tion of the learned to the best specimens of Grecian and Roman eloquence. Beside these, the poems of Lazzarini, the miscellaneous pieces of Tagliazucchi, the historical writings of Muratori, the dramatic productions of Marteli, Maffei, Cæsarotti, Alfieri, and Metastasio, the various works of the marquis of Beccaria, and many others, are entitled to particular notice, as honourable to Italian literature during the eighteenth century, and as having contributed to the progress of its improvement. By the influence of these and other writers, the Italian language gained, in the eighteenth century, a degree of purity, dignity, and general excellence, unknown even in the age of Bembo and of Casa. The ancient rules and models of taste resumed, in a considerable degree, their sway; and, what is perhaps of little less importance, some of the most classical productions of Great Britain and of France, by being translated into Italian, and naturalised in that country, have contributed in no small degree to meliorate the public taste, and to produce a reform in the literature of that country

*

SECTION IV.

GERMAN LANGUAGE.

The German language, in the course of this century, has been greatly enriched and refined. Until the middle of the century it remained in a rude and unpolished state. Such of the learned

* See Denina's Essay on the Revolutions of Literature.

men of that country as had then devoted themselves to philology, chiefly studied the ancient languages, to the neglect of their own. Most of their scientific publications then written were in Latin. Since that time more has been done to promote the interests of German literature, and especially to cultivate the German language, than had been done for several centuries before.

About the year 1720, the practice of employ ing the vernacular tongue in important scientific publications was commenced in Germany. For the introduction of this improvement the honour is chiefly due to Thomasius, an eminent metaphysical and moral writer of that country; and to Wolf, distinguished for his labours in the same department of science. Their example was soon followed by others. From that period, therefore, it became necessary for authors to cultivate their own language with greater care; the influence of which soon became visible in their writings. A few years afterward, that is to say, about the middle of the century, the practice of translating the best French and English books commenced in Germany, and produced very sensible effects in meliorating the style of writing among the German literati. These events were succeeded by the works of several authors, who wrote with a particular view to the introduction of new idioms and graces of language, and whose exertions were productive of the most useful effects *.

* See the progress of the German style more minutely traced in the 26th chapter of this book.

One of the first steps in this course of cultivation was the publication of the Messiah, by Klopstock. When that celebrated poem made its appearance, the many new combinations of words, and the va rious licences of language with which it abounded, excited much complaint among the countrymen of the author; but these innovations soon became familiar, gradually gained admirers, and at no great distance of time were generally adopted by the best German writers. Klopstock was particularly successful in improving the versification of his native language. He introduced a new style of poetry into his country; and has been generally followed as one of the best authorities in polite literature. This celebrated poet has also done much to improve the orthography of his language. He first suggested, and by his own example enforced, the propriety and necessity of reform in this department of the German tongue. His proposals, indeed, were not adopted in their full extent; but they led others to direct their attention towards this object; and to him therefore is due a large share of the credit arising from the improvements which have since taken place.

Next to the radical reform introduced by Klopstock, the writings of many others of the literati of that country have had a considerable influence in promoting the same object. Among these the poems of Haller; the Idylls, and Death of Abel, of Gessner; the fables and moral writings of Gellert; the numerous and diversified productions of Wieland; and the various works of Lessing, Herder, Goethe, Schiller, Voss, and many others,

have all contributed a share, to render a language once but little esteemed in Europe one of the most copious, energetic, and rich of modern tongues.

But among late German writers no individual is entitled to more honourable mention than J. C. Adelung, a celebrated philologist of that country. His labours in studying and improving his native language have been extensive, persevering, and successful to a degree almost without precedent. He has produced works, in this department of literature, with which the productions of learned academies, and royal societies, can scarcely be brought into competition. His Grammar of the German Language* is an elaborate and systematic work, unquestionably superior to all preceding works of a similar kind, and has contributed much towards forming and regulating the language of which it treats. But his greatest work is a Complete Dictionary of the German Language †. the composition of this extraordinary work he spent the greater part of thirty years, and it is pronounced, by good judges, to come nearer to the idea of a perfect dictionary than any other effort of human diligence hitherto published. It contains a larger number of words than any other extant: the definitions are singularly lucid and satisfactory; every word is scientifically arranged, with respect to its literal and metaphorical signification; the etymologies of words are pursued with an acuteness and a skill which render them highly instruc

*. In two volumes large octavo.

↑ It consists of five volumes large quarto,

In

tive; and the author displays an acquaintance with the history of his language, and the peculiar merits of its best authors, which eminently qualified him for the task which he undertook to execute.

This grammar and dictionary, we are told, have been useful, beyond any other publications, in correcting the orthography, in exploring the etymology, and in regulating the syntax of the German language. The incessant efforts of Adelung have also served to animate and guide the exertions of his countrymen in pursuit of the same object. Since he wrote, philological inquiries have acquired an ascendency and a prevalence in that empire which they never before possessed. Grammars, dictionaries, and critical essays, have unusually abounded. Questions for elucidating and improving the language have been published by academies and literary associations in every part of the country, and have occupied much of the attention of learned men. And, finally, their popular writers, especially their poets and dramatists, are continually adding to the stores of the language new words, and combinations of terms, which, though in some cases they have been considered as injurious innovations, have yet contributed not a little to the mass of improvement.

This language, as well as the two preceding, has been much more studied towards the close of the eighteenth century than ever before. So many interesting works in literature and science have been published in Germany, particularly within the last thirty years, that the acquisition of the language seems now to be regarded by the literati of Europe