Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/138

 122 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES works and notes nothing remains except the version of Horace's " Art of Poetry," and dislocated fragments of the English Grammar. The translation was made so early as 1604, but not published until 1640, after his death, from transcripts which Gifford tells have variations in almost every line, while all, perhaps, vary from the original manuscript destroyed in the fire. The commentary from Aristotle's '* Poetics " is wholly lost, unless a few of its notes be preserved in the " Discoveries." The journey into Scotland, with all the adventures, must have been specially interest- ing ; more interesting even, on account of the period at which it was performed, than that of his namesake to the Hebrides. " The ' Rape of Proserpine ' (the Sicilian maid) may not, perhaps, be much regretted ; but the destruction of the 'History of Henry V.,' which was so nearly completed, must ever be con- sidered as a serious misfortune. The vigorous and masculine elegance of Jonson's style, the clearness of his judgment, the precision of his intelligence, aided by the intimate knowledge of domestic and general history possessed by Carew (George, Lord Carew), Cotton, and Selden, three of the most learned men of that or any other age, could not have been exerted without producing a work of which, if spared to us, we might be justly proud." And the immense value of the stored up humanity of twice twelve years, and the humble gleanings in divinity, irretrievably perished, may be estimated by the lines already quoted (p. 101), from Lord Falkland, to whom it is now proposed to raise a memorial near the spot where he was killed, and of whom Lord Clarendon, in his '* History of the Rebellion," writes : " Thus fell that incomparable