SOURCE: "Introduction—The Sources of the Euphuistic Rhetoric," in Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit, Euphues & His England by John Lyly, edited by Morris William Croll and Harry clemons, Russell & Russell, Inc., 1916, pp. XV-LXIV.

In the following excerpt, Croll examines the main characteristics of euphuism, particularly its use of sound patterns, and offers background on the humanistic movement during Lyly's era.

I

What is Euphuism?

The form of the Euphuistic rhetoric was finally defined, after much debate, by Landmann in a well-known paper,¹ and has since been made familiar by Child's excellent résumé of the controversy,² by Bond's edition of Lyly's works,³ and by Feuillerat's recent volume.⁴ It is impossible and unnecessary to repeat the details of these descriptions here. The object of the present discussion is to re-open the question of the ultimate origins of the Euphuistic rhetoric; and for this purpose what is most needed is...