New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-07

one difference between the method OF Warrior and
tina, Of Mr. Courthope. The former would I'M
doubtedy have developed as fully as he was able
ALL the accessible data about such British book
Az Mr. Courthope mentions. while the latter dis
misses II with a word in passing. Warton
scheme Of preliminary dissertations was not
only convenient for his purpose. but
for the purposes OF those who came after
him 1t is still possible by adding TO Inc
number TO include in an amended Wartoh
all that learning has evoked or shall evoke
from the past respecting the origins OF Engnsh
poetry When the separate papers OF warrior
own composition are taken into consideration IL
must be seen that his views were broader thah
he got credit for
One chapter in/ particular, which Mr.. Court
hope entities THE Progress OF Aegory IN Eng
lsh Poetry" might have been accepted by war
ton as a dissertation. For 1t goes far pacK Oh
English verse to trace the beginnings or tnis
phase of fiction. namely. to Greek poytheisuc
myths. and to the literary device of Plato. who'
while pretending to laugh at the absurdties OF
popular lore eagerly worked out similar out
more elaborate fancies OF his own. In the o!d
myth the allegory was unconscious. or al ieas'
II seemed 10 be 50. inasmuch as the manner OF
creating these myths had been forgotten. But
IL an Intentional part OF the nO'ioi III '"'''
and II became the dominant thought Of those
who read strange meanings into the Greek
poets and the Hebrew Scriptures Then Origen
applied the same method to the explanation OF
Christian doctrine. He was responsible for that
scheme Of threcfold interpretation historical.
psychical and spiritual. which dominated all
medieval criticism and was perfected In Dante.
The generalization OF abstract IDEAS favored by
alIegory was profoundly adapted to the genius
Of tho Latin language. AMI by that medium IL
descended In full strength to the Romance dia-
iects. Religion and language thus conspired 10
teach Langland his vision Of Piers the POW
man." while chivalry as interpreted on the CON
tinent became. in the hands Of Chaucer and his
SUCCESSORS the dominant force In wholly ideai
realm, ruled by Love and overrun by such de-
mons as Malebouche. Envy. Despair. PoVerty
and all the rest still familiar but incapable now
OF taking on that reality with which the medi-
aeyaI fancy invested them. In actual life this
allegorizing tendency was gratihed by the so,
called Courts 81 Love: In literature II converted
the ordinary feelings Of humanity to romantic
mysticism.
The outcome Mr. Courthope illustrates by
studies in detail Of the prologue to Cnaueers
OF Glass" The Kings QUAR-. by James OF
Scotland: the anonymous Court OF Love.
and OF the important works OF that group OK
early Scottish poets which included ROPER.
Henryson William Dunbar Gavin Douglas as
we'll as Hawes's "Pastine 81 Pleasure and the
poems Of SHELTON and Alexander Barclay. com
pared with the essays II Warton. this chapter,
as veil as the others In Mr.. Courthope's hrst
volume displays a phllosoph!c method and de-
termination 10 systematic literary history
which the older author would hardly nave
thought possible English poetry Is for MT
CourthOpe an expression from age 70 age or the
needs and aspirations Of the national life. His
central thought implies a massive work and the
openlng chapters give assurance that the whole
achievement will be worthy ~ the theme. War
ton will not be supplanied. but he will no longer
stand alone.