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allowed to rank high in this department of the art。 To these I would add
my favourite Plautus； who； though he took his plots from Greece； found； I
suspect； the originals of his enchanting female characters at Rome。
Still many evils remained： and； in the decline of the great empire； all
that was pernicious in its domestic institutions appeared more strongly。
Under the influence of governments at once dependent and tyrannical；
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which purchased； by cringing to their enemies； the power of trampling on
their subjects； the Romans sunk into the lowest state of effeminacy and
debasement。 Falsehood； cowardice； sloth； conscious and unrepining
degradation； formed the national character。 Such a character is totally
incompatible with the stronger passions。 Love； in particular； which； in
the modern sense of the word； implies protection and devotion on the one
side； confidence on the other； respect and fidelity on both； could not exist
among the sluggish and heartless slaves who cringed around the thrones of
Honorius and Augustulus。 At this period the great renovation
commenced。 The warriors of the north； destitute as they were of
knowledge and humanity； brought with them； from their forests and
marshes； those qualities without which humanity is a weakness and
knowledge a curse；energyindependencethe dread of shamethe
contempt of danger。 It would be most interesting to examine the manner
in which the admixture of the savage conquerors and the effeminate slaves；
after many generations of darkness and agitation； produced the modern
European character；to trace back； from the first conflict to the final
amalgamation； the operation of that mysterious alchemy which； from
hostile and worthless elements； has extracted the pure gold of human
nature to analyse the mass； and to determine the proportion in which the
ingredients are mingled。 But I will confine myself to the subject to
which I have more particularly referred。 The nature of the passion of
love had undergone a complete change。 It still retained； indeed； the
fanciful and voluptuous character which it had possessed among the
southern nations of antiquity。 But it was tinged with the superstitious
veneration with which the northern warriors had been accustomed to
regard women。 Devotion and war had imparted to it their most solemn
and animating feelings。 It was sanctified by the blessings of the Church；
and decorated with the wreaths of the tournament。 Venus； as in the
ancient fable； was again rising above the dark and tempestuous waves
which had so long covered her beauty。 But she rose not now； as of old； in
exposed and luxurious loveliness。 She still wore the cestus of her ancient
witchcraft； but the diadem of Juno was on her brow； and the aegis of
Pallas in her hand。 Love might； in fact； be called a new passion； and it is
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not astonishing that the first poet of eminence who wholly devoted his
genius to this theme should have excited an extraordinary sensation。 He
may be compared to an adventurer who accidentally lands in a rich and
unknown island； and who； though he may only set up an ill…shaped cross
upon the shore； acquires possession of its treasures； and gives it his name。
The claim of Petrarch was indeed somewhat like that of Amerigo Vespucci
to the continent which should have derived its appellation from Columbus。
The Provencal poets were unquestionably the masters of the Florentine。
But they wrote in an age which could not appreciate their merits； and their
imitator lived at the very period when composition in the vernacular
language began to attract general attention。 Petrarch was in literature
what a Valentine is in love。 The public preferred him； not because his
merits were of a transcendent order； but because he was the first person
whom they saw after they awoke from their long sleep。
Nor did Petrarch gain less by comparison with his immediate
successors than with those who had preceded him。 Till more than a
century after his death Italy produced no poet who could be compared to
him。 This decay of genius is doubtless to be ascribed； in a great measure；
to the influence which his own works had exercised upon the literature of
his country。 Yet it has conduced much to his fame。 Nothing is more
favourable to the reputation of a writer than to be succeeded by a race
inferior to himself； and it is an advantage； from obvious causes； much
more frequently enjoyed by those who corrupt the national taste than by
those who improve it。
Another cause has co…operated with those which I have mentioned to
spread the renown of Petrarch。 I mean the interest which is inspired by
the events of his lifean interest which must have been strongly felt by his
contemporaries； since； after an interval of five hundred years； no critic can
be wholly exempt from its influence。 Among the great men to whom we
owe the resuscitation of science he deserves the foremost place； and his
enthusiastic attachment to this great cause constitutes his most just and
splendid title to the gratitude of posterity。 He was the votary of literature。
He loved it with a perfect love。 He worshipped it with an almost
fanatical devotion。 He was the missionary； who proclaimed its
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discoveries to distant countries the pilgrim； who travelled far and wide to
collect its reliques the hermit； who retired to seclusion to meditate on its
beauties… …the champion； who fought its battlesthe conqueror； who； in
more than a metaphorical sense； led barbarism and ignorance in triumph；
and received in the Capitol the laurel which his magnificent victory had
earned。
Nothing can be conceived more noble or affecting than that ceremony。
The superb palaces and porticoes； by which had rolled the ivory chariots
of Marius and Caesar； had long mouldered into dust。 The laurelled
fascesthe golden eaglesthe shouting legionsthe captives and the
pictured citieswere indeed wanting to his victorious procession。 The
sceptre had passed away from Rome。 But she still retained the mightier
influence of an intellectual empire； and was now to confer the prouder
reward of an intellectual triumph。 To the man who had extended the
dominion of her ancient languagewho had erected the trophies of
philosophy and imagination in the haunts of ignorance and ferocity
whose captives were the hearts of admiring nations enchained by the
influence of his songwhose spoils were the treasures of ancient genius
rescued from obscurity and decaythe Eternal City offered the just and
glorious tribute of her gratitude。 Amidst the ruined monuments of
ancient and the infant erections of modern art； he who had restored the
broken link between the two ages of human civilisation was crowned with
the wreath which he had deserved from the moderns who owed to him
their refinementfrom the ancients who owed to him their fame。 Never
was a coronation so august witnessed by Westminster or by Rheims。
When we turn from this glorious spectacle to the private chamber of
the poet；when we contemplate the struggle of passion