XII. On the Origin of the Word Romance; by the Rev. Mr. Drake. In a Letter to the Secretary

Extract

The literary world is much indebted to the ingenious Mr. Warton for his valuable history of English poetry. It is indeed an acquisition in that branch of learning so happily instructive as well as amusing, that it must have its admirers, whilst an elegance of taste remains among us. However, with the utmost deference to so superior a genius, I cannot help thinking, that, though that species of writing, called Romance, is the principal object of his book, he is very much mistaken as to the origin of that word. He makes it wholly of French extraction, mentions it as such in various parts of his work, and, in one place particularly, makes it synonymous with the French language.