trarca was organized for the higher and more refined emotions; and his genius, inspired by the most pure and exalted passion, expressed his glowing feelings in language of correspondent truth and delicacy. The strings of the human heart, vibrating in harmony, acknowledged the touch of nature; and the poetry of Petrarca creating a finer intellectual tact, produced in a few minds, a distaste for romantic imagery and the peculiarities of Gothic manners. This incipient diffusion of a juster sentiment, prepared the way for the complete establishment of classical refinement in the succeeding century.

From the time when the Greek language first became an object of curiosity in England, to the period of Cheke and Smith, those of our countrymen whom literary ardour stimulated to the acquisition of Grecian learning, were compelled to resort to Italy, and even to Greece. It appears that there were some symptoms of the revival of the Roman and Grecian classics in England about the time, and even before the capture of Constantinople (1453) impelled the learned Greeks to a refuge in Italy. Among these carly classical scholars, I shall mention only a few who were the most distinguished, or the

effects of whose efforts have been most per

manent.

William Grocyn, fellow of New College, Oxford, perfected his knowledge of the Greek tongue at Florence, under Demetrius, Chalcondylas, and Politian; and at Rome under Hermolaus Barbarus. On his return to England, and before the year 1490, he voluntarily became the first lecturer in that language at Oxford. It is affirmed, however, by Polydore Virgil, probably from a partiality to his own country, that Cornelius Vitellus, an Italian, of noble birth and great learning, was the first who taught the Greek and Roman classics in that university.

John Tiptoft, the unfortunate earl of Worcester, was inferior to none of the ecclesiastics of his time in his diligent pursuit of ancient learning. He studied at Padua, and by the purity and elegance of his Latinity, recommended himself to the notice of pope Pius the Se cond, and other literati of the Italian school. His Latin letters still remain to evince the justness of this encomium. Moreover, he translated Cicero's Dialogue on Friendship, into English; which was printed by Caxton, in 1481, fol. He likewise translated into Eng

lish two elegant Latin orations of Banatusius Magnomontanus, supposed to be spoken by C. Scipio, and C. Flaminius, rivals in the courtship of Lucretia. These were also printed by Caxton, with Tully's two Dialogues above mentioned. Tiptoft was the general patron of all those of his countrymen, who were actuated with the curiosity to penetrate the mines of antiquity, and to enter on the new plan of study. The Humphredian library at Oxford was instituted about this time; and he had prepared a present for it of se lect MS. books, valued at five hundred marks; though there is some doubt whether, at the earl's execution in 1470, they had ever been received by the university. Wood observes, that he had meditated a similar benefaction to Cambridge.

Italy was at this time the general mart for ancient authors, especially the Greek classics; and it is scarcely questionable that the above MSS. were purchased there. The Turkish emperors, now seated at Constantinople, were ignorant of the value of these treasures; and they became interesting objects of commerce to oljan emissaries dispatched to purchase books,

they afterwards sold in their own coun

try. It was chiefly through this channel that the famous Florentine library was formed by Cosmo and Laurence of Medici, and by the dukes of Florence, their munificent succes

sors.

Lilly, the famous grammarian, resided, about the year 1500, during five years, in the island of Rhodes. Hence, we are informed by Rhenanus, that he was not only acquainted with the whole circle of Grecian authors, but with the domestic life and familiar conversation of the Greeks. He was the first teacher of Greek at any public school in England. He was appointed head master of St. Paul's school, in 1510, by dean Collet, the founder. After his residence at Rhodes, he added an additional polish to his Latin stile at Rome, under Johannes Sulpicius, and Pomponius Sabinus; and thus became one of the most accomplished scholars of his age. He died of the plague in 1522.

This practice of visiting Italy and Greece for instruction, was encouraged by some of the bishops, though they had received their education in the English universities. Pace, one of our learned countrymen, and friend of Erasmus, was removed, while yet a boy, by

Langton, bishop of Winchester, from the school within the precincts* of his own palace to the university of Padua. The same bishop bequeathed by will to this his scholar, an exhibition of ten pounds a year, for seven years, to support him while studying at Bononia. His instructors at Padua were Cuthbert Tonstal, afterwards bishop of Durham, and Hugh Latimer.

Again, before the year 1520, Richard Croke, one of the first restorers of the Greek language in England, was educated at the expence of archbishop Wareham, at the universities of Paris, Louvain, and Leipsic. He afterwards succeeded Erasmus in the Greek professorship at Cambridge. Croke published at Cologne, Introductiones in Rudimenta Graca, 1520, dedicated to his patron archbishop Wareham.

About this time, strong symptoms were ma nifested, that the mists of ancient prejudice.

* It was customary in these early times, for the bishops to educate in their families a number of youths, particularly the sons of the nobles and of gentlemen. In the 13th century, Gros thete, bishop of Lincoln, educated in this manner most of the nobility in the kingdom. These youths were placed there in quality of pages: Filios nobilium procerum regni, quos secum habuit domicellos.-Cardinal Wolsey likewise educated in his house many of the young nobility.