CHAPTER III.
THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
After the birth of a Chaucer, a Shakspere, or a Milton, it is long before the genial force of a nation can again culminate in such a triumph: time is required for the growth of the conditions.

Between the birth of Chaucer and the birth of Shakspere, his sole equal, a period of more than two centuries had to elapse.

It is but small compensation for this, that the more original, that is simple, natural, and true to his own nature a man is, the more certain is he to have a crowd of imitators.

I do not say that such are of no use in the world.

They do not indeed advance art, but they widen the sphere of its operation; for many will talk with the man who know nothing of the master.