usual; but nothing can be more erroneous count for the origin of romantic fiction: "Mr than to suppose that the hypothesis was sug- Dunlop is incorrect in saying that Mr Ritson gested for the first time in Mr Southey's pre- successively ridiculed the Gothic, Arabian, face to Amadis de Gaul. The reviewer's head and Classical fictions. Ritson did no such is probably "stuffed too full of Gammer thing.” (P. 390.) I, therefore, beg leave to Gurton's Needle," and the Pytefull Kronykil extract a few passages from Ritson's Introof Appollyn of Tire, to have room for publi- duction to the Metrical Romances. In speakcations of more modern literature, or he might ing of Warton and his Arabic system he says, have known that Joseph Warton, in his Essay" This eloquent and flowery historian, whose on the Genius of Pope, which was written duty it was to ascertain truth from the about 1760, shows that the romantic stories of evidence of facts, and not to indulge his imathe middle ages are, in general, mere modifi- gination in reverie and romance, has not the cations of the classical fables. "The writers," slightest authority for this visionary system." says Warton," of the old romances, from (P. 22.) And again, "This poetical historian whom Ariosto and Spenser have borrowed so is very ready at a venture to affirm any thing, largely, are supposed to have had copious however imaginary: he says, that Gormund, imaginations; but may they not be indebted king of the Africans, occurs; and to prove for their invulnerable heroes, their monsters, how well he understood Geoffrey of Montheir enchantments, their gardens of pleasure, mouth, and how accurately this impostour their winged steeds, and the like, to the was acquainted with Arabian allusions, this Echidna, to the Circe, to the Medea, to the Gormund was a king of the Danes!" (P. 23.) Achilles, to the Syrens, to the Harpies, to the A few pages on, he calls Mister Warton a lyeing Phryxus, and the Bellerophon of the ancients ?" coxcomb, and concludes, " Warton, misled by Then, after adducing a variety of other ex- that ignis fatuus Warburton, and even wishamples, he continues, "Some faint traditions ing, it would seem, to emulate and outdo that of the ancients might have been kept glim- confident and mendacious prelate, has been mering and alive during the whole barbarous induced to assert, 'Before these expeditions ages, as they are called; and it is not impos- into the east became fashionable, the principal sible but these have been the parents of the and leading subjects of the old fables were Genii in the eastern, and the Fairies in the the exploits of King Arthur; but in the western, world. To say that Amadis and Sir romances written after the Holy War, a new Tristan have a classical foundation, may at set of champions, &c., were introduced into first sight appear paradoxical; but if the sub- romance.' In all this rhapsody there is scarcely ject were examined to the bottom, I am in- a word of truth." (Pp. 51, 52.) Percy and clined to think that the wildest chimeras in his Gothic system are ridiculed in similar those books of chivalry, with which Don terms. Quixote's library was furnished, would be found to have a close connection with classical mythology." (Vol. ii. sec. 8, p. 65, &c.) It so happens, that the same system has been promulgated by various other writers: And Mr Southey surely has too many genuine titles to public esteem and admiration to require or lay claim to such as are fictitious.

But the reviewer denies that Mr Ritson has ridiculed any of the systems invented to ac

In their approach to the more modern fictions, the "Seven Sleepers" have not been able to shake off the drowsiness that has hung on their eye-lids during their progress through the romances of chivalry. Thus, in speaking of the heroic romances of Calprenede and Mad. Scuderi,-" It is observed by Mr Dunlop, that much of the heroic romance has been also derived from the ancient Greek romances; but it appears to us that the Cleo

ever, of the heroic romance has been more fully considered in the present edition.

patra and Cassandra arose out of the Amadis," semblance to the Greek romance." (Vol.iii. p. &c. (P. 399.) Now, from this passage, the 186, 1st ed.-p. 230, 2d ed.) The origin, howreader would suppose that I had denied the influence of romances of chivalry on the heroic romance, or at least that I had written no- While alluding to the improvements in this thing on the subject. I have said, however, new edition of my work, I cannot omit exin the very commencement of the chapter, pressing my obligations to those by whom my which treats of Heroic Romance, "Many of researches have been facilitated. The names the elements, of which the heroic romance is of Mr Scott, Mr Douce, and Mr Heber, need compounded must be sought in anterior and only be mentioned, since any eulogy of mine more spirited compositions. Thus, we find would merely be repeating to a few what is in the heroic romance, a great deal of ancient universally known and acknowledged. To chivalrous delineation." (Vol. iii. p. 179, Mr Goldsmid, Mr Utterson, and several other in 1st ed. p. 221 of 2d ed.) And in men- individuals, I am also much indebted: and I tioning the Polexandre, which is usually shall ever regard it as one of the most agreeconsidered as the earliest heroic romance, able circumstances which have attended the "This ponderous work may be regarded as a publication of the History of Fiction, that it sort of intermediate production between these introduced me to the acquaintance of a numlater compositions and the ancient fables of ber of gentlemen, equally distinguished by chivalry. It has, indeed, a closer affinity to their talents and by their readiness to oblige. the heroic romance, but many of the exploits Even to the Sleepers of Ephesus, I must of the hero are as extravagant as those of a express my acknowledgments, for having half paladin or knight of the Round Table. In opened their eyes on the first edition of so the episode of the Peruvian Inca, there is a trifling a publication as the History of Fiction: formidable giant; and, in another part of And I beg leave to wish them in return many the work, we are introduced to a dragon, a comfortable nap (though not quite so long which lays waste a whole kingdom. An as that of their prototypes), over the quarto infinite number of tournaments are also in-bokes emprynted by Wynkin, or the folio terspersed through the volumes. In some of pages of the Mirrour of Knighthood and Deits features, Polexandre bears a striking re- lectable Legend of Don Belianis.

EDINBURGH, 10th Feb. 1816.

INTRODUCTION.

THE art of fictitious narrative appears to have and forcible. For example, in the process its origin in the same principles of selection of forming the garden, the savage finds that by which the fine arts in general are created it is not enough merely to collect a variety of and perfected. Among the vast variety of agreeable trees or plants; he discovers that trees and shrubs which are presented to his more than this is necessary, and that it is also view, a savage finds, in his wanderings, some essential that he should grub up from around which peculiarly attract his notice by their his dwelling the shrubs which are useless or beauty and fragrance, and these he at length noxious, and which weaken or impair the selects, and plants them round his dwelling. pure delight which he derives from others. In like manner, among the mixed events of He is careful, accordingly, that the rose should human life, he experiences some which are no longer be placed beside the thistle, as in peculiarly grateful, and of which the narra- the wild, but that it should flourish in a clear, tive at once pleases himself, and excites in and sheltered, and romantic situation, where the minds of his hearers a kindred emotion. its sweets may be undiminished, and where Of this kind are unlooked-for occurrences, its form can be contemplated without any successful enterprise, or great and unexpected attending circumstances of uneasiness or disdeliverance from signal danger and distress. gust. The collector of agreeable facts finds, As he collected round his habitation those in like manner, that the sympathy they excite objects with which he had been pleased, in can be heightened by removing from their order that they might afford him a frequent detail every thing that is not interesting, or gratification, so he rests his fancy on those that tends to weaken the principal emotion, incidents which had formerly awaked the which it is his intention to raise. He renmost powerful emotions; and the remem-ders, in this way, the occurrences more unbrance of which most strongly excites his expected, the enterprises more successful, the tenderness, or pride, or gratitude.

deliverance from danger and distress more wonderful. "As the active world," says Lord Thus, in process of time, a mass of curious Bacon, "is inferior to the rational soul, so narrative is collected, which is communicated Fiction gives to mankind what history denies, from one individual to another. In almost and, in some measure, satisfies the mind with every occurrence of human life, however, as shadows when it cannot enjoy the substance: in almost every scene of nature, something For, upon a narrow inspection, Fiction strongintervenes of a mixed, or indifferent descrip-ly shows that a greater variety of things, a tion, tending to weaken the agreeable emo- more perfect order, a more beautiful variety, tion, which, without it, would be more pure than can any where be found in nature, is

pleasing to the mind. And as real history it paints are regarded merely, or principally, gives us not the success of things according in a public light, without taking into consito the deserts of vice and virtue, Fiction cor- deration their private feelings, tastes, or habits. rects it, and presents us with the fates and Poetry is in general capable of too little detail, fortunes of persons rewarded or punished ac- while its paintings, at the same time, are cording to merit. And as real history dis- usually too much forced and exaggerated. gusts us with a familiar and constant similitude But in Fiction we can discriminate without of things, Fiction relieves us by unexpected impropriety, and enter into detail without turns and changes, and thus not only delights, meanness. Hence, it has been remarked, but inculcates morality and nobleness of soul. that it is chiefly in the fictions of an age that It raises the mind by accommodating the we can discover the modes of living, dress, images of things to our desires, and not, like and manners of the period. "Finally," says history and reason, subjecting the mind to Borromeo (in the preface to the Notizia de things." Novellieri Italiani), "we should remark the light that novels spread on the history of the times. He who doubts of this may read the Eulogium of Bandello, and he will be satisfied that his Novelliero may be regarded as a magic mirror, which distinctly reflects the customs and manners of the sixteenth century, an age fertile in great events; and it also acquaints us with many literary and political anecdotes, which the historians of the revolutions of our states have not transmitted to posterity. I, myself, can affirm that in these tales I have found recorded authentic anecdotes of the private lives of sovereigns, which would in vain be sought for in ordinary histories.”

From this view of the subject, it is obvious that the fictions framed by mankind, or the narratives with which they are delighted, will vary with their feelings, and with the state of society. Since Fiction may be regarded as select and highly coloured history, those adventures would naturally form the basis of it which had already come to pass, or which were most likely to occur. Accordingly, in a warlike age, it would be peculiarly employed in tales of enterprise and chivalry, and, in times of gallantry, in the detail of love ad

ventures.

The History of Fiction, therefore, becomes, But even if the utility which is derived from in a considerable degree, interesting to the Fiction were less than it is, how much are we philosopher, and occupies an important place indebted to it for pleasure and enjoyment! in the history of the progress of society. By It sweetens solitude and charms sorrow-it contemplating the fables of a people, we have occupies the attention of the vacant, and una successive delineation of their prevalent bends the mind of the philosopher. Like the modes of thinking, a picture of their feelings enchanter, Fiction shows us, as it were in a and tastes and habits. In this respect prose mirror, the most agreeable objects: recalls fiction appears to possess advantages consider- from a distance the forms which are dear to ably superior either to history or poetry. In us, and soothes our own griefs by awakening history there is too little individuality; in our sympathy for others. By its means the poetry too much effort, to permit the poet recluse is placed in the midst of society; and and historian to portray the manners living as they rise. History treats of man, as it were, in the mass, and the individuals whom

1 De Aug. Scient. Lib. II. p. 1.

he who is harassed and agitated in the city is transported to rural tranquillity and repose. The rude are refined by an introduction, as it were, to the higher orders of mankind, and even the dissipated and selfish are, in some

degree, corrected by those paintings of virtue obsolete works are perhaps in detail unworthy and simple nature, which must ever be em- of public attention, but which promoted and ployed by the novelist, if he wish to awaken diffused, in their own day, light and pleasure, emotion or delight. and form as it were landmarks which testify the course and progress of genius. By conAnd such seems now to be the common templating also not only what has been done, idea which is entertained of the value of Fic- but the mode in which it has been achieved, tion. Accordingly, this powerful instrument a method may perhaps be discovered of proof virtue and happiness, after having been ceeding still farther, of avoiding the errors long despised, on account of the purposes to into which our predecessors have fallen, and which it had been made subservient, has gra- of following the paths in which they have dually become more justly appreciated, and met success. Retrospective works of this more highly valued. Works of Fiction have nature, therefore, combine utility, justice, been produced, abounding at once with the and pleasure; and accordingly, in different most interesting details, and the most saga- branches of philosophy and literature, various cious reflections, and which differ from trea- histories of their progress and fortunes have tises of abstract philosophy only by the greater appeared.

justness of their views, and the higher interest

which they excite. And it may be presumed, I have attempted in the following work to that a path, at once so useful and delightful, afford such a delineation as is now alluded to, will continue to be trod : It may be presumed, of the origin and progress of fiction, of the that virtue and vice, the conduct of human life, what we are expected to feel, and what we are called on to do and to suffer, will long be taught by example, a method which seems better fitted to improve the mind than abstract propositions and dry discussions.

various forms which it has successively assumed, and the different authors by whom-the prose works in this department of literature have been most successfully cultivated and promoted. I say prose works, since such alone are the proper objects of this undertaking. It was objected to a former edition, that Entertaining such views of the nature and I had commenced the History of Fiction only utility of fiction, and indebted to its charms in the decline of literature, and had neglected for some solace and enjoyment, I have em- the most sublime and lofty efforts of mythoployed a few hours of relaxation in drawing logy and poetry. But it never was my inup the following notices of its gradual pro- tention to consider fiction as connected with gress. No works are perhaps more useful or these topics (an inquiry which, if properly agreeable, than those which delineate the ad- conducted, would form a work of greater exvance of the human mind-the history of tent than the whole of the present volumes, what different individuals have effected in the and which well deserves a peculiar treatise), course of ages, for the instruction, or even the but merely to consider the different fictions innocent amusement, of their species. Such a in prose, which have been given to the world delineation is attended with innumerable ad- under the name of romance or novel. That vantages: It furnishes a collection of inte- I have begun late, arises from the circumresting facts concerning the philosophy of stance, that the works of which I have unmind, which we thus study not in an abstract dertaken a description were late in making and introspective method, but in a manner their appearance; and I am the more strongly certain and experimental. It retrieves from induced to direct my inquiries to this subject, oblivion a number of individuals, whose now as I am not aware that any writer has hitherto