REVIVAL OF LETTERS.

WE are now arrived on the confines of light. The revival of classical learning about the middle of this century, (the 15th,) created a new æra in literature and in human affairs, auspicious to every species of improvement. From the influence of this event upon the subsequent progress of knowledge, and particularly of the English language, it may be proper, before entering on the reign of Henry VIII. to give a cursory view of the subject, as far at least as it relates to the introduction of the Grecian and Roman learning into England.

The connection between the ancient and modern learning, was never entirely dissolved. Amidst the violence and general insecurity which prevailed in the middle ages, the Romish clergy, invested by superstition with a mysterious and sanctified authority, which kept the vulgar in

awe, enjoyed that security and leisure, which are essential to intellectual pursuits. The monastic libraries contained all the literature of the times; and a few out of the numbers who were intellectually idle, were prompted either from inherent activity of character, or simply as a remedy for listlessness, to read, and afterwards to write. We are thus indebted to the monkish writers for those few rays of light which gleam through the darkness of that savage period. Though the taste and stile of the monkish historians are as barbarous as the age in which they lived; yet, from their frequent allusions to ancient history, and their quotations of ancient authors, it is evident that the more dignified and intelligent churchmen were familiar with the Roman learning. But this learning was confined to the cloister. The profane world was sunk in ignorance and barbarism!

About the middle of the fourteenth century, Dante, Petrarca, with his pupil and friend, Boccace, in Italy; and soon after, Chaucer and Gower, in England, by the cultivation of their vernacular languages, commenced a new æra in literary taste, and contributed to enlarge the sphere of intellectual pleasures. Pe

trarca was organized for the higher and more refined emotions; and his genius, inspired by the most pure and exalted passion, expressed his glowing feelings in language of correspondent truth and delicacy. The strings of the human heart, vibrating in harmony, acknowledged the touch of nature; and the poetry of Petrarca creating a finer intellectual tact, produced in a few minds, a distaste for romantic imagery and the peculiarities of Gothic manners. This incipient diffusion of a juster sentiment, prepared the way for the complete establishment of classical refinement in the succeeding century.

From the time when the Greek language first became an object of curiosity in England, to the period of Cheke and Smith, those of our countrymen whom literary ardour stimulated to the acquisition of Grecian learning, were compelled to resort to Italy, and even to Greece. It appears that there were some symptoms of the revival of the Roman and Grecian classics in England about the time, and even before the capture of Constantinople (1453) impelled the learned Greeks to a refuge in Italy. Among these early classical scholars, I shall mention only a few who were the most distinguished, or the

effects of whose efforts have been most per

manent.

William Grocyn, fellow of New College, Oxford, perfected his knowledge of the Greek tongue at Florence, under Demetrius, Chalcondylas, and Politian; and at Rome under Hermolaus Barbarus. On his return to England, and before the year 1490, he voluntarily became the first lecturer in that language at Oxford. It is affirmed, however, by Polydore Virgil, probably from a partiality to his own country, that Cornelius Vitellus, an Italian, of noble birth and great learning, was the first who taught the Greek and Roman classics in that university.

John Tiptoft, the unfortunate earl of Woreester, was inferior to none of the ecclesiastics of his time in his diligent pursuit of ancient learning. He studied at Padua; and by the purity and elegance of his Latinity, recommended himself to the notice of pope Pius the Second, and other literati of the Italian school. His Latin letters still remain to evince the justness of this encomium. Moreover, he translated Cicero's Dialogue on Friendship, into English; which was printed by Caxton, in 1481, fol. He likewise translated into Eng

lish two elegant Latin orations of Banatusius Magnomontanus, supposed to be spoken by C. Scipio, and C. Flaminius, rivals in the courtship of Lucretia. These were also printed by Caxton, with Tully's two Dialogues above mentioned. Tiptoft was the general patron of all those of his countrymen, who were actuated with the curiosity to penetrate the mines of antiquity, and to enter on the new plan of study. The Humphredian library at Oxford was instituted about this time; and he had prepared a present for it of select MS, books, valued at five hundred marks; though there is some doubt whether, at the earl's execution in 1470, they had ever been received by the university. Wood observes, that he had meditated a similar benefaction to Cambridge.

Italy was at this time the general mart for ancient authors, especially the Greek classics; and it is scarcely questionable that the above MSS. were purchased there. The Turkish emperors, now seated at Constantinople, were ignorant of the value of these treasures; and they became interesting objects of commerce to Italian emissaries dispatched to purchase books, which they afterwards sold in their own coun