dryden-Dennis letter, 

 he knew from the Essay that Dryden considered Shakspere a 

 greater dramatist than all modern writers, and in the Literatur- 

 brief he commends the translation of Shakspere's masterpieces, 

 and proclaims him a genius. " Denn ein Genie kann nur von 

 einem Genie entziindet werden, und am leichtesten von so einem, 

 das alles blosz der Natur zu danken zu haben scheinet . . . . " Like 

 Dryden, he utters this in Shakspere's presence with the transla- 

 tion of the Essay still fresh in mind. 



Finally Dryden lays down the principle, and throughout the 

 £^^■03; insists, that short speeches and quick replies move the pas- 

 sions more, and bring greater pleasure to the audience than the 

 long speeches. " It cannot be denied that short speeches and re- 

 plies are more apt to move the passions and beget concernment in 

 us, than the other; for it is unnatural for any one in a gust of 

 passion to speak long together . . . . " In the Comedy he regards 

 repartee one of its chief graces. " The greatest pleasure of an 

 audience," he says, " is a chase of wit, kept up on both sides, and 

 swiftly managed." Beaumont and Fletcher he regards supreme 

 in quickness of wit in repartee, but in wit he naturally places Shak- 

 spere above Jonson. 



Similarly in the conclusion of the Literaturbrief Lessing com- 

 mends a chase of wit. " Das aber unsre alten Stiicke wirk- 

 lich sehr viel Englisches gehabt haben, konnte ich Ihnen mit 

 geringer Miihe weitlaufig beweisen. Nur das bekannteste der- 

 selben zu nennen, ' Doctor Faust ' hat eine Menge Szenen, die nur 



23 Scott-Saintsbury, XVIII, p. 117. 



24 Kind, Edward Young in Germany, p. 2 flf., New York, 1906. 



25 Hamelius, Die Kritik der englischen Literatur des 17. und 18. Jahr- 

 hunderts, p. 49, Leipzig, 1896. 



330 



