| The present study is concerned with the literary career of Thomas Percy from 1753 when he became vicar of Easton Maudit, to the publication of his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry in 1765. His earliest writings were in verse, translations from classical authors and original pieces showing the influence of the Latin elegists and of Spenser and Milton. Many of them were printed in contemporary periodicals and miscellanies, and made him known in the literary world. From this period dates his acquaintance with Shenstone, Johnson, and Goldsmith. This aspect of his career has been studied more carefully than heretofore, and makes use of new material, published and in manuscript.;It is shown in the following pages that his collection of old ballads was not his only contribution to the romantic revival, but rather the climax of an ambitious program to bring the early poetry of many peoples to the attention of English readers. He translated Spanish ballads, made the first attempts to popularize Norse and Hebrew poetry in English translation, and encouraged the Welsh researches of Evan Evans.;In English literature he contracted with Jacob Tonson to prepare new editions of Tottel's Miscellany, of the works of Buckingham, and of the periodical essayists. The vicissitudes of these enterprises, most of them left uncompleted, have been examined with some care.;The story of the preparation of the Reliques is told in detail for the first time. Particularly the assistance furnished by Shenstone, Thomas Warton, and Johnson has been carefully examined. The legend of Johnson's antipathy to the ballads is exploded; he, rather than Shenstone, is shown to have been the first to suggest their publication. Shenstone, it is demonstrated, was largely responsible for encouraging textual emendations. New facts are presented on the early reception of the Reliques, and on the beginnings of Percy's patronage by the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.;In an age characterized by the vogue of the pseudo-Oriental, Percy turned to the realities of the Orient, and made a significant contribution to Englishmen's knowledge of Chinese culture by translating and editing--from other European languages--essays about this interesting people and specimens of their literature. His version of Hau Kiou Choaan was the only translation of an authentic Chinese novel into English during the eighteenth century. In the present study for the first time Percy's Chinese researches have been examined searchingly and as a whole, with an attempt to evaluate their importance.;In appendices are found bibliographical information on Percy's early works, and transcripts of important unpublished manuscripts which were used in the present study. |
