Literary Character of Men of Genius. Disraeli Isaac

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СКАЧАТЬ pedantry 388

      His polemical studies 389

      —how these were political 392

      The Hampton Court conference 393

      Of some of his writings 398

      Popular superstitions of the age 400

      The King's habits of life those of a man of letters 402

      Of the facility and copiousness of his composition 404

      Of his eloquence 405

      Of his wit 406

      Specimens of his humour, and observations on human life 407

      Some evidences of his sagacity in the discovery of truth 410

      Of his "Basilicon Doron" 413

      Of his idea of a tyrant and a king 414

      Advice to Prince Henry in the choice of his servants and associates 415

      Describes the Revolutionists of his time 416

      Of the nobility of Scotland 417

      Of colonising ib.

      Of merchants 418

      Regulations for the prince's manners and habits ib.

      Of his idea of the royal prerogative 421

      The lawyers' idea of the same ib.

      Of his elevated conception of the kingly character 425

      His design in issuing "The Book of Sports" for the Sabbath-day 426

      The Sabbatarian controversy 428

      The motives of his aversion to war 430

      James acknowledges his dependence on the Commons; their conduct 431

      Of certain scandalous chronicles 434

      A picture of the age from a manuscript of the times 437

      Anecdotes of the manners of the age 441

      James I. discovers the disorders and discontents of a peace of more than twenty years 449

      The King's private life in his occasional retirements 450

      A detection of the discrepancies of opinion among the decriers of James I 451

      Summary of his character 455

TO

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      ROBERT SOUTHEY, LL.D.,

      &c. &c. &c.

      In dedicating this Work to one of the most eminent literary characters of the age, I am experiencing a peculiar gratification, in which few, perhaps none, of my contemporaries can participate; for I am addressing him, whose earliest effusions attracted my regard, near half a century past; and during that awful interval of time—for fifty years is a trial of life of whatever may be good in us—you have multiplied your talents, and have never lost a virtue.

      When I turn from the uninterrupted studies of your domestic solitude to our metropolitan authors, the contrast, if not encouraging, is at least extraordinary. You are not unaware that the revolutions of Society have operated on our literature, and that new classes of readers have called forth new classes of writers. The causes and the consequences of the present state of this fugitive literature might form an inquiry which would include some of the important topics which concern the PUBLIC MIND—but an inquiry which might be invidious shall not disturb a page consecrated to the record of excellence. They who draw their inspiration from the hour must not, however, complain if with that hour they pass away.

      I. DISRAELI.

      INTRODUCTION.

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      For the fifth time I revise a subject which has occupied my inquiries from early life, with feelings still delightful, and an enthusiasm not wholly diminished.

      Had not the principle upon which this work is constructed occurred to me in my youth, the materials which illustrate the literary character could never have been brought together. It was in early life that I conceived the idea of pursuing the history of genius by the similar events which had occurred to men of genius. Searching into literary history for the literary character formed a course of experimental philosophy in which every new essay verified a former trial, and confirmed a former truth. By the great philosophical principle of induction, inferences were deduced and results established, which, however vague and doubtful in speculation, are irresistible when the appeal is made to facts as they relate to others, and to feelings which must be decided on as they are passing in our own breast.

      It is not to be inferred from what I have here stated that I conceive that any single man of genius will resemble every man of genius; for not only man differs from man, but varies from himself in the different stages of human life. All that I assert is, that every man of genius will discover, sooner or later, that he belongs to the brotherhood of his class, and that he cannot escape from certain habits, and feelings, and disorders, which arise from the same temperament and sympathies, and are the necessary consequence of occupying the same position, and passing through the same moral existence. Whenever we compare men of genius with each other, the history of those who are no more will serve as a perpetual commentary on our contemporaries. There are, indeed, secret feelings which their prudence conceals, or their fears obscure, or their modesty shrinks from, or their pride rejects; but I have sometimes imagined that I have held the clue as they have lost themselves in their own labyrinth. I know that many, and some of great celebrity, have sympathised with the feelings which inspired these volumes; nor, while I have elucidated the idiosyncrasy of genius, have I less studied the habits and characteristics of the lovers of literature.

      It has been considered that the subject of this work might have been treated with more depth of metaphysical disquisition; and there has since appeared an attempt to combine with this investigation the medical science. A work, however, should be judged by its design and its execution, and not by any preconceived notion of what it ought to be according to the critic, rather than the author. The nature of this work is dramatic rather than metaphysical. It offers a narration or a description; a conversation or a monologue; an incident or a scene.

      Perhaps I have sometimes too warmly apologised for the infirmities of men of genius. From others we may hourly learn to treat with levity the man of genius because he is only such. Perhaps also I may have been too fond of the subject, which has been for me an old and a favourite one—I may have exalted the literary character beyond the scale by which society is willing to fix it. Yet what is this Society, so omnipotent, so all judicial? The society of to-day was not the society of yesterday. Its feelings, its thoughts, its manners, its rights, its wishes, and its wants, are different and are changed: alike changed or СКАЧАТЬ