Illustrations of Old English Literature, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

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Excerpt from Illustrations of Old English Literature, Vol. 2

Hugh holland, the author of the ensuing poem, was also the writer of fourteen lines, such as were then considered a sonnet, on the death of Shakespeare, and on the publication of the folio, 1623. They are conceited, and have little merit.

Nearly the same criticism may be offered upon the succeeding poem, though it certainly displays more talent and cleverness, but the whole fabric is violent and unnatural; and reading the prefixed eulogiu'm by Ben Jonson (unknown to the editors of his works, and never republished by himself) we wonder at the manner in which, even in the partiality of friendship, he brought himself to speak so extravagantly of Holland's powers Ben Jonson only terms Shakespeare the sweet swan of Avon but Holland, according to him, was the sweet swan of nearly every river in Europe: and we almost wonder that, in the ex cess of his hyperbole, he did not carry him over the Atlantic to the Amazons and the Orinoco. We surmise that Holland was rich, and we know that Ben Jonson was poor, and we recollect no earlier effort of the kind by the learned and inspired brick layer. In its way it is admirable.

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