Page images
PDF
EPUB

ture dictated, and which the example and the precept of antiquity had authorised. But it was a long time before fuch a change was effected. We find Ariofto, many years after the revival of letters, rejecting truth for magic, and preferring the ridiculous and incoherent excurfions of Boyardo, to the propriety and uniformity of the Grecian and Roman models. Nor did the restoration of antient learning produce any effectual or immediate improvement in the state of criticism. Beni, one of the moft celebrated critics of the fixteenth century, was ftill fo infatuated with a fondness for the old Provencial vein, that he ventured to write a regular differtation*, in which he compares Ariofto with Homer.

Triffino, who flourished a few + years after Ariosto, had tafte and boldness enough to publish an epic poem‡, written in profeffed imitation of the Iliad. But this attempt met with little regard or applause for the reafon on which its real merit was founded. It was rejected as an infipid and uninteresting performance,

*Comparazione di T. Taffo con Omero e Virgilio, infieme con la difefa dell' Ariofto paragonato ad Omero, &c.

+ He died 1550. Ariofto 1535.

L'Italia Liberata di Goti, 1524. It is in blank verfe, which the author would have introduced instead of the Terza Rima of Dante, or the Ottava of Boccace.

having few devils or enchantments to recommend it. To Triffino fucceeded Taffo, who, in his Gierufaleme Liberata, took the antients for his guides; but was still too fenfible of the popular prejudice in favour of ideal beings, and romantic adventures, to neglect or omit them entirely. He had ftudied, and acknowledged the beauties of claffical purity. Yet he ftill kept his first and favourite acquaintance, the old Provencial poets, in his eye. Like his own Rinaldo, who after he had gazed on the diamond fhield of truth, and with feeming resolution was actually departing front Armida and her enchanted gardens, could not help looking back upon them with fome remains of fondnefs. Nor did Taffo's Poem, though compofed in some measure on a regular plan, give its author, among the Italians at leaft, any greater share of ef- ! teem and reputation on that account. Ariofto, with all his extravagancies, was ftill preferred. The fuperiority of the Orlando Furiofo was at length eftablished by a formal decree of the academicians della Crusca, who, amongst other literary debates, held a folemn court of enquiry concerning the merit of both poems.

Such was the prevailing tafte, when Spenfer projected the Fairy Queen: a poem, which according to

the practice of Ariofto, was to confift of allegories, enchantments, and romantic expeditions, conducted by knights, giants, magicians, and fictitious beings. It may be urged, that Spenfer made an unfortunate choice, and discovered but little judgment, in adopting Ariofto for his example, rather than Taffo, who had fo evidently exceeded his rival, at least in conduct and decorum. But our author naturally followed the poem which was most celebrated and popular. For although the French critics univerfally gave the preference to Taffo, yet, in Italy, the partisans on the fide of Ariofta were by far the moft powerful, and confequently in England: for Italy, in the age of queen Elizabeth, gave laws to our island in all matters of tafte, as France has done ever fince. At the fame time it may be fuppofed, that, of the two, Ariofto was Spenfer's favourite; and that he was naturally biaffed to prefer that plan which would admit the most extenfive range for his unlimited imagination. What was Spenfer's particular plan, in confequence of this choice, and how it was conducted, I now proceed to examine.

*The poet fuppofes, that the FAERIE QUEENE, according to an established annual custom, held a

*See Spenfer's Letter to Sir W. Raleigh, &c.

magnificent

magnificent feast, which continued twelve days; on each of which, respectively, twelve several complaints are presented before her. Accordingly, in order to redress the injuries which were the occafion of these feveral complaints, fhe difpatches, with proper commiffions, twelve different Knights, each of which, in the particular adventure allotted to him, proves an example of fome particular virtue, as of holiness, temperance, justice, chastity; and has one complete book affigned to him, of which he is the hero. But besides these twelve knights, feverally exemplifying twelve moral virtues, the poet has conftituted one principal knight or general hero, viz. Prince ArTHUR. This perfonage represents magnificence; a virtue which is supposed to be the perfection of all the reft. He moreover affifts in every book, and the end of his actions is to discover, and win, GLORIANA, or Glory. In a word, in this character the poet profeffes to pourtray," THE IMAGE Of a brave Knight

PERFECTED IN THE TWELVE PRIVATE MORAL VIRTUES."

It is evident that our author in establishing one hero, who seeking and attaining one grand end, which is GLORIANA, fhould exemplify one grand character, or a brave Knight perfected in the twelve private moral

moral virtues, copied the caft and construction of the antient Epic. But fenfible as he was of the importance and expediency of the unity of the hero and of his defign, he does not, in the mean time, feem convinced of the neceffity of that unity of action, by the means of which such a defign fhould be properly accomplished. At least, he has not followed the method practifed by Homer and Virgil, in conducting their respective heroes to the proposed end.

It may be afked with great propriety, how does ARTHUR execute the grand, fimple, and ultimate defign, intended by the poet? It may be answered, with fome degree of plaufibility, that by lending his respective affiftance to each of the twelve Knights, who patronize the twelve virtues, in his allotted defence of each, ARTHUR approaches ftill nearer and nearer to Glory, till at last he gains a complete poffeffion. But furely to affift is not a sufficient fervice. This fecondary merit is inadequate to the reward. The poet ought to have made this "brave Knight" the leading adventurer. ARTHUR fhould have been the principal agent in vindicating the cause of Holiness, Temperance, and the reft. If our hero had thus, in his own perfon, exerted himself in the protection of the twelve virtues, he might have been defervedly

« PreviousContinue »