The text is an essay written by T.S.Eliot and it belongs to a series of talks broadcast to Germany.
The author starts stating the claim that English is the richest language for poetry is founded. In order to avoid misunderstandings he explains England hasn't necessarily produced the greatest poets and the greatest amount of poetry and, in addition, he clarifies English is the richest language for poetry bacause it has the largest lessical choise. Its vocabulary is the result of various languages' influence as German, Danish, Norman, French, Latin and Celtic. The richness is also due to the rhythm deriving from Saxon, Norman french, Welsh, Latin, Greek verses. This variety of sources made English one of the best languages for poetry but it doesn't imply England has had the greatest poets.
Mr. Eliot adds another mistake is represented by the thought that the greatest peoples excel in one art and he presents some exemples: Italy and France in painting, Germany in music and England in poetry. Actually an art isn't the exclusive possess of a country. For instance other countries have taken the lead of poetry. Moreover a nation leading in a art doesn't necessarily produce the greatest men. The author provides the example of Goethe who is considered greater than Wordsworth, the poet rapresenting romanticism in England.
Mr. Eliot goes on explaining the poetry level achieved by a nation would have not been possible if other nations hadn't cultivated the same art. Poetry, therefore, is the result of the influence between nations.
Another important question dealt with by T.S.Eliot is the renew of literature depending on the ability to receive and assimilate influences from abroad and the ability to look towards the sources.
Without these conditions literature can't improve and in consequence it deteriorates