The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19
SOME NEW BOOKS.
Som. writers Of England. Ausustan Age.

SOME NEW BOOKS
Some writers of EneIsnd's Ausustan Age,
Tho latest addition TO tho Periods Of European
Literature series is volume entitled Tho Augus
tan Ages" by Oliver Elton lScribners) The pur
pose Of this book Is To review moro than one lit
eraturo Of western Europe during the period that
opens with the third quarter Of tho seventeenth
century The later Il nit varies In different cases In
France IL u tho death Of Louis XIV; In England
tho story goes further, with Pope and Swift but
IL guided rather by schools and fashions than by
strict chronology. As for some other countries
which fought the same battles as France and Eng
land. only many years In their wake, tho author
has tried 70 indicate tho beginnings Of the great
change, mental and formal. that overlook them
also. II Is evident that much time aud labor have
been devoted 10 the section on the ermanc litera-
ture. Eastern Europe has not been touched.
In general, IL may be said that wherever tho
author has not been able TO discuss the original
compositions al FIRST hand, he has followed tho
rule Of going back TO the better native histories
Of literature Indeed, MS obligation 70 these Ia
sverywher very large. II 10 what the author has
70 say asput the English Augustan Age In which
Americans are most interested. and II II this 70
which wo would hero direct attention
Tho first point to be noted In connection with
tho English literature Of the Restoration is tho
fact that Milton did not belong to IL His later
works epic and tragic do not psychologicaily
appertain 10 the years Q8SS-l67o) during which
they were written In Dryden's day Milton was
not an influence he was only q reputation, and
his rcpute was that Of ono misunderstood.
Baylo In his Dictionary O69D. defines Milton
as tho famous apologisi for the execution Of
Charles l.. and adds "He moddlcd with poetry.
and several OF his poems oi'herin Laun OF In
English, saw the ngh' durng MS hio OF AFTER
his death In spite OF The lust cordial and
even splendid praise given by Dryden In 1874,
Milton's position was not rogularizod and counter
signed at once lilo had W DO rcconciled with
wrong nrst principles The a prtor undicauon OF
him was begun IN l7o4 by Dennis who expressed
the opinion tha' Mii'on IN grca' poet because
he Justly and reasonably oxcitos great passions'
This Is. SUBSTANTIALLY tho view set forth by Add
son In the Spectator. load Was lifted from the
minds Of the would.bo correct whom IL was found
that Milton did not TALL to satisfy what appeared
to DO tho tests Of Aristotle
'ohn Dryoen VIVA OF COURSE mo mns'or ana
E"' hnsnsn secondary verso born In iooi'
ne uoo III Lonoon IN i'oV' mo Ahhus Mia
plt tne ios' ana chioi poem OF MS nrs' period
nooo' cnokoo WIN nood OF nafsihy discon-
unuous nguIos 'ha' compare inc ADVANCE OF tho
great nro IN London with CROMWELL with the soa'
WIN an army or monster Inc sVio' though
gorgeous In patches 10 NOT good. and Dryden
cannon ye' administer his Inheritance Az Tho
snmo umo no u COMPOSING IN 'he Essay on
Dfa"euo roosy Nooo'' an Amos'iauiuoss prose
ne 'urned 70 piay-wnung. mol through any nat
ih oon1 ou' from necessity; u Drew MIN close 70
'he King court and granhoes who were his pay
masters In MS second stage uooo-ioo) ms