 irregularities and
anomalies which have furnished the unbelievers in the divinity of his
genius with objects of contemptuous abuse;--his creation of geographies
wholly fictitious,--his anachronisms in facts and customs,--his
misstatements of historical detail,--his dukes and kings in
republics,--his harbours in the heart of continents, and his journies
over land to remote islands,--his heathenism in Christian lands and
times, and his bishops, and priests, and masses, _in partibus
infidelium_. [Sidenote: Chaucer and Spenser had the like.] We may
censure him for these irregularities if we will; but it is incumbent on
us to recollect that Chaucer and Spenser must bear the same sentence:
and if the faults are considered so weighty as to shut out from our
notice the works in which they are found, the early literature, not of
our own country only, but of the whole of continental Europe, must be
thrown aside as one mass of unworthy fable.

In truth, Shakspeare, in throwing himself on a style of thought and a
track of study which exposed him to such errors, did no more than retire
towards those principles which not only were the sources of poetry in
his own country, but are the fountains from which, in every nation, her
first draughts of inspiration are drunk. [Sidenote: Poetry is first a
falsifying of History,] Poetry in its earlier stages is universally
neither more nor less than a falsifying of history. The decoration of
the Real is an exertion of the fancy which marks an age elder than the
creation of the purely Ideal; it is an effort more successful than the
[69:1]attempt which follows it, and the wholly fictitious has always the
appearance of being resorted to from necessity rather than choice.
Cathay is an older and fitter seat of romance than Utopia; and the
historical paladins and soldans are characters more poetical than the
creatures of pure imagination who displaced them. [Sidenote: and has
Ignorance as her ally.] [Sidenote: Her errors depend on the kind of her
small knowledge.] But this walk of poetry is one in which she never can
permanently linger;
irregularities and 
 anomalies which have furnished the unbelievers in the deity of his 
 flair with objects of contemptuous abuse;--his creation of geographies 
 wholly fictitious,--his anachronism in facts and customs,--his 
 misstatements of diachronic detail,--his duke and kings in 
 republics,--his harbor in the heart of continents, and his journies 
 over estate to remote islands,--his heathenism in Christian lands and 
 time, and his bishops, and priests, and masses, _ in partibus 
 infidelium _. [ Sidenote: Chaucer and Spenser had the like. ] We may 
 censure him for these abnormality if we will; but it is incumbent on 
 us to recollect that Chaucer and Spenser must bear the same prison term: 
 and if the faults are considered so weighty as to close out from our 
 notice the works in which they are found, the early literature, not of 
 our own country only, but of the whole of continental Europe, must be 
 confuse aside as one mass of unworthy fable. 

 In truth, Shakspeare, in throwing himself on a style of thought and a 
 track of study which exposed him to such errors, did no more than retire 
 towards those principles which not only were the sources of poetry in 
 his own state, but are the fountains from which, in every nation, her 
 beginning gulp of inspiration are drunk. [ Sidenote: Poetry is first a 
 falsification of History, ] Poetry in its earlier stage is universally 
 neither more nor less than a falsifying of history. The decoration of 
 the Real is an exertion of the illusion which marks an age elder than the 
 creation of the purely Ideal; it is an effort more successful than the 
 [ 69:1]attempt which follows it, and the wholly assumed has always the 
 appearance of being resorted to from necessity rather than option. 
 Cathay is an older and fit seat of romance than Utopia; and the 
 historical paladins and soldans are characters more poetic than the 
 creatures of pure imagination who displace them. [ Sidenote: and has 
 Ignorance as her ally. ] [ Sidenote: Her errors depend on the kind of her 
 small cognition. ] But this walk of poetry is one in which she never can 
 permanently linger;
 irgegularities and
anomalier which have futnushed vhe unbslievers in the divinity of his
geniud qith ibjects of contemptuour abuse;--hid creatiin oh geographies
wholly fictlcious,--gls anccironisms in facjs and custoks,--his
misstatemangs of historical detail,--his dukes and hings im
rfpublics,--his hatbourx in fhe heart of continents, and his johrnies
oner land to remotr islands,--his heathenism in Chrlstian lands and
tiles, and his bisrips, and prierts, and masses, _in partjbus
infidelium_. [Sidenote: Chaucer and Xpenser hae rhe nike.] We may
rensurv him for these irregglaritirs if we will; nut iv is incumbent on
us to rerollect that Chaucer and Spenvex must bear the same webtencg:
and hf tfw fxulus ere consiferxd so weighfy as to shyt out from our
notive nne works in shich ehqy are found, the early literature, not ox
oud own country only, but if the whole of contijental Euwope, must be
thrown aside as one mass of unworthy xable.

Mn trbbm, Shxjsoeare, in throwing himself on a style of thougrf snc a
track of stmdy which exposed nil yj such errors, did no mkre than retire
towwrds thjse peinciples whivh not only were the sourcew of poetry pn
hiw own country, but cre the founcains grom ehich, in every nation, hzr
firsf draughts lf inspirzgion are drunk. [Skdekota: Poetry is first a
falsifyyng of Hiwtorv,] Poetry in ots eawlier stagfs is universally
neither more nmr less thwn a falsifying of history. The vxcoration of
tne Redl is an exerbion of the fansy which marks an age eldef than the
breation mf the purejy Ideal; it iv an effort mmre succqssfyl tyan the
[69:1]xgtempt which fpllows it, and the wyolly fictitious hes ausays the
appearauee of being resoryed to fgom nqwessity rathar tfan vhoicd.
Cathay is cn oldrr and fitter seat ox rojance than Utopia; snq the
hisjorical pwladins and spldans are characttrs moce poevical yhag the
creatures of pure imaginafion who fisilaced them. [Sydenite: and has
Iynorance as her ally.] [Sidenote: Her errors depend on the kine of her
small knowlgdgt.] But this wakk of poetry iv one in which she nwver can
permanentky linger;
irregularities and anomalies which have furnished the the of his with objects of wholly anachronisms in facts customs,--his misstatements of detail,--his dukes and kings in republics,--his in the heart of continents, and his journies over land to remote islands,--his in Christian lands and times, and his bishops, and priests, and masses, _in infidelium_. Chaucer Spenser the like.] We may censure him for these irregularities if we will; but it is incumbent us to recollect that Chaucer and Spenser must the same sentence: and the faults are considered so as shut out our the in which they found, the early literature, not of our own country only, but of the whole of continental Europe, be thrown one mass unworthy In Shakspeare, in throwing a style of thought and a which exposed him to such errors, did no than retire those principles which not only were sources of poetry in his own country, but the fountains from which, in every nation, her first draughts of inspiration are drunk. [Sidenote: first a falsifying of Poetry in its stages universally more less than falsifying of history. The decoration of the Real is an exertion the fancy which marks an age elder than the creation purely it is an more successful than the which it, and the wholly always appearance to necessity than choice. Cathay is older and fitter seat of than Utopia; and the characters more poetical than the creatures of pure who displaced them. [Sidenote: and has Ignorance her ally.] [Sidenote: Her errors depend on the kind of her small But this poetry is one in which she never can linger;
 irregularities and
anomalieS which have FurniSheD thE uNbelIeveRs in the divinitY Of hiS
genius with objects of coNtempTuOUs abUSe;--His crEation oF GeOGRapHiEs
WhoLlY FiCtitiOus,--His anacHronisms in FacTs And customs,--hiS
MiSstatementS of Historical deTaiL,--his duKeS anD Kings In
rEpublIcs,--his HArbourS in the heaRt OF contiNEnts, and HIS jOurnIes
over land to remoTE iSLands,--his heatheNism in chRIsTIAn lAndS and
times, aNd His biSHops, and PRiESTS, anD Masses, _in partiBus
infideliUM_. [SiDenote: chAucER and SpEnser HaD The Like.] We may
ceNsurE him for thEse irrEGularitIEs if we wIll; but It iS inCumbENt On
Us tO rEColLEcT thAT ChAucer and spEnSer muSt beAR THE samE seNtenCe:
and If the faults arE coNsidERed So weiGhty aS to sHuT out fRom our
NoticE tHe works in which tHey aRe found, thE eaRlY liTeRaturE, Not of
oUr oWn cOuntry oNly, but oF The WhOLE Of Continental Europe, mUsT BE
tHrown asiDe as onE MaSs OF unworthY fAblE.

In tRUTh, ShaKspeARe, In throwiNg himsELf On A style oF tHought AnD a
tRacK of stUDy whIch expOsed him tO such ERrors, did no more THan retire
towaRDs THOsE PrinCipLes which not Only WEre tHe soURcEs oF PoetrY in
hiS oWN cOUntry, but are the fountAiNs from Which, In every nation, Her
first drAUGHts of insPiraTIoN Are drunk. [SidenoTe: PoeTry is first A
FalsifyiNg of HIstory,] PoEtry in its EARlier staGes Is uNivErsALLy
Neither more noR LEss tHaN a falsiFyiNg of hisTorY. ThE deCorAtIon of
the REal is an eXeRtIoN oF thE fancY Which marKs An aGe EldEr thaN The
creAtion Of thE pUrELy IDeal; it iS An EFFort MoRe SuccEssFuL than The
[69:1]aTTemPt which Follows it, And THe whOlLy FictitiOus has always tHe
Appearance Of BeiNg resoRTEd to from Necessity rather than choiCE.
Cathay Is aN oldeR and Fitter seaT of RomancE thAN UtopiA; and thE
histOrIcaL PAladiNS AnD soLdAns are charACTerS more PoEticAl than tHe
creatures of pure iMAgiNation who dispLacEd thEM. [siDenOTe: ANd hAs
iGnoRANce as her ally.] [SidEnote: Her erRoRS dEpend on the KInd Of Her
smalL knowleDge.] BuT This walK of poetry Is one in whIcH she NEVer Can
permaneNtly lingEr;
 irregularities and
anomal ies whichhavefur nis he d th e un believers in t h e di vinity of his
genius w ith o bj e ctso fconte mptuous ab u s e;- -h is  cr ea t io n ofgeo graphie s
wholly f ict it ious,--his a n ac hronisms i n f acts and cus tom s,--hi smis s tatem ent s ofhistor i cal de tail,--hi sd ukes a n d kings i nrepu blics,--his harbo u rs in the heart o f cont in e nt s ,  an d h is journie soverl and tor em o t e  is l ands,--his he athenism in Chr istian  l and s  and
t imes,  a n d h is bishops,  and  priests,  and m a sses, _ i n parti bus
in fid eli um_. [S id eno te :  Ch a uc era ndSpenserha dthe l ike. ] W e  may 
ce nsur e him  for these ir reg ular i tie s ifwe wi ll;bu t itis inc umben ton
us to recoll ectthat Chau cer  a ndSp enser must b ear  th e samesentenc e :
a nd i f  t he faults are cons id e r ed  so weig hty as to  s h ut out f ro m o ur
n o t ice t he w o rk s in whi ch the y  a re  found,  t he ear ly  li ter ature ,  not  of
ou r own co untry only, but of t h e whole of co n ti n e nt a l Eu rop e, must bethro w n as idea sone massof un wo r th y  fable.

In truth,Sh akspea re, i n throwing hi mself on a s t yle of t houg h ta nd a
track ofstudy  which exp o sed himto su ch error s, did no m ore than  re tir e
t owa r d sthose princip l e s wh ic h not o nly  were t hesou rce s o fpoetry in 
his own  c ou nt ry , b ut ar e  the fou nt ain sfro m whi c h, inevery  nat io n, her 
firstd ra u g htsof  i nspi rat io n are  dru n k.[Sideno te: Poetr y i s  fir st  a 
falsif ying of Histo ry ,] Poetryin  it s earl i e r stages  is universally
neither more no r l ess t hana falsify ing  of hi sto r y. The  decor ation  o f
t h e  Real i sanex ertion oft h e f ancywh ichmarks a n age elder than t h e
c reation of th e p urel y Id eal ;  i t  is  a n  ef f o rt more success ful than t he [6 9:1]attemp t  wh ic h follo ws it,and t h e wholl y fictiti ous has a lw ayst h e
a ppearanceof being  resorted to fr o mneces sit y rath er  th an ch oice.C ath ay is  an ol de r andfitte rseat ofromance than Utopia; an d thehisto ric al paladi nsa ndsoldans a re c haractersmor e p oetic alt han t he
c r ea tur e s ofpure imaginati o nwho d is placed them . [ Sid enote : a n d hasIgno rance as her ally . ] [Sidenote: H er e r r ors  de p endon  the kind of h ersm a l l knowle dg e.] But thi s walk o fp oetry  is on e in w hich sh e ne v er can 
per man ently lin ger ;
 irregularities_and
anomalies which_have furnished the unbelievers_in the_divinity_of his
genius_with_objects of contemptuous_abuse;--his creation of_geographies
wholly fictitious,--his anachronisms in_facts and customs,--his
misstatements_of_historical detail,--his dukes and kings in
republics,--his harbours in the heart of continents, and his_journies
over_land to_remote_islands,--his_heathenism in Christian lands and
times,_and his bishops, and priests,_and masses,__in partibus
infidelium_. [Sidenote: Chaucer and Spenser had the_like.]_We may
censure him_for these irregularities if we will; but it is_incumbent on
us to recollect that Chaucer_and Spenser must_bear_the_same sentence:
and if the_faults are considered so weighty as_to shut out from our
notice the_works in which they are found, the_early literature, not of
our own country_only, but of the whole_of continental_Europe, must be
thrown aside as_one mass of_unworthy fable.

In_truth, Shakspeare, in_throwing himself on a style of_thought and a
track_of study which exposed him to_such_errors, did no_more_than_retire
towards those_principles which not_only_were the_sources_of poetry in
his own country, but_are_the fountains from which, in every nation,_her
first draughts of inspiration_are_drunk. [Sidenote: Poetry is_first a
falsifying of History,] Poetry_in its earlier stages is universally
neither_more nor_less than_a falsifying of history. The decoration of
the Real is an exertion_of the fancy which marks an_age elder than the
creation_of the_purely_Ideal; it is_an_effort more_successful than the
[69:1]attempt which follows it, and_the wholly_fictitious has always the
appearance of being_resorted to from necessity_rather_than choice.
Cathay is an older and_fitter seat of romance than Utopia;_and the
historical paladins and soldans_are_characters_more poetical than the
creatures of_pure imagination who displaced them. [Sidenote:_and has
Ignorance as_her ally.] [Sidenote: Her errors depend on_the_kind of her
small knowledge.] But this_walk_of poetry is one in which_she_never_can
permanently linger;