EnglishWriters 10046929

EN G L I SH WR I T E R S
AN A TT E M P T T O WA R D S
A HI ST ORY OF ENGL I SH LI T ERAT U RF
H E NRY MOR L EY
LL . D . P R O F E S SOR O F E NG L I S H L I T E R AT U R E AT U N I V E R S I T Y C OL L E G E
L O N DO N
I N T R O D UCT I O N O R I G I NS
OL D C E LT I C L I T E R A TU RE
B E O W ULF
CASS E L L C O M PA N Y L I MI TED
LO N D O N PA R I S NEW YOR K M E L BO U R N E
1 8 87
[A L L R I G H T S R E SE R V E D ]
P R E F AC E .
A F I R ST volume o f E NG L I S H WR I T E R S wa published in the

s
year 8 6 4 as an a ou n t o f the Writers b e fore Chaucer

1 , cc ,
w ith an in t roducto y sketch f the Four Peri ds f E g l i s h

r o o o n
Literatu re This was an oct vo of about 8 pages

. a 00 ,
presentl y divided into hal f volumes and follo wed in 8 6 7

, ,
1 ,
by a third h l f volume w hich b rought the story do wn to

a ,
the invention of printing The design then partly complete d

.
, ,
had b een to descri b e the course f E nglish Liter ture w ith

o a
detail enough to make its meaning clear and give it interest

to readers generally But the volumes ch iefly p ssed into
. a
the hands of students an d the b ook was credited w ith

,
havi ng hit a mark at w hich it did not ai m .
While th t generous estimate of the b ook m de i t

a a s
writer the more conscious o f deficiency it w as securi ng ,
him dmission to n ew fields o f labour in w hich study o f

a ,
Literature until then the chie f pleasure b ec me also the

, , a
ch ie f duty of his w orking li fe .
Under such condition s the book could not be reprinted

or continued w ithout very con s ider ble change of pl n At
a a
t h at time also the la b ours o f the E arly E glish Text S ociety

n
a n d o f m an y good scholars in E ngla n d and Germany were

P R E F AC E .
A F I R ST volume o f E N G L I S H WR I T E R S was published in t h e
year 8 6 4 as an accou n t o f the Writers b e fore Chaucer

1 , ,
w ith an introductory sketch f the Four Periods f E nglis h

o o
Literatu re This wa an oct vo of bout 8 pages

. s a a 00 ,
presentl y divided into hal f volumes and follo wed in 8 6 7, ,

1 ,
by a third h l f volume w hich b rought t h e story do wn to

a ,
the inventi n of printing The design then partly completed

o .
, ,
had b een to descri b e the course f E nglish Liter ture w ith

o a
detail enough to make its meaning clear and give it interest

to readers generally But the volumes ch iefly p ssed into
. a
the h nds of students n d the b ook was credited w ith

a ,
a
having hit mark at w hich it did not i m

a a .
Wh ile th t generous estimate of the b ook made its

a
writer the more consci us o f deficiency it was securi n g

o ,
him admission to new fields o f labour in w hich stu dy of ,
Liter ture until then the chie f pleasure b ec me also t he

a , , a
chie f duty o f his w ork ing li fe .
U n der such c ndition s the b ook could not be reprinted

o
or continued w ithout very con s iderable change o f pl n At a
that time also the lab ours of the E arly E glish Text S ociety n
a d o f m an y good schol rs in E ngla n d and Germany were

n a
P R E F AC E .
A F I R ST volume f E N G L I S H W T E R S w published in t h
o RI as e
year 8 6 4 as n accou t o f the Writers be fore Ch ucer

1 , a n a ,
w ith an in t roductory sk tc h f t h e Four Periods f E nglish

e o o
L iteratu re
. This w oct vo f bout 8 pages
as an a o a 00 ,
presentl y divided int h l f volumes and foll wed in 8 6 7

o a , o ,
1 ,
by a third h l f volume w hich brought the story do wn to

a ,
the invention of printing The design then partl y complete d

.
, ,
had b een to descri b e the course o f E nglish Lit r ture w ith e a
detail enough t m ke its me ning cl ar and gi e it interest

o a a e v
to readers general ly But t he volumes ch iefly passed into

.
the hands o f students d the b ok w s credited w ith

,
an o a
having hit a mark t w hich it did not aim

a .
W hile that generous estim t e o f the b ook m de i t a a s
w riter the more conscious o f deficiency it w as securing ,
him admission t w fields o f l b o r in w hich study o f

o ne a u ,
Literature until then the chie f ple sure b ecam l so t h e

,
a , e a
ch ie f duty f his w ork ing li fe

o .
Under such conditions t h e book could not be reprinted

or continued with ut very con ider ble ch nge f plan At
o s a a o .
that time also the l bours o f t he E rly E glish Text Society

a a n
an d of m an y good schol rs in E ngla d and Germany w ere

a n
vi PREF A CE .
b eginning to m ke large annual ddition to the know ledge

a a
o f our e rly literaturea In rese rch over the whole field

. a
there were new energies at w ork Their issues were w orth .
w aiting fo r .
With a resolve there fore to rec st the origin l design

, ,
a a ,
E NG L I S H WR I T E R S as first publis h ed w as su ffered to p ss

, , a
out o f print The book so planned and begun was p rt

.
, ,
a
o f the ful fi lment o f young desire But even th t desire

a . a
had fo a long time been held in check b ecause it w s

r ,
a
necess ry before attempting a l rge b ook upon Liter ture

a , a a ,
to give ye rs o f m turer li fe to study b oth of b ooks and

a a
men and b ooks are men or the best part of them After
, , .
w iting and w orking

a thr ugh yet an t her t wenty ye rs
on o o a ,
the l b ourer has le rnt th t he kno ws less and less Little

a a a .
is much to us when young ; time p sses a d proporti ns a n o
change But ho wever small the harvest it must be g rnered

.
, ,
a .
Sc nty produce o f the w ork of a whole li fe it m y yield

a ,
a
grain to some one f a little of li fe s daily b read

or
’
.
O e result of the ch nge of plan in the b ook is an

n a
enlarge m ent of its sc le a .
There is a long st y to tell o f E nglish Literature or ,
regarded as expression of a n tion s History throughout the a

’
sequenc of its thought It is intended to include notes

e .
o f the liter ture o f all o ffsh ots o f the E nglish r ce

a If o a .
li fe and health last this w ork issued in h l f ye rly volumes

, , a -
a ,
o f moder te comp ss a nd convenient si e will go on

a a z ,
steadily t wards its close The w riter w ill s y all that he

o . a
t hin k s u gh t t o b e s id and is n ot b ound by y ther

o a , an o
PR EF A CE .
pledge B u t as no l bo u rer plans in his a fte rnoon for

. a a
long day s work b efore n ightf ll the proportions o f the b oo k

’
a ,
s hould be u pon a scale th t w ill not extend it b eyond t wenty

a
v olume s T h e w hole narra tive w i l l b e continuous ; t h e

.
w hole b ook one But the volumes will b e grouped also i n

, .
sections which may b e read as distinct H istories o f Periods

,
.
E ach volume will b e separ tely indexe d and fro m time to

a , ,
time extra t itle pages will be supplied for the use o f

,
re ders who m ay wish to pl ce any one section s

a a a a
distinct work upon t heir shelves .
j a nu a ry , 1 8 8 7.
C O N T E N T S
I NT R O DU CT I O N .
N M,
T he Fu l l H i y o f L i t e ra t u re
s to r
Th e re can b e n o F u l l H i s t o ri an o f L i t e rat u re
T h e P u rp os e o f t h i s B o ok
T he F ou r P e ri od s o f E ng l i s h L i t e ra t u re
T h e on e M i n d i n t h em A l l
S ou rces of Li tera t u re
I n Pag an T i m es
I n E a rl y Chri s t i a n D ay s
U nd er th e N o rm an s .
T h e I n fl u e nce o f N a t i o n u p o n N a t i o n
I n the Ou t s e t of I t al i an
I n t he O u t s e t of L i t era t u re
G e rm an
I n E ng l an d u nd e r t h e E arl y N o rm an Ki ng s
7 F ou nd at i ons o f t h e E arl y I n fl u en ce o f I t al y o n E u rop ean
L i te rat u re
I n Ac t i v i t y of C o m m e rc e
I n t h e Li be ral a nd B u s y s ens e of I n d i v i d u al and S o c i a l
R i gh ts
R e l at i o n t o i t s T i m e o f D an t e
’
e
s V i t a Nu o v a
»
R e l a ti o n t o a l l T i m e o f t h e D i v i n e C o m edy
T ransm i ss i on o f certai n F o rm s o f Po e t ry fro m th e T ro u
b ad o u rs t h ro u g h D ant e t o Pe t rarc h
Bo ccacci o an d hi s D e cam ero n
I t al i an I n fl u ence Ch au ce r
on
T h e N a t i v e and t h e F ore i gn E l e m en t s Ch au cer s V ers e

’
in
D ark D ay s of E ngl i sh L i t era tu re
PA C 8
S p rea d of Pe t ra rch an Po e t ry , a nd R ise of Pl at o ni s m

I t al i a n Pas t o ral
I n fl u e nce of Pe t rarch an d o f I t al i an Pas to ra l on E ng l i s h
Li t erat u re . T h e E ng l i s h M i n d un d er t h e I t al i a n
26 — 28
R e fl ec t i on “
of I tal i an L o v e -con ce i ts i n A s t roph e l a nd
”
S t el l a
S p e n se r an d th e I t al i an R o m an t i c Po e t s
“A
Fo re i g n I n fl ue nce on I t al y . m ad i s of G au l
S ou rces of th e New Tast e for R o m ance . T he P u l ci
Boj ard o
A ri os t o
T he Tas t e for Q u ot at i on
G ro wi ng D em an d fo r Al l eg o ry Tasso .
S oc ial an d Li t e rary Pred o m i n ance of t he I tal i ans

T h e S oci al I nfl u ence of I t al y o n E ngl i s h Li t e rat u re
S econ d ary C au ses o f t h e S p read o f a T ast e fo r C o ncei t e d
W ri t i ng E u p hu i s m
.
T h e E n gl i s h M i nd u nd er i t all O u t o f D ecay New Li fe

.
D u ra t i on o f L yl y s Po pu l ari t y
’
Lyl y h i m sel f a prac ti cal E ng l i s h man

I n fl u ence o f Lyl y and t h e I tali an s o n R o b ert G reene
Lo v e s Labou r s Lost — a J es t u pon t he Fas hi onabl e
’ ’
S t yl e
D u ra t i on o f I t ali an I n fl u ence i n t h e T as t e for C o ncei t s
R i d i cu l ed b y Ben J onson i n Cyn t h i a s R evels '
F rench E u ph u i sm T he D i v i ne Week s of D u Bartas

.
”
G reat E ng l i s h R ep u tat i on o f D u Bartas I t s D u rat i on .
! I t al i an I n fl u ence i n France
S p an i s h I nfl u ence i n F rance al li ed t o t h e
Te nd ency o f F rench Li t erary C oncei t to V erbal C ri ti ci s m .
T he R e ason of it
R on sard
M al h erb e
T h e M e e t i ng s at t he H 6 t el R am b o u i l l e t
‘
'
T h e P r ca em es
CO N T E N T S . xi
T he F rench Aca d e m y
S e t t l em en t of th e F re nch Lang u ag e b y t he Fo rt y Di c
t i on ary M ak e rs .
A d v an ce of F re nc h W ri ters from V e r bla to Li terary

C ri ti ci s m
Bo i l e a u
I n fl u ence of Bo i l eau on E ng l i s h
Li t erat u re
T he Pe ri o d o f F re n ch I n fl u en ce on E ng li s h L i t e rat u re
E ng li s h A ccep t ance and I m i t at i o n of t h e F re nc h C l ass i cal
C ri t i cs
W hat th e Po l i te W orl d and F ren ch po l i s h ed C ri t i cs sai d
o f S h ak e s ea re
p
S h ak es peare end o rs ed by Po p e
U nd er Fre nch I n fl u en ce T he E ng l is h M i n , d
M i l to n e n d ors ed by Ad d i son
La t i n E ng l i s h
S u b s tan ce an d A c ci d e n t s o f E ngl i s h S t y l e
P u rp ose a nd Li m i t s o f G en e ral i sa t i o n
T h e Peri od o f Po p u l ar I n fl u e nce
’
D e fo e s S e rv i ce of t h e Pe o pl e
D e foe i n t h e l il l ory ’
D efoe i n Ne wg a t e
'
se ts u p th e R em ai o
A dd i s on i n t h e w ay o f Pa t ronag e
S t eel e rep res en t s t h e I e0pl e
’
D ecreas ed I n fl u en ce of th e Peo p l e on t h e S tag e

T l ze T at l er
R el at i on of T l ze T a l l er t o t h e P eop l e
A dd i s o n , d raw n by S t eel e i nt o C op e rat i on ,
o -
w ri t es for
t h e P e op l e b et t e r t h an fo r Pa t rons . T a t l er , Sp ect at or ,
Gu a r d i a n
E ng l zlcb m a n
’
S t ee l e s .
Po p e
D ev el op m en t of Pro se F i ct i o n R ob i ns on C ru soe a nd
G u l l i v er
Ri ch ard s o n
’
s P a m el a
F i el d i ng
xii CON T E N T S .
T om J one s
T h e F re nc h T as t e o f t h e Les s e r C ri t i cs
S a m u e l J o h nso n
G o l d s m i t h s I n fl u e nc e o n G o e t h e
’
R el at i on s b e t w ee n E ngl i s h an d G erm an Li t e rat u re

G erm an y fa s t en s u p on R o b i n s o n C ru s o e
”
T h e S p i ri t o f M i l t o n I s A b ro ad G o t t s ch e d an d B
.
od m er
K l op s t o ck
T h e R ev o l t ag a i ns t D es p o t i s m i n L i fe o r L i t e ra t u re I I I I I 2
T h e R ev o l t m os t v i o l e n t i n F ra nce
G oe t h e
S ch i l l er
Li m i t s o f th e G erm an I n fl u ence o n E ng l i sh L i t e ra t u re
W o rd sw ort h C ol e ri d g e an d S ou t h ey
, ,
Wa l t er S co t t
D ev e l o p m en t J ou rnal i s m
of
W ri te rs and R ead e rs
g unk I .
C H AP T E R I — T H E F O R M I N G O F T H E
. PEO P L E .
L i fe and G ro w t h
E t h n ol og y O rig i n o f t h e E ng l i s h
.
T h e I n d o E u ro p ean Fa m i l y
-
S t on e , B ro n ze , an d I ro n Pe ri od s
T he S to n e P eri od
C rom l ech s
T he B ro nze P e ri o d . Ba rro w s
T he I ron P e ri o d
We re t he G ae l s H ype rboreans ?
We re th e C el t s C i m m e ri ans ?
T he C el t i c B ri t o n s
T h e B e l g ae
T h e G ae l s
T he Cym ry
T he C el t ic El em e n t i n E ng l i s h
C ON T E N T S . x iii
C el t i c i n L ocal Nam es
T h e C el t i c El e m e n t i n C om m o n E ng l i h s
Fai n t Traces of t he Rom a n Occu pat i on Lat i n o f t he .
F i rs t Peri od 1 6 1, [ 6 2
T w i l ig h t before t he D
.
aw n of E n li s h L i t era t u re D ru i d s I 62 — I 64
g .
C H A PT E R I I — OI
. . D L I T E R AT U R E OF T HE G AE L .
A nc i en t Li t e rat u re of t h e G ae l i n B ri t ai n
T he Og h a m
’
P oet s S t a v e s
O ld G ael i c D eg re es i n L i t era t u re
O f H i s t o ry am on g t h e A n ci en t G ael s
O l d G ael i c Po et ry
G ael i cT al e s i n Prose and
T h e C e l t i c I n fl u e nce on E ng l i s h L i t e rat u re
T h e F en i a n Tal es
A d ornm e n t of M SS .
T h e Ba t t l e of M ag h G rat h
M S M at eri al s fo r
. a S t u dy of Ol d G ael i c Li t erat u re
C H A PT E R I I I — O L D L I T E R AT U R E
. OF T HE C Y M RY .
T h e Cy m ry
G erm an i c S e t t l e m e n t s i n B ri t ai n be fore A D . .
449
Pres su re Cym ry and the S axo ns
of t he on the G ae l s i n
G w y n edd o r N ort h Wal e s 2 06 —2 08
Pressu re o f t h e S ax on s on t h e Cy m ry . T he R eco rd of
S i x S e t t l emen t s
C onnect i on of t he Anci ent Li t erat u re of t he Cy m ry
w i t h t h e A ng l o S a x o n C o n q u e s t s
-
U ri en
Tali es i n
L l yw arch H e n
M erl i n , an d o t her Bards of t he Six
th C ent u r y "
A ne u ri n . T h e G od od i n
C el t i c M et res
M S M at e ri al s fo r S t u dy
. of Ol d C ym ri c Li t e rat u re
xiv CON T E N T S .
PA G E
C H A PT E R I V —OL D L I T E RAT U R E
. OF T HE T E U T ON s .
G il d as
T he A ngl o -S a x on S e tt l em en t s
J u t es
A ng l es
S axons
Fri si ans and Sax o n s
T h e R o mans i n G ermany
U l fi l as and the M oes og o t h s . B i bl e T ra ns l at i o n
T h e S ong of H i l d e brand
T he Wei ss enb ru nner Praye r
C H AP T E R V .
—S C A N D I NAV I A .
U l t i m a Th u l e
R u n es
S cand i navi an E n g l an d
I cel a n d
T h e I s l e n d i ng a BOk
T he L a nd n a m a B ok
I ri s h H ermi t s i n I cel and
I ce l an d Peo p l ed
T h e E dd as
T h e Ol d Nort h e rn A rs Poe t i ca
R el at i on of E ng l and t o t h e E dd a M yt hs
C H APT E R VI .
—B E0W U I . F .
B eo wu l f . T he Poem and t he M anu scri p t

T h e S u bs t ance of th e Tal e
I nt e rpret at i ons of Beow u l f
T h o rk el i n
G ru n d t v i g
J oh n M i tch el l Ke m bl e
L eo
E t t m u l l er
Wack crb ath
ENG L I SH WRI T E RS .
INTR O DUCTI O N .
T HE F OU R P E R I ODS OF ENGL I S H L I T E R AT U R E .
T HE soul of Literature is the soul o f man at work through

his best mind under the conditions to w hich he is b o n r ,
w hich e in part natural and unaltera b le in part

ar ,
s cial and v ri b le from age to age In the HL i

o a a f .
s t o ry o
i t e ra t u re .
L t e at e o f any People w e perc e e under all
I r ur ,
contr ts f form produced b y v ri b le social influences

as o a a ,
the one n tion l ch racter from first to last

a a a .
The mind h s like the b ody its physi gnomy deter

a , , o
mined in some meas re b y climate and race Bet ween t he u .
kindred minds f men wh o call each other foreigners

o ,
w hen they are equal in right influence upon the w orld s

’
adv ncement as b etwee n their faces when they are equ l in

a , a
b e ty there are strongly m rked and heredit ry di ff erences

au ,
-
a a
o f expressi n B t the full mind o f a nation is its liter ture

o . u a
an d we m y be very sure that to

a true history of the liter a a
ture o f y country must b elong a distinct recognition o f

.
an
the n ti nal char cter that underlies it gives coherence to

a o a ,
it l l and throughout mark s w ith strength its individuality

a , .
O the sur face f the true ch racter o f

n literature lie
o a a
m a n i fes t to eve ry eye t h e frequen t changes in the fashio n o f

its utterance There is a reason fo the form as well as for
. r
E N GL I SH WE I T E R S .
the su b st nce o f every book m ever w rote and history

a an a
o f our Literature that does not even as k w h y there w an as
es p ecially strong b ody o f dr matists in the days of E li a za
beth w hy satire prevailed a fter the Restoration why dr ma

, ,
a
t i t s are no w conve rt ed into novelists overlooks nearly t h e

s ,
most obvious part of its w ork Again it is n ot only b y .

,
c nditions of society within country itsel f that the form o f

o a
its liter ture is modified fr m g to ge No land

a be
o a e a . c an
to itsel f a world Neighbouri g nations act and reac t

. n
str ngly upon each other d E glishmen b eing insul r

o ,
an n , a ,
touch every coast Whenever the literature of any country

.
in E urope has fo a time b ecome stronger than th t o f its

r a
neighbours its admitted strength has influenced them in

, a
very marked degree nd no where has influence of this a
kind b een more complete nd general than in E ngland a ,
w here the great epoch o f It li n liter ture and the S i k h L o i s a a a u
Q t
uao est a
rzeb lished t w o o f the chie f b ends in the current o f
our literary history T f ir account then of the liter ture
. o a a , , a
o f any land d not only to a hist ry o f E nglish L iter ture

, an o a ,
discussion o f its relations w ith the literature of surrounding

countries is to a certa in extent indispensab le A chrono
, , .
logical series of authors n mes w ith b iographical d tes d ’

a , a an
extracts has its use o f course ; and so has a list of t h e

, ,
aflI e t s o f a great river w ith t h eir measured lengths a d

u n , n
t heir distances from one another — nor is it altogether use ,
less t prod ce b ottles of w ater dra wn from each But if

o u .
e told nothing of the river s b anks or o f the feeding

’
we ar ,
grounds of its afflu ent b ut e le ft to in fer w h t we can s, ar a
from the f ct that one w ater is cl ear another s ndy and

a ,
a ,
another contains cl y i f othing is told us of the bluffs nd

a n a
mou t in chains that turn the m in river s co u rse the v lleys

n a - a
’
,
a
into w hich it pours here rushing impetuously betw een rocky

,
b nks there spread into sluggish lake over the m rsh land
a ,
a a -
,
the stre m may have b een i nd u striously measured b u t it has

a ,
not be en surve yed .

I N T R OD U C T I ON .
Of no
literature does there exist or will there ever exist , ,
from the han d o f one man a c mplete survey He w ho o .
sh all begin i n his old ge to write what he may T h “

a , e , can
not then hope to complete the l rge history Of fififlfifl f

— a o
a Liter ture should h ve lived lo g and tran

— a a n
quilly much tried b y v rious conflicts with the passions and

,
a
prejudices that he ha s Often overcome in others b ut himsel f ,
has never largely shared Continued health o f mi d and . n
body an alm ost b oundless range o f daily study among

,
books freshening the gl dness of his intercourse with m ny

,
a a
sorts of men and q uickeni g th t ha b it of energetic action

,
n a
in ff irs o f moment w hich lone

a a make him re d m a can a a an
w here the recluse re ds print — these a e indeed needful

a , r , ,
prepar tions for his work But gr nt him these he must

a . a ,
y e t have a perceptive genius aki to that o f S hakespeare i f n ,
he would really show not only the form and stir of mind i n
e ery generation b ut lso the mind o f each writer w hose

v ,
a
genius he seeks to define And a fter all i f ever the m n .

, a
be born wh o shall b e ab le thus to write the H istory o f any

L iter ture it is not a History o f L iterature th t he will
a , a
w rite .
Thus since w e are all very much le ft to the guid nce o f

, a
our o wn impressions there e f rm ed and it is w ell fo us

,
ar o , r
that there should b e formed literary Opinions h , T e p w p os e

diverse as the moods and li fe relations out of “ hi - s
w hich they spring In these volumes I desire t tell the

. o
Histo y o f E nglish Liter ture fully s I can well kn w ing

r a as a , o
th t the studies o f one li fe

a insu fficient fo the se t t i ng
are r
forth e e n o f the little th t

v e man can see E ch re der
a on . a a
w ithin the limit o f his di fferent range o f sight must h ve a
observed much th t will in his wn mind add fulness t my

a ,
o , o
story or serve to correct some f its errors

, d he w i ll o , an
a lso find in it some things th t he himsel f has t b ef re a no o
seen Give and Take keep the gates o f kno wledge w here
.
,
non e b ut the d warfs pass through wit h un b o wed head .
B 2
4 E N GL I SH Wm T E R S .
In our nation l li fe there e b reaks But s out

a ar no . a
w rd ccidents ffect the dress

a a f u b dies so they ffect
a o o r o a
T he
p m the dress o f th ught A student of costume c ld
o
.
o . ou ,
Efigfi fi
’ f
by‘
s
bserv
°
ti n o f th se outo w rd c h nges c me a o o a a ,
o
Li m ‘e
very ne r to the ex ct date o f a picture r p e
u 'e °
a a e r
senti g li fe o f its o wn time so might appro ch be m de

n an a a
to the d ting f b ooks by b serv tion of th eir l ngu ge d

a o . o a a a an
their out w rd ccidents o f style Upon historic l ccidents

a a . a a
a ffecting fashions o f speech and not up n changes o f the ,

o
fixed n tural ch r cter w e found there fore division o f

a a a , , ,
a
t his Hist ry int four periods n me l y

o o , a
Th t of T H E FO R M AT I O N O F T H E LA N G U G E d ring
a A , u
w hich E nglish bvi usly d s bst nti lly di ff ers from the
o o an u a a
E nglish w e w spe k no a .
Th t o f I T L I A N I N F L U E N C E fe l t in Ch ucer s d y as
a A , a
’
a
infl ence o f gre t writers on gre t w riters but first c mi g

u a a ,
o n
in as influence of pe ple up n people with the com

an
“
o o ,
p ny o f courtly m kers wh o preceded the ge o f E li abeth

a a a z
Th t o f F R E N C H I N F L U E N C E of w hich the beginning is

a ,
m rked strongly b y a change in the style of Dryden s u b e

a s
quent to the Annus Mir bi l is a .

”
And that of E ng l ish P O P U L AR I N F L U E N C E which w s , a
establis h ed gradual l y but which may be dated from De f e , o .
To the l st n med there was added slight admixture f

a -
a o
a G er ma n I fl
n u ence .
Be fore dopting these divisions in a survey of the course

a
o f E nglish Literature let me b e permitted to explain m re , o
fully w hat t h ey mean .
The student o f E nglish Lit erature wh o looks f the or
characteris tic mind o f the nation underlying through l l a
T h O e
gener tions
ne
fo more th n tho sand years
a the r a a u
M di h m
a11
in most distinct
nt diversities
e o f m nner should found a
MS l S o S o f the study pon such d e S t es

.
l l n u Iv r I I
f m nner b u t re fu se to recogni s e divi s ion in the li fe itsel f

~
a , .
5
Of every ch nge o f t ste a d style m rking period he

a a n ,
a a ,
sh ould seek the origin i m ny i fl e es s of pu b lic

— n a n u nc a
events or s t ruggles at home or abroad ; o f t h e person l a
c h r cter o f the sovereign in the days o f patronage

a a o f the
hum ur of the sovereign s court w hich w o ld colour the

o
’
,
u
humours o f l l lesser patrons o f the genius of gre t writers

a a ,
or the f shion ble extravag nces o f sm ll writers wh w ere t

a a a a o a
the time in high repute But at every turn it i s to b e . re
membered th t those superficial differences do n ot ch g e

a an
the mind w ithin An honest e r est m m y in day so .

,
a n an a a
accommod te himsel f to the t ste o f his comp ny that

a a a
w ith the s me me ning to express — fo one he sha l l be

a a r a
w arm tt cker f b uses fo nother a c lm m or list f

a a o a ,
r a a a ,
or
another jester fo nother s tirist fo an ther a ret iler

a , r a a a , r o a
o f fl t small talk ; and w ith each comp ni n he sh ll

a by a o a ,
cha ge of mood have come into such honest sympathy that

n ,
he sha l l h ve carried one d the s me thought f irly hom e

a an a a
to al l Far more easy it is fo the unity o f a su b st n tial

. r a
E nglish ch r cter to be m int ined in variety o f utterance

a a a a
b y the di ffere t voices o f many men spe king at di ff erent

n ,
a
times but al w ys str ight from E nglish lips to E ngl ish

, a a
e rs
a .
Yet another consider tion ha to b e pplied const tly a s a an
to the study of liter ture It is the expressi n o f the a a . o
b est mi d o f t h e country
n But why so ex S m f .
o e, o
pressed ? Books e produced either t uphold ar o
right fo its own s ke or to pr cure credit d g in to their

r a , o an a
auth ors or fo the t wo re sons com b ined The d esire of

,
r a .
g in never could mean fo ny h onest E nglish uthor

a r a a ,
i f he w ere not rich — at any r te d o w n to the cl o se o f the

,
a ,
l ast century more t h n l bour fo a livelihood

,
-
d i f he a a r an
w ere rich it cert inly w

, t by w riting books t h t it would
a as n o a
easily have occu red to nybody th t he might incre se his

r a a a
we lth
a But the man w ithout heredit ry store wh g ve
. a o a
his l bour to his pen has at all times been forced by t h e

a ,
6 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
conditions o f li fe to study h ow he m ight su b sist b y it .
M ney that some affect to despise in the gross m e ns

o , , a
fo d clothes health— nay t h e very lives— O f w i fe and

o , , ,
children ; power to b e honest pow er to be just po wer to , ,
be m erci ful Common truths as these are they help to

.
,
m ke many things clear when fairly and habitu ally applied

a
to the nalysis o f Literature

a .
Thus fo example in the old British and Pag n hal f

, r , a or
P gan times there w ere men wh o s ng deeds o f a chie f d

a a an
I pn his forefathers The rude civi l isation h rdly gave

a g an . a
m "
b irth to high spiritu l spir tions and there w no
e'
a a a , as
b read for an author except wh t he ate at the t ble o f a a
such a p tron For what he received he paid w ith cunning

a .
w ords o f fl ttery and battle songs to stir his master s f l

’
a ,
-
o
low ers to v lour The desire o f gi fts w s never c nce led

a . a o a
b y the b ard Thus T l i i — i n e o f the few song

. to a es n n o s
Urien which m y be l d as l l pretend to b e and m y

a as o a , a
re l l y c rry us back to the d ys when the C elts w ere con

a a a
te ding ag inst the invasion o f the E nglish Taliesin is

n a —
very explicit to his m aster The b road spoils of the spe r . a ,
”
he says are given to my f ir song d elivered b e fore t h e

,
a
bright smiling hero The most resolute of C hie ft ins is . a
Urien .E agle of the l nd very k een is thy sight I a , .
h ave m ade a request fo a mettled steed the price f r , o
the spoils o f Tal iesi The s me aid to appreci tion o fn . a a
the hie ftain from wh om c me the m instrel s b re d opens

C a
’
a
a n t her of these songs Urien o f the plain most generous

o , ,
o f bapti ed men ; much h z he besto wed on skil ful m e as n .
Like to the heaping together o f scattered corn is the b u n d a
ance of Christian b rds In the earlier days of E nglish a .
possession when Christi nity had not yet touched the

,
a
he rts o f ou foref thers sti l l the milit ry chie f was the

a r a , a
sole patron b y whom an author could be fed d b ttle , an a
stories pleasant to his e w ere all the literature he w ould ar
pay fo r.
The religious mind d t hat quiet spirit of work in Bede

an
w ere E nglish Outside the monas teries the fields w ere

.
being tilled and b y successive colonisation the land had

,
b een occupied by an industrious race w illingly attentive to ,
the te ching f n honest clergy And in these respects the

a o a .
comi ng of the Normans did not change them .
The Norman s w ere but a n ew r ce in France I t was a .
only in the d ys o f Alfred when t h e First E nglish had

a ,
U d n h
e, achieved their b est and w ere about to lapse int
t e ,
o
stolidity of character that th ose b old Northmen ,
settled in France and b eca m e fathers of a mixed race th t

,
a
knew not whence it had come ; supposing indeed its old , ,
h ome to b e somew here upon the Dan ube When their .
c hie f joined to his r i ch dukedom in France the throne o f
E ngland he b ecame the richest prince of w hom a b ard

,
could seek re ward French song Arab ic learning sought in

.
,
S p in by busy scholars the ready jest soon f miliarised to

a , , a
the whole E ngl ish people i n the miracle play that imparted
its hal f prof ne liveliness to religious teaching such i
-
a — n
fl u e ces stirred E nglish w its

n The reckless rule of Norman.
feudal lords and t h e scandals o ften raised amo n g their

God fear ing flocks b y the excess that had b e en common
-
,
—
even in Normandy among t h e clergy such i nfluences
,
stirred E nglish temper Song and romance found friends ;

.
but there b egan at once and rose gradually in intensity the

, ,
determined protest agai nst wrong which form s the bone and ,
marrow of our l i terature Th ere was reas on now why men

.
should speak fro m their hearts there was reas on also wh y

the people should Su pport th ei r spokesman E ven at Court .
the Norman wits were as earnest in th eir L atin satires as

t h e m en of the soil in their o wn mother to n gue At last .
w e have the whol e r eligious soul o f E ngl nd centred a b out a
Wycli f and the author o f Piers Plo wman w ith the old
“
,
”
E nglish religious seriousness is u rging w ith dire ct moralities, ,
w hat Chaucer in the m ore altered E nglish an d w ith h i s o wn

,
9
livelier wi t b rightened among the Normans in the capital ,
was u rging w ith an equ l earnestness of heart a .
Meanw hile there had b een transition v ying in di ff er ,

ar
ent parts o f E ngl nd in extent d character from first

a an ,
E nglish to w ards the E nglish w e ow speak Into n

I fl e ce
.
f n u n o
the re sons fo the di fferences in T an s i t o

a r i
m m
r I n n at o n
" o
u p on
E nglish as w ell as the f cts o f them the student

,
a ,
o f the E nglish l ngu ge must needs enter fu lly All

a a .
E nglish o f t h is Period is know n t once b y its use f gr m a o a
m t i l f rms th t have passed aw y

a ca o a d many w ords th t a ,
an a
ar e ow o b solete
n But with C h ucer w e dr w towards the
. a a
cl ose o f w h t w e h ve called the Period o f the F rm

a a o a
tion o f the L ngu ge w hile the Peri d of It li n Influence

a a ,
o a a
begins .
At the source of modern E uropean literature the ch ie f

spri ng is represented by the genius o f D nte w hich descends a ,
from a su b lime height as one pure and mighty column to , ,
b lend w ith the noisier d b ro der stre ms running from an a a
those t wo other fountains o f abund nt song d story a an ,
Petr rch d Bocc ccio But w hence the strength d

a an a . an
fulness o f these he d waters P What morning d ew o f poetry

a ,
wh t Oa bscure tricklings of verse c used in d ys barren f ,

a , a o
w i t the genius o f D nte to le p forth from t h e dry rock ?

,
a a
After the con fusi n and d rkness o f the l st d ys of the

o a a a
Ancient L iter ture in the south o f E urope there wa rhym

a , s
ing of love verses or devoti n l songs fee ble and I h

-
o a ,
nt e ou t se t
rude u ntil sti red into quicker li fe by conflict with

r f I li o
,
ta a n
L I t e ra t u re .
a warm W t t e d O e ta l people
-
I Aga m s t t h S
rI n . l
p eople the S p ni rds had to maint

a in in their
a ow l nd a a n a
daily stri fe aw kening devotion l and p triotic chivalry d

,
a a a , an
giving soul t o song and b a ad and ag inst them the men

l l — f a
o f sou t h ern Fra nce w ent out to fight upon the sacred soil o f
,
Palestine Italy or the contending cities by w hich It ly

.
, a
I o E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
was represented st id t home every man e ger to fi ght

, a a ,
a
w ith his n eighbour d tr de profit bly w ith the w rld The

an a a o .
provincial tongues o f the old Roman E mpire w ithin the

peninsul were m rked b y hundreds o f conflicting l oc l
a a a
forms ; each city scorned its neig h b our s dia l ect ; cl ssical
’
a
Latin was neutral gr und o f speech on w hich w riter

a o ,
a
fo more th n the circle o f his to wnspeople could tre d

r a a
w ithout o ffence There w a litt l e It li n prose be f re the

. s a a o
mid d l of the fourteenth century ; and the first It li n

e a a
poem — Di al ogue betw een Lover and L dy by Ciullo

a a ,
d Al m o d tes only from the ye rs

— hen the
’
ca a 7 7 8 w e w a I 1 2- ,
n
stir o f poetic li fe south o f the L ire and in Spain h d

, o ,
a
tr nsmitted to It l y th e impulse derived by thers fr m

a a o o
t heir contest w ith the M r D Al m o w s a Sicili n ’

oo . ca a a .
F l o cac hi e o w hose Can one upon his Condition thr ugh

r , z o
Love is al most or alt gether contempor ry w

, Tusc o ,
a ,
as a an .
It w t Palerm o in the thirteenth century under the

as a , ,
E mper r Frederic I I and his natur l son M n fredi both

o . a a ,
kings of N ples th t the true beginni ng w m de of an

a ,
a as a
It li n literat re In the men wh o preceded this period

a a u .
,
wh en It li n poetry w a even kno w n as the Sicili n

“
a a s a
l ngu ge there is no ve y strong trace of direct influence

a a ,
”
r
from Provence The troub dours on one side f the A lps

. a o
w ere but livelier and more numer us body kindred even

a o ,
in l gu ge to the fe w rhymers on the other The bound ry

an a . a
line w not strongly dr w n bet ween the Rom nce di lects

as a a a
on either side of Alps or Pyrenees When the Sicil i n . a
Court bec me a haunt o f poet s al th ough troub dours w ere

a , a
tempted thither it was r ther from Sp in th n from Fr nce

, a a a a
that the chie f influence proceeded The Italian sonnets .
b y the earlier precursors of Dante do not greatly resemble

poems of the trou b dours but are f more kindred in a ,
ar
v e i fi t io
rs ca to the S panish poems o f the Cid w ritten a
n
“
,
century be fore the marriage o f Frederi c of Sicily w ith

C onstance o f Aragon .
I N T R oD HG T /01V
'
. I I
When Frederic II t P lermo m rried to Constance.

,
a a , a
o f Ar gon m de the S icili n C urt the h unt o f poets it

a ,
a a o a ,
w s t h rough Aragon or from the Mediterranean coast

a ,
f o
S p in t h at str y murmurs o f the C stili n music penetrated

a , a a a .
But the dialects of Ar gon and C stile w ere alm st t wo a a o
l ngu ages ; t h e Aragonese sp ken lo g the whol e M di

a , o a n e
terranean co t of Sp in from C pe Palos north w rd being

as a ,
a a ,
in close rel tion to t h e P e q l Unsettled vari ti ns

a ro v n a . a o ,
i n d eed o f the same O i t i a tong e o f the troubad urs

, cc an n u o ,
differing in Provence itsel f from Italian d Sp nish an a no
more th n the Tuscan di lect from the Lomb rd d

a a a an
Veneti n w ere the langu ge o f song long the w hole line f

a , a a o
Mediterranean coast w estw rd o f Geno a d lmost to the a , an a
S traits Of Gibr lt r Thus f ex mple with an air to

a a .
, or a ,
modern readers of the most intelligible polyglot begins one ,
o f the songs o f Bern at de V e ta d o born of the people o f n rn ,
the Limousin
’
No n es m era v e l h a s i eu can
N ei l s d e n u l au t re c a n t a d or .
The second or Sici l ian period o f early Itali n litera a
ture received then s m e o f its inspir tion from a Spanish

, , o a
province but in the d ys o f Dante and the gener tions

,
a , a
next be fore him they w ere the poets o f Pr vence itsel f w h

, o o
gave the l w of so g to It ly
a n a .
Not It ly alone w a influenced thus from without The

a s .
concourse and conflict of mind in the Crus des had in fect d a e
courtly w its in Germ ny lso w — here the g I h a a ru

n t e ou t s e t
g e d l y g and poem
r o f the N b e l g b e
g
G I un en e rm a n
I t e ra t u re .
longed to the true m d of the people w t h — In I
the epidemic of the g b The S b i Minnesanger ’
a z sa er . ua an
in the generations be fore D nte w ere riv lling the t o b a a r u a
dours of Provence in the f nci f l delic cy o f their pr ise f a u a a o
w omen E mperor B rbarossa h d b een cro w ned King o f

. a a
Provence in 3 3 and after the land of song was thus

11 ,
12 E NGL I SH WR I T E R S .
p rted fr m France as a fi ef o f the German empire the

a o ,
C urt o f the S u b ia E mperors cherished among its ow

o a n n
minstrels the t i fi es of Proven c l poetry The reign o f

ar c a .
B rbaross s gr ndson Frederic I I not nly est blished

a a
’
a ,
.
,
o a
a round his Itali n th rone a golden d y o f It l i n song

a a a a
be fore the g e of Dante ; in his ow l nd also he wa

a n a s
surrounded by the minstrelsy of such great chie fs o f the

minnesanger as Wol fram von E schen b ach d W lther von an a
der Vogelw eide wh o w ent with Frederic to the C us d es

, r a
men w ithout equ ls in Italy a .
To E ngland also there passed through Northern

Fr nce the s me spirit o f southern song and story not
a a ,
In E l d
un
ng a n
ff ected by the d enturous and busy temper
a a v
o f the t h m g Normans wh o found w ork and

gfi g
h t e rI v ,
lg
l m
or anpay fo C h roniclers i verse and prose
r They n .
I ng s .
liked w ell that the hist ry they made should be o
w ritten by cunning schol rs w h o b eing priests must h ve a , , a
licence t mingle histories o f ab b eys w ith the stories of the

o
rise and fall of thron es Ol d British tales th t h d p ssed . a a a
out o f mind came home ag in in song from Britt ny ever a a a ,
distinct stronghold o f fiction yielding the true f iryl nd ,

a a
o f Northern France O t o f such impulse arose also in

. u
E ngl nd during the gener tion or t w o be fore Dante little

a ,
a ,
o n thing indeed in imitation o f the fant stic and courtly

r o a
southern love song which the earnest men of the soil and
-
,
the dventurous Norm ns w ith the b lood of the Sea Kings

a a ,
n ,
—
in th eir vei s w ere like inapt to invent b ut the first a
E nglish metrical imitations of the cunningly invented

narrative lays and f bliaux or of the brisk t les of chiv lrous
a ,
a a
adventure We h d in E ngl nd during a few generatio s

. a a , n
b e fore Dante such liter ture o f feigned enterprise and d

,
a a
venture o true narrative o f action by the C hroniclers w h o

, r
w ited
a race of energetic h istory m kers and t
on a -
a o
gether w ith it th ere rem ai s enough to sh ow the dom in nt n a
c haracteristic of religious earnestness marking the s canty

I N T R OD U C T I ON I
3
w ritten utterances f the E ng lish o f the people Brother

o .
Orm s O m u l m a body f metric l homilies founded

’ ”
r u ,
o a ,
o n paraphrases of the G spel fo each day designed o r ,
fo instruction o f the congregation in the d aily service o f

r
the Church rem ins to us from the c entury be fore the

, a
birth o f Dante It is care fully f rnished w ith peculiar

. u a
device of Spelling dou b tless intended to secure the right

,
pronunciatio o f their ow words to the people b y ignorant

n n
or hal f Norman readers

-
.
This b eing the condition of poetry am ng the men w ith o
whom the ew kingdoms o f modern E ur pe w ere rising into

n o
li fe whence the sudden predomin nce of D nte s

, a a
’
genius ? Wh y sh uld it be through most u 2?flf zfi 3

° a ‘
o a n
fortun te outcas t from Florence in its d y

f
a f a o
°
ut m ost discord that there c me s u ddenly the 5323 532 a 9

3
Divine Poe m w hich first r ised th e literature of

.
the moderns to a l evel w ith the highest utterances of the

ancient w orld ? The r re gi ft of genius in Dante re l ly fel l
a a
on the best soil in E urope when surrounded by the w arm ,
a rtistic spiri t of the Tu sca ns it lay nurtured i n the soul o f ,
a m n linked to t h e li fe o f the chie f Tusca n city

a .
Florence was in spite of its rude turmoil o f i nd ep e d

,
n
ence great among cities of E urope in commerce a resort

,
o f nations a hive of the most ctive earnest

,
a , ,
enterprising li fe Only in the stir o f the city

.
where man meets man and eac h man s energies are called
’
into the fullest play ; where commerce brings the wor l d

w ithin the city s g tes and yet is not its w h le li fe but
’
a ,
o ,
leaves room for all that there is in man besides d beyond an
the trading spirit to ssert itsel can great centre o f

f— a a
literature b e est blished Such a centre Florence w in

a . as
Dante s d y and a fter it

’
a , .
To the chie f discords o f North It ly there w as an i a an
mating sou l ; the struggle b et wee n Guel f and Ghibelline

w as for a l o ng time practically the b attle o f popular right
I 4 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
a gainst Imperi l feud lism The Peace of Constance in

a a ,
I 1 8 3 est b lished fo those It lian republics the possession

,
a r a
f the rights they fou ght for ; and during an ther

o o
ifijf is fo ty ye rs the Guel fs w h o were then the Italian

h l m l
u
r a ,
5535335 1 party
8
h d their w ay But
, that graa n dson o f B . ar
d
?? hfg
g
i ‘c a
b rossa Frederica II w hom w e h ve fou n d i
,
.
, a n
g t i g in
au S icily an
u raIt li n e w birt
n h m in a a n ,
a
t ai e d ag in the Imperi l ca se in b ttle ag inst North

n a a u a a
It lian republic nism When D nte w s b orn in 6 5

a a . a a ,
12 ,
this conflict not of men only b ut o f principle wa r gi g , ,

s a n
fo Frederic s son Man fredi still ruled in S icily and Naples

r , ,
.
Duri g the last five ye rs since their triumph at the f mous

n a ,
a
batt l e of Mont Aperti the Ghibel lines had been enj ying ,
o
s way in Florence ; d as the exiled chie fs of the Guel fs an
did not return till t wo ye rs after Dante s birth w hen a

’
,
Charles o f Anjou crow ned by the Pope King o f N ples , a ,
h da verc me M n fre d i w e cannot suppose th t the

o o a ,
a
respect ble un b nished la wyer f wh se second wi fe

a ,
a , o o ,
D nna Bel l D nte w as b orn though o f g od f mily held

o a, a , o a ,
a nything like the consideration f a party chie f o .
The Ghi b ellin s wh o le ft F l orence w hen after the arriv l

e ,
a
o f Charles o f Anjou the Guel fs returned w ere restored to , ,
their homes tw elve ye rs a fterward s d lready the i d e t i

a an a n
fi t i o o f the Guel fs w ith a French party w s b eginni g

ca n a n
to deprive their cause f its very soul in its connection w ith o
Itali n n tion l ity Both parties fte the Ghi b ellines e

a a a .
,
a r r
turned w ere gain comb t nt fello w c iti ens in Florence

, a a a -
z ,
fro m the time when D nte w boy o f thirteen le ft duringa as a ,
the last four ye rs by h i father s de th in charge of a most

a , s
’
a ,
c re ful mother A fter four m re ye rs when the poet w

a . o a ,
as
in the first flush o f manly y uth t h f mous Constitution o f o ,

e a
12 8 represent tive o f the highest point o f free pol itic l

2, a a
strength tt ined by the city was est blished The soul f

a a ,
a . o
liberty h d anim ted even the licence o f many a lawless

a a
street conflict The republican spirit w ild enough in som e

.
,
e ff ects o f her gracious s l t ti n She died young fter a u a o .

,
a
m rrying some b ody else and died in the year wh en young

a ,
Dante w presen t as a soldier t the t king of C prona

as , ,
a a a .
I f w e are to take as it stands q ite literally the “

Vita , u ,
Nuov s t h e history o f D nte s early love w e

a
”
a s ee a
’
, can
in it only glorification of cal f love much more open to

a -
,
Leigh Hunt s censure than to the admiration justly cl imed

’
a
fo it
r Bu t it is not to b e so reg rded
. a .
At the end o f the Vita Nuova Dante celebrates his

“
consolation fo the death of Be trice in n other love ; and

r a a
in the Convito his n ext w ork h e expl ains that this m aid
, ,
w s Philosophy To conquer his grie f h e read Cicero s ’

a .
Laelius d the Co so lation of Bo ethius w hereby he was so

an n ,
dr wn to philosoph y th t he went to its source in Bologna

a a
and Padu and fter thirty months w s m stered b y t h e

a, , a , a a
love o f it be f re his upw rd w y led to the heavenly love

, o a a .
T wo ye rs a fter the death o f Beatrice Dante w s m rried

a ,
a a
to noble lady of the hous e of Don ti When ten years

a a .
,
l ter he was banished the poet left five or six little children
a , ,
in his n ative city w ith the wi fe wh o there only could she l ter
and rear th em and being allied to a house then in t he
, ,
a scendant perh aps recover for them something out of the

,
w reck Of their fathe r s w orldly substance The sep r tion ’

. a a
w s dictated strongly b y prude n c e ; and i f Dant e does not

a
m enti n h i s w i fe in his poetry fo good or ill so neither

o , r ,
does he menti n his chi l dren his b rother his father h i s

o , , ,
d evoted mother or anything belonging to th t strictly pri

,
a
v te l i fe w hich poets of his d y refrain ed from intru d i g on

a a n
the pub l ic Beatrice belonged to the pu blic as

. ide lised an a
being o f whom what he wrote was t o be read w ith a

,
m ystic l a well as natural interpretation and the n atural

a s a ,
interpretation then was into graces of a poet s courtesy ’

,
th t were allo wed freely because they were held not to

a
imply person l suit Had Dante indeed b een trai ned only
a .
, ,
in studies of poetry an d philos ophy he never wo u ld have ,

I N T R OD U C T I ON . 17
passed beyon d the Vi t a Nuov an d the Convito which

“ a,
“
, ,
though lifted i n aim link him directly to the Pro e cal i st

,
v n s
on t h e o n e si d e and to Petrarch on the other and by ,
w hich he is more especial ly connected with that sequence

of Itali n writers through w h se influence a literature
a o
marked strongly b y the taste fo concei t s was afterwards r
est blished i n this country He would have been little

a .
more than a master in the school to which Guido G i i cel li u n
h d b elonged
a H e might even have imitated as at l st he
.
,
a
did the Tesoretto of his old teacher Br u netto Latini

,
“ ”
, ,
w herein that poet — statesman as he was coldly described

—
h ow he was lost in a forest and found Nature wh o told him , ,
o f many things God m n redemption an d t h e n avig tion

, ,
a , ,
a
b eyond Spain h o w in the next forest he was instructed b y

Philosophy met the four Virtues went to the abode of
, ,
Love d was led out o f the w ood b y Ovid But w ithout

, an .
the vigorous stirring o f all his depths b y the surroundings ,
o f his li fe in Florence Dante never would have on such , ,
suggestion yielded as he did fo the first time in l l litera

, ,
r a
ture the whole innermost truth of a man s soul in poem

,
’
a
passionate w ith all that w s real to him rising fearlessly to a ,
the heights and soundi g the depths of an argume nt u n n
equ al led then in its su blimity .
I must not d well here on t h e Divine C omedy Its .
pow er is in the fulness with w hich it puts into fitting music

a m n s mind stirred to the vigorous assertion of all R l i
a
’
e a t on
that was b est in it Another man might put If fd f .

l
n o
Sol i u s the geographer in place o f Virgil and h D i

n , , ,
t e iv ne
C d om e
pr duce an explorat on o f the upper world n ter a
o i I z
y .
rima as a D i t tam on d o but beside such work the Divine

,
“
Comedy was Chim borazo to mole hill We skirt its

”
a -
.
b ase and discuss Dante s

, Vita Nuova on our way to ’ ”
Petr rch and Bocca ccio when w e speak o f Italian litera

a ,
ture with regard only to its infl u ence upon old E nglish
writers .
It w then b y no b rupt tr nsition that the str ined

as , ,
a a a
an d f nci ful love poe t ry o f trou b dours a d minnes nger

a -
a n a
passed through the young Dante s cele br tion of ’

a
fi f mfi; the ideal excellence o f Beatrice into the sonnets o f

i
fi gfifw o
Petrarch
’ ’n s
fro m w hich S urrey
, and Wy t d the a an
“ “
OM
courtly m akers o f the days o f Henry VIII
”
b
.
t ro u a
33:2n .
le rnt to n ew m uld our E nglish verse ; and into
a -
o
D
P
ant e t o
e t rarc h
the Italian t ste fo conceits w hic h exercised soa r
l I el y n nfluence on our E l ab et h n l I t e t e
.
v a I Iz a ra u r .
W he n D nte in 3 4 then thirty nine ye rs Ol d w s

—a 1 — 0 -
a a
w ith the arm y o f exiles th t by bol d stroke almost t ook a ,

a ,
Fl rence the father of Petr rch a Florentine not ry pro

o ,
a , a ,
scribed w ith Dante w s Ghibelline soldier in th t army , a a a ,
an d on the night o f its d i o m fi t re w ithin the c mp his sc u , a ,
w i fe gave b irth to their son Fr ncesco After shi fting fo a . r
seven years from to wn to to w n in I taly the f mily o f , a
P et or Peterkin settled first t and after w rds near

rac c o , , a a
Avigno w here the Popes w ere in base exile There the

n, .
y ung poet was first t ught by n old exiled I t li n h e t o

o a a a a r
i i
r c an W —
like a hetstone s id the pupil b lunt himsel f but , a ,
g od to sharpen others H ow t h e young P et c o w ent t

o . ra c a
th e a g e o f four t een to study fo three years in Montpellier ; r
h o w he studied a fterw rds fo four years in Bol gn ; w s a r o a a
then released from un willi g pursuit o f the l aw by the death n
o f his p rents w h o le ft him w ith a younger brother

a , le , , S n
d l y provided fo and in charge o f thievish executors h ow

er r
he d his b rother Gher rdo entered the C hurch d looked

an a an
to Avignon w ere Jo n h ,
h XX II kept a great b e e e shop
fi — . n c ,
as the head quarters o f pre ferment where he found good

-
, a
patron in t h e Cardin l Giovanni Colonna this and much a
more about himsel f nd his times the poet himself h s told a a .
He has bran d ed also with sh ame the lust a d licence of the n
P p l capital at Avignon He was a poet and a sch ol r

a a . a ,
h l f a Frenchman b y residence f miliar with French s w ith

a , a a
Italian love poetry with the songs of the troub adours as

-
,
I N T R OD U C T I ON 19
w ith the sonnets f the Vit Nuova It delighted him to

o
“
a .
pore over ma uscripts of Cicero and Virgil Senec w s

n ,
a a
de r to him and the fl me of Itali n p triotism quick in

a , a a a ,
him from the first found fuel even in t h e H i s t o i s of Livy

, ,
r e .
I f the poetry w ithin him m de his scholarship at l st the a a
mother of a L tin epic upon Africa the same poetry w edded

a ,
to love had prod uced his sonnets in the vulgar tongue th t a ,
copied and recopied quoted a d requoted t once b ecame ,

n ,
a
the delight of Fr nce and It ly a a .
L ura wh o was b orn at Avignon of Proven c l family

a , a a ,
had b een fo t wo ye rs y ung w i fe when Petr rch t the

r a a o a , a
a
g e o f t w enty three first s w her
-
S h e h d in additi
, o n to a . a ,
her husband ten children be fore Petr rch h d brought to

,
a a an
end his ideal celebration of her excellence d her husb nd , an a ,
Hugh de S de h d noth ing to compl in o f in the sonnets

a , a a .
Their vari tions Of love sentiment w ere but the d intinesses of

a a
poetic l conceit ; they expressed skill in science the g y

a a ,
a c
i
s c en ce w herein even w hile Petr rch lived in Fr nce d ctor a a o
a tes b eg n to b e gr nted by virtue o f the edict f Clem n

a a ,
o e
tin I s e Countess f Toulous wh o in 3 4 instituted

a au r , o e, 1 2
the Flor l G mes These g mes ss mbled t Toulouse

a a . a a e a
the poets of Fr nce housed them in rtifici l rbours

a ,
a a a
dressed with flo w ers d g ve vi let in gold to him w h o ,

an a a o
produced the best poem w ith the degree o f d ctor to him ,

o
w h o was three times pri em n It w only through t h '
a z a . as e
a ffections o f doctor in g y science th t Petr rch tur ed

a a a a n
cold in hot we ther upon seeing country girl w sh M

a a a rs .
Laura s v il or suggested in the so net quest nim

’
e ,
n
’
a a
gentil upon he ring o f her ill ness th t on the dep t ure o f

,
”
a ,
a ar
her spirit ,
I f s he es t a b l i sh
bod e be t w ee n her a
M a rs an d t he p l a n e t s t ar o f Be au ty s qu ee n -
’
,
T h e s u n w i l l b e o b s cu red s o d e ns e a c l o u d ,
O f sp i ri t s fro m adj a cen t s t a rs w il l c ro w d

T o g aze u p on h er be a u t y i n fi n i t e .
20 E N GL I SH I VR I TERS .
S ay t h at s h e ‘ fi x es o n a l o w er s p h e re,
B e n ea t h t h e g l o ri o u s s u n , h e r be a u t y so on
\Vi l l d i m t h e s p l en d ou r of i n fe ri o r s t a rs
O f M ars , of V en u s , M ercu ry, a nd the M oo n .
The translati n is C mpbel l s Though he w s constant unti l

o a
’
. a ,
her d e th as a middle aged m tron to the person b out

a -
a ,
a
w hom it ple sed him to w eave his ide l w eb in Petr rch s

’
a a ,
a
vers e the expression o f his p triotism is no b ler th n the a a
ingenious d music l expression o f unre l love He sees

an a a .
the foreigner on native soil nd cries o f one he rt w ith the, ,

a , a
patriots of hal f a thous nd years l t r a a e ,
La t i n s ang u e g e nt i l e
S com b ra d a t e qu est e d an nos e so m e
Or, as L ady Dacre rendere d this part of the appeal to the

princes o f Italy
0 L a t i n b l o od o f ol d ,
A ri s e an d w res t fro m o b l oq u y t h y fam e ,

Nor bo w b efore a na m e
O f h ol l o w s ou n d w h o s e p o w er no l a w s e n fo rce
F or i f b a rbari an s ru d e
H a v e h i g h e r m i nd s s u bd u ed ,
N o t su ch w i s e N at u re s
’
O u rs o u rs t h e c ri m e
, . cou rs e .
A h i s n o t t h i s t h e s o i l m y fo ot fi rs t p re s s e d ?
,
A n d h e re i n cra d l e res t
, ,
\Vas I n o t so ft l y h u s h ed ? h e re fo nd l y re a re d
A h i s no t t h i s m y co u n t ry s o en d ea re d
, ,
B y e v e ry fi l i al t i e ,
I n w h os e l a p s h ro u d e d bo t h m y p are n ts l i e ?
O h b y t h i s t e nd e r t h o u g h t
, ,
Y ou r t o rp i d bosom s t o co m p ass i on w rou g h t ,
Look on t he p eop l e s g ri e f ’
,
Wh o , a ft e r G od , of you ex
pe ct re l i e f ;
A nd i f ye b u t re l en t ,
V i rt u e s h al l rou s e h e r i n em ba t t l e d m i g h t,
Ag ai n s t bl i n d fu ry ben t ,
I N T R OD U C T I ON . 2 I
N o r l ong shal l d ou b tfu l h ang the u neq u al fig h t

F or n o — t h e an ci en t fl am e
,
I s n o t e x t i ngu is h ed ye t t hat rai sed t he I t al i an n am e .
The fire of the poet is almost extinguished in the tra sl a n
tion b ut it le pe d high and it sti l l animates his country

a , .
There w a in Petrarch w hose verse represents the p e fe

s , r c
tion o f Itali n style full me sure o f the ear estness th t

a , a n a
gives to a tru e poet permanence o f f me Truth su b tly a .

,
expresse d l ives in m ny immort l line even o f the most

,
a an a
conceited of his Pl tonic love sonnets But it w s not fo a . a r
his pat riot ism or for his truth that he w as made d rling a a
poet o f his age Wh t the trou b do u rs h d b egun he per

. a a a ,
fe t ed
c .
—
O f the t wo form s of his verse he deri ed one the ,
v
sonnet from the Sicili ns ; the other the c n one —fro m

— — a a z
the Provencals The recital of his verses from to wn to

.
to wn clothed ragge d men in silks while Petr rch tells us ,

a
th t even the very shoem kers b egan to cele b r te their loves

a a a
in emulative rhyme .
In 3 5 9 D nte had been de d eight d thirty ye ars

1 a a -
an -
.
Boccaccio then a so b ering m o f forty six ten years fter

,
an -
, a
he h d w ritten his Dec meron t lked the

a a ,
a
ology t Florence with Petr rch nine ye rs his

a a , a
senior As Petr rch did not p ossess among his

. a
manuscript b ooks the Divine Comedy o f Dante ”

,
—
Boccaccio appointed t Florence first Of a line of pro a
fess o s to expound t h at poem and to glori fy its a u thor

r
gave hi m a copy which was acknowledged in letter from

, a
which one p ss ge although o ften quoted is w orth repeti

a a , ,
tion
G l ad l y d o I se ize h
t i s o pp o rt u n i t y
o f c o n fu t i ng t h e c a rg e m a d e h
ag ai ns t me by m y e ne m i es o f a t i n g t i s g re at p oe t h h
hy s o u l I . W h d
ha t e hi m ? I n e v e r sa w h i m b u t o nce , o r ra t e r h e w as s o w n t o m e , h h
and t h at i n m y ch i l dh o od H e l i v ed w i t h m y fa t h e r an d g ra nd fa t h e r,
.
ol der t han t h e form er, you nge r t h an t h e l at t e r, an d t h e sam e s t orm

2 2 E NG L I SH WR I T E R S .
d rov e t h e m al l th e same d ay from t h ei r cou nt ry Th is s i m i l ari t y of .
fo rt u ne j oi ned by a u ni on o f t as tes u ni t ed h i m i n st ri ct fri en d s h i p w i t h

, ,
m y fat h er b u t th e y t oo k o p p o s i t e c ou rs es : m y fat h e r y i e l d ed t o
c i rcu m s t a nce s and o cc u i ed h i m s e lf w i t h t h e care o f h i s fa m i l y D an t e
, p ,
o n t h e c on t rary res i s t ed t h e m an d res ol u t el y fol l o we d t h e p a t h h e h a d

, ,
t ak en t h i n k i ng on l y of g l o ry and resi g ni ng e v eryt h i ng for i t

, ,
N e i t h er .
t h e i nj u s t i ce o f h i s c o u n t rym en n o r p ri v at e q u arrel s nor e x i l e n o r

, , ,
p o v e rt y n o r l o v e o f c h i l d ren or w i fe — n t h i n cou l d d i s t ra c t h i m f ro m
, o g ,
h i s s t u d i es t hou g h p oet ry d e m an d s s o m u c h q u i e t a nd rep os e

, .
The seven im gin y l dies d three gentlemen w h m

a ar a an o
Bocca ccio supposed to shut out the horrors of the gre t a
pl gue o f Florence in 3 4 8 b y enjoying themselves in a

a 1 ,
g rden ith a ten day eas t o f story telling presented i

a w f - — -
,
n
the best and eas iest though ne rly the first I talian prose
,
a ,
among their hundred t les the choice t ales of th e day from a
the French fab liaux from i ncidents of actual li fe or from

, ,
w hatever source was open to the author E ven the .
machinery in which the tales are set came from the East ,
and h d existed in a L tin form t wo centuries b e fore The

a a .
n um b er o f the stories also w as perhaps determined b y the
previous existence of the Cento Novelle Antiche Boc .
caccio w rote to amuse the ladies l ittle pri ing wh t he , z a
esteemed as his light lab our in the vulgar tongue But .
Petrarch s love poetry w s not m ore to the taste o f the d y

’
-
a a
th n Bocc ccio s tales ; the very t les of the time in the

a a
’
a ,
temper and manner Of the time per fectly expressed Col ,

.
lections of stories linked together b y the incidents o f a sligh t

cont ini g narrative multip l ied rapidly Chaucer s m ster
a n ,
.
’
a
piece wh i c h includes some o f the Decameron tales w s

, , a
w ritten pon t he plan thus established some thirty years

u ,
a fter the Decameron .

”
Ch ucer born seven years after the d eath of Dante was

a , ,
t wenty four years yo u nger than Petr rch

-
a
F rau n cei s P et ra rk t h e l au reat poe t e ,

H i gb t e t h i s cl erk , w h os re t h o ri k e swe t e
E nl u m i n ed all I t ai l l e of p 0 e t ri e,
and misgu ided people to the divine simplicities of Christian

truth .
The disastrous glori es of the reign of H enry V d the .

,
an
still more d i sas trous period of the ensuing War s of the R oses ,
checked the adv nce of our l iterature Lydgate a .

,
in the fi fteenth century tu rn d stories from ,

e
L tin and It li n collections from French fab

a a a ,
li
au x nd Church legends into prolix verse
a H e en forced , .
the mor ls good monk w ould l bour to uphold b u t not

a a a ,
w ithout admixture O f t he E nglish s tiric l spirit w hic h a a ,
attacked chiefl y the l wyers s class tha t had then t ke n a a a a
profit ble employments o u t o f the h nds of the clergy d

a a , an
the women wh o w ere in those days not more subject to a

,
refinement of conce i ted praise th n to the coarseness o f the a
most damnatory j esting Stephen H wes s Pastime of . a

’
P l eas u re continued on French ins piration the al legor ical

”
school o f rom ntic verse in the style of the Romaunt o f

a ,
the Rose into the reign o f Henry VII Here the Prince
,
”
.
G rau n d e Amour resolves to b ecome w orthy o f La B e l P c el l u
b y st u dies in the To wer o f Doctrine H e is taught there .
b y Lady Gramm r and her sisters Logic Rhetoric Arith

a , ,
m etic and Music p sses to the To wers o f Geometry and

, ,
a
Chi valry then b ei n g made knight goes forth to seek

, ,
a ,
adventures is deceived b y the d warf False Report kills a ,
gi nt w ith three heads c lled Im gination Falsehood and

a a a , ,
Perjury marries h i s l dy a d is h ppy unti l made prisoner

, a , n a
b y Age wh o gives him Avarice and Policy for comp nions

,
a
he is sl in b y Death b uried by Mercy and h s his epitaph

a , , a
w ritten by Remembrance With Hawes w e travel upon one .
road to the F ery Q een <

a u
D ring this long period of E gl i SEs ocial depression by

.
u n ,
f t h e b est part o f our imaginative literature was that w hich

ar
the bright spirits among the people who must still be amused
w ith so gs nd stories struck out fo themselves b y telling
an r ,
the K i n g Arthur romances and other metri cal t les in plai n a

I N T R OD U C T I ON
prose and b y turning other pleasan t a d ventu res w ithout a

, ,
w ord Of w aste reflection , into animated b all ds ; tales and a
ballads alike b usy wi th s wi ft action But while S d f .
p re a o
at the E nglish Court the soldier jostled out 53235 212 1

0 1
the poet du ring the time of our w orst obscurity it? m m

’
of
, .
”
there was in Italy Loren o de Medici delight
0
’
z ,
ing in the friendship Of poets and schol rs and himsel f a ,
poet i n the Petrarchan school enjoyer o f the life o f letters ,

.
He w s born in the d ys o f our W r wick the King m ker

a a a -
a ,
an d died in the year when Perkin W rbeck l nded at C rk a a o
a s Rich rd Pl nt genet a The c pture f Const tinople by

a a . a o an
the Turks i n 4 5 3 sent re fugee Greeks abroad w h o t ght

1 , au
their lan gu ge at Loren o s Court m de Platonism (partly

a z
’
,
a
sound and partly as perverted into f nt stic doctrine by t h e a a
Pl tonists o f Alexandria ) nearly as popular as the ingenious

a
search fo conceited llegory the discovery of bl emish in

r a ,
the name o f b e uty in the verse o f Petrarch Loren o him

a . z
sel f i a love sonnet tells h ow the gods made h i m poetical

,
n , .
The rays of love from the eyes of his l dy penetr ti g a a n
through his eyes to the s h do w of his he rt as r ys of the a a a
sun enter the d rk beehive b y its fissure ca used the hive to

a ,
a w k e and fly hither and thither in the forest sipping from

a ,
the flo wers The Florentine cademici ns after the death

. a a ,
o f L oren o s son Leo X h ving b een caught in politic l

’
z ,
.
,
a a
conspiracy lost some of their number to the sca ffold a d

, ,
n ,
b e t aking themselves to purely literary discussion esta b lished ,
i n the head quarters of It lian that w as to s y o f E urope n

-
a , a a ,
liter tu re and civilisation

a idol t y o f Petrarch E ach an a r .
sonnet b eca me the text fo endless lessons dissertations r , ,
commentaries and allegoric l interpret tions Leo died

,
a a .
in 5 and
1 it w s
2 1, w ithin the next t w enty
a years that ,
as Puttenh m s ys in the l tter end of Henry V I I I s

a a ,
a .
’
reign our courtly poets Surrey and Wyat having

,
“
, ,
travelled into Italy a d there t sted the s weet and , n a
s tately measure s and style o f the Itali n poesie b came

”
a ,
e
E ngl ish Petr rchs imitati g and translati g from their

a n n
model .
But the vigour of intellectu l grow th in the gre t centres a a
o f Italian li fe and commerc e wa not crippled by this hero . s
w ors h i p A pastor l dram a sprang from the seed

. a
o f f ith in the pre eminent dram tic excellence o f

a -
a
the Bucolics of Virgil The Orpheus o f the young Poli .
z iano g ve strong impulse to p storal writing d the old

a a a ,
an
L tin gods o f wood d field w ere not fetched from a f r

a an a ,
as
w hen they reappeared in French or E nglish p stor l They a a .
w ere in It ly upon their n tive soil b elonging to

a gr t old a , a ea
time of the It li n people O f the Arc di o f S n

a a o . a a
”
a azza r
a p st ral i
-
a prose d verse including sonnets and
o n an ,
can oni of his e rly years w hich dealt with love begun
z a , a
even earlier in li fe th n th t o D nte o Beatri ce sixty

f f — a a a r
editions ppe red in the sixteenth century and it suggested

a a ,
the Arcadia o f S i Philip Sidney

“ ”
r .
Philip S idney is commonly remem b ered as the all

accomplished young B yard o f E li a b eth s Court from a z
’
,
w hom the gr eatest things w ere hoped b t w h o u

I n fl ence
, ,
f t lly wounded t Zutphen died in his e rly man

u
o f P e a a a ,
a
h
t nu c
an d f o hood w s mourned s never a p at e m w s
,
a a rI v an a
fi l
i
a l mourned be fore by the w hole E nglish Court and
people d wa su g in elegy b y the b est poets o f
, an s n
$12 35 his d
?
y It w as t fo attr. ctive graces as a no r a a
fi h mi d
un
s
d h
c
er t
urtier
n
e
th t heo w as thus loved and honoured by
a
I li
m
ta a n his Queen and country The Queen he th w rted . a
more than once ; the people cared l t t l e enough

a nn er.
Ph il i p I
S d
fo Court ccomplishments ; and Sidney w not
i ney '
r a as
alone in his time young gr ce ful clever d w ell b orn ,

a , ,
an .
The hal f U nderstood ch rm in him was that his e rly

-
a a
m t rity expressed as it w ere in the flesh the innermost

a u , , ,
soul o f E ngl nd ever young ever religiously e rnest ever

a , , a ,
b usy in ff irs ; though q u ick of fancy more ready to

a a t , ac
than to t lk and deeply interested in what free men knew

a ,
I N T R OD U C T I ON . 2 7
to bethe vit l questions o f the day He was b orn in 5 5 4

a . 1 ,
in the reign o f Queen M ry w hen the St te w ill at ease a ,

a as .
H e lived in days w hen the str ng b t t le f religious liberty o a or
m de its sound he rd in every Court o f E urope

a a And .
w hen the b ttle s it concerned a E ngl nd w s fought

,
a a ,
a
a ag inst Sp in on rem ved fiel d yet

a truly d w ith
a o ,
as an as
critic l issue s i f it h d been fought in Kent or Surrey

a an a a ,
he wh o h d in the teeth o f ll indi ff erence connected ch m

a a a
p ion s h i p f religious li
o b erty w ith every missi n th t he o a
undertook fell in de fence f it t Zutphen This w the

, o a . as
more than hands me Philip S idney w ith w hom E li beth o za
could t b e angry long ; this w the m w hom his

no as an
fello w courtiers honoured in their he rts

-
d E ngl nd a an a
loved .
At the age o f seventeen Sidney was w ith Si Francis ,

r
W lsingh m in P ris during the m ss cre of S int Bart b o

a a , a a a a
l o m ew d it w s a fe w m nths fterwards at Fr nk fort

an a o a ,
a ,
th t he b ecame the friend f L guet w hom he met s

a o an ,
a
'
fello w l d ger in the house o f Andre w Wech el a printer

-
o ,
h spit b l e as printers then w ere to the tr velling schol r

o a , ,
a a .
S idney s mind ripened and w c nfirmed in its ende vour

’
,
as o a
tow rds di ffused liberty o f conscience the f ster fo c m

a a , a r o
munion w ith H ubert L nguet the b lunt Huguenot re fo mer a ,

r ,
wh m he loved s he pr ised him fter w rds

o a a a a ,
F k l y re ed a n d h at i n g w h a t i s n au g h t
o r cl e r , ,
F o r fa i t h fu l h e a rt c l e an h an d s a n d m o u t h as
, ,
t ru e .
L nguet w thirty six ye rs lder than his friend and

a as -
a o ,
though he died despairing o f the world yet year by year to ,
the last he w atched Philip d ope ly looked to him the , an n as
youth whose earnest he rt b right genius d strength fo a , ,

an r
labour joined t his high soci l p siti n m de his future

,
o a o o ,
a
career the hope f honest men He prep res c unsels and

o . a ,
o ,
cherishes him s a lady of r m nce might f rti fy her knight

, a o a o
w h o is a b out to go fort h to b attle w ith a dr gon He a .

shoul d not eat t o much f uit or drink t o much w ter in

o r ,
o a ,
It ly and he must avoid the July he t

a ,
I f an y mischan ce a .
b ef l y u I should be the most w etched m

a o ,
in the w orl d r an
fo there is nothing to give me t h e leas t ple as ure save u

r o r
friendship d the h Op e o f your manhood

an And there was .
the b y of nineteen w ith keen E glish soul w tching the

o n a
butcheries of Alv nd d iscussing w ith a strong h pe the

a, a o
dis strous e w s from Belgium

a n It is true th t ll t h t f ir . a a a a
region is in fl mes b ut remem b er that w ith ut this the

a , o
S p ni rds c nn t b e b urnt out In I t ly S idney ppe rs ”

a a a o . a ,
a a
especially to h ve studied geomet y ethics met physics

a r , ,
a ,
l ngu ges ; accounting its p etry his rela ti n and its

a a o xa o ,
luxury ab omin tion The Turks in 5 74 th ught Of inv

a . I o a
sion b ut s id Phil p ged nineteen I m quite sure th t

,
i —a a a a
this ru inous It ly would poison the Turk s themselves w uld

a ,
o
so ensn re them in its vile allurements that they would

a ,
soon f ll w ithout being pushed

a .
A fter his return to Irel nd S idney w t the K e i l a , as a n
w orth show s o f 5 75 ; his f ther1 S i Henry b eing ls a ,

r ,
a o
R e flecti
present
on
there b usiness Philip f llow ed the
on . o
o
I
fI i
ta l an Queen to Ch rtley w here he first s wa — she being
, a
i ié i fi
"
c then her th rteenth ye r he h t wenty fi s t
In i a , In Is -
r
Pene l pe Devereux a fter w rds m rried g inst her

o , a a a a
“m "
inclination a d w hen L dy Rich celebr ted in

s, n , a ,
a
m ny sonnets as the S tell to Philip S idney s Astrophel

’
a a .
I t was a poor f shion that set p ets w its at work so p e t i n

a o
’
r a
c i o s l y to refine compliments on any l dy m rried or

u a ,
a un
m rried to w hom they w ould p y honour by the dedic ti n

a ,
a a o
o f their verse But it had come from trou bad ur days

. o ,
through Dante s Vita Nuova Petr rch s sonnets and

“ ’
,
"
a
’
,
m any su b sequ ent imitations o f the Laura w orship It .
ru ffled the peace of L ady Rich no more than Petr rch s a

’
genius suggested je lousy t o the hus b and r s hame to the

a ,
o
“ n c hildre n of L a u ra S idney s sonne t s are as distinctly

’
, .
e h l
sc
of Pet rarch form and s piri t as h i s
o o
, Arcadia ,
9
is in its very m nner o f blending prose romance w ith me

, a
t i cal ecl g e o f the school o f S

r o u , a o The influence o f a naz z r .
It lia n literature on Si Philip S idney s w ritings in so f

a r
’
, ar
as he wrote merely f recre tion is direct and m ni fest

or a ,
a .
In E li beth s time we find Spenser still in a fe w t s l a

za
’
ra n
tions and in his sonnets follow ing the le d f Petrarch b ut a o ,
he p ssed t his F ery Queen out of the school S

a o a
p e ns e r
In w hich Ariosto w his best beloved m ster gag
as a .
e
Petr rch d Boccaccio h d died w ithin a year o f m i

a an a ro an t c
w a s
one nother a d e tly a hundred ye rs fter the
an x ac a a
"
de th o f Petr rch came in 4 74 the b i th o f Ariosto

a a , ,
1 ,
r .
A i osto died t the ag e o f fi ft y eight

r a Twelve ye rs fter -
. a a
the death o f Ariosto T sso w s b orn But Tasso and ,

a a .
S penser w ere co temporaries the It li n b y nine ye rs the

n ,
a a a
elder m The d tes f their de ths lie cl se together

an . a o a o ,
Tasso dying in 5 9 5 Spenser in 5 9 9 When therefore

1 ,
1 .
, ,
S penser int oduced into the closing canto o f his second

r
b ook a p ar p hrase a d tr ns l ati n from T asso s episode o f

an a o
’
the Garden of Armid he expressed the exquisite enjoy a,
ment of gre t poem then ew to the world but his m ore

a a n
frequent reproduction o f matter from wh t he c lls “

th t a a a
fam us Tusc n pen

o o f Ariosto sho w s r t h er the li felong
a
”
a
influence o f an est b lished cl ssic th t had b een singul rly

a a a a
in h rmony w ith the whole spirit of its time Thus the

a .
description of the discovery o f Duessa s a l thly “

,
a oa
w rinkled h g is in p rt taken liter lly from A i o s t o ’

a ,
a a r s
a ccount o f Alcina The t le o f the f lse Philem n in the

. a a o ,
s me book corresponding t A i os t o t le o f Geneur

a ,
d o r
’
s a a, an
in Spenser s third b ook the t le of the Squire o f D mes

’
, a a ,
w hich is the Host s ta le from the 8 t h C nto o f O rl ndo

’
2 a a ,
are also well kno wn examples of th is direct testimony to

-
Italian influence .
I n nothing e the fello w feeling o f n tions

ar d the i n -
a an
ter dependenc e o f men s m inds more evident than in the

-
’
co u rs e o f the l iteratures which express them The first .

3 0 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
gre t It lian poets themselves b red o f their o w time

a a , n
under Proven ca l not unmixed w ith Spanish and even

,
German influence w ere b y the height o f their

, ,
genius b ecome m rks fo the eyes of all men wh o a r
loved poetry They w ere not only m ki g their

. a n
impulse of thought strongly felt in E ngl nd they a ,
also were w inning upon the mind of Spain so surely

th at in the very days when our courtly makers, Surrey and
,
”
Wy t w ere in the latter years o f Henry V I I I s reign bringing

a , .
’
the It li n form o f sonnet nd c n one into E ngland Boscan

a a a a z ,
w s introducing the same sort o f sonnets and can oni into

a z
S p nish liter ture and beginning w h t is kno w

a a , as the a n
It l i n period o f Sp nish poetry Yet while Sp in w s

a a a . a a
gr du lly being taught by It ly It ly hersel f w s d r wi g

a a a , a a a n
the ew li fe o f her ow liter t ure from Spain Spain h d

n n a . a
b een rich b eyond me sure in b llad and rom nce Her a a a .
poems o f the Cid d te b ck to the t wel fth cent ry ; and

a a u
wh tever romances o f knight err ntry had b een produced in

a -
a
Fr nce and Sp i b e fore the opening o f t h e fourteenth cen

a a n
t ry w ere obscured then by the appearance f A m dis de

u
“
o a
G ul the work of the Portuguese V sco L o b eir Th t

a ,
”
a a . a
soon translated into French was the great parent fiction o f

—
the ge chronicled b y F oi s t E ven Cerva tes sp red it
a r sar . n a
from his bonfire o f Don Quix te s b ooks o f chiv l y

’
H ow o a r .
per fect was the sym p thy betw een the ideal an d the ctual
a a
an y one may j udge w h o turns from Spanish or French
Sp nish romances o f the Amadis school to F o i ss t s

’
a r ar
a cc unt o f the lives o f the men wh o read and enjoyed th em

o .
F i s t s history describes with t h e same g y con fusi n

ro s a r
’
— a o
o f f ir ladies knightly dventure superstitious legend pomp

a ,
a , ,
o f rms in jousting or in w
a that we get in the romances a r,
the re l li fe o f the next eighty years follow ing the appear

a
ance of Amadis de Gaul Long years of knightly e .

”
n
count er with the polished Ara b s and acquaint nce w ith , a
their Oriental mind heightened the sen s e of chivalry i n

,
of masterpiece was the result o f that great l b our

A ri os to
’
s a
wi t l b t w hich fe w m sterpieces are chieved

u The poe t a a .
therein a singu lar contrast to his successor Tass o — was of ,
l rge ro b ust body and healthy mind ; fran k genial and

a , , ,
a h ter of ceremonies ; true to the sisters who de pended

a
upon him moderate in all th ings th ough tainted w ith t h e

, ,
licence o f his time and country As intent think er and . an
st rdy pedestrian he found hi mse lf one day hal f way to

u ,
-
Ferr ra w hen he h d b ut gone out from Carpi for a b reath

a , a
o f mo ning i in dressing go w n and slippers ; being so far

r a r -
on the road he w ent on to Fe rra ,

From Carpi to Fe rara ra . r
is w lk of rather more than th irt y miles What Ariosto

a a .
did he did w ith determin tion He pondered his Orlando

,
“
a .
”
w ell be fore w ord Of it w s w ritten arejecting C ardinal a ,
B em b o s advice to make of it a Latin epic that would n o w

’
h ve been only as much read as Pet rarch s Afric

a In
’
a .
”
writing he w ould o ften spend d ay upon the polishi n g o f a a
fe w verses written in the morning ; and having b egu n his ,
Orl ndo t the age of t wenty n in e b y gre t industry i n

”
a a -
,
a
eleven ye rs he was ble to issue the first fort y c ntos

a a a .
Four or five editions in seventeen years testified in those

days when lmost eve y reader w s a select m an to its very
,
a r a ,
great success The central figu re o f the poem i s not

.
O rlando h i m sel f but Charlem gne ; the menace o f whos e

,
a
kingdom and the siege of Paris e the events laid at the ar
basis of the story Si m ore cantos Ariosto add d to the . x e
poem in his li feti m e five h e left to b e added after his de th

,
a .
A repolished edition of the Orl an do had b een issued by

him lmost in the last ye r of his li fe By writing sonnets
a a .
and can oni Ariosto connected himsel f w ith t h e past litera

z ,
ture o f Italy ; and by tran slating Spani sh an d French ,
romances he show ed what w s most intere sting t o him in

, a
the present His comedies writte n i n you th w ere lso

.
, , a
repolish ed in later years bu t they wan t orig inal dramatic l ife , ,
althou g h they op e n ed th e way to an I t alian com i c d rama .

I N T R O D U C T I ON .
33
E very gre t It li n poet st u died the ncients they w ere

a a a a —
the old cl ssics o s n tive l nd and by right o f them

f hi a — a a
a n d o f the liter ry pre emin nce his country h d by t his

a -
e a
ti m e reg ined he could still call the foreigner b rb ri n

a , a a a .
A i o s to s imitation o f the ncients is h bitu l Distinctly

’
r a a a .
an d deliber tely the poet turned into the romance T h mm f

a e or
form of his o w d y poets tales o f Perseus n d

’
n a ,
a
Andromed o f Ari d e or Polyphemus or gave snatches

a, a n ,
o f literal tr nslatio out of O vid ; the P ll s o f Virgil e

a n a a r
a p pe rs
a in the yo ng D a d i e l l o m ny romantic
u p ss ges r n ,
a a a
from the Latin poets chie fly O vid d Virgil being e , an ,

r
produced by this gre t hie f am ng their s u ccessors in a C o
t h e l nd aAriosto qu ted d w quoted When we

. o an as .
o bser e h ow l l prose f his d after wards f Spe ser s

v a o an o n
’
time is g rnished wi t h quot tion we shall understand h o w

a a ,
the poets lso though th ir t forced the m to ssimil te

a , e ar a a
th ir borr wings me nt by t hese adaptatio s not wh t w e

e o ,
a n a
n o w condemn pl gi rism b ut the us l hom ge to the

as a a ,
ua a
culti ted re der o f their day I t was a reader wh de

va a . o
lighted i n such re ferences nd llusions d lmost required a a ,

an a
the m of al l wh o would prove their right to eng ge his a
attention .
Ariosto cannot have trou bled himsel f very much w ith

the att ch m ent o f a llegoric l sense to his poetical cre
an a a a
tions It was found fo h i m of co rse He was G i

. r u .
row n g
soon to b e read in edition w ith the Alle

“
an ,
i e s f o each C nto
r by Tom so P h
a i d a
“ “ 55
g o r o ,
a rc a c c
Castiglione Areti n o Be fore A i o t o t i m e c p city fo .

”
r s
’
s , a a a r
m ys t ical interpret tion w s one o f the ck o w ledged requi

a a a n
sites of an ingenious poem Thus the M rquis o f S t il . a an
lana wh o died in S p in s reno wned poet bo t sixteen

,
a a a a u
years b efore A ios t o birth in a critic l le t ter o the history

r
’
s ,
a n
o f poetry defi ed the t s

,
in e ti n f use ful thi gs
n ar a an v n o o n ,
w hich b eing enveloped i

,
be uti f l eil arr ged n a a u v ,
are an ,
exposed and concealed according to a c ert in calculation

,
a ,
D
34 E N GL I SH I VR I T E RS .
meas ure m ent and w eight The d em n d for thi s all ego ical
, . a r
elemen t s trong i n th e d ys o f Petrarch an d Dan te et id e

, a ,
s as
b y Pulci an d Ari osto w as ag in rec ogni s ed b y Tas so ,

a .
Tas so t he son of a po et w hose labo iou s epic of Amad is

, r ,
conce ived on t h e S p ish model was destroyed at birth b y an ,
th e alm os t simult neous issue of his prec oc ious bo y s

a
’
Ri ldo inherited high ly ne o s tempe m ent and

na ,
”
a rv u ra ,
was lready touched by ins nity w hen a ft er completi n g h i s

a a ,
“
Jerusal m Delivered he gav i t up fo sever l years t o
e ,
”
e r a
the stupid itie s o f friendly miscellaneous criti cis m T h e .
poem at firs t cal led Godfrey b eing a some wh t regu l r

, ,
”
a a
e pic with an action occupying forty days o f the first Crusade

, ,
in the year 9 9 and setting forth the s cces ful siege t h t

10 ,
u s a
m ade God frey o f Boul gne (fo year) King o f Jeru sal em o r a ,
there was no need o f llegory Nevertheless Tas so (wh a . o,
as his insa ity gre w nervously del ivered hi m sel f to b e

n ,
ex mined and cle red w ith certifica te of orthodo y by

a a a x an
inquisitor and wh o w s p i nfully anxious about many

, a a
things ) satisfied morality w ith an elaborate interpretation o f

t h e llegory of his o wn poem made a fter t h e fact
a .
It was not b y right of their literature alone th t the a
It lians o f the sixteenth century clai m ing the firs t rank in

a ,
S i l
oc a d civilisation
an spoke o f the o ter nations a fte r the
,
u ,
old Rom n f hi n s barbari ns C rd n a as o ,

a a . a a ,
‘ hfl '
im ‘a
describing to his c ntry m en his visit to the ou
C urt o f E d ward VI s id f the E nglish that in dress

o
“
.
, a o
they e like the I talians f they are gl ad to b o st them

ar ,
or a
s lve nearly allied to th e m and therefore study to i m i t te

e s ,
a
a s much as possi b le their m nner n d their clothes a a .
C ert in it is that al l the b rb ri ns of E uro p e l ve the

a a a a o
It lians more than any r e m ng themselves He hi ted

a ac a o .
”
n
th t perhaps thes pe ple d

“
a t k no w our w ickedness
e o o no
b u t th e r w re E ngl ishmen t h en living quite re dy to cry

e e a ,
with Rog er Ascham s hame against the ench ntments o f

“
,
a
Circe b ro ught ou t o f I tal y to mar men s manners i n

,
’
35
E gln and E ven our teachers themselves we are told certi

.
, ,
fi ed our tt inments with proverb s ying An It li nate

a a a ,
a a a
E n glishman is incarn te devil an a .
But Italy had earned her predomin nce The stro ng a .
li fe of commerci l Florence h d in the fourteenth century

a a , ,
entered into the mind of l rge p rt o f E urope T h i l a a a .

e s oc a
Chaucer read D nte nd w s influenced b y 122312? a ,

f a a 3 °
Petrarch nd Boccaccio s Spenser afterw rds EL li h

a ,
a a ng s
I t e ra t u re .
by the first m sters f sust i ned om a t c song

a o a r n I .
The c tion of Italy upon old E nglish and E li b eth n

a za a
w riting w s ho wever o f t w o very distinct kinds

a , , e w s : on a
direct the ther reflex At first in Chaucer s time only

,
o .
,
’
the direct influence concerns our liter ry history No a .
printing press enticed the vacant mind to busy itsel f with

-
the bl ckening o f p per Foreig tr vel littl k no wn s n

a a . n a , e a a
ind lgence to k chiefly the directio o f Jerusalem and was

u , o n ,
then under t ke rather on religious grounds than fo the

a n r
mere airing f the w its When E nglishme n kept house

o .
,
only the f me f the gre t It lian poets re ched the m fro m

a o a a a
b eyond the s e ; but w hen they w ent in search o f g od

a , o
society to Italy itsel f they w ere lost in the midst o f the

, ,
servi le dr ve of imitators d bec me p rt of the herd

o , an a a .
When the depression f mind t h t accomp nied our civil o a a
w rs was yielding to
a e w activity o f thought and t h e a n ,
reviv l o f letters in It ly w
a m king itsel f felt at the Court
a as a
o f Henry VIII to visit Italy was the des ire alike of the
.
,
schol r and the courtier Upon the best minds tr velled

a .
, a
or untr vel led the direct and wholesome influence f Italian

a , o
poetry and scholarship was still c nspicuous o .
But the prev lence o f p etic element in the It li n

a a o a a
ch racter w a o f itsel f d ngerous to foreigners S d

a s a
e c on a ry
o colder blood w h
f w ent to I t ly fo inspir ti n
o f h a r a o .
c a u s es o t e
d f s p re a o a
In th t l d of song t the b egi n n mg of the

a an {
,
d
a t as te
c on c e I t e
or
s t ee n t h centu y t here w as s u n to be heard the

rx r ,
i i wr t ng
:
E h m
c o m p l I n t m de b y Petr rch g e n e at on s e
up uis
a a lI e a r I ar r,
D 2
that very ta ilors and s hoemakers sti tched rhym es

the
a nd co b bled ve rs e Co m m ent to upo Pet rch i ss ed
. a rs n ra u
forth out of the printing o ffi s by do ens at time an d -

ce z a ,
w ere to b e hea rd b y thousan ds discoursing in societ y Hi . s
w ords w ere picked o e fo llegories and hi s b ook of ve se °
v r r a ,
r ,
w eighted w ith fanci ful i terpret tio n s w as disgr ced in to a n a ,

a
pattern b ook fo all t ilors o f rh ym e a F ol l t f the liter ry

-
r a ,
e or a
m illiner wh o set t he f shion ft er wh ich the luxu y o f idle a a r
ne s s sho u l d b e attired Thus Petrarch unwittingly bec me . a
a father of conceits After the death of Leo X the . .
Florenti n e academici s sorely punished fo po litic l on an , r a c
s p i ac y w ere forced to confi e their energies to l ite ature ;

r , n r
v rb l h ggling over Petr rch b ec me then their chie f delight

e a a a a .
Great poets were arising The r mantic epic the p stor l . o , a a ,
the s tire even the dram l l w ere dropping th eir fi rst fruits
a ,
a, a
upon t h rich Italian soil but re dy rhetoric o f s ntime t

e a , e n
determ ined to b e clever d n o t cari g to be true still an n ,
yielded the husks e ten by the m ob alik e of the p l ce d a a a an
the s t reet It was t h e Altissimo Cristoforo nd it w as

.
, a
Aretino wh o was the U ico f r whose sake w h n he n , o ,

e
recited in Rome shops w ere closed and houses bla ed w ith

, z
light .
What had b ee w Greek literature had tr velled the

n, as . a
same way The clever b ut f lse rhetoric of Deme t rius Pha

. a
l e eu was the hectic flush f eloquence in a decline

r s The o .
l ter poets cut up history a d science into decor tion for

a n a
their verses Ph i l et s b ec me erudite in elegi cs

. d a a a , an
E uphorion t h ought tr th most accepta b le when set out w ith u
f bl e
a So it had been l s in Rome
. There w s thought a o . a a
o f his time n o t an original folly in Caligu la s propos l to

’
, ,
a
destroy t h e w orks o f Virgil b are of ingenuity and learning , ,
an d o f Livy cold and n egli ge nt o f s tyle

, Co nceits w ere .
pri ed in Rom e and l i nt il y s moothed periods w ere

z ,
( a -
a dmired less for th ir wi t t han for t he words rr nged so e a a
s weetly that as one b as t ed of his own prose works peopl

, ,
o , e
7
migh t sing them d d nce to th em Senec w the c use an a . a as a
o f this no m re th n Lyly w the c use o f E uphuis m

o a as a .
P at e l w hen he ende v ured t

rc u u s , cc unt fo such a o o a o r a
ch nge suggested th t the n urse of genius emul ti n

a , a ,
a o ,
forced men w h f und themselves un ble t p ss their f re

o o a o a o
f thers by n tur l w lking up n the h i gh r d f lit r ture

a a a a o -
oa o e a
to quit th t tr ck f p ths hithert unexplored w here

a a or a o ,
novelty might l i ft them fr m bscurity d m ke their o o ,

an a
na m es imm rt l There is u d bted be uty in this f ll

o a . n ou a a
of a liter ture It is like th t f the utumn w o ds w here

a . a o a o ,
an excessive richness d v riety f c lo ring precedes the an a o o u
dreariness of w inter .
There w nothing ew to the world the in the liter

as n ,
n, a
ture o f conceits th t thr ve in It ly be f re M ri n s in a o a o a o, a
E ngl nd be f re D nne
a M rino w like Lyly or Donne
o o . a as , ,
b ut represent tive man It w s he w riting in the d ys of

a a . a ,
a
James I and h aving no influence w h tever upon E li b ethan

.
, a za
liter t re wh o represented the corrupti n f It lian taste

a u , o o a
w hen t its height gave it

a typic l f rm d th ere fore h, a a o , an as
b een c ndemned t be r t wo centuries o f censure fo his

o o a r
“
stile Marinesco d b e pilloried i diction ries s the
, an n a a
chief co rupter of It li n poetry

r a a .
With the spre ding o f the t ste f rhetoric l writing a a or a
filled w ith ped ntic turns of illustr tion similitudes r ther

a a ,
a
i ngenio u s th n n tur l d t h e desire f writers to displ y

a a a , an o a
a bove all things their skill t h e f shi n of c urse ran in , a o ,

o ,
f v ur o f the l ter Latin

a o d Greek uthors
a M rti l and an a . a a
Luc n took the places o f C t ullus and Virgil Juven l super

a a , a
s ed e d H orace d S eneca Cicero S enec s pl ys w ere a

’
,
an . a a
scho lb ok f E glish b oys f E li beth s time O first

o o or n o za
’
. ur
tragedies arose from imita tions o f them Afterw rds they . a
w ere the root of the French tr gic dr ma a a .
But upon the f shion f speech t E li beth s C urt a o a za

’
o
there were influences f which we h ve not yet t ken o a a
account S ome of its peculi rities t gether w ith the very

. a , o
3 8 E NGL ISH WR I T E R S .
na me that g ve the term f E u phu i sm t i t fl e t t i o s are

a o o s a
'
c a n ,
to b e tr ced to t h e Pl tonists w h w er str ng in the d y

a a o e o a s
o f Henry VIII But Pl to ism lso came to us from Italy

. a n a .
It w in Fl re ce th t the re f gee Greeks fter the f ll of

as o n a u ,
a a
Constantin ple w ere first w elc med

o , revealer o f Plato o as s
a d Arist tle
n I Ita ly Pl to in Fr ce Arist tle was pre
o . n a , an o ,
ferre d N o Pl t ists h d given i nterest t the R bbi nica l

. e -
a on a o a
d octrine f t h e C b b la then receiv d b y m ny

o g od
a a ,
e a a o
Christian scholar It w joi ned to principles o f . ccult as an o
phil sophy p rtly derived fr m the s me source but e n

o ,
a o a ,
riched from te ching o f the Ar b s ; and it wa confirm ed a as
b y marvell s recit ls in the N tur l H ist ry f Pliny

ou a a a o o .
The m ysteries o f N ture of he students then s id a ,

one r a ,
“c an no other wise th n by experience d c njecture b e a an o
inquired into by us Until the ssert ed experience f . a o
ancient n tu lists had been dispr ved by the experience o f

a ra o
l ter t imes it w s t very unre son b le to assume th t the

a ,
a no a a a
science f the ncients equ lled their ph i losophy and poet y

o a a r .
To deny virtues ssigned t cert in stones pl nts anim l s a o a ,

a ,
a ,
or tars simply becau se they were w onderful certainly would

s , ,
not have been w ise E ven in the magical doctri es then . n
w idely accepted there w s reasoning entitled to respect a .
Their b asi s it may be o b served w s so fa from being

, , a r
diab olical that they set out w ith dem d f purity o f

, a an or
li fe and fo a high spiritu l d r ti n o f the source o f all

,
r a a o a o
t h e harmony they l boured to find in the w onders o f crea a
tion It is to b e remembered there fore th t those m rvel

.
, , a a
lou s properties o f things honestly credited d freely used ,

an
in the fashioning of rn ments of speech h d not fo the o a ,

a r
reader o f th eir ow time the inhere t bsurdity w hich n ow n n a
attaches to them It is very di fficult indeed o w to re d in

. n a
t h old sense th at kind o f writing in w hich Lyly w a m ster

e s a ,
“
talking as Drayton said
,
”
,
o f s t o nes , s t ars , p l an ts, of fi s h es , fl i es ,

Pl ayi ng w i t h word s and i d l e s i m i l i es .
4 0 E N GL I SH IV R I T ERS
'
A ri o s t , and he w t w ithout his o w relish f concei ts as no n o ,
vigor usly as he ttack ed the f ol in f fetched livery o f

o a o ar -
mind d dress an .
Wh t H l l writing f w ye rs fter Lyly censured in

a a ,
a e a a ,
verse A s h m un ff ected prose had censured yet more

,
c a
’
s a
T h E
vigorously in his Schoolm ster w ork pu b lished a ,
”
a
b y h w d ow seven e ght years be fore E

e ng
“
li hs i d m n is 1 or i u
p h s appe red There is re

ues n fo suggesting a . a o r ,
i f not fo b elieving th t John Lyly dre w fr m this r ,

a o
w ork f A h m b th the motive d the title o f ’

o sc a s o an
his f shi n b le novel

a o E uphues p ints the s me It al ian
a . a a
Circe g inst wh se sn res Asch m w rned his countrymen

a a o a a a ,
reminding them th t i f g entleman must needs tr vel into

“
a a a
It ly he sh ll do w ell t l ok to the li fe f the w isest

a , a o o o
traveller th t ever tr velled thither set out b y the w isest

a a ,
w ri ter th t ever sp k e w ith tongue G od s doctrine only

’
a a ,
excepted d th t is Ulysses i Homer The S ch ol

,
an
“
a n . o
m ster observed that Ulysses is not c m m ended so much

a
” “
o
nor so o ft in Homer b ec u e he w s th t i s ,
a s a a ,
sk i l ful in men s m nners d f shions as b ec use he was’

a an a ,
a
w k pn g
o
’
ti th t is w ise in all purposes and ware in l l
rt , a , a
pl ces Ag inst Circe s ench ntm ent H mer s remedy w s

a .
”
a
’
a o
’
a
the herb M l y w ith the bl ck root d white flo wer s ur

“
o ,
a an o
a t the first b ut s w eet i the e d w hich Hesi dus t m et h

,
n n , o er
the stu d y o f virtue This w s o f l l things most contr ry .

”
a a a
to wh t Asch m c lled the precep t s o f fond book s of l te

a
“
a a a
transl ted out of It li n int E nglish sold in ev ry shop in

a a a o , e
Lond on T e s rmons at P ul s Cross do not so

. n e a
’
much g d fo movin g men to true d octri e as e o f these

oo r n on
bo ks do h arm w ith enticing men to il l living

o .
”
Let it here b e remem bered th t the period o f E glish a n
liter ture more directly influenced by the frivoliti s of It ly

a e a
d t s fr m the time o f o Reformation in the C hurch and

a e o ur ,
runs through years in which m inds eng ged w ith intense a
a ctivity upon the settlement of great religious questions

4 1
b ecam e also more and more deeply engaged in politic l a
a sertion o f the righ ts o f su bj ects

s Througho u t the d ys o f . a
civil w and of the Comm n w e lth Italian influence ex

ar o a
tends To that part of the period thus defined in whic h we

.
,
find the gre test prevalence of li ter ry affectation bel ngs

a a ,
o
a lso the truest and most e rnest work on w hich the pens f a o
E nglishmen h ve ever b een eng ged our authorised tr s

— a a an
l tion f t he Bible
a o .
T t h e s me peri d bel ngs the best part o f our litera

o a o o
ture High and true thoughts w ith sturdy deeds w ere

.
, ,
c lled fo b y the tim es Into the w ord o f vigorous men

a r . s ,
living energetic lives of thought or ctio n the dem nd fo a ,

a r
ingeni us expression b rought e w force There w ere men

o n .
tr ined i this school able to satis fy t the full out of their

a n o ,
n tur l wi t at once t h e cl i m s f truth in t d the

a a ,
’
a o ar an
p pul r desire for clever simile stro g line and pithy

o a ,
n ,
phr se The affe tat i o n f the w eak forced into p ec

a . c
°
o a u
l i l y emph t ic utterance l l the origin lity and p wer f the

ar a a a o o
strong To this vie w o f E glish E uph uism w e sh ll h ve to

. n a a
recur At present it is only necess ry to remember t h t by

. a a ,
w ho m soever f shions h ppen to be set w e m u st

a t t ke a ,
no a
clothes f character or .
Lyly h d children d his bo k sh o ws as we sh ll find

a ,
an o , a ,
th t h thought seri usly f himsel f

a .
e d agreed w ith o or ,
an
Ascham upon questions f educ tion He w s a little m

'
o a . a an ,
w ith w i fe
a d family he sm ked tob cco and w
an wi t o a , as a
in society w ith a h eart full f seriousness he w

, hungry o as a
re der o f good b ooks d to the l st a hungry w iter on the

a ,
an a a
Court that rep id his h nes t l ab uring to entert in it w ell

,
a o o a
according to its humour nly w ith promise un fulfilled ,

o .
“
Thirteen years h e s ys in petition to the Queen pre
,
”
a ,
a ,
sented i n or about t h e year w hen E u phues w s published a ,
thirteen years your H ighness s servant b ut yet nothing ’

, .
A thousand hopes but all nothing ; hundred ,

a
promises b ut yet nothing , My last will is shorter .

WR I T E R S
'
4 2 E N GL I SH .
th n m ine invention ; but t hree leg ci es patience to m y

a a ,
creditor mel ncholy w ithout measure to my friends n d

s, a ,
a
begg ry w i t h ut sh m e to m y f m ily Surely touching

a o a a .
”
a
hint — d it is l l the hint w e h ve o f the home li fe o f the

an —
a a
E uphuist !
Lyly still in ow day has su ffered i justice The tr di
ou r n n . a
t io l vie w of his
na E uphues i represe ted by t h e s ying s n a
o f Gi ff rd th t it
o
“
did inc lcul ble m ischie f by viti ting the
,
a a a a
t ste c r pting the l gu ge d introducing a spurious

a ,
o ru an a ,
an
d unn tur l m de f convers ti n d cti n

”
an a a o o a o an a o .
The w ork p ssed through ten e d itions in fi ft y six years

a -
,
an d t h en w as not g in reprinted O f these editions the

a a .
,
first f ur w ere issued during tw enty three ye rs

o -
a
o f E li beth s r ign the next four ppe red in ’

za e ,
a a
the reig o f James d t he l st t wo in the rei gn

n ,
an a
o f Ch rles I a the l test editi be f re

. ow time
a on o our n
b eing th t o f the ye r 6 3 6 eleven ye rs fter th t

a a 1 ,
a a a
k ing s ccession Its readers were the men who were

’
a .
discussing H m p d e stand g inst ship money Duri ng

a n s
’
a a -
.
all this time and fo some years b eyond it worshi p o f

.
,
r ,
conceits w in this cou try a liter ry p g nism th at gave

as n a a a ,
strength to the strong s w ell s w e kness to the we k a a a a ,
lasting from Surrey s d ays until the time when Dryden ’
w s in his m i d c reer
a It w s f this l t th t the E uphuist
a . a o czc e a
und ubtedly spired to be the h igh priest but it was not o f

o a ,
his est blishi g Still less o f course are we entitled to

a n .
, ,
a ccept the common doctrine th t it h d its origin in Donne s a a

’
f shionable poe t ry
a d in the pedantry f J mes Ian o a .
W m y pause upon Lyly fo especial illustr tion f the

e a r a o
a bidi g e rnestness that underlies all transient f shio s o f

n a a n
Ly yl hi lf
our
mse
liter ature O f t he treatise educat i on . on ,
a i l
p ra c t c afo m g so prom nent r p rt of E uphues or
In
“
i a a ,
the An t my f Wi t the m ain doctrines e

a o o , ar
such s these N o youth is to be t ught with stripes

a . a .
Asch m and Lyly were lone in m intaining this doctrine

a a a
43
agai nst the stron ges t contr ry pinion Li fe is d ivided i to a o . n
remissi n d study
o As there is watching so is there
an .
,
s leep ; e se is the sauce o f l bour ; holiday the

a t her h l f o f a o a
work Children should exercise discreet sil ence let them

“
. a
also b e admonish ed th t w hen th ey sh all spe k th ey spe k

,
a , a , a
nothing b ut truth ; to lie is vic most detest ble t to a e a , no
be s ff ered in a s l ave much less in a son F thers should

u , . a
study to m intain b y love d b y ex mple influence over

a an a
th eir sons s they advance to m nhood let t hem w ith mild

a a
ness forgi e light o ffences d rem em b er that they them

v ,
an
selves h ave been young S ome light f ults let them

. a
dissemble tho gh they kn e w th em n ot an d seei g th em

as u , n
let them not seem to see th em d h eari ng th em let th em ,

an
not seem to hear We c e sily forget the offences o f our

. an a
frien d s be they never so great

,
d shall w e not forgive the ,
an
escapes o f our children b e they never so sm ll ? , a
Let the body h e kept i its pure stren gt h by hon est n
e xercise and let the m i nd

,
dds Lyly falling ag in into the ,
a ,
a
track o f censure followed by l l s tirists of the d y not be a a a ,
carried aw y with vain delights as with tr velling into f r

a , a a
a d strange countries w here you s h all see more w icke d ness

n ,
tha learn virtue and wi t Neit her with costly attire f the
n . o
n ew cut the Dutch hat th e French hose the S p nish

, , , a
rapier t h e It lian hilt d I know not wh t There is

,
a ,
an a .
nothi g he reminds youth sw i fter th an time d n thi ng

n , , ,
an o
s w eeter We have not as Seneca saith little time to live

.
, , ,
b u t w e lose much ; neither h ve w e a short li fe by ature a n ,
b ut we mak e it shorter b y n ughtiness our li fe is long i f w e a
know h ow to use it The gre test commodity th t w can

. a a e
yield unto our country is w ith w isdom to bestow th t t lent , a a
w hich b y g ace wa s given us Here E uphues repeats the

r .
cl sing sentences of the w ise counsel o f Eu b ulus scorned

o ,
b y him in the days of his fo l ly nd then p sses to a direct , a a
exhort tion to t h e study f the Bible

a Oh he excl im s o . a ,
I w ould gentlemen would sometimes sequester themselves

from their w d lights and employ their wits in se ching

o n e ,
ar
these he ve ly divine mysteries a n .

”
Advancing still in e rnestness as he presents his E uphues a
gr w i g in w isdom d ow wholly devoting himself to the

o n an n
s t udy o f th e highest truth letter to the gentlemen scholars ,

a -
i Athe s pre f ces

n di l gue b tween E uphues n d At h eos
n a a a o e a ,
w hich is rgument g inst the infidelity that had cre p t in

an a a a
fr m I t ly
o It is as e rnest
a i f L timer himsel f h d
. a as a a
pre ch ed it t the courtiers f King E dw rd E uphues

a o o a .
a ppe ls solemnly to Scri pture d the voice w ithi ourselves

a an n .
In cit tion from the sacred text consist lm st his only

a a o
illustrations i this he ab unds Wh le p ges cont in n o . o a a
n o thing but the words of Scripture At time whe f ci . a n au
f l u d mythologic l dornment w
an s common to liter ture
a a as o a
t at the very Bible Lyly re d the Bishops Bible con

h — — a
’
t i n ed w oodcut initi ls up n su bjects dr w n from O vid s

’
a a o a
Metamor phoses and opened the E pistle to the Hebrew s,

”
w ith a sketch o f Led d the S w n Lyly in the b ok a an a , ,

o
wh i ch has been fo so m ny ye rs condem ed unre d does r a a n a ,
not once mingle f lse orn ment with re s ni g on sacred a a a o n
th i gs He re fers to the ncients only t the outset of his

n . a ,
a
argu m ent to sho w th t t he he then had acknowledged a

,
a a
Cre tor mentio s Pl to b ut to s y that he recognised one

a n a a
w hom w e may call G d Omnipotent glorious immortal o , , ,
u nto whose similitude w e that creep here on e rth h ve our a a
s uls fr med and Ar istotle only to tell h ow when he could

o a , ,
no t find out b y the secrecy o f n ture the c use f the e b b a a o
ing d the flowing o f the s he cried w ith a loud voice

an ea , , ,
0 Thing o f Things have mercy upon me ! tw enty ”

I ,
n
black letter p ges there are b ut three illustr tions dr w n from

-
a a a
supposed properties of things The single an ecdote fro m .
pr f ne history I w ill here quote fr m a discourse that intro

o a o
duces nearly all the texts i corpor ted in our Liturgy n a
I h av e rea d of Th emi st ocl es w h i ch ha vi ng offe nd ed Ph i l i p the

, ,
g of M ace d on i a , an d cou l d n o w ay ap pe ase hi s ang er m ee t i ng h i s ,

45
you ng s on A l exand er took h i m i n h i s arm s and m e t P h i l i p i n t he face

, ,
.
P h il i p s ee i ng t he s m i l i ng c ou nt en ance o f t h e ch i l d w as w el l pl eas e d
, ,
w i t h Th e m i s t ocl es E v en s o i f t h rou g h t hy m an i fo l d s i n s a n d h e i n o u s
.
,
o ffen ce s t h ou ro v ok e t h e h e av y d i s l e as u re o f t h G d i o m u c h as
p p y o n s ,
t h ou s ha l t tre m b l e fo r h o rro r t ak e h i s o n l y b eg o t t en an d w e l l b el o v e d
,
- -
so n J esu s i n t h i ne a rm s an d t h e n h e n e i t h e r can n o r w i l l b e an ry w i t h
, g
t h ee .I f t h ou h av e d en i e d t hy G o d ye t i f t h ou g o o u t w i t h P e t e r an d ,
w ee p bi t t e rl y G od w il l n o t d e n y t h ee
, Th ou g h w i t h t he p rod i g al s o n .
t h o u w all o w i n t h i n e o w n w il fu l n e s s ye t i f t h ou re t u rn ag ai n s o rro w fu l ,
t h ou sh a l t b e re ce i v ed I f t h o u b e a g ri e o u s o ffend e r ye t i f t h o u c o m e
. v ,
u n t o Ch ri s t w i t h t he w o m a n i n L u k e a n d w as h hi s fe e t w i t h t h t e ars
y , ,
t h o u s h al t o b t ai n re m i s s i o n
”
.
urely i f Scott had re d E uphues he could t h ve

S , a ,
no a
been s tisfied to describe it through Si Pi e ci e Sh fton

a r r a as
“
th t exquisitely ple s nt t b e re d and inevit bly e e
a -
a a -
o - -
a a -
n c s
s ry to b e remembered m nu l of l l th t is w rth y to be
a - - -
a a a a o
kno wn which indoctrin tes the rude in civility t h dull in

,
a ,
e
intellectuality the heavy in j ocosity the blunt in gentility

, , ,
the vul gar i n nobility and l l of them in that unutter b le ,

a a
pe fection o hu m an utter nce th t eloquence which no

r f — a a
other eloq uence i s su ffi cient t pr ise that art which w hen

— o a ,
w e call it b y its o w n me o f E uphuism we besto w o it n a ,

n
its richest panegyric .

”
Si P i e c i e Shafton the E uphuist t alks thus o f hi s

r r , ,
An tomy of Wi t as i f it w ere cookery b ook o f l ngu ge

a
”
a -
a a
fo t h e use o f dainty spe kers

r His eloqu ence is o f the a .
kind th t calls an ass the l ng eared gr ier f the

“a o -
az o
co m mon which is h rdly to be co sidered E nglish E p h

,
”
a n u u
ism of the Court of Queen E li beth b ut is the E uphuism za ,
o f the H Ot e l Rambouillet There A th é i c e presided over .

,
r n
an Arc di n Academy to which nightcap was not night

a a , a a
ca p b ut
, l emp l e i t m so g e
c c zc
'
n n ocen an
'
en n .
O f the true form of his conceited w riting L yl y C urt

’
,
s o
pl ys some o f them w ritten e rlier th n his novel furnish

a ,
a a ,
even better example ; and their studied prologues the ,
manner o f which Greene ex ctly copied in the pre f ces to a a

his tales are the most finished mi iatures o f E li b ethan

, n za
E uphuism The prologue to C mp spe will serve very well

. a a
as ex m ple E very sentence it will be observed h as i t s

an a .
, ,
fa fetched similitude
r-
We h am ed t h at ou r b i rd w h i c h fl u t t ere th by t wi l i g h t see m
are as ,
i ng a s w an s h ou l d b e p rov ed a b at s e t ag ai n s t t h e s u n
,
Bu t as J u p i t e r .
d S n d A l c i b i ad e s co v e re d h i s p i c t u re s
’
p l a c e i l e n u s ass a m o n g t h e s t a rs a , ,
bei ng o w l s and as ses w i t h a c u rt a i n e m b ro i d ere d w i t h l i on s an d eagl es ;

,
s o are w e e n fo rce d u p o n a rou h d i s co u rse t o d raw on a s m o o t h ex c u se

g
rese m b l i n l i d ari w h t h i k t h i d t h k i n a s t one b y s e t t i n
g a p e s o n o , e e c r ac g
i t d eep i n g ol d T h e g o d s s u p p e d o nce w i t h p o o r Bau c i s t h e Pe rs i an
.
,
k i n g s o m e t i m es s h av ed s t i ck s : o u r h op e i s y ou r H i g hn es s w i l l at t hi s
t i m e l e n d a n e a r t o an i d l e p a s t i m e A p p i o n ra i s i ng H o m e r fro m h e l l
.
,
d e m an d ed on l y w h o w as h i s fa t h e r an d w e cal l i ng A l ex an d er fro m h i s
, ,
g r a v e see, k o n l y w h o w a s h i s l o ve W h a t s o e v e r w e p res e n t w e w i s h i t
.
,
m ay b e t h o u g h t t h e d a nc i ng o f A g ri p p a h i s s h ad o w s w h o i n t h e , ,
m o m e n t t he y w e re s ee n w e re o f an y s ha p e on e w ou l d c on ce i v e : o r
,
Ly nces w h o h a v i n g a q u i ck s ig h t t o d i s ce rn h a v e a s hort m em ory t o

, ,
fo rg e t .Wi t h u s i t i s l i k e t o fa re as w i t h t h es e t o rch e s w h i ch g i vi ng
, , ,
l i g h t t o o t h ers c o ns u m e t h em s e l v es a n d w e s h e w i n g d e l i g h t t o o t h ers
,
s h a m e o u rs e l v e s
”
.
In the s me v in the lover in the second p rt of

a e , a
E u phues — “
E uphues a d his E ngla d
, ends the letter n n -
th t decl res his p ssi n by telling C m illa that he expects

a a a o a
her reply ither s cullis to pre rve e s a s w ord to a a se ,

or a
destroy ither as A t i d o tu m or as Aconitum

e d w hen n an
that f ir lady fter supper t kes part in one o f the soci l

a , a , a a
wi t com b ats to w hich I h ve re ferred she begins by ex

-
a ,
pressi g i n this cum b rous f shion her fear that she m y be

'
n ,
a , a
caught trippi g n
h a ve h ea rd th a t t h e T o rt oi s e i n I n d i a w h en t h e s u n s h i ne t h
I ,
s w i m m e t h a b o ve t h e w a t e r w i t h h e r ba ck a n d b e i ng d e l i g h t e d w i t h t h e ,
fa i r w e a t h e r fo rg e t t e t h h e rs el f u n t i l t h e h ea t o f t h e s u n s o h ard en h er
,
s h e l l t h at s h e can no t s i n k w h e n s h e w o u l d
, w h e re by s h e i s cau g h t ,
.
A n d s o m ay i t fa re w i t h m e t hat i n t h i s g oo d c o m p an y d i s p l ay i n g m y
m i nd h av i ng m ore reg a rd t o m y d el ig h t i n t al k i ng t h a n t o t h e e ars o f
,
48 E N GL ISH WR I T E R S .
question b le genius as story tel ler It will be remembered

a a -
.
th t fr m his P ndost Sh kespeare took the su bjec t o f

a o a o a
the Winter s T le T he same writer Greene lso’

a .
”
, , a
f llo w ed up
o P n d osto nine ye rs fter the ppe rance f a ,
a a a a o
“
E uphues w ith M en aph b ok h ving f r second ”
,
o n, a o a o
title C mill s Al rm t slum bering E uphues in his me l n

a a
’
a o a
h ol y cell at S i l i d This he described s a w ork

“ ”
c xe ra . a
w orthy the youngest e rs fo ple sure the gravest censure a r a ,

or
fo pri ciples ; d it is t h e n vel furnished w ith th t

”
r n an o a
pref t ry ddress to the ge tlem n stu d ents o f both Univer

a o a n e -
sities commonly scrib d to N sh which presents to us so a e a ,
useful a sketch o f the liter ry humours o f the time a .
The w riter f the pref ce to M e p ho h d a f i o a na n

”
a a r
sense o f good liter tur d l ve f hi w l ngu age a e , an a o o s o n a
E ng l i s h I tal i a ns , fi nes t ds
’
T u t, y sa ou r th e w its o u r c l i m at e s en
fo rt h a re b ra i n ed d ol t s i n co m pa ri s o n w i t h o t h e r c ou n t ri es ;
b u t d ry -
w h o m i f y o u i n t e rru p t w i t h t h e y w i l l t e l l yo u o f
’
'
R cd d c r a t zon em ‘
, ,
P e t ra rc h T a s s o C el i a n o w i t h an i n fi n i t e m o re o f o t h e rs
, , , T o w h om .
i f I s h o u l d o p pos e Ch au ce r Lyd g a t e G o w e r w i t h s u c h l i k e t h a t , , , ,
l i v e d u n d e r t h e t y ra n n y o f i g n o ra n ce I d o t h i n k t h e i r be s t l o v e rs ,
w o u l d b e m u c h d i s co n t e n t e d w i t h t h e c o l l a t i o n o f c o n t ra ri es i f I s h o u l d
w ri t e o v e r a l l t h e i r h e ad s H a i l fe l l o w w el l m e t ! , S h ou l d t h e
c h a l l e n g e o f d e ep con c e i t h e i n t e nd e d b y a n y fo re i g n e r t o b ri n u
g o r
E ng l i s h w i t s t o t h e t o u chs t o n e o f a rt I w o u l d p re fe r d i v i n e M a s t e r ,
S p e ns er, t h e m i racl e of w i t , t o h a n d y l i n e fo r l i n e fo r m y l i fe i n t h e
h o n o u r o f E n g l an d ,
a
g a i n s t S pa i n, F rance , I t al y, a n d al l t h e w o rl d .
At the d te f this writing Spenser h d not yet pu b lished

a o a
the first three book s o f the F ery Quee d his f me a n,

”
an a
w ith the public rest d on t h e eclogues o f the S hep h erd s

“ ’
e
K lender then in th ir third editio vigorous w ith religious

a ,
”
e n,
feeling d so direct in sym pathy w ith the French H g e

an u u
nots that t w o f them a e dire ct p r phr ses from M r t

o r a a a a o .
Sh kespe r h d
a t b een t wo ye rs in to w n
a e a d w ith h i
no a an , s
li fe s a d ram ati t yet b e fore him h d not yet written his

a s , a
d l i cat e p o et ical j es t u po n E uphuism putting his hoo k

e ,
49
through it as though he loved it in L ove s L abour s ,

“ ’ ’
Lost .
”
O f l l quips up n ingenious emptiness involving a firm

a o ,
u der suggestion o f the work men live to do that L

n -
,
pl y f Love s L bour s L st s the most L b

ove s
n
a o
'
a o I a our s
L
”
per fect What act on we h ve b sed e t e ly g mi

. i a Is a n Ir up
o I
n
, l es t
on the living out of a conceit We hear a ffected h b

.
fa s i o n a l e
st yle ,
t lk in many forms
a
Ta lfata p h rase s s i l k en , t e rm s p reci s e,

T h reep i l ed hy p erb ol es ,
s p ru ce aff ec t a t i on ,
Fi gu res p ed an t i cal .
”
The King in his sonn et to his mistress foreshado ws even

the sublimities o f C ashaw Magd lener
’
s a
Thou ’
sh i n s t in e ver y
ha t I d o w eep
tear t
No d ro p b u t as a co ac h d o t h c arry t h ee ,
S O ri d est t h ou t ri u m p h i ng i n m y w oe
”
.
But the sharpest satire is expressed in t h e p mpous o
emptiness of Don Ad ri n Armad by whom our c urt

“ a o, o
you kno w i s haunted

A man i n al l d s n e w fas hi o n pl ant ed
t h e w o rl
’
That b ath a m i n t o f p h ras es i n h i s b rai n

”
.
His bravery o f w it is shi ftlessly depe n dent upo th t o f n a
the child Moth whom he patronises fo it is with th t s

, ,
r a a
w ith the b ravery of outside sho w upon his person When .
he is c lled upo n to strip and comb t in his shirt he m ust

a a ,
o wn that the naked tr th o f it is I have no shirt There

“ u .
,
is schoolmaster H olofernes t o who can tell us that ,

o,
“
O i d i s Naso was the m
v u and why indeed N s b ut an , a o,
fo smelling out the odori fer us flo wers of f ncy the j erks

r o a ,
o f invention The fant stic l w ord com b ats of such cha

a a -
a t ers
r c as given b y S hakespeare have a close rese m blance
, ,
f L —
in spirit to so m e of the scenes o yl y s plays t o those fo ’
, r
,
E
E NGL WR I T E R S
‘
5 0 I SH .
example in E ndymion , ,
w hich jest w ith Si r T op h as , the
br gging soldier
a :
S a m za s — Bu t w h at i s t h i s ? C al l yo u i t yo u r s wo rd
'
T op /t ar —N o i t i s m y s i m i t e r, w h i c h I b y co ns t ru c t i o n o ft en
s tu dy i n g h e c o m pe n d i o u s ,
to c al l my s m i te r .
D a r es —\Vh at , are yo u
. a l so l earn ed , sir ?
T op i u m— L e arne d ? I a m al l M a rs a nd A rs .
S a m i a s — N a y , yo u a re al l m as s an d a s s
. .
7 bp /za s — M o c yo u m e ? . Y o u s a l l bo t s u ffe r, ye t w i t
k su c h h h h
h k
w e a p o ns as yo u s a l l m a e c o i c e o f t h e w e a p o n w e re w i t h
yo u s al l h h h
p e ri s h
A m. I a l l a m a s s o r l u m p ? I s t e re n o p p
ro o rt i o n i n me ? h
Am I al l as s ? I s t h e re no wit in me ? E p i , p re p are t h em t o t h e
s l au g h te r .
—I ra y s i r, h ea r k We ca l l m as s , w h i c h
p , us s p ea .
y ou
yo u r l e a rn i ng d o t h w e l l u n d e rs t a nd i s al l m an fo r M a s m a ri s i s a m an , , .
T h e A s (a s yo u k no w ) i s a w e i g h t an d w e fo r y o u r v i rt u es acco u n t yo u ,
a w e igh t .
T opi u m — T h e La ti n h a t h sa v ed y ou r l i v es t he w h i c h a w orl d o f
.
,
s i l v e r c o u l d n o t h a v e ran s o m e d I u n d e rs t an d you an d pa rd on yo u
. .
It need hardly be rem rked th t the cro wdi g o f cl assical a a n
a ll usions into every sentence m st h ve been to S hake u a ,
spe re s p etic l sense dull even s materi l fo jest H e

a
’
o a ,
a a r .
l ughs at it but does not attempt to mock it w ith close

a ,
imit tion a .
While E uphues w
“
th us in f shion Shakespeare as a ,
bei g yet young as a pl y wr iter t the date f the

n a -
,
a o
D f
critic
u ra t I on o
l pre f ce to “
M e ph a B con w a na o n,
”
a as a
I li
ta
i an young n b rister p rt deviser o f t h e dumb sho
ar w s ,
a
{lit sai f t Gray s Inn d within t wo years o f h i s appoint

r‘ n
’
t z or a ,
an
ment as Queen s Cou sel Si Ph i lip Sidney had ’

n . r
been dead t wo years and Asch m tw enty years Sackville ,

a .
,
L rd Buck hurst w hose pen contribute d to the first E glish

o ,
n
tragedy still h d some t wenty ye rs o f li fe be fore him O f

,
a a .
M rlow e s brie f c reer only five ye rs w ere yet to come o f

a
’
a a
Greene s but four durin g which his overcharged o fes

’
,
c n
s ion a d sel f accusation

n o f an ill spent li fe would give som e
- -
5 1
str in o f
a ild earnestness to his last novels Ben Jon
a w .
so n w s t hen b ut fourteen ye rs old

a Fletcher but ni n e ; a
Beaumont Massinger and Webster three or four Donne

, , ,
.
wa s a y u t h f sixteen a d t wenty ye rs w ere yet to pass

o o ,
n a
bef re the birt h o f Milto who was himsel f ten years older
o n,
th n C wley and twenty four years older th n Dryden w h

a o ,
-
a ,
o
w s a m a forty yea rs old at the b irth o f Addison Through

a n .
out the whole pe iod t hus in d icated the taste fo conceited

r ,
r
w ri t ing introduced fro m It ly in or be fore the first ye rs o f

, a a
the reign o f Eli bet h prev iled It w s m dified by the

za ,
a . a o
ch aracter o f the sovereig and influenced in some respects n,
by the tone o f publ ic feeli g in each ge eration ; but the n n
desire fo const nt imagery fo cunni g sentences and i

r a ,
r n , n
g ne i o s allusions
u th t b y display o f a w riter
a s re ding ’
a
should m ke out his title to be read abided by the courtiers

a ,
a d scholars wh o w ere not only the chie f critics but w h o

n
formed a large proportion also o f the re ders o f b ook a a .
The dust of L tin in the sermons o f Bishop A drewes the

a n
qu aint w i t o f Fuller which o b tained fo him t wo audiences

,
r
—one w ithin doors a d the other out o f w indo w— i n his n
little chapel in the S voy ; the sententious w riting in the a

“
Enchiridion o f Qu rl es ; mani fest cle rly enough their
”
a a
relationship to E uphuism Ol d I k W lt n whose li fe — . z aa a o ,
ran through a p rt o f E li beth s reign and exte ded

a za
’
, n
through the whole subsequent period even until Addison

was a b oy o f el even — becoming weary o f the strain fo wi t
,
r ,
looked back from the d ys o f Ch rles I to Come live with a a .
m e and be my love that smoot h so g made by Kit M ’

,
n ar
lo we no w at least fifty years go The milkmaid s mother

, a .
’
san g an ans wer to it w hich w a s made by Si W lter Raleigh

,
r a
i n his you nger days T h ey were old fas hioned poet y bu t

.
-
r ,
cho icely goo d ; I think he says much b e t ter th the

“
, ,
an
s t ong line s that are in fas hion in this critical age

”
r .
At what level E uphui sm stood when it came str ined ,

a
out of t he b rains of those ordinary people who make up the

E 2
5 2 E N GL I SH I VR I T ERS .
su b stance of pol ite society t C o t Ben Jonson has sh o wn a ur , ,
w it h spice o f malic ious c ric ture in Cynthi s Revels ’ ”

a a a ,
a .
T he pl y pr duced o ly t wo years be fore the

a , o n
death of E li beth was w holly designed as a za ,
125 55 ? a
jest a
s
g inst w h t its chie f E up
ah uist descri b es a
“ your shi ting age
s f a for w i t w hen y u must ,
o
prove the aptitude o f your gen ius ; i f you find one you n
must hearken out a vei n and buy It was to bid men put .
”
only to man ly use the po wers o f their intellect

A n d , fo r t h e p ra c t i ce o f a fo rced l oo k ,
A n an t i c g es t u re , o r a fu s t i an p h ras e ,
S t u dy t h e n at i v e h eart
fra m e of a t ru e ,
A n i n w a rd co m e l i n ess o f bo u n t y k no w l ed g e , ,
A nd s p i ri t t h a t m ay c o n fo rm t h em a ct u al l y
T o G od s h i g h fi gu res w h i ch t h ey h av e i n p o w e r
’
,
.
Wemay connect the taste fo conceited writing i n t he r
d ys o f Lyly w ith that o f the e rly d ys o f Dryden by re fer

a a a ,
c h
ence to an uthor w h o is n o w read only by
a
Efig ggm
b
y the minute
e
student o f litera t ure —Gui l laume d e
W k ee f
s Sal u s t e d u Bartas
o He was a French nobleman .
,
D B u a rt as.
b orn a b out the ye r 5 4 4 H e w s educated s a 1 . a a
a sol dier shared the creed d rose with the fortunes o f

, an
Henri IV to whom he became tt ched s gentlem n i

.
, a a a a -
n
ordinary of the b edch m b er and by whom he w employed a ,

as
as ego t iator in De m rk Scotl nd an d E gl d He

a n n a , a ,
n an .
foug h t at Ivry d s ng o f t h e b ttle but died four mon ths

, an a a ,
a ft erwards o f the woun d s he received in it When not .
engaged in pol it ical or m i lit ry d uty t h is w orthy gentleman a , ,
w h o was a E uphuist of the fir t w te wrote poems i n h i s s a r,
ch ate o f Ba tas and his poem f L a Sep m i e w ent

au r ,
“
o a n
”
thr ugh thirty editions in six y e rs It was translated

o a .
into L atin It l ian G erma a d E ngl ish gener lly more

, a , n, n ,
a
than once into each langu age Its metaphors are extra .
va g nt i t s classi cal comp unds are barb arous In Fr nce

a , o . a ,
53
as i n E ngl a nd ,
the b ook is ow but a curiosity o f bad taste n
to the fe w who read it or kno w a ything about it The n .
fate o f its style h s justified one o f the s ound maxims i n B e

a n
Jonson s Disc ve ies that body o f opinion in wh ich is to

’
o r ,
”
be found ou first good exposition o f the pri nciples o f whole

r
some w riting Nothi ng is l sti g that is feigned ; it will a n
have another face th n it had ere l ng As E uripides saith a o .

,
no lie ever g ro w old s .

”
J mes I w h was mong his transl tor sought in v in

a .
, o a a s, a
to ret in t h divi e D B rt s t his Court n d Sylvester

a e n u a a a ,
a
bec me l urelled poet mainly upon the strength G eat

a a a
r
o f his E glish versi o n o f t h e Divi e Weeks E l i h

“ ”
n n ng s
an d the other works o f the same h nd I a .
I d m
remember w hen I w s a boy writes Dryden
, a ,
” ts u’a’ '
in his pre f ce to the Sp nish Fri r

a
“
I th ught i i m i t a a ,
”
o n
a ble Spenser mean poet in comp rison o f Sylvester s Du

a a
’
B rtas d w s rapt into a ecst sy when I read th ese

a ,
an a n a
lines
N o w , w h en t he w i n t e r s
’
kee n e r b reat h began
T y
o cr s t a l l i z e t h e Ba l t i c ocean
T o g l az e t h e l ak e s , t o b ri d l e u p t h e fl ood s ,
A nd pe ri w i g w i t h s n o w t h e b a l d p at e w oo d s -
I m m h dece i ved i f t his be not abomi n ble fusti n th t

a
~
uc a a , a
is th ughts nd w ords ill sorted d without the le st rel

, o a an a a
tion to e ch other a .
”
We must t forget h w er th t the p pul rity f Du

no ,
o ev , a o a o
B rtas in this co ntry w due t only to t h h rm y o f

a u as no e a on
his conceited s t yle with the prev iling f shio but to his a a n,
Pro t est nt f ith d the religious ch r cter o f l l his w rit

a a an a a a
ings The First Week f seve n d ys or bo ks s ings the

. o a , o ,
Birth o f the World the Ch o the E lements the Se : a s, , a
and E th the Heavens S

ar , Moon & the Fishes d ,
u n, , c . an
F wls the Beasts nd M an the S bb th It is not worth

o a a a .
while to illustrate by more cit t i o n t h e ffect tions o f b ook a a a a
deservedly forgotten ; but w m y t ke fro m the Vision of e a a

T ng es in the poem of Babylon which belongs to the

o u , ,
second d y of the second w eek the n mes of the fou

a ,
a r
person w ho in Queen E li beth s time had b ee regarded

s , za
’
,
n
by pol i shed F ren ch m

a the chief supporters o f e ch an as a
m odern langu ge O f the Ital ia Boccaccio Petrarch

a . n, , ,
Ari sto T sso o f the Germ a Pen cer Luth er B e n d

o , a n, , ,
u c r, a
B t i ; o f the S pa ish Guev r

u r c Gr nad Bosc n and n , a a, a a, a ,
Garcil so (t h e t wo poets l st amed were t h e chief intro

a a n
d u e s o f Italian style into C stili n poetry ) o f the Fre n ch

c r a a ,
Marot Amyot Rons rd a d Duplessis Morn y of the

, , a , n a
E nglish S i r Thom s More S i Nicholas B con S i Philip

, a , r a ,
r
S id ey and Queen E li beth h ersel f wh o

n , za ,
wit h ph ra s e s ch o i c e ,
So on dd e n c an d i s co u rs e i n G reek
t h e su ,
F rench Lat in T u s can D u tch a nd S p an i s h e k e

, , , , ,
Th a t R o m e R h i n e R h on e G re ece S pai n an d I tal y

, , , , , ,
Pl e ad al l fo r ri g h t i n h e r n at i v i t y
”
.
The Queen s sk ill in choice phr ses and her pow er s

’
a ,
a a
linguist h d o f course f voured t h e gro wth o f E uphuism t

, a a a
E li beth s Court The ch racter of James I lo wered the

’
za . a .
dignity wh ile it exte ded the domai o f literary affectati n

, n n, o .
A ew strength o f religious and political feeling caused the

n
conceited d pedantic style to be o ften animated w ith a

an
he t o f li fe d passion in the d ys o f Ch rles I d o f t h e

a an a a . an
Common wealth Much o f the co m mon l ngu ge f the . a a o
Purit ns w s Euphuism c st b y the fire o f eal i religious

a a ,
a z n a
mould We see the grandeur of it in Crom well s d es ip

.
’
cr
tion o f his victory over the S cotch t Du bar nd the a n ,

a
“
poor we k f ith w herein I b elieve o t few mo ngst s
,
a a , ,
n a a u
sh red that because o f their numbers bec use o f their

a , , ,
a
a dv ntages because of their confidence because o f our

a , ,
w eakness bec use o f our str it w e w ere in the Mount and

,
a a , ,
in the Mount the Lord would be see We have it i n .

”
n
b athos w hen fter Crom well s death a f llo wer decl res
, ,
a
’
, o a
E ng land to enjoyment f the old cl ssical mythology and

, o a
i m itation f old classical forms o f speech

o .
There was nothing ant gonist to s ch tendencies i n the a u
c o n c urrent i n fl u ence which her other neigh b our S p in w , a , as
S p anih s
exercising on the minds o f Fr nce Sp i t o a . a n, o ,
152
3 252
“ i spoke n a Rom nce t ngue d early thea o ,
an In s 1x
t ee t h century the chie f poet o f S p in wa s

1 0
a ll i de h to t e n a
Boscan wh o b ndoned the old Gothic f rms

,
a a o
fo pro fessed imitation o f Petr rch

r He wo u ld replace the a .
t ru e S p nish ballads w ith his de Amor Sea o f L e

“ M ar
”
a ,
ov ,
and with love sonetos c nciones th t imitate

“ “
d an a a
I tal ian tenderness s w el l the m re fervid d sonorous

a as o an
Spa ni s h voice was b le t repe t its ccents a Th t tender

o a a . a
n ess was even more closely represented by the Petr rch n a a
wri tin g of B os an s friend the s ldier Garcilaso de l V eg

’
c , o a a,
who san g Arcadian pe ce d died storming f rtress

a an a o .
T he Sp niards t oo w ere looki g b ck to Latin and Greek

a , ,
n a
mas terpieces with a kindred interest G rcil so f stened . a a a
u po n Virgil as well as Petr rch Bosc n translated Hero a a
and L e ander out of Greek ; Diego de Mendo poet

”
za, ,
n ovel is t historian and fo six ye rs Charl es V s C ptain ’

, ,
r a . a
Ge neral in Italy was lso f mous collector f Greek

,
a a a o
m anu s c ripts The studi ed imit ti n o f Sallust in Mendo s ’

. a o za
“
His to ry o f the Rebellio f Gran d d th ver n o a a,
”
an e o
e l b o ate nicety i
a r a rhet ric l use of w ords w ill lso indi
n o a ,
a
ca t e h o w little o f antagonis m t the Italian influence France o
wo u ld fi nd in the concurrent infl ence o f S p i C hi e fly u a n .
t h t added tendencies t
a more po m pous m n r th n o a an e a
I tal ian example warr nted A Sp ni rd could y f his

a . a a sa o
i ng M d id in J n ry th t she surp ssed her

a r a ua , a a
:I and w ith the serenity of h e is ge g ve

, r v a a
m ea do w s d strength to t h e pl nts ; an f a or o
zi n gs th t the sun seemed to t ke its course

, a a
hron e an d th t their cro wn was the Zodiac

f
, a
57
The rel ish of such exalted nonsen se w s encouraged i n a
Fr nce b y the b edsides of the P éc se p rtly T d

a r
’
zezc s, a
c e ncy
a
b ec useaI t was the character o f tho s e l d es
l
f F h a i o re n c
i t e ra r y
rather t spend thought upon w ords than w rds

o i
b l
o c once t t o
upon thought As Regnier descri b ed the critics i i i

ver a
. cr t c s m .
Th
to whose scho l they belonged o fi o
e rea s on
t.
s
’
i l s fon t q u e l q u e ch o s e ,
C es t
’
p ros e r d e l a ri m e , e t ri m e r d e l a p ros e .
Nevertheless French literature w s at this time dvancing t a a o
its high est poi n t o f in fluence d way w bei g made ev n ,

an as n , e
by these verb l critics to w rds point t w hich Fr nce

a ,
a a a a
causes a very sh rp b end in the current o f our E nglish

a
liter ture There was a re son for the minute attention

a . a
th t the French began to p y to the v c bul ry o f their

a a o a a
l ngu ge t time when Sh kespe re pr ved our E nglish

a a , a a a a o
c p ble o f spe king ll that man s wi t

a a a im gine or hisa
’
ca n a
he r t c feel North and south o f the Loire there w ere

a an .
still the L angue d O n d the L ngue d oyl in their extreme

’
c a a
’
,
expression rather sister langu ges than di lects Speech a a .
h d bee n made un w holesome by the person l impurity o f

a a
princes and the n came in Henri IV a ki g wh o with his

, , .
,
n
Bé o i s b rought the G sc n di lect into f m iliar use

a rn t a o a a a
Court The truest sense o f liter ture would m ke Fre ch

. a a a n
w riter o f that d y incessantly consci us o f d liber tion s to

a o e a a
wh t should and w hat sh uld

a o t be admitted as classic l o n a
French words into w orks fo whic h he desired perm anence r .
The proper and common disposition wa to re f r back to s e
the p rent classic l tong u e

a stand rd d R d a as a a ,
an
o n sa r
Rons rd w s not l ne in the de ire to b rro w

.
a a a o s o
dignity out of the Greek He l mented in erse th t he . a v a
might not use the w ords O ym e d y p o t o e ol igo h o c or ,

s n ,
c r
nien an d he ffected even m re L tini ed gramma o f

,
”
a a o a z r
F rench ; such fo example as the co m parison o f adjective s

, r ,
w ith cu and ime But Rons rd w s i his ow time

“
r
“
. a a n n
the d rling poet o f h i s country The Ac demy o f Floral

a . a
G mes g ve h i m sil er Miner a with the name of French

a a
“
a v v ,
poet p llar M ry Stuart g ve him silver rock

ex ce en ce .
”
a a a
sho wi g the sprin g o f the P e m ess s

n d addressed to r u , an
R ns rd the Ap llo o f the spri g f the Muses

o a , o n o .
”
Thirty ye rs younger th R ns rd Malherb e during

a an o a ,
the first qu rter o f the seventeenth century bec me the most

a a
M lh b
a er e
determi ed ch mpio o f the verb l purit y o f n a n a
French He w kno wn the tyrant f words

.
. as as o
d syll b les “ This doctor in the vulgar tongue wr te ”

an a .
,
o
his frie d B l c used to s y th t fo so m ny ye rs he

n a za ,
a a r a a
h d been trying to de G s o i e the C urt and that he

a -
a c n z o ,
co ld t do it De th surpr i sed h i m w hen roun d ing a

u no . a
period “
An hour be fore his death says his disciple
.
”
,
”
R c n M lherb e w ke up with a st rt to correct his nu rs e

a a ,
a o a
for use f w rd that w not good French ; a d when his

o a o as n
co fessor reprim nded him fo that he said th at he could

n a r ,
not help hi m sel f d th t he would de fend to the de th t h e

,
an a a
purity o f the French langu ge We only underst nd b ut a .

”
a ,
M lherbe felt the need o f earnest critic l ttention to the

a , a a
u nsettled language o f his country as France rose i n po wer .
Deliber tion in the choice o f words m de him a slo w writer

a a .
He spent three ye rs in the composition f ode intended a o an
to cons le the President o f Verd un fo th e loss of a wi fe

o r .
When the ode w finished the President h d c nsoled h i m as ,

a o
s l f by m rryin g noth r
e a a e .
At t h H Ot l R m b uillet M l h erbe w a the chie f guest

e e a o a s
i the fir t ye rs o f his f me
n s C therine de Vivo ne de
a a . a n
“m i
Pis ni
e e t ng s
w hen in 6 s h e m rried t the age o f
a , 1 00 a , a
at t
R am
h H si
b
e
l
sixteen
‘
ou i l
the
tel M
et
rquis de R mbo illet Gr nd M ster , a a u ,
a a
o f the Roy l W rdrobe h d b e fore her h l f

.
a a ,
a a a
century f li fe during which she could indulge her t ste fo

o ,
a r
P risi n literary convers tion Born in Rome d with Italian

a a a . an
blood in her veins she was skilled in Itali n and S p nish ,

a a
59
an d del igh t ed i n the literary spirit o f her d y s e s oned w ith a , a
the ingenious a d h rmless fl t t e i es by which only e is

n a a r an ar
tickled Receiving c mpany on her bed fter a f shion o f

. o , a a
the ti m e and the m nner o f the w hole community o f a
P é wh o foll wed in her steps — s o givi g to fashion

'
r czeu s s ,e o n
the phrase courir les r elles — d in w inter denying fire u an
as per il us to t h e c mplexion o f hersel f

o d o f her delic te
o an a
guests in ch mber corridor or lcove the M rquise de

a , , a ,
a
Rambouillet received pri nces nd w its t her w eekly feasts a a
o f ver b l criticism
a O f her i direct i fluence it is not
. n n
e sy to suggest the limits Be fore h circle Corneille

a . er
read h i tr gedies nd t h e youth Bossuet first displ yed

s a ,
a a
the ge ius o f th e pre cher Purity o f speech w dem n d ed

n a . as a
o f all w h o fre q uented the H Otel R m b ouillet There a .
w as to b e no unclean w ord d muc h th t w com , an a as
mon it ple sed the p rticul r genius o f the house to c ll

a a a a
uncle n The Marchio ess disd i ing her ow common

a . n a n n
name of Catherine M lherbe tortured his wi t and produced

,
a
f
or her i stead o f it A t h é i its a n gr m V gelas the
n r n ce , a a . au
gr mm ri n ranked bove princes t t h H Ot el R mbouillet

a a a a a e a .
I f the w ord f é/ t is o t yet French w rote B l ac it “

' '
”
zcz er n , a z ,
w i l l b e so next year ; M de V u gelas h as given me h i s w ord . a
not to O ppose it Th ere is play ful letter o f Voiture s t o

.
”
a
’
the Marquise de R mbouillet in which he ple ds f the a a or
th re tened li fe o f t h e word
a O ver f m ili r w ords i f ca r .
-
a a ,
tolerated in th F rench at l rg w er repl ced t th e h d

e a e, e a a ea
qu rters o f polite speech by d lic tely c nceited phr ses

a e a -
o a .
A the M rchi
s a ess s w comp y in her i ght p d the
on a an n -
ca , an
idea Night cap might have to be xpressed i convers tion

-
e n a ,
w hile t h e w ord w t o co rse fo choice l i ps its ssocia t ion

as o a r ,
a
w ith sleep d dreams sugg ested th t it might be re ferred

an a
t o as the innocent ccompl ice o f f lseh d Laughter

“
a a oo .
wa s clo w nish b ut i f mentio ed it might be d escribed

, l ss n as o
o f seriousness A gentleman in this assembly h d nce to

. a o
men tio n hay f ai happ ns ho wever t o l y t me n h y

n e , , no n o a a
60 E N GL I SH IVR I T ERS .
but t o be lso a m ild French interjection Baul ked in h is

a .
a ttempt to fi d sub titu t e f the w ord he b ecame im

n a s or ,
p tient and fo the inn ent f r pped out a Devil fe t ch

a ,
r oc ozn
'
me there s no spe ki g in this house 1

,
’
a n
”
T he M rquise d R mb uillet set a fashion amo g

a c a o n
ladies d there r m in s register o f eight hundred she

,
an e a a
T h M
e
critics
P ,
esteemed preci us to France P é o ,
r
— s centres o f refining influence The

”
ie c u se s , a .
f shion h d extended even t

a a the pr vi ces when Moli ere o o n ,
a tt cked it w ith his ri d icule

a .
The H Ot l R m b uillet w in the heigh t o f its credit

e a o as
w he in 6 3 5 Richelieu proposed to weekly ssembly f

n, 1 ,
a a o
T h c e } m le uthors w
,
hich met f amutu l
a i d d dis or a a an
A cad m e
si oy t th
'
house o f C a t o e o f their
cus n a e o nr r ,
n
number corporate li fe under the protect ion o f Louis X I V

,
.
The offer w accepte d d the French Ac d emy was th us

as , an a
f unded w ith especi l ch rge over the French langu ge

o ,
a a a ,
w hich the Ac demici ns w ere to puri fy and fi a by the

a x
public tion of a Dictionary d Grammar

a an .
It has bee n s id o f Dr Joh son s E nglish Diction ry a . n

’
a
th t he lone compi l ed it w hile t h e Diction ry of the

a a , a
French Academy w th work o f fo ty men eac h as e r ,

t of
S ii
i Fiéi iih
l
subj ect to much fem n ne d ct t o But between
’ ‘
~
ti e i i i a i n .
li fl fli ff
g
f the ’
t w o w ks
by
t h e senti l d i fl e e e is not
or to e s a
’
r nc
be f rg tten T h forty m in P ris h d p w r o o . e en a a o e
o f li fe d de th over t h w rds f the French an a e o o
l ngu ge committed t their h n d s The word t h ey d

a a o a . a
m i t t e d into their d icti n ry w there fter to be dmissible o a as a a
in g d Fre ch liter tur

oo d the w h ole h st o f w ords that
n a e, an o
they rej cted w ere by irt e o f t heir rejecti n to bec o me

e ,
v u o ,
unl wful in p lite s ciety It w s to be settlement of

a o o . a a
l gu g b y
an a p d t
e t But there a h be
cou n ither ’
i
t a . as e ne
need t ste in En g l nd f th t method o f proced re

n or a a or a u .
Dr Jo hnson might insert or mi t w h t b e ple sed w ith u t

. o a a o
cr shing syll ble o f spoken E nglish French refinements

u a a .
I N T R OD U C T I ON . 6 I
t nde d to tight laci ng o f the language in dictionary

e a -
a
c ref lly de v is d as st ys Broad chested E nglish h s

a u e a .
-
a
allo wed its lungs free play and w ill be str pped up in the ,
a
leat her covering o f o ma n s dictionary n

’
.
The work f t h Academici ns and their revision o f it

o e a ,
w ith its tedi us deb tes over the definiti ns f words

o a e o o ,
r
mained so long in hand th t the first e d ition w s n o t a a
p u b lished till 6 9 4 b y w hich time critic l France h d

1 ,
a a
a dvanced with the help of B ileau f he d in a ew

, o ,
ar a a n
directi on C lbert looked in up n the dicti n ry makers

. o o o a -
when t h ey h d been for so m e ye rs revising lett e r A

a nd a ,
a
found t h em d b ting on the sense o f t h w o rd “ ”

e a Am i I e s
friend b ound by social em tio l tie ? “

Can one ”
a a or o na
be called a friend where friendsh ip is not recipr c l ? “

Are o a
”
men to be called friends whent h ir w rm professi ns o f good e a o
w ill are based upon sel f interest ? “ Wh o is friend ?

” ”
-
a
“
Where is friend ? a The Minister h e ring such ques
”
, a
tions de b ated ce sed to ask w hen th e Ac demici ns would

, a a a
h ave talked their way do w n f irly into Z a .
Although one would lo k fo nothing less tha n strict o r
obedience to system in the free various utter nce of the ,

a
man y voices th t in each successive gen er tion

a a
“ f
become fixed by the hel p o f ink a d p per it is $333 n a ,
°
certain that in the mass men s minds ob ey their

, ,
’
proper influences as the tides the m o The o n .
moving forces lie w ithin the mind of m n h im el f a s
— honour o f truth d rig ht hope o f w rthy future

an a o .
,
E loquent minds in whom this h our is most active and

, on
t his hope m st s re express t h

o highest liter ture o f each
u , e a
d y and their thoughts are l sti g only in s f

a ,
as th ey e a n a ar ar
t rue . Thus w e might l y it down dogm tical l y as f ct a a a a
that French liter ture ad nced from the q estion of words

a va u
and letters mai n t ined b y R onsard and M lherb e to the

a a
larger question o f forms and l ws of literary com position a
d i s cussed with especial pow er by Boileau But t hey w ere .

62 E N GL I SH I VR / T E R S .
not the devotees f choice phrases and word s by who m o
such an adv nce was m de after the highest level i their

a a ,
n
f rmer way o f eal had been tt i ed

o zThe larger p t o f a a n . ar
t h e flock simply w ent on in the l d w y and it w their o a ,

as
a imles d w n hill wandering follo wers o f tr ck which

s, o -
, as a a ,
fo r a certai dist nce o ly t k the p ward w y th t pro

n a n ,
oo u a ,
a
v o k e d fr m str ngo d h nest minds a vigorous ttempt to

o an o a
p ut them right There w as especi l stre

. g t h d ho esty in a n an n
the mind f Boile u who e r ed a me for himsel f in

o a ,
a n na
French lit er ture s the Poet o f Go d Sense and wh ose

a a o ,
good sense h d in this cou try distinguished f llo wers

a n o .
In o d ys o f the Re tor tion and the ye rs follo wing

ur a s a a
the Revolution of 6 8 8 it was Boile u livi g on until his

1 ,
a ,
n
d eath aged s venty fi e i n the year 7

,
wh o e -
v , 1 1 1,
B ilo eau .
gave law s on P r ssus d m de critics His a na an a .
father was an ct u ary ; his mother died i

a his in f ncy h e .
n a
w as a sickly boy subject to an un friendly nurse t twenty

,
a
he wa an dvocate unfit fo the Bar turning his mind to

s a r ,
theology But his pl ce not bei g in the pulpit he a ban

. a n ,
d o n ed the Church and not the Church o ly b ut also a ,

n ,
b en efi c e o f eight hundred livres that he had b een persuaded

t o hold t least foa certain term o f ye rs I l yi g it
r a a . n a n
do wn he g ve to the poor all it h d brought him

, a
“
B t a . u ,
s id n bb é wh o h imsel f o wned m ny b e efi ces that was

a a a ,
“
a n ,
a good thi g to live upo M Boileau

n Not a doubt of n, . .
”
it ,
Boile u s wered ; b ut to die upon Monsieur l Ab bé
a an ,
’
— to die upon 1 It w s his hones t y that gave permanent

”
a
force to this man s genius

’
.
Resenting the degr dation o f tast e in his day Boileau a ,
l u ghed at the p u blic that cou l d see riv l to Corneille in

a a a
S cud eri the d ramatist d could re d w ith delight dainty ,

an a
rom ance fter t he m nner of the Pré cieuses by S d é i s

a a ,
cu r
’
sister M deleine who c arried to her death at the age o f

a , ,
n inety f ur the reputation o f w hich she l id the found tions

-
o ,
a a
at the H Ot e l Rambouillet It w reput tion raise d by . as a a

64 E NGL I SH I VR I T E RS .
R cine discours ed freely

a d took gaily w ise counsel , an
t gether They rgu d o ft en of sou d liter tur e a d con

o a e n a ,
n
d e m ed e ch other fo o ff ences g inst sense to re dings

n a r a a a
out f Chapel in s Pucelle th t l y re dy fo the pur

o
“
a
’ ”
a a a r
p e T wenty lines was the sentence fo serious o ffe ce

os . r a n
but f utrages th t deserv d c pit l pu ishment page

or o a e a a n , a .
The liter ry mind it w cultiv ted t those suppers

a ,
as as a a ,
w s e pressed i Boile u s poem o the A t o f Poe t ry

“ ’ ”
a x n a n r .
The critic l shortcomi gs o f that w ork w hich

a n ,
m y be s id t h ve given the l w fo s me years

a a o a a r o
t o French d E glish liter ture ne rly ll pro

an n a ,
a a
ee d from
c w holesome b ut too servile reg rd a a
for the ex mple o f the ncie t cl ssic writers The chief

a a n a .
a uthors o f Greece and Rome were to be as much the models

o f good lite ture as the L ti l gu ge was a st nd rd o f
ra a n an a a a
right speech This led i deed to sound contempt o f

.
, n , a
e m p t y trivi l ities but it left the critic w ith faint po wers o f

a ,
recognition f D nte or Shakespe re or a Milto n

a a , a a ,
.
B il au w even hindered by it from percei ing h ow fa

o e as v r
Terence wa surp ssed by his f iend Mol i ere His discipline

s a r .
thus tended obviously to the creation o f rtifici l t ste an a a a
fo forms o f correct writing excel l e t in t h emselves but as

r n ,
me ns o f perfect expression better suited to the genius of

a
t h e French th n o f t h e E glish people

a He w s true n . a a
Frenchm d E nglish w riters erred by imit tio even o f

a n , an a n
his e cellence in d p t i g too re dily f

x , a n tion Germ ic
o n a ,
or a a an
in origin d l anguage forms th t h rmonised better w ith

an , a a
the mind d l gu ge of Lat in r ce But t the s me

an an a a a .
, a a
time they sh red w ith their neighbou rs the benefit o f

,
a
a ssent to the ppe l in his A t I oét g

“ a on behal f of
a r
’
’
z z
ce
pl in good sense g inst the f ded extrav g nces of th at

a a a a a a
peri od o f Itali n influe ce from which li fe and he lth had

a n a
dep rteda
Ev i t o ns ce s e x ces . Lai ssons a l I t al i e
’
D e t ou s fau x b ri l l ans l é cl a tan t e fo l i e

’
ses .
To u t d o i t t en d re au Bon Sen s .
”
These lines declare t h e living sp i rit of t h e poem in ,
w hich i f we are to see only in one foremost wor k the ltered

, a
temper o f a generation it may especially b e said th t the ,

a
period o f I talian influence ended and th at of French i n
fl ence b egan
u .
It was in 1 6 7 and at t h e g e o f thirty four t hat Boileau

2, a -
,
wrote his “
Art of Poetry D yden s age was then forty ’
. r .
In t h e previous year the Duke of Buckin gham had s tiri ed a z
on the L o ndon stage in his Rehearsal the conceits and

, ,
”
fusti n o f recent E nglish dr ma s as they had been cooked

a a ,
by Davenant D ryden and others to su i t the S poiled p late

, , ,
a
o f the to wn .
S pi te of m ys e l f, I l l y fig h t l o v e, d e s pa i r ;
’
sta , ,
A nd al l h
t is I ca n do b ecau s e I d are,
of Dr d y e n s heroes ’
I d ri nk , I h u ff , I s t ru t , l o o k b ig , and s t
are
A nd al l h
t is I ca n do becau se I d are, ”
m ocks i n the Rehearsal Buck ingham s D rawcansir

, ,
’
.
Tyrannic L ove was one of Dryde n s last popular plays ’
w hen Boileau s “ A rt of Poetry

’
ppe red in Paris In that a a .
play a gu ardian angel praises his s word all keen and ground
u pon the edge o f day and a bold martyr sent enced by t h e ,
tyran t th us defies him

,
W here er t h ou
’
s t an d st
’ ’
I l l l e v el at t h at l
p ace
bl ood a nd S p ou t i t a t t hy face
M y gu s h i n g , .
Th u s no t by m arri ag e w e ou r bl o o d w i l l j o i n
, ,
N ay m o re m y arms s h a l l t h ro w m y h ead at t h i ne
, ,
.
And these excesse s w ere intent ional Poets Dryden .

,
wrote i n the Prologue to this pl y misapplying Horace s

’
, a ,
Serp i t h u m i tutus
hou l d b e bol d and d a re

Poe t s l i k e l ov e rs s ,
They s poi l t h ei r bu s i n ess w i t h a n ov ercare

A n d h e wh o s e rv i l e l y cree p s a ft e r se n s e
I s s afe b u t n e e r wi l l reac h an excel l en ce
'
.
,
66 E NGL I SH PVR I T ERS .
In ngl nd then there w

E a much need
, ,
in France as as as
o f Boile u s cri t ical gospel o f B S n d the light w its

’
a an ens a
o f the d y w ere disposed to follo w fo some short dist nce

a r a
i that direction the lead even o f an earnest m a

n t any n, a
rate i f French .
For in those d ys France was strong and E ngl n d we k

a a a .
The King of E ngl nd w s a pensioner to the French Crow n

a a .
T h ei d f
M
p er o
demoiselle
o
de Q e o i ll
a w s as Duchess o f u r ua e a ,
z z gggfi
i fl
P ortsmouth
fl u
g ent
'
o f Roy l France and fa vourite

,
a a ,
i o f Royal E ngland receiving an estate from the

Eéfl gw
f s
,
t t
French and incredible sums out of the Secret
,
Service Money from the pockets o f the E nglish people .
When there w as no soul at Court meaner than that o f the

King capable neither o f love nor of friendship wh o ff ecte d
, ,
a
men only w hen they had ceased t be manly and w ome n o ,
w hen they h d become the shame o f their o wa sex Court n ,
p tron ge f the the tre tainted the stage and poli t e litera
a a o a ,
ture still dependent upon courtly patron ge foun d no fit

, a ,
a udience fo any song like th t o f Una d the R e d Cross

r a an
Knight it m ust needs be frivolous or censorious critical or ,
satirical But there w ere nevertheless great questions i n

.
S t te a d Church as tir among the E nglish

an Vit l change . a
w as —
impending and the satire of a Dryden since he wh o
co ld look b ck in his maturest d y w ith so tender a fel l ow
u a a
feeling to the purer strains o f Chaucer yet must nee d s b ,

e,
fo the s ke o f bread a dr mati t in his rel tion to the people

r a , a s a ,
and a satirist in his rel tion to the Court — t h e satire of a a
Dryden stru k thro gh the utside of things deep into the

c u o
gr vest re lities that then concerned his count y There

a a r .
fore i t is th t Dryden s verse lives yet to be read and

’
a
,
ho oured w hile the w ord s o f the light w its who pl yed over
n , a
the m re frivolities f life belong to the ntiquities of

e o a
E nglish liter ture long since dea d to the E nglish people

a , .
But the Court and the Stage i f they were fo a little ,

r
time fter t h e R estoratio n the main source s of literary

a
repute and re ward could not cl im to themselves l l the ,

a a
nation s mind Vig rous in the he rt o f the great E nglish

’
. o a
people there lay still the religious earnestness that gives

stre ngth to their char cter In his jail there was John a .
Bunyan writing The Pilgrim s Pr gress ; and in his home

“ ’
o
sat Milton who had as a youth dedicated his powers to G d s

, o
’
service and devoted himsel f t o liter ture as one resolved

,
a
th t he would do all as in his gre t Taskmaster s eye

a a
’
.
Unrecognised by f shion Milton s Paradise Lost wa a ,

’ ”
s
steadily on its w ay t a second edition w hen the c urtly w its

o o
o f E ngl nd looked to Boile u s n w ly published Art o f

“ ’
a a e -
Poetry fo help to the perception o f go d w riting

r o .
Boileau in Fr nce s well ,

in E ngl nd gave i m
a a as a , an
p e t u s to critic l inquiry into liter ry

a styles d forms o f a an
composition Ren é R pin . eleg nt w riter of a , an a
L tin whose treatises on Polite Liter ture were

a ,
a
translated into E glish by B Kennet Ren é l e n .
Bossu Andre w D i er and his w i fe Fo t e e ll e

, ac ,
n n ,
a n d others cri t ics w h o like Boileau looked t o

, , ,
the Greeks a d L tins fo their st nd rd of good literat ure

n a r a a
-
all h d their E nglish represent tives John Sheff eld Duke
a a . i ,
o f Buc k ingh am achieved h i metric l E ss y on Poetry

,
s a a
Horace s Art o f Poetry w t r nsl ted by the E arl

“ ’ ”
as a a
of Roscomm n w h o w rote in verse lso his o w

o ,
a n
E ss y on Tr nslated Verse Hor ce s Art o f Poetry

“ ” ’ ”
a a . a
wa s imitated by O ldh m ; w hile Boile u s Art of “ a a

’
Poetry translat d by Si Willi m S o m e

,
”
e friend o f r a a ,
a
D ryden s was ot publishe d until it had received m ny

’
,
n a
touches from t h e h nd o f Dryden himsel f wh o in the a , ,
Prefaces to his Pl ys had pr ved himself the first o f E glish

a , o n
critics The most E nglish a d independent of the critics

. n
o f his time w a Dryden yet even he cites in the Pre f ce to

s , , a
his c onvers ion of P r dise Lost into an oper s a t h o i a a

”
a, a u r
ties i n literature the greatest in this age Boileau an d

“
,
Rapin ; t he latter of which alone is suffi cient were all ,
F 2
68 E NG L ISH WR I T E R S .
other critics lost to teach ane w the rules o f w riting Wha t

, .
w onder then th t this llegiance to French critical ta s te pro

a a
d c e d fo us a Rymer
u d a Dennis
r an
There can be no surer test o f the quality of E ngl ish

f shion ble
a d high critical t ste during this period o f
a an a
French influence th n in the slow ness o f our critics to per a
ce i e the m rv ellous success o f S h kespeare as a d irect

v a a
student in the school o f li fe d n ture an a .
Pepys w itnessed the per f rmance of Romeo d Juliet o an
in March 6 7 and pronounced the pl y to b e the w orst

,
1
“
2, a
Wh t h
he had ever he rd N t long a fter he w ent to a .
”
o ,
po li
a
ld the King s The tre where he says we s aw
t e w or
t e
“ ’
a , , ,
3 33 555
5222
1 Midsummer Night s Dream w hich I had never ’
,
’
seen be fore sh ll ever ag in fo it is the , n or a a , r
most insipid ridiculous pl y th t ever I saw in , a a
my li fe In 6 76 in goi ng to Dept ford by w ater he read

. 1 , ,
O thello Moor o f Venice w hich he continues

,
I ever , , ,
hereto fore esteemed a mighty good pl y ; b ut having so a
lately re d The Adventures o f Five Hours it seems a

a
‘
,
’
me n thing a The Adventures of Five Hours which

.
,
”
made Othello appear a mean thing b y comp rison

“ ”
a ,
w as a tr nslation from a play b y C lderon

a In 6 77 Pepys a . 1
records th t he s w t h e Merry Wives o f Windsor which

a a ,
’
d i d not please me at l l in no part o f it w hile Tw el fth a ,
Night he esteems the w e kest pl y that ever I b eheld

” “ a a
on the st ge The Tempest he foun d full of so good

a .
” ”
v riety th t I cannot he s ys b e m ore pleased lmost i n

a ,
a ,
”
a , a
a comedy only the seam n s part a little too tedious b u t

,
a
’
then he adds that the pl ay h a no gre t wi t yet good

“
s a , ,
above ordinary plays With H mlet he was mightily . a

”
pleased b ut b ove l l w ith Betterton wh o personated

“
,
”
, a a , ,
the Prince o f Denmark When he w s first present at the . a
per formance o f Macbeth in 6 6 4 he calls it only a “ 1 ,
pretty good play Afterw rds it rose in his favour and in . a ,

“
1 6 6 7 he declare s it to b e a most excellent play in al l
res pects b u t especially in divertisement though it be a

, ,
deep tragedy which is a stra ge perfection in tr gedy it

,
n a a ,
b eing most proper h ere and suit ble It appe rs from a ”

,
a . a
su b sequent entry that the divertisement which he con

“ ”
s i d ered the especial excellence o f M acbeth me nt the “ ”

, a
variety of dancing a d music n .

”
The professed critics w ere sometimes not more compli

ment ry as m y b e seen in b ok pu blish ed in 7
a , a t a o 1 2 1, a
which d te S hakespeare s w rks w ere only in their fi ft h

’
a o
edition and the copies o f th t fi fth edition published b y

, a ,
Nichol s Ro we t welve years b e fore w ere still su fficient f

a ,
or
the pu b lic need In this b o k entitled The L w s f

“
. o ,
a o
P oet y as laid dow n by the Duke o f Buckingh mshire in

r , a
his E ssay on Poetry by the E rl f Roscomm n in his ,

a o o
E ssay on Translated Verse d by the Lord L nsdo w ne on

i
, an a
Unnatural Flights in Poetry E xpl ined and Illustrated w e , a ,

”
are instructed that
That fam ou s h i c h h as b een so m u ch c ri e d u p i n

sol il o u y q w
H am l et h as n o m ore t o d o t h e re t h a n a d esc ri p t i on o f t h e grov e a nd
’
a l t a r o f D i an a m en t i on e d b y H o ra ce H a m l et co m es i n t al k i ng t o.
h i m se l f an d v ery sed at el y and e x ac t l y w e i g h s t h e s e vera l reas ons o r

,
con s i d era t i o n s m en t i on e d i n t h a t so l i l o q u y ,
T o b e, or n o t t o b e,
’
84 0.
As s o on as d on e t al k i ng to h i m se l f h e s ee s Op h el i a an d p as s es
h e h as , ,
t o a c onv e rsa t i on w i t h h e r en t i rel y d i ff e re n t t o t h e su bj e c t h e h as b een

,
m edi t at i ng o n w i t h t h at earn e s t n ess w h i ch as i t w as p ro d u ced b y , ,
n o t hi ng b e fo re so h as i t n o m a n n e r o f i n fl u en ce o n w h a t fo l l o w s a ft e r
, ,
a nd i s t h erefo re a p e rfec t l y d et a ch e d p i ece a n d h as n ot h i n t o d o i n the

g ,
l T h l n g and t ed i ou s s o l i l o q u y o f t h e b as t a rd F a l c o n b ri d g e i
p y a . e o n ,
t h e p l ay o f K i ng J oh n j u s t aft e r h i s be i ng rece i v ed as t h e n at u ral

,
’
son o f C oeu r d e L i on i s not on l y i m p e rt i n en t t o t h e p l a y b u t ex t rem e l y

, ,
ri d i cu l ou s T o g o t h rou g h al l t h e so l i l o q u i es of S h ak es p ea re w ou l d b e
.
t o m ak e a v ol u m e on t h i s s i ng l e h e ad B u t t h i s I ca n s ay i n g ene ra l
.
,
M ore i s a ll lzzs w or ks t /za t

'
t l zat n ot on e in ca n be ex cu s ed by n a t u r e or
The critic however p robab ly Gildon o wned himsel f

, , ,
sensible that h e should raise nger of the uncultivate d a
E nglish people b y wh t he w s saying d me n t further to a a , an a
s y
a upon the f ults o f Shakespeare Lucilius he ad ds
, a .
, ,
w s t he incorrect idol o f Rom n tim s S hakespeare o f

“
a a e ,
o urs Both g ined their reputation from people unac

. a a
q a
ui t e d
n w ith t ; and t h t reput tion w a s a sort
aro f tradi a a
tio n ar
y authority looked upon to be so s cred that Horace
,
a ,
a mong the Rom ns in much more polite age than th t i a , a a n
w hich Lucilius w rit c uld t escape t h eir censure fo r a t, o no
t cking him nor can Mr Rymer or any other just critic

a .
, ,
wh o shall presume though w ith the highest j sti c e and ,

u
re son to find f ult w ith Sh kespeare escape the indigna

a , a a ,
tion o f our modern tradition ry admirers o f that poet a .

’
Rymer himself forty y e rs e rlier had been even more em , a a ,
ph tic In t h e neighing of n horse or in the gro wling of a

a . a ,
m s t i fl there is a meaning there is s lively expression and

a
"
, ,
a , ,
m y I s y more hum nity th n many times in the tr gical

a a ,
a a a
flights o f Shakespe re His own notions of a tragical a .

”
flight w e m y discover from his tragedy of E dgar wh ere

a ,
i the first t Al frid decl res th t she w ill at E t h el wol d s ’

n ac a a a ,
request disc rd her orn aments and the margin directs her
,
a ,
to pull o ff her patches
E t l zel w . B l aze on, d i re co m et — m ay t h y i n fl u ence be

T o c ro w n s a n d e m p i re s fat al , as to me
A l/r . W h i t he r d o y ou r ras h w or d s an d p as s i o ns fly ?
T o cal m you r m i nd m y u t m os t p o w e r I l l t ry
,
’
.
I f I re cei v e a d v an tag e from m y d re ss ,
T i s t h a t I you m i g h t w i t h a d v an t ag e pl e ase
’
.
I f w an t i ng t h i s y ou r l o v e b e n o t i m p a i r d
’
, , ,
Th es e ornam en t s I read i l y d i scard [Pu l l s af . lzcr p a t ch es .
Four ye rs fter the scholi st upon his Grace of Buck

a a a
ingh m had spoken the opini ns w hich prevailed among

a o
0 it l i k e t h e sw eet d
’
cam e o er my ears s ou n
Th at b reat h es u po n a b an k of v i ol et s .
”
ven Pope then so far faile d to b ring Shak espeare into

E , ,
i m mediate credit t hat o f the small num b er of copies o f h i s

,
edition there remained nearly a fi fth part fo r
Tonson to get i d of t less than a seventh o f r a
the p ublished price No d efec t in the editor .
that coul d have been ppreciated by the pu b lic a
o f his o w n day w as accountable fo this The n ew spi rit r .
o f French criticism was still ruling among us the taste o f
the polite ; and Pope hi m sel f our E nglish poet of good ,
sense w as as a viceroy fo Boileau in E ngland Pope also

,
r .
h d produced his metrical

a E ssay u pon Criticism a d his ,
n
m ock heroic L t z in the Rape o f th e Lock B u t Pope s

'
” ’
u r n .
was E ngl ish wi t ; and i f he s w h o w , a
C ri t i c l earni ng fl ou ri s h ed m ost i n F rance

-
T h e ru l es a n a t i on b o rn t o serv e o b eys ,
A nd B o il eau s t i l l i n ri g h t of H orace sw ays ,
he at le st was not b orn to serv e As critic h e was an

a .
e mulator not an imitator ; and he did not like Boileau con

, , ,
templ te Nature only in th e mirror of the Greeks an d Latin s

a .
His influence sh attered the credit of

T he b o ok fu l bl ockh ead i g norantl y read
, ,
W i th l oad s o f l earn ed l u m ber i n hi s h ead .
A Den nis feebl y but for a time successfu lly maintai ed the
, , n
literal text o f French l ws o f criticism against the literature

a
o f h i s country ; although as a politician he d i d w rite on one
of his title p ges -

Li b erty as serte d again st the F e c an d
a r n
feared th at peace could never b e restored i f he were n ot

given up to the enemy He app eal ed indeed in this d iffi
.
, ,
cul t y to Marlborough w h o said h e had no influence with

, ,
t h e ministry b ut th ought his o wn case as desperate as he

, ,
3
h ad d o
'
n e al most as much injury to the French as Mr .
Denni s him self Dennis inspired from such a Helicon s

.
,
a
Pope imagined on his writing table a pot of hal f dead - -
al e c o v ered w ith a Longinus — was an oracle no more w hen

”
, ,
o nce he had b een dragged out into the d ylight Yet even a .
Dennis had his stronger side .
But if it was Pope the chie f of the ew taste am ong the

,
n
poets wh o in 7 5 first sent the E nglish polite world to

, 1 2
S hakespeare thirteen years e rlier it h d been Addison

, a a ,
chief arbiter o f t ste among prose writers the M i l

a -
,
t on
same o in a metrical account of t h e gre test Kd ggz

w h ,
d b a id
d
y
E nglish poets w ritten accord i ng to the mind

, ,
o f O ford University in
x 6 94 h ad passed from S penser to
, 1 ,
Cowley w ith n o mention at l l o f Sh kespe re i t w s — a a a ,

a
Addison w ho h ad in 7 brought Milton i n to f shion 1 12 a .
Yet let us not forget th t Steele h d in The T tler sho wn

“
a a a
a heart and w i t keenly live to the genius b oth of Milton a
a n d of Sh akespe re b e fore Addison h d criticised the one

a ,
a ,
or Pope had edited the other Upon the independent .
geni u s o f Addison as upon th t o f l l great E nglish writers

, a a ,
the stam p of the E nglish ch r cter is set He reverenced a a .
the ancients he su b mitted much to the French critics d

, ,
an
was conspicuous among apostles o f the gospel f good sense o .
He was so w ell in tune with his o w time that s S wi ft s id n ,

a a
in h i s Jour l to S tell
na
“
I f he h d a mind to be c h sen
a, a o
king he w ould hardly b e refused ; b t fter ll it w s the

,
u a a ,
a
ear nest E ngl ish mind in him th t h d given b readth d a a an
depth to his influence It was this th t had caused him . a ,
one January morn ing to wards the close o f the year 1 7 to 1 2,
introduce among The Spectator papers th t d y by d y

“ ”
a a a
so gracefully d m ildly brought to the touchstone of good

an
sense the idler follies o f society Milt n himsel f her lded , o , a
b y the motto from Propertius

’
Sc ip t
'
C t R m
’
,
ea z e o a nc r or es
ct
'
c l zt G fi
e ra During t h e next four months Milton w
.
”
as
ag in and ag in his topic The Spect tor o f eighteen

a a
“
, a
”
74 E N GL I SH I VR I T ERS.
successive S turdays b ei ng occ u pied with the test i mony of

a
Addison to the m jesty o f Par dise Lost a a .
In be ri g w itness to Milton Addison no doubt still

a n . ,
p id undue homage to the French l wgi ers wh o held their

a a v
L atin p li ment upon P rn ssus b ut his hom ge w s

ar a a a a a
E “ “h
free fr m se vility
g 5 ' “
A fe w general rules ex
o r .
t cted out o f the French uthors he says i one o f his

ra a ,
. n
Milton p pers w ith certain cant o f w ords has some

“
a ,
a ,
times set p illiter te he vy w riter f a most judicious

u an a ,
a or
d formid bl critic He dem nds o f the good critic ”

an a e . a ,
no t i dee d th t he sh ll look N ture str ight in the f ce

,
n ,
a a a a a ,
but that he sh ll be skil l ed in the Greek d L tin authors

a an a
an d adds “
There is t Greek or Latin critic w h h as
,
no a o
not shown even in the t vl e o f his criticisms th t he was a

,
s ,
a
m ster o f l l the eleg nce and del icacy o f h i n tive tongue

a a a s a .
”
For Addison lso foll w ed w i t h lmost all other writers o f

a o , a
his d y the ex mple of the French in testing the literary

a ,
a
w rth o f modern langu ges w hether Romance or not by

o a , ,
their con formity w ith L tin style E ven Dryden alth ough a .
,
he used l ss Latinised E nglish th n th t which b ec m e

a e a a a
custom ry to the writers w h o immediately succeeded him

a ,
decl red fo L tin as the pattern o f good E nglish In

a r a .
dedic ting to the E rl o f Sunderl nd his Troilus and

a
“
a a
Cressid he s ys H o w b rb rously w e yet w rite d

a, a ,
a a an
spe k your Lordship kno ws d I am su fficiently sensi ble

a , , an
in my ow E nglish For I m o ften put to a stand in

n . a
considering w hether w h t I w rite be the idiom o f the a
tongue or f lse gr mmar d nonsense couched beneath

,
a a an
th t specio s n me o f Anglicism nd h ve no other way

a u a a a
to cle r my doubts but by transl ting my E nglish into

a a
L tin This o f the l nguage th at had su ffi ced for Shake

a .
”
a
speare ! It w s not t hen understood th t i f the E nglish

a a ,
w ould d the Fr nch h d done d bring their l nguage

o as e a , an a
into h rm ny w ith th t from which it was derived and w ith

a o a ,
t h gre ter number o f the minds th t spoke it they must

e a a ,
75
imit te French practice i the spirit d not in the letter

a n ,
an ,
b y laying hold of the so called A glo S xon element

“ -
n -
a ,
wh ich is to E ngl ish w hat the Latin is to French .
This truth is ow comm n en ugh d ven liable ton o o ,

an e
over st tement for there rem ins justific tio o f much

-
a ,
a a n
study of the Latin model in the f ct th t L tin was in a ,

a a a
g reater degree than First E nglish a high ly cultiv ated lan

guage delicately illustr ting by polished mod ls m ny and
, a e a
very di fferent forms of literary composition O o ab . ur v c u
l ry we ow kno w should be t ken

a , n much m y be
,
a as as a
from the actu l sources o f the l gu ge but i f w lo k t

a an a e o a
a l l as w e m y ce rt inly sometimes l ok w ith adv nt ge to

, a a o a a ,
examples more th an thous nd ye rs old fo help to th t a a a r a
exact clear emph tic

, d dur ble expression o f our
, a ,
an a
thoughts w hich is the wh ole object o f writing it is fr nkly , a
to be owned th t w e sh ll get much better help from Latin

a a
than from First E nglish authors .
At the same time let it never b e forgotten that the re l a
question fo e ch genuine w riter h s b een— not Whom

r a a ,
sh ll I imitate but H o w sh ll I give to my o w S b

a ,
a n u s t a n ce
m ind the fullest utter nce ? In the distinction a
b et ween perish ble and imperish b l reput tions

a
l
a e a
S‘y e '
this is in fact the true form o f the literary question

, , ,
H o w shall I be saved ? In Liter ture as in everything a ,
else it is the truth only that m kes alive not the

, a
ab stract but the honest individu l t uth— a man s truth t

, ,
a r
’
o
himsel f No writer h s ever manu f ctured artifici lly a

. a a a
reput tion th t w ould l st

a a a .
We have o w p artly seen h o w w riters are ff ected by

n a
the circumst nces o f their time There h s been gre t

a . a a a
period o f Itali n influence on E nglish literature ch ar c

a , a
t e ri e d throughout by a
s extrav g nt t ste fo emphasis n a a a r .
The dem nd fo incess t cleverness in force o f phrase and

a r an
i genuity o f ill stration was then

n imperious t h t only
u so ,
a
the most pow erful minds could s tis fy it w ithout b eing a

driven into false emphasis by the equal loading o f all parts

o f their argument w ith allusion alliter tion illustration ,
a , ,
met phor and everything else that should represent the

a ,
season ble outstepping of a m n s free w i t not the mono

a a
’
,
tonous briskness of a day s w ork on the treadmill False ’

.
emph sis bred of ill regulated esteem fo cleverness and

a ,
-
r
strength was the C h r cteris t ic f ult to which t h e taste o f

,
a a a
the polite w orld tended in the period of Italia influence ; n
b ut out o f it c me from a fe w vig rous E nglish minds the

a , o ,
l rgest and the truest utterances O f t h e succeeding period

a .
o f French influence critical ped ntry wa s the prevailing a
b ne E ven the critics wh o in upholding all good sense

a .
, ,
h d an occasion l pproving nod fo N ture held literary

a a a r a ,
good sense to consist chiefly in the imit tion of Horace a ,
c rved rules of co m p osition out o f the fE ei d and O dyssey

a n ,
an d by re ference to those judged even Mi l ton Him never .

,
t h el es s Addison held b y even w hen he w s n Ox ford

, , a a
L tinist o f th ee d tw enty ccepting ge nerally w ith little

a r -
an -
a ,
question the decrees o f the arb iters of taste ack n owledged

,
in his University Addison was content the n to excuse

.
Milton by suggesting th t he seems ab ove the critic s

“
a
’
n icer l w s In that poem to w hich I have before re ferred

a .
,
a d w hich so conveniently sets forth the liter ry tas te o f

n a
good society in E ngland under the s way of the French

critics w e read o f Chaucer th at
,
In v ai n he j es t s
i n hi s un
p o l i s h ed s t ra i n ,
A n d t ri es t o m ak e h i s re a d e rs l au g h i n v ai n .
penser we le rn that he amused a b arb rous age

Of S a
“
a ,
but that his

m y s t i c t a l e, t hat pl eas e d of yore ,
C an c h arm a n u n d e rs t an d i n g a g e no m ore
T h e l o ng s p u n
-
fu l s o m e g ro w ,
a l l eg ori e s
Whi le the d u l l m o ral l i es t oo p l ai n bel ow

Addison would not have had the soul in him that gives
li fe to his name had he n ot grow n into the perception of
,
something higher th n the domin nt bad taste o f the polite

a a .
In l ter yea rs he spoke o f Spenser as in the s me cl ss

a
“ a a
with Milton But because his matter was not reconcil b le

”
. a
to any Latin formula and his m nner w s not th t of n

, a a a a
E nglishma ever co n siderate whether his E nglish style

n
w ould b ear direct translation into L tin the “

understand a ,
ing age looked do wn from the top o f its o w small model n
o f O lympus w here the D e

,
i s es and Rymers s t as gods
nn a ,
and spat on t h e groun d at the n me of E dmun d S pe n ser a .
That understanding g e usu lly ow su ffers undue con

“ a a n
tempt i n the true heart of the young student o f liter ture a ,
b orn to the various influences o f a perio d o f popul r a
influence in which t ste is free ; a d so m e may at times

a n , ,
think that its old state o f slavery has b een exchanged for
the mere indolence of freedom .
In generalisation upon groups or sequences of natural

facts and the fruitage o f men s minds un d er right cultiva
’
tion Literature is as much in the course of nature P

,
d
as the fru i tage o f the apple trees We must not li mi f g
u rp os e an
-
. ts o e
al ways forget the unity a d harmony o f life and

n
thought within the small round o f this w orld There are .
no sciences in nature no cl ssific tions no law s but the

,
a a , ,
singl e Fiat o f Al l wise Be e fi ce nc e Th is has produced a

- n .
creatio n of w hich the minutest details blend and fit together

w ith the most i ntricate and surprising harmonies All th t . a
w e kno w points al ways to more forms than w e h ve learnt a
to understand o f various and perfect adaptation to the

,
s ingle use o f multiplying the great s u m o f happiness and
b eauty . But t he wisdom o f the one gre t Divine Thought a
would b e indeed unsearcha b le to us i f we sought as gods ,
o ursel v es at o nce to grasp i t all

, Instead of attempting .
78 E N GL I SH IV
/ R I T E RS.
th t we use in i d o f our we kness those rtifici l teps of

a , , a a ,
a a s
our ow mak i ng in theories and cl ssific tions w hich e as

n , a a ,
ar
the rounds of Jacob s l dder bet ween e rth d heaven ’

a a an .
It is by exercise o f the po wer given to him o f se rching a
the Divi e Thought with some apprehension o f its har

n
m onies t h t m n h s att ined w h tever height o f intellect

a a a a a
he c lls his ow There is no other way o f knowledge

a n . .
And it is w ith the mor l world as w ith the intellectual a .
O nly by b ttling out slo wly a d experiment lly the moral an a
l aw can m n rise even to a f int participation o f the activ e

, a a
strength o f the Divine Be efi c e c e There is no other way n n .
o f right But s there is no b ttle without resistance no

. a a ,
strength th t is not exercised no he lth in a merely p ssive

a ,
a a
virtue w ere all men of one right mind uni formly good
, , ,
impecca ble untroubled they w ould be hap py only as the

, ,
"
ants and bees are happy i a li fe r gul ted by a f ultless ,

n e a a
instinct A ll p rt w ould be denied them in the utmost

. a
blessing of ch ildlike p rticip ation in the sacred energy o f a
Him who made them in His im ge Ou literature sho w s a . r
one body of men in generation a fter generatio n worki ng

on ward by aid o f the n tur l conflicts n d v rieties o f mind a a a a .
We cannot understan d o o w work i f we do not see also ur n
h o w the minds o f our neigh b ours have worke d w ith us and ,
our minds w ith theirs But however f we look t h e .

,
ar ,
b roadest vie w w e can take still does not a d w ill never ,

n ,
cont in the w hole truth When there fore in de ling w ith

a .
, ,
a
our o w literature we parcel it out how ever aptly into

n , , ,
periods of this influence and th t let us again and ag in a ,

a
remember th t all such distinctions e in their n ature

a ar
arbitrary They a e not dominant truths w ith which all

. r
Th d
details must b e h rmonised ; they are but i a n
d e t al f cts d w elt on as a ds to systemat i c

e p e ri o
p f p op u l a r ci n a i
,
fl
‘u
study And even in this respec t they are not
u e n ce '
.
to be d welt upon d ogmatically C h anges o f liter ry taste a e . a r
never so abrupt that all writing in one fashio n ceases when a

editions of P radise Lost b e fore Milton received the

“
a
stamp o f fashion .
But we come ow to a perio d when the Popular I n n
fl e c e al ways active upo n the best minds b ecomes w ith

u n , ,
every generation more a d more dominant over the small n
minds too For the people at l rge extend their re ding

. a a
po wer into departments of kno wledge for merly unsought by

them and their f vour is found generally to be more e
, a r
m u e a t i e th n that o f the most princely patron

n r v a This .
period should date from the day when De foe stood in t h e

pillory .
Dan iel De foe tradesman s son b orn in the reign of , a

’
,
Charles II bred to Dissent educated b y a schoolm ster

.
, ,
a
w h o did not account the political movements o f

D f c 00 8 8 8 ?
his t me an unfit stu d y fo E gl sh b oys w s i l f h

i r n i ,
a ,
v ce o t e
even as a young hose factor on Cornhi l l ealous p

-
, z
e op e '
in the true c use of the E nglish people Though a Pro

a .
test nt in fierce anti Popery days he had no par t i n t h e

a -
,
passionate extravagance o f a sectarian hatre d to t he Roman

Catholics But their principles honestly c arried out were
.
, ,
by their nature subversive of liberty o f conscience I t .
h ppene d th t civil and religious li b erty were in his ti m e

a a ,
from like causes in equ l danger ; b ut although a Dissenter

,
a , ,
he could fight their battle only on the highest ground as ,
th t of the E nglish people and not o f the Noncon formists

a ,
only So it was that he fought dissoci ted from the lesser

.
, a
pas sions of the hour w ithout one personal dherent When , a .
James II lab oured openly d insidiousl y by assumptio

. an , n
of a personal supremacy over the l w s to give the Pope his a ,
o wn again i n E nglan d the Act o f Toleration by which h e , ,
released his ow church out o f bondage worki g u n der t h e

n , n
mask of a newly modelled comprehensiveness of charity -

,
pleased many of the Dissenters They w ere glad by pay .

,
ment of a trifling fee to ope n Rich rd Ba ter s priso n , a x

’
door De fo e there fore was little thanked fo urgi ng that

. r
a cceptance of such roy l grace was n admission o f the K ing s a a

’
a bsolute cl im to override the l ws

a He that would se ve a . r
me s id De foe fterw rds must not promise hi m s el f

n,
”
a
“
a a ,
th t he s h ll not anger them I h ve been exercised in

a a . a
this usage even from youth I had their reproaches w hen a .
I b lamed thei credulity d confidence in the flattery d

r an an
ca resses o f Popery n d w hen I protested g inst ddresses

,
a a a a
o f th anks fo an illegal liberty o f conscience founded on

r a
dispensing po wer The young p triot joined Monmouth

. a
w hen he l nded in the West and

a fter the night on S d g , ,
a e
m oor w as an exile B t King J mes s turn fo exile quickly

’
,
. u a r
follow ed d fter the Revolution W illi m o f O r nge

,
an ,
a ,
a a
recogn ised in De foe the one sound d most honest E nglish an
friend To the cry r ised by the opposition th t King

. a a
Wi l liam was no true b orn E nglishm n De foe replied w ith

-
a ,
h i s s tire o f
a
“
The Tr e born E nglishm n r hymes o f u -
a ,
w hich opies were sold in the streets Among their

C .
home truths e vigorous ssertions o f the l ims o f the

ar a C a
people gainst persecutio n in the Church or despotism in

a ,
the State In these he finds s d ngerous thing

. a a a
h
A ru l i n g p r e s t oo ,
i d a s a p r i es t -r
i d k i n g
A n d o f a l l p l ag u e s w i t h w h i c h m a nk i n d are c u rs t ,
E ccl es i as t i c t y ra n n y
’
s t h e w o rs t
w i h le of the kings f lse to their trust he s ys

a a ,
Wh e n k i n g s th e s w or d
j u s ti ce fi rs t l ay d o w n
of ,
Th ey are no k i ng s t h ou g h t h ey p os se ss t h e cro w n
, .
T i t l es a re s h ad o w s cro w n s a re e m p t y t h i n g s
, ,
T h e g oo d of s u bj ec t s i s t h e e n d o f k i ng s
”
.
Then c me Queen Anne to the throne ; ecclesiastic

a
tyr nny and the old doctrine o f the divine right to govern
a ,
ill recovered stre gth d hard words hailed on D ef e i h

,
n ,
an o n t e
ilm “
the Dissenters A su b st nti l bl w w s imed
. a a o a a F )
in a Bill that was to disqu lify them fro m all c i vil employ a
G
me ts It p ssed the Commons but failed w ith the Lords

ri . a , ,
among w hom w ere the foremost ch m p ions o f E nglish a
li berty Bigoted pre chers mean while l shed the populace

. a a
into he venly mood fo pulling ch pels do wn ; d

a a r a an
S acheverell pre ching at O x ford h d denounced him as

,
a ,
a
no true son o f the Church wh o did not raise g inst Dissent a a

“
the bloody fl g n d b nner o f defiance Then it was
a a a .
”
th t De foe
a thriving citi en with much to lose spoke
,
a z ,
boldly on behal f o f li berty o f conscience in his p mphlet a
c l led The Shortest W y with the D issenters He w rote

a a .
,
as i l l his controversi l writing to maintain a principle

n a a ,
and not p rty He beg n his satire w ith quotation

a a . a a
fro m Roger l E s t a g e o f fable that might have b een

’
r n a
a pplied to J mes t he Second s Act o f Toleration A o k

a
’
. c o
at roost in a st b le h ving drop ped fro m his perch d

a ,
a , an
finding hi m self in much d nger m ong restless heels has a a a ,
f ir pro pos l t
a m ke to the horses th t we shall all o f us
a — o a a
keep our legs q iet This f ble De foe appli ed to the u . a
D issenters wh o w ere then asking fo

,
equal tre tment r a ,
a lthough they h d been intolerant enough themselves not

a
long since when they h d the upper hand Pro fessing in

,
a .
,
his ss m ed char cter o f a bigoted High Churchm n of the

a u a a
d y to sh w the vice o f Dissent be fore teaching its cure

a ,
o ,
he de ls in the first place f ir blo w to his ow side for

a , ,
a a n
past intoler nce The Dissenters ought not perhaps to

a .
, ,
h ve b ee n bli d to the irony o f the second hal f of t he

a n
p mphlet ; but in the first hal f the irony is not all gainst
a a
ecclesi stic l int ler nce De foe was against all i ntoler nce
a a o a . a ,
an d to the bigotry o f his o w part y De foe gives I think

— n
seri u ly d intention lly the first hit The succeeding

o s — an a .
s tire on the persecuting spirit o f the noisy p rty i n the

a a
Ch rch since it co ld not e sily surpass the actual e t a a

u ,
u a x r v
g nce o f p rty spirit had in it nothi g but t h e delicate

a a , n ,
sust ined sh rpness o f ironical s ggestion to reveal t h e

a a u
a thor s p u rpose to the multitude S everal reasons he

u
’
.
,
The pamphlet delighted men o f the Sacheverell school .
A C mbridge F ello w thanked his b ookseller for having s en t

a
him so excellent a tre tise— next to the H oly Bible d the

a an
S cr d Comments the most valuab le he had ever seen

a e .
Gre t was the reaction o f wr th w hen the p mphlet was

a a a
found to b e a Dissenter s satire nevertheless the Dissenters

’
,
held b y their first outcry ag inst the author De foe aged a .

,
forty t wo paid for this service to the E nglish people in the

-
,
pillory and as a prisoner in Newgate Bu t his Hymn to

, .
the Pillory which appeared on the firs t of the three days

,
”
o f the shame o f the Government in his exposure July 9 ,

2 ,
3 d
0 , an
3 in the year
1, 7 3 turned the course o f popular
1 0 ,
—
opinion against the men wh o pl ced him there men as his a ,
rhyme said scandals to the times wh o

, ,
A re l oss t o fi nd hi s g u il t ,
at a
’
An d ca n t co m m i t h i s cri mes .
It w s in the next year as a prisoner in Ne wgate that

a , ,
De foe on the 9t h of F ebruary 1 7 4 set up

,
1 ,
0 ,
his Revie w continued through nine years

“
,
”
fro m 7 4 to 7 3 1 0 1 1 .
Wi th T he Revie w in w hich De foe addressed to the

“
,
”
people his o wn earnest thoughts upon all matters that con

cerned the common good begins the history o f E nglish ,
journ lis m as a po wer in the S tate and a reflection o f t h e

a
people s influence on English literature T o much vigorous

’
.
argu m ent on grave aff airs of State Defoe united censorship ,
o f s ci l follies b y including in his plan the machinery o f

o a
a supposed Scandalous Cl b fo hearing and deciding on u , r
domestic questions To this part o f T h e R ev ie w it w ill

.
”
b e seen that we may trace most reas ona b ly R i chard S teel e s

’
first n tion o f T h e T tl
o
’
a er .
”
When Addison and S teele had successively passed to

O x ford from the Charterhouse w here they had b ee n s chool ,
fello w s and friends togeth er the pat hs b y which they took ,

their way into t he world w ere w idely separate Addison :
thought it best to provide for his own future Ad d i ,“ so n
advancement b y secu ring influential patrons i ngig g f .

t n
p l g
H e there fore after the campai gn of 1 6 9 5 offered
, ,
to t h e King t he homage of a paper of verses on the captu re

o f Namur and prese n ted them through Si r John Somers
, ,
then L ord Keeper of the Gre t Se l To Lord Somers he a a .
sent w ith them a flattering dedicatory address Discern .
ment of talent was at this time merit fo w hich more th n a r a
one political M aecenas gl dly e r ed credit to himsel f a a n .
Preferments lesser pu b lic trusts d sinecures were readily

, , an
b estow ed on m en of letters friendly to the party o f the

g iver until
,
the accessio n o f George I happily fo litera .
, r
t ure removed the Court fro m all contact w ith the w i t or

,
w i sdom of t h e country Somers w h o w as esteemed

. man , a
of taste was n ot u n w illing to receive the presen t of a

“
,
M u se unkn own H e asked Addison to call upon him and

.
”
,
b ecame his patron Ch rles Mont g u a fterwards E arl o f

. a a ,
H li f x critic and wi t himself shone also among the st tes

a a , , a
men wh o w ere known patro ns o f letters Also t him w ho . o ,
was a pri nce of patrons fed w ith so ft dedication l l d y

, a a
long Addison introduced himsel f Montagu h d not lo g

,
”
. a n
b e fore risen to the o ffice o f Chancellor o f the E xchequer

h e had just then been b usy over recoinage and the pr ject o
o f t he S inking F und ; he wa s w i t and patron o f w its a
seated in the national Tom T i d l e s ground To him i t ’

r .
, as
was part o f his public fame to be Latin scholar Addison a , ,
also a skil ful Latinist ddressed in L atin a paper of verses

,
a , ,
on the Peace of R ys w ick With Somers and Montag fo . u r
patrons the yo u ng m n o f g enius wh o wished to thrive

,
a
might fairly commit himsel f to the s er vice o f the Church ,
b t Add ison s tact and refinement promised to b e service

’
u
able to t he State ; and so it was that as S teele tells us , ,
Montagu m ad e Addison l ym n H is arguments were

a a a .
founded upon the gener l pravity nd corruption o f men o fa a

86 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S
business wh o wan ted liberal educatio

, And I remem b er n .
,
as i f I had read the letter yesterday that my L ord ended ,
w ith a compliment that ho w ever he might be represented , ,
a s n o friend to the Church he n ever w ould do it other an

y ,
injury than keepi g Mr Addison out of it To the goodn . .
o ffi ces o f Montagu and Somers Addison w indebted as ,
there fore fo tr velling allow nce o f three hundred ye r

,
r a a a a a .
The grant w s fo his support while qu li fying himsel f on

a r a
the Continent by study o f modern l ngu ges d other wise a a ,

an ,
fo diplomatic service
r It dropped in a year or t wo t the .
, a
King s de th and Addison w s c st upon his ow e

’
a , a a n r
sources ; but he throve and lived to become U n der ,

an
S ecretary of State in d ays that m de Prior ambass dor a an a ,
an d re w arded w ith o ffi ci al incomes Congreve Row e Hu g hes , , ,
Philips S tepney and others Throughout his honour ble

, ,
. a
c reer pr dence dictated to Addison more or less o f de

a u
p e n d e c e on
n the friendship o f the strong An honest friend .
o f the popul r c use he w a more re dy to sell than give

a ,
as a
his pen to it alt h gh the utmost re w rd would at no time

ou a
h ave tempted him to thro w his conscience into the bargai n .
The good word o f Hali f o b tained him from Godolphin ax
the Government order fo a poem on t he Battle o f Blen r
heim w ith immediate e rnest o f payment fo it in the office

, a r
of a Co mmissioner of Appeal in the E xcise w ort h a ,

2 00
year Addison wrote The Camp ign

.
“
and upon its a
s ccess he o b tained th e f rther rew rd of an Irish Under

u ,
u a
S ecretaryship In his later years when fter the Rebellion

.
, ,
a
in the North A d di son fought the b ttle of his p arty as

,
a
The Freeholder it w s gain not on his o w free impulse

,
”
a a n
that he w rote but as the popular and discreet man o f

,
genius appointed t write by the Government wh o as it o , ,
seemed to Steele made choice o f a flute when they ought

,
to h ve t ken a trumpet
a a .
”
S teele on the contr ry fastened upon the duties o f li fe

,
a ,
w i t h no immediate regard to p tron ge He never joined a a .

to the t ue serv i c e o f religion w ithout having poken or

r ,
s
w itten to the l as t day o f h i li fe one w ord o f mere reli giou s

r s
ca nt But his comrades felt d he h i ms el f w that The

.
, an sa ,
Ch istia n Hero pu b lis hed in 7 was t oo dida ctic It

r ,
”
1 0 1, .
w s in deed pl in truth out o f S teele s heart ; b ut a ai o f

’
a a n r
s u pe i rityr of eely allo w ed o n ly to the pro fessional m an

, r
teaching rule o f his o wn a t b elongs to too didacti c

s r , a
m nner Nothing w as more repugn an t t Steel e s n tu re

a . o
’
a
th n the se se o f this He h d defined the Ch isti n as

a n .
’
a r a
one w h o is l w ys bene f ctor w i t h the mien o f

a a a a ,
a
receiver And th t was his o w ch r cter of w hich t he

. a n a a ,
one f ult was that he was more re dy t o give than to

a ,
a
receive more prompt to as c ibe honour to others t h an to

,
r
cla im it fo himsel f To ight himsel f Steele w rote a light

r . r ,
he rt ed comedy The Funer l or Grie f a l Mode b ut

a ,
a , a
at the core even of that l y the great earnestness o f h i a s
censure against the mockery and mum m ery of grie fs that

shou l d b e sacred n d he blended w ith th is in t h e character
a ,
o f l wyer Pu
a le a protest against m ockery of truth a d
zz , n
justice by the in tric cies of the l w Of these he w rote i a a .

,
n
his pref ce to the published play the d ily villaini es we

a
“
, a
see committed w ill lso be esteemed things proper to b e a
prosecuted by s atire nor could our ensuing legislatives do

their country a more se son ble o ffi ce th n to look into t he a a a
d i stresses of an unhappy people wh o groan perh ps in as , a
much m isery under enta ngled as they could do under

b roken la ws The livel iness o f thi s comedy m de Steel e
.
”
a
popular w ith the w its ; a d the inevitable touches of the n
author s patriotism b rought on him l so the notice of the

’
a
Wh i gs Party men might perhaps alre dy feel something of

.
, ,
a
the un b ending independence that was in S teele h i ms el f as ,
in this pl y he made old Lo rd B ru m p t on teac h it to his son

a
B u t b e t h ou h o n es t , fi rm , i m pa rt i al
L e t nei th er l ov e n o r h at e nor fact i on m ov e t h e e
, ,
D i s t i ngu i s h w ord s from t h i ng s and m e n from cri m es , .

9
King Will iam perh ps had he l ived co ld f irly h ve a , ,

u a a
recognised in Steele the social form of that sound mind

w hich i De foe wa sol it ry In a l ter d y it w to
,
n , s a . a a as
S teel e a proud recollection th t his n me to be provided a a ,
was in the last tab le b ook ever w orn by t h e glo rious

“
fo r, -
and immortal Willi m III a .

”
The stage yet represented lthough less co m pl etely ,

a
than it h d done the pl ce of direct appe l by w riter

a , a a a
to the body f the public Sh kes pe re h d D

o d . a a a e c re a s e
w itten fo the people ; Congreve

r r o w w rote f $333 5; n or
the to w n Pl yers of E li abeth s day c rried

. a
“ m ” z
’
a
3 5
their pieces out o f Lon d on even into Germ ny ; d in ,

a an
L o ndon itsel f addressed the common heart f those wh o o
form ed be fore their stage tur l udience distinguished a na a a ,
l argely b y some of its elements from the polite body o f

the rb iters of art ificial ta ste At the Restor tion the Court
a . a
patronage b rought to the theatre t hat sm ll circle o f con a
v e t i o al w its w h
n n held themselves to be especi lly the
o a
town and soon the lives and m nners o f the e w order of a n
patrons w ere more commo ly reflected from the st ge th n n a a
the old large ty pes of human ch r cter nd p ssion Popul r a a a a . a
interest in the st ge partly diverted from it t the s me

a , a a
t i m e b y the gro wth o f other influences chiefly fo this

’
,
r
re as on ab te d and m ny wh o w ould have bee n good pl y

a a a
goers a century e rlier in Queen Anne s d ys out o f the

a ,
’
a ,
sa m e mind that w ould have m de them so sta yed t home a , a
d read not w ithout approb tion Jeremy Collier s sharp

’
an , a ,
attack u pon stage immorality S teele s wi t took n tur lly .

’
a a
the old popul r course and disported itsel f fo short time

a ,
r a
upon the stage but his comedies with al l their g iety n d , a a
humo u r w nted the t int of immor lity t h t was the g me

,
a a a a a
flavou r then ccounted necess ry to the perfect relish of

a a a
pl ay E ach comedy of S teele s was b sed on seriousness

.
’
a ,
as all sound E nglish w i t h s b een since there have been a
writers i n E ngland The g y ma ner did not conce l l l

. a n a a
9 0 E N GL I S H WR I T E R S .
the earnest thoughts th t might jar w ith the humour of the a
town ; d thus Steele w s ble to cl im b y right of his

an a a a ,
Lying Lover — comedy in which the m dern re der

a o a
may also discover preaching the honour of being t he only

— “
E nglish dram tist w h o had h ad a piece damned fo its

a r
piety .
”
With th t strong reg rd fo the dr m which can ot

a a r a a n
w ell be w nti g t the m rtist s vivid se se ’

a wh o h
n n o an as a a n
T h o f li fe S
e
teele never w ithdre w his
, go d w ill from o
T m“
i
the players never neglected t praise good play
e
,
o a ,
an d ,w e h ve seen too k every f ir occasion o f s u ggest

as a , a
ing to the to w n the subtlety o f Sh kespeare s genius But a

’
.
single minded q uick w itted d prompt to act on the first

-
,
-
,
an
suggestion o f a higher point o f use fulness to which he might

a tt in Steele saw the mind o f the people re dy fo
a , ew a r a n
sort o f rel tion to its w riters nd he follo wed the lead o f

a , a
De foe But though he t rned from the m re frivolous

. u o
temper of t h e en feebled pl yhouse udien ce to commune a a ,
in free i w ith the country t l rge he took fresh care for

a r a a ,
the re traint of his deep earnestness w ithin the bo nd s f a

s u o
cheerful unpretending influence Drop by drop it should

,
.
fall , d its strength lie i n its persistence

an He w ould bring .
w h t w i t he h d out o f the pl yhouse

a a d S pe k his mind a , an a ,
like De foe to the people themselves every post day But

,
-
.
he would ff ect o ped ntry f mor lising he would ppe l

a n a o a , a a
to no passions he would pro fess himsel f only a T tler

,
“
a .
”
M ight he not use he t hought modestly d i tr st ful o f the

, , s u
charm of his ow mind some of the new s obtained by n ,
virtue of t h e o ff ce o f G etteer H rley had given him to

i az a ,
bring w eight d ccept nce to his wri t ing th t he val ed

an a a a u
only fo the use to which it could be p t For as he

r u .
,
himself truly s ys i The T tler

“
a wi t i f a m a had it
n a ,
”
, n ,
unless it b e directed to s me use ful end is but w nton o , a a ,
frivolous quality ; al l th t one should v lue himsel f upon a a
in this kind is that he had ome honour ble intentio n in it s a .

”
th t he was an author w riti g fo the public wh o expected

a n r ,
p ymen t from the public fo his w ork and that b e pre

a r ,
R l hm
e a f ferred this course to gam b ling for the p tron
o a
e
l
l f f fii é
‘
o
age o f men
‘
in o ffi ce Ha v i g pleasantly S ho w n . n
Pe ° p ‘e the sordid spirit that underlies t he mounte

b nk s sublime professions of disinterestedness we have
a
’
,
a contempt h e s ys fo such p l try b arterers a d h a e

“
,
”
a ,
r a ,
n v
there fore l l lo g in formed t h e pu blic th t w e intend to

a a n a
give them our dvices fo our o w s kes and e l bouring

a r n a ,
ar a
to m ke our lucubr tions come to some price in money fo

a a ,
r
our more convenient support in the service o f the pu b lic .
It is cert in that many other schemes h ve been proposed

a a
to me s friend o ff ered to Sho w me in a tre tise he had

, a a a
w rit w hich he c lle d The whole Art of L i fe ; or The ‘

,
a , ,
Intr d ction to Gre t Men illustrated in a Pack of Card s

o u a ,
.
’
But b eing novice at all manner of play I declin ed t h e

a ,
o ffer .
”
Addison took these cards d pl yed an hon est g m e ,

an a a
w ith them success fully But it w only w hen h vi ng laid . as ,

a
them dow n fo time d bri nging his sound r a an
mind d perfect hum ur to the aid of his an o
friend S teele he came w ith h i m into direct e ,

r
l tion w ith the E nglish people th t he w rote

a , a
those p pers in T tler S pect tor a d a ,

”
a ,
an
“
Guardi n w herein alone his geni s ab ides a ,
”
u
w ith us and w ill a b ide w ith E nglish readers to

,
the end The Tatler The S pectator and The Gu ard

“
.
“
,
”
,
”
ian w ere all of them Steele s p pers begun and ended

”
, ,
’
a ,
b y him at his sole discretion In these t hree journ ls . a
S teele wrote 5 papers ; Addison 3 6 9 Swi ft wrote t wo

10 ,
.
papers and sent bout a do en fr gments Congreve wrote

, a z a .
one article in T he T atler Pope wrote t wice for The

“ “ ”
Spectator and eight times fo r The G u ardian Addison

” ”
.
,
wh o w s in Ire l nd w hen The Tatler first appeared only

“
a a ,
gu essed the authors hip by an expression in an e rly number ; a

'
93
an d it was n ot u ntil eighty numbers had been issued and ,
the ch racter o f the n e w paper w s formed and establ ished

a a ,
that Addison on his return to L o don join ed the friend

,
n ,
wh o w ith his usual complete

, b s ence of the van ity of sel f a
assertion finally ascri b ed to the lly he dearly loved the

,
a
honours of success .
It was the kind of s u ccess S teele h d desired a widely

— a ,
di ffused influence fo good The Tatlers w ere penny

“
r .
pa pers p u blished three times w eek and issued ls fo a ,

a o r
an other h l fpenny w ith abl k h l f sheet for transmissi n a an a -

o
b y post when any w ritten scr ps o f the day s gossip th t

,
a
’
a
friend might send to friend co ld be included It w s u . a
th rough these an d the daily S pect tors which succeeded

,
a
them th t the people of E ngland really learnt to re d

, a a .
The few leaves of sound re son d f ncy were but light a an a a
tax on uncultivated po wers o f ttention E xquisite grace a .
and true kindliness here ssoci ted w ith familiar w ays nd

, a a a
common incidents o f everyd ay li fe gave m any an honest ,
m a fresh sense o f the best h ppiness that lie s in co m mon

n a
duties honestly performed n d fresh energy free as ,

a a ,
Christi nity itsel f from m lice fo so both Steele d

a a : r an
Addison m e nt that it should be in opposing themselves

a ,
to the frivolities and sm ll fra ds on the conscience by which a u
m anliness is under mined .
There was high stri fe of factio n and there was re l , a
per i l to the country b y possible turn of affairs after Queen

,
a
Anne s de th that another S tu rt restoration in the n me

’
a ,
a , a
o f divine right o f kings w ould le ve the rights o f the people

,
a
to be reconquered i n civil w The chie f of either p rty ar . s a
w ere ppealing to the people

a d eng ging all the w i t they ,
an a
could secure to fi ght on their side in the war o f p mphlets a .
S teele s heart was in the momentous issue Both he d

’
. an
Addison h d it in mind w hile they were blending their c lm

a a
playfulness with all the Clamour o f the press The spirit in .
which th ese frie n ds wor k ed young Pope must have felt for ,
a fter Addison h d h elped him in hi s first pproach to fame

a a
b y giving an essay in The Spectator to his E ssay on “ ”
Criticism n d when he w s thank ful fo that service t h e

,
”
a a r ,
verses he contributed to The Spectator were Messiah “ ”
an d “
The Dying Christian to his Soul Such o ff e ri gs . n
cle rly sho wed h ow Pope interpreted the lab o r of the

a u
ess yists
a .
In the fens o f Lincolnshire the antiqu y Maurice John ar
son collected his neighbours of Sp lding Taking care a .

,
”
it is said not to larm the country gentlemen by any pre

“
,
a
m ture mention o f antiquities he endeavoured at first t o

a ,
a llure them into the more flo wery p ths o f literature In a .
1 7 90 f w o f athem w ereeb rought together every post day -
a t the c ff ee house in the A bbey Yard ; and

o -
fter one o f a
the p rty h d read aloud the last pu b lished number of The

a a
‘
T tler they proceeded to t lk over the su bject among

a ,
’
a
themselves .
”
E ven in distant Perthshire “

t h e gentlemen met a fter
church on S und y to discuss the ne ws o f the week the a
Spectators w ere re d s regul rly s the Journ l So a a a a

‘
a .
the politic l dr ught of bitterness came s weetened w ith the

a a
w isdo m o f good hu m our The good humo r o f the essayists-

.
-
u
touched w ith light n d kindly h nd every form f a ff ecta

a a a o
tion d placed everything in the light in w hich it w o ld

,
an u
b e seen b y a natur l and honest man A Sense of the a .
essen t i ls of li fe was ssumed every where in the re der w ho

a a a ,
w s sked only to smile ch ritably

a a t its v nities S te le a a a . e
lo ked through l l Sh ms t the natural heart of the English

o a a o
m an , appe led to that d found it e sily enough even

a ,
an a ,
under the disg ise o f t h e you g gen t lem n cited in the

u n a
77 t h “
T tler so ambitious
a to be thought
,
”
w orse than he
is th t in his degree o f underst anding he sets up fo a
a r
freethinker d t lks theistically in co ffee houses all d y

,
an a a -
a ,
th ugh every morning d evening it can be proved upon

o an ,
him he regu larly at home says his prayers

,
.
9 6 E NGL I SH WR I T E R S .
of heir common allegi an ce t o the highest pri nci ple o f

t
a ction An d it m ay w e l l b e th t Addis n w ith ll his sens e
. a o , a
f prudence neve r h ad more l ively hon ur f S teele s ’

o ,
a o or
m nlin ess th n w hen he replied t the egrets of M r

a a o r .
Hughes w hile civilly decli n ing the pro posal t o j oi n h i m i n

,
a n attempt t revive The Gu rdi an i n som e ther form

o a o .
In the mean time I should be gl d i f you w ou ld set such a
a pr ject on f ot f I know n obody e lse cap ble of su c

o o , or a
c ee d i g in it a d turning it to the good o f m an ki nd si nc e

n ,
n ,
my f iend h l id it down I am in a th usan d trou b les

r as a . o
fo poor Dick and w ish th t his e l fo the publ ic m ay not

r ,
a z a r
be ruinous to himsel f ; but he has sent m e w ord that he is

d termined to go on a d th t y advice I may give hi m
e ,
n a an
in this particul r w ill h ve no weight w ith h i m

a a .
”
As I m here only rapidly sketching main feature o f

a a
th t period of Popular influence in E n gl i sh literatu re which

a
o wes so much of its health to the sound m in d s o f Steele

and Addison I ought not perhaps no w to touc h upon t he
,
g rounds as si g ned by so m e subsequent w rite rs f o t h e m i s r
placed pity of so wholesome and t rue a man as R i c hard

S teele I will be content therefore to name them Pu bl i
. .
ca tion o f his most sa ed a d private n otes has proved t hat

'
cr n
a fter m arriage he rem ined t h e faith ful an d devoted love r a
of his w i fe a d w ith an exquisite gentleness b ore every

,
n
impatient word of hers while yield in g to every caprice that ,
did not clash w ith his ow li b eral s ens e of honour Also n .

,
he was bad p rt y m wh o would sacrifice at any ti m e

a a an ,
his friends or himself to n independent sense of duty a .
Principles are out of the case s aid S wi ft ; we dispute ,
w holly bout persons To which Steele ans w ered T h e

”
a .
,
dispute i s not about persons b ut about thi gs an d causes , n .

”
And so in his steady pursuit o f a b stract right he lost places

, ,
that w ere given him missed places th t he might h ve had, a a ,
an d was i f w orldly success he t h e ai m o f public l i fe an

, ,
u tterly i mp ru d ent p ol i ti ci an F i nally and e s pe c ial ly h e d i d

.
,
97
not become rich Li b r l l w ys o f his ow t thers he

. e a a a n o o ,
w as s ometi m es w i thout guine d sometimes in d bt a a, an e .
Of w hich i t is enough to say th t he de fra u ded o man a n ,
that wh en h e fol lo w ed his Prue t o the grave he w in as no
m an s de b t though he le ft l l his countrymen his debtors

’
, a ,
and that he le ft untouched their mother s fortun e to his t wo ’
s u rv iving children .
The influence of F rench liter ry t s t e on Addison h d a a a
be en overcome b y his ow n n ature and the influence o f

S teele except in as f
, s i t gave a schol rly
P
ar a a
op e
accu racy an d a slight dash o f the L atin manner

.
to his English The French infl ence on Pope was m dified

. u o
al so by his shre wd n ative sense Pope sought reputation . .
As aRoman Catholic he w s excluded from pl ce d a a ,

an ,
rep utation b eing m ore to him than money he re fused ,

a
pen s ion Depending on his wi t to wi n fo him a place

. r
a mong their poet s fro m the E nglish people as f s the ,

ar a
limited education of the public in his day could b ring them

into relation w ith h i m he wrote under popular i nfluence .
Faith ful therefore to good tural s ense he in his o w

, ,
na ,
n
way w rote as an E nglishman fo E ngland and his fame r ,
survives S u bject and treatm ent di ffering there is the same

.
,
war ag inst all that is

a ot w h t it pretends to b e in n a
Dunci d and Tatler

a .
”
Through Tatler and S pect tor the main stream o f

“
a
’
E ngl ish liter ture ran in Queen Anne s reign In the reign ’
a .
o f Georg e I the represent tive books were D l m

. a e v e op e nt
Ro b inson Crusoe an d G u lliver s Travel

“ ”r m“
fi i
’
s .
” ” p
c t on
The re ding pu blic w s nl rged From the C

a a
d
e a .
ru s o e
”
an
little t l s and apologues interspersed by S teele

.
a e G l l i u ve r
an d Addi s on among their ess ys it could p ass to longer a ,
tales i f there were any it could re d but it could n t read a o
P a t h e i s sa
r or the transl ted ro m ances of M d me
n
”
a a a
Sc d é y
u r No nor with l l its appreci tion of mor lity
.
, ,
a a a ,
could it read Dr Nathanael I g el o s Bentivoglio an d

. n
’
H
Urani b ook designed to turn to re sonable account one

a, a a
of
“
the im pertinences of m nkin d v i the Wri t ing and a ,
z .
Reading of Romances by making alleg orical characters ,

”
of b ody soul and the i r f culties and s o reviving the old

, , a ,
stage moralities in the ten thousand times more tedious

form of a long h i gh flo w rom nce o f the school o f the n a
Pr é cieuses A phra Behn had i m proved upon the French

.
model in her o el e t s but they h d not substance of mind

n v ,
a
to conte d w ith the imposing seri usness o f P ol e d e

n o x an r
and the Gr nd Cyrus

“
Books o f this class there fore
a .
”
, ,
were still aliv e to be l ughed at by S teele w hen in The

“
a ,
Tender Hu b nd he introduces the f ir Biddy P i pkin

s a a ,
w ith her mind fed upon s uch meat I don t know

“ ’
Sn . e :
h ow to o w n it b ut t hey h ve c lled me Bridget ,

H a a . e
Bridget ? S i Bridget H Bridget ? S l e Spare my ze : . e : z :
con fusion I beseech you sir ; d i f yo have occas ion to

, ,
an u
mention me let it be by Part h e i s s fo that s the n ame I

,
n a, r
’
h ve assumed ever since I c me to years o f discretion

a a .
Alack a d y little Bridget S ize Al s sir what can b e

- -
a
“
, : a , ,
expected from an innocent virgin th t h as b een i mmured , a
al m ost ne and t wenty years from the conversation of m an

o - -
k i d under the c re o f an U g an d o f an aunt

n ,
H Bless a r a . e:
me m dam ho w you h ve been a b used ! Many l dy

, a ,
a a a
b e fore y our age has h ad hundred l nces b roke in her a a
service nd as m ny d r gons cut to pieces in honour o f

,
a a a
her S l (as i de ) O h the ch rming m ! H (wh o is

. ze : ,
a an e
playing on her we kness ) Do you b elieve th t P m ela was a : a a
o ne n d t wenty be fore she kne w M

- a -
id o u s us r
In Ro binson Crusoe De foe gave the pe ple such a o
story s they could e njoy That tale begins the h istory o f

a .
modern E ngl i sh fiction distinctly as De foe s Revie w , as

’ ”
beg n t h history o f th t E nglish journalism w hich i the

a e a s
f m ili r e p ession o f immedi te r l tions between E n g li s h

a a x r a e a
w riters and t he m ain body o f E ngli s h readers Four years .
e rlier De foe h d p rted from the political ess y an d

a a a a ,
1 00 E NGL I SH f/VR I T E RS .
The great fault o f Pam ela was that with l arge pre t e ns i on , ,
an d especially the affectation o f Superior morality paraded

on the title page and in a fine preliminary flourish Richard
-
, ,
son in fact e hi b ited only a virtue cting from l o w motives

x a
,
under c nditions more s uggestive than even the old romances

o
h d been of immodest thoughts

a .
The true merit of Pamela was that it provoked Fi l d e
ing wh o had t ill then found fo his sense of life and man ne s
,
r r
F i ldi
an impe rfect expression on the stage t o begin as , ,
a c aricature of that virtuous ser vant maid Pamel

e ng .
-
a,
the t le o f the virtuous serving man Joseph Andre ws

a -
,
”
w hich soon gre w under his h nd into something freer and a
nobler tha n a caric tur It appe red as his first novel a e . a

,
pre f ced with the sound d octrine th t wa s his liter ry creed

a a a ,
th t ffectation untruth is the only just mark fo the satiri s t

a a , , r .
Si ye rs later Richardson placed hi m sel f a b ove ridic le by

x a u
his Cl rissa H rlo we ; d then in the year follow ing

“
a a
”
an , ,
1 74 9 Fielding
,
pu b lished his T m Jones assuredly the o ,
best o f E nglish novels d a work perfect as one o f

,
an
S h kespeare s ; as per fect in construction and as pe fect

’
a , r
in its sense o f li fe and char cter a .
It m ay b e a sm ll m tter to find good construction in

a a
a work o f genius i f the uthor has f iled in , a a

J the constructor s very firs t requisite the choice ’
o f good durab le b uilding m terial

a ,
A whipped syll b u b a .
a
m y be as per fect in constructi n as the Parthenon and

a o
,
th re are dou b tless people o f certain taste wh o would

e
pr f r t h e syllab u b A rp nt r b uilding a pigsty may

e e . ca e e
i f our criticism b e confin d t these particulars — b e fo u nd

e o
to construct a work more perfect than St Peter s So there .

’
.
are novels and again novels N critic has over praised the . o
s kil ful construction of the sto y of Tom Jones b ut the

“
r
durability o f the work depends on something even of

mo re m oment than i t s c n truction
s — upon the imperish o ,
h aracter of i t s material and on the s e curity with

c
,
I N T R O D U C T I ON . 10 1
w hich its foundations a e l id deep in the t rue hearts o f r a
men .
Fielding s first novel was provoked b y an ffect tion ;

’
a a
and it was pre f ce d with a distinct expl n tion o f his ow

a a a n
“
idea o f romance In the first p ges of his first novel he
. a
taught th t the only source of the t rue ridiculous is fl e

a a
'
tat ion . His jest w s against insincerity in l l its lighter

a a
f rms ; his po w er was gainst untruth

o In l l his novels a . a ,
and in T o m Jo es most conspicuously a generous n d

“
n
”
,
a
penetrating m ind f m iliar w ith the w ys o f men de lt merci

a a a
fully w ith all honest i fi m i t i e s symp thised w ith hum n n r , a a
goodness and reserved its l ughter or its scorn only fo

,
a r
what w s insincere In Tom J nes w ork wa pl nned

“ ”
a . o ,
a s a
upon the mple scal e to w hich re ders h d b ecome

a a a ac
customed There was room fo a w ide view o f li fe The

. r .
scene w a divided f irly b et ween country d tow n T he

s a an .
story w s b uilt out of the etern l truths of hum n n ture

a a a a ,
an d w asexquisitely polished on its surf ce w ith d lic te a a e a
an d geni l humour that suggested r ther th n pre ched

a a a a
censure on the follies o f society in E ngl nd not unmixed a ,
w ith the directest Christian condemnation g inst crime a a .
The ve ry soul of the book enters into the construction

of Tom Jones The picture o f a g od man coloured by
.
”
o ,
Fielding w ith some o f the warmth o f living friendship is ,
presented t once in S quire Allworthy

a d there is a deep an
seriousness in the manner of presenting him on M y a a
morn ing w alking upon t h e t errace b e fore his mansion w ith

,
a w ide prospect round him planning a generous action

a , ,
w hen in the full b l e of his majesty up rose the sun th n

az ,
a
which one obj ect lone in this lo wer cre tion could be more
a a
glorious d th t Mr All w orthy himsel f presented — a

,
an a .
human being replete with be evolence m edit ting in w h t n ,

a a
m an ner he might render himsel f most acceptable to his

Cre tor b y doing most good to His cre tures
a ,
a .
”
The t wo boys br d by All worthy T m Jone s n d Bl i fi l

e ,
o a ,
I 02 EN GL ISH I VR I T ERS .
ab o u t w ho m the wh l e st ry ev l ves e as t h e t wo p ol es
o o r o , ar
o f F ielding s m i m ic w orl d O e o f them is e ery bo d y

’ ’
. n v s
f i e nd but his ow the other nobo d y s f iend b ut h i o w ’

r n r s n .
O e is po s s es se d o f n tu l goo dn e ss w ith all genero s

n a ra ,
u
i m pul es but wi th insti nct s as w e are once or t w ice disti nct l y

s , ,
reminded wanting the control of prudence and reli g ion

,
.
H e lies open to frequent he y bl me d yet m re f e av a , an o r
qu ent mi s construct ion yet we h ve f ith in him beca use he a a
is true his faults are open his fl e t io s wa m W e know

, , a
'
c n r .
that time and love wi ll m ke a nobl e man o f him T h e a .
other conceals treache y under show o f ighteousnes and r a r s
ju tice H i s fair outside o f religion and mor lity the

s . a ,
readiness with w hich h e gives honest col ouring to all an
a ppea nces are represented w holly w ith out ca ricature

ra ,
.
H is i l l deeds are s ecret his ffections cold and he is b as e , a ,
t o u s by reas on o f his f lsehood L et us in m ature li fe

a .
read the b ook afresh d w hile w e come from the work ,

an
with the l d admiratio n of the sterling E nglish in which it

o
is w ritt n and o f the k een but generous insight into hum n

e ,
a
character that animates every page we pro b ab ly sh ll find ,

a
that we have strengthened gr e tly our sense o f its br ve a a
morality It may surprise critic w ho tastes evil in the

. a
scenes o f incontinence w hich the manners o f his age per

m i t t ed Fielding to include mo g his pictures o f the life a n
about him to b e told th t they w ere not presented as jests

, a
by their author Fielding di ff ers in this as in many things

.
, ,
e sentially from Smollett that in his novels he has never

s ,
u sed an unclean im ge fo its o w sake as provocative ofa r n
mirth in ruder minds In Fielding s page evil is evil In .

’
.
“
Tom Jones Allworthy delivers no mock exhort tions ;
”
a
whenever Jones falls into inc ntinence the purity o f S ophi o a
follo ws next upon t h e scene higher happiness is lost nd ,

a ,
a
h i s t r u e love is removed farther from his reach And at .
l ast t h e youth i s mad e to assent to 8 0phia wh en she e ,

r
er a ly pon h i pl adi g f the gross e f his

v
ygr v e u s e n o
, n s o s
1 04 E N GL ISH I VR I T E RS .
closes an episode in the directest harmony with the i n

vent r s m in design
o
’
a .
It is minor excellence th t this p rt of the work h s

a a a a
been c nt i ved ls to supply t the l rge study o f E nglish

o r a o o a
li fe those ch pters excluded from the main ction o f the

a ,
a
t le by the peculi r educati n and the char cters o f Jones

a a o a
and Bl i fi l which p int the f llies o f youth t the University

,
a o a
an d the li fe f the g mbler o P rtridge once breaks upo n

a . a
the n rr tive f the M o f the Hill w ith characteristic

a a o an a
s tory o f his w in w hich Fielding commands wise eflec

o n, r
tion on t h e unde fended st te f crimin ls tried fo their a o a r
lives We p . ho wever fr m the gre ter to the less in

as s , , o a
touch ing on the e thing alth ugh they S h w h ow intim te

s s, o o a
wa here the rel tion o f the E nglish w riter to the E nglish

s a
people .
The lesser critics in p lite s ciety wh o pplied not their o o ,

a
ow nminds the minds of better thinkers but the mere

,
nor ,
w rds f those b etter thinkers t w isted and crushed

o o
into critic l j rg n t the estimate of w orks

a a a o ,
o
o f intellect still held in degener te w y to the

, a a a
cl ssicism o f P ris They decreed natur l pictures of li fe

a a . a ,
d plain E nglish Fielding w s in their eyes

“
an low ,
. a
“
d se eral times in “T m
Jones the great ”
l ow ,
an v o
novelist t kes in mockery this w ord out o f their mouths

a .
Goldsmith too born twenty one years later th n Fielding

, ,
-
a ,
w e find h rping on the w ord in pl y ful kindly scorn

a But a , .
,
when w e look b ack to Goldsmith at his side w e see the ,
S m el
a u
figure o f that elder f i end but t wo years younger r ,
than F i el d i g the strong tender hearted S muel

— n ,
-
a
Joh nson H ow sound mind he kept w ithin b ody b y

. a a
whose physical i fi m i t i es he should have b een made n r
3 J ohnso n was ten years old in the ye r o f Addi a
md t we nty ye ars old i n the year o f the death

Engl i sh wri t e rs none fought more sturdily
he i n t h e war of in te llectual i d ep e d n n
ence He began literary li fe in London as wh at print er

.
Bo wyer c lled an author f the low er class one o f those

a o ,
wh o are paid b y the sheet could su b sist upon fourpence ”

,
halfpenny a day ate only what he earned C onquering

,
.
the resistance of the adverse world and of his own adverse

bo dily state he fought the h rd uphill fi ght fo himsel f fo
, a r ,
r
othe rs with him n d fo all t h e writers who came after

,
a r
him and made himsel f until his death in 78 4 the w rthy

, ,
1 , o
c e t al figure in the liter ture o f his country

n r His intellect
a .
a lone w ould not hav e given him ung inly man s h e w s ,

a a a ,
this r nk in day when the pro fession of letters was so

a a
little honoured that some such pol gy as the accidental “

a o
elopement of a composition w thought neces s ry t as a o
excuse gentlem an fo coming into print In Johns n s

a r . o
’
d ys we find even the p et Gr y fter his Elegy in

a
“
o a ,
a a
Country Churchyard much h ded ab out Over polite tea

, an
t b les h d fallen into the ha nds f n editor who vo wed

a ,
a o a
t hat he w ould print it w riting f that piece of true liter

, o a
t re t h i friend Walp le I have but one b ad w y le ft

u o s
“
o , a
to escape the honour they would inflict upon me a d there ,

n
fore m obliged to desire you w ould m k e D o d s l ey print it

a a
immedi tely (which m ay b e d one in less th n w eek s time )

a a a
’
from your C opy but without my name ,

prese n tly sug .
g es t i n g also I f he w ould
,
add line or t w o to say it c me a a
into his hands b y accident I should like it b etter W l , .

”
a
pole wrote an advertisement t the e ffect that accident only o
brought the poem b e fore the pu b lic although an p logy , a o
was unnecessary to any b ut the author O which G r y . n a
wrote , I thank you fo your d ertisement which saves my

r a v ,
h o no u n
It was in the honour of Samuel Johnson to be b so a
l t el y free fro m this false pride

u His wi t was rooted in the .
highest sense o f duty d complete sincerity o f t h ght

, an ou
and word There was a true E nglish soul in J hnson s

. o
’
intellect M ilton h imsel f did not more formally dedic te

. a
106 E NGL I SH PVR I T ERS .
his p wers to the service f his great taskmaster th n John

o o a
son who prayed fo a b l ess m g on his work when he t

, r sa
d wn to it hab itual ly but never formally as many w ill pray

o , , ,
f a blessing on their roast meat w ho w ould think it w rong

or ,
b ecause unusu al to ask a grace u pon their w ords It is

,
.
no t the form th t is here d w elt upo n Men may pray with

a .
out ce sing who n ever kneel and never write or whisper

a ,
f rm l w ords of prayer
o a Johnson prayed w ith his he rt . a ,
and w ith the faithful pen through which he spoke h i s he rt a ,
and w s i n all as simply tr e s when he piti fully carried

a u a
home on his b ack the unh ppy prostitute whom he found a
lying exhausted in the streets Johnson s strength w ith his .

’
countrymen lay in th t inner worth to which Sm oll et t a

’
s
frank eyes at once penetrated “

This he says w s a“ ”
.
, , a
v e y gr ve personage who m at som e distance I took fo

r a ,
r
one of the most reser ed and even di sagreeab le figures I v
h d seen but as he ap p oached his appe rance improved

a , r , a ,
an d when I could distinguish hi m thoroughly I perceived

, ,
th t in spite o f the severity of his bro w he h d one

a , ,
a
o f the most good natured countenances that could be -
imagined .
”
That Johnson w hile dr wing closer the relations b e

,
a
t w een E nglish writers and the E glish people g ve by his n ,

a
ex mple n ew li fe to the critical t ste fo sonorous L atin

a a a r
w rds not too much s iled b y ssociations every

“ ”
o l w o o a ,
on e kn w s The number o f syll bles in a word matters

o . a ,
h w ever infinitely less th n i ts ex ct fitness to the me sure

o , a a a
o f the thought it should express ; and b y right o f its con

i e t i ou s precis i on Johnson s style w ill retain much o f its
’
sc n
p wer through all ch nges of fashion

o It w ould be a .
terrible sir s id Bos well at Harwich when he d John

, ,
”
a , ,
an
son w ere waiting fo the bo t to H el veot sl ys th t w s to r a u a a
t ke young Bos w ell to Utrecht it would b e ter i ble i f yo u

a
“
, r
sh uld not find a speedy opportunity of returning to

o
L nd n and b e con fi ned in so dul l a place f l

o o ,
. o zn son .
10 8 E NG L ISH I VR I T ERS .
we reco rd o f t hi s c i ti cal m om e t ; d t o t h e
hav e t h e r n an
to e o f m e la nch ol y w hich had d e ep en ed po E ngli h

n u n s
lite tu re G oe t he part ly as c i b e s the g th e ing o f t h e l u d s

ra r a r c o
t ha t Go lds m ith s n vel h d hel pe d t di pe l

’
o a o s .
T here e m o ra l e po c h s
ar Go e the ai d u nd er w hose ,
s ,
i fluence ea ch in his o w gene ti on th e se ns iti e y ut h

n , n ra ,
v o
f ll s b ut the spi i ts f the Ge man y u t h w he n

a r o r o ,
he himsel f w young w u ld t ha ve t end ed as ,

o no
so decidedly they did to glo omy t h o ught had as
there not bee i ncitement fr m wi t h o t Thi s n o u .
c m e he wrote (in B k 3 f Aus M einem

a ,
“
oo 1 o
“
through the E ngl is h litera tu re espe cially i ts poe t y w h ose ,
r ,
b e t fe tu res e t uched w ith

s a ar ea rnest mela ncholy th t
o an a
becomes trans fe red to all wh stu dy it It w i Go e t h e s

r o .
”
as n
’
hum ur then to f sten on the mel nch ly side f ny e rnest

o a a o o a a
fee ling But it is ls in part true tha t the French influence

. a o
u pon liter ture in the dec y f merely f s hion b le pa t n

ou r a ,
a o a a ro
age and be f re there were yet est blished sound rel tions
, o a a
b et w een w riters and the pe ple h d gi ven to metri ca l utt er o ,

a
ance o f t he religious E nglish mind turn f did cti c gl oom a or a ,
f w hich Y ung s Night Th ughts m y be ta ken as t h e

“ ’
o o o a
ty pe The whole literature o f such people as the E nglis h

. a ,
i f not o f any people must be more less did cti c ; and

,
or a
the degree to w hich the inner earnestness is m k ed by as
manner o f expression indic tes only the w i t d temp er o f a an
the w riter and his time The chie f c use s o f t he gloom . a
cast ver E nglish liter ture d uring the grea ter part o f the
o a
eighteenth century are to be f und how ever in s ocial con o , ,
d i t io o f w hich w e h ave not

ns o w to speak n .
.
In our liter ture follo w ing the Restoration cultivati on

a ,
o f Boileau doctrine o f good sense and gradu l extension

’ ”
s , a
o f the re ding circle a helped g reatly to the development f, o
a prose literature Fi elding in his prose novels exercised

.
, ,
the creative force o f genius w ith the pe fection o f good r
sense Golds m ith who h d a reasoning im g ination wrote

.
, a a ,
I N T R OD U C T I ON . I 09
the grace ful and clear prose o f true poe t At t h same a . e
t ime , iming only at perfect cle rness in expr s ion of

a a e s
historic l and social facts w e have such men

a David ,
as
Hume but three or four years younger th n Fielding nd

, a , a
Ro b ertson seven and Ad m S mith five ye rs older th n

,
a a a
Goldsmith whom b oth long survived The pro mind

, . se ,
dealing w ith simple truth f und also its w y int verse ,

o a o ,
upr oting in many directions the luxuri nt w ild fl wers o f

o a o
fancy and C lipping thought in the trim b orders o f simply

, a
dull didactic garden Whole volumes o f E ngli h p etry

, . s o
then recent could said G ethe b e compress d into a

, o ,
e
c m m entary on this miser b le impression o f the d of

o a en
m an
Th e n Old Ag e a nd E x p e ri e n ce h and i n h an d , ,
Le ad h i m t o Dea t h an d m ak e hi m u nd e rs t an d
, ,
A ft e r a s e a rc h so p ai n fu l a n d s o l o ng ,
Tha t al l hi s l i fe h e h as b ee n i n t he w rong .
All that is cheerful in our literature was ascri b ed b y G oethe

to an earlier epoch and even here he o b serves th t Shake a
spe re gave w y to melancholy in his soliloquies d that

a a ,
an
M ilto n could not rise i n L Al l eg o to a ve y mod r te

,
’
r ,
r e a
degree of cheerfulness until he h d b y a strong eff rt sh ken a o a
o ff an d banished his “ loathed melancholy S o it is ,
thought Goethe that in the l ter time even the cheerful

, ,
a ,
Goldsmith sinks as Gray doe in the Country Church

,
“
s
yard into elegiac sensi b ility w h n he paints Par dise Lost

,
”
e a
in his Deserted Village

“
Goeth f lt strongly thos . e e e
points in our lite ratur t w hich his own mind w s mo t e o a s
se nsitiv ; b ut he was n t the on l y Germ n stud nt f t h

e o a e o e
E nglish m u se The fee b ler developm e nt o f Germ n lit ra

. a e
ture h s t several periods received a strong d u lly

a a an us a
healthy influence from the vigour of the kindred r ce in a
E ngl nd th t thrives under conditions very f vo u r b le to

a a a a
free and e m phatic s p eech T h influence o f French ritical

. e c
tas te had b ee n as strong in Germany as in E ngl nd b ut it a

1 I O E N GL ISH WR I T E R S .
had there ta ke w eak f m P l ite pe rso nages at the

n a or . o
German Courts s ei ed bodily on the French langu ag e a d z ,

n
spo ke it From ab ut the da te o f our Rest tion till the

. o o ra
time w hen Dr J hns had possession o f the E ngl ish . o on
pu b lic the French influence was

, strong lso in Ger so a
many tha t German w iters have ca lled th is peri od the “ r
i l m d
c - a- g e o c But the sa me a ty r nny o
. f st
”
y le w orked in a
e ch Germ anic people to wards simil r results E ngland

a a .
to k the lead The French ta ste w s fo cle rn ess d

o . a r a ,
an a
literalne s s that in one fo m sought even to divest religion o f r
its sacred mystery In Germany} s in E ngl nd the . a a ,
tende n cy wa to huma ise this re lism t the utmost In

s n a o .
G m u this
", direction De foe s Robinson Crusoe e
“
,
’
r
li mi g ? presented so delight ful a u ccess tha t while it

n
"
s , ,
C m w
wa s reprinted and pirated t home I G e many a ,
n r
it was not merely transl ted it h d lso more than forty a , a a
imit tors There w ere t wo Westph li n Ro b insons ; there

a . a a
wa a S xon
s S ilesi n
a Fr nconi n Bohemian Je wish
, a a , a a a , a , a
Ro b inson w ith a E urope n R o b i o e t t ; there w ere

, a ns n a
R ob u ns nd R ob i s he
e a R o b i o e t ta the Mor l Robin n c n, ns n ,
a
s o n the Medic l Ro b inson the Reasoning Robinson an d

,
a , ,
the Invisi b le Ro b inson Such books indeed un d er the .

,
nam e of R obi ns onad es form distinct class in Germ n , a a
literary history .
Direct b ttle w s giv n t the s me time to the French

a a e a a
c ritical chool in G erm ny whereo f t h e chie f l wgiver w s

s a ,
a a
“ im f v
J oh nn Christi
o
n Gottsched — w hose
a w i f tr n a e a s
ié ém
t ii
f
i lateds Fr nch plays and Po p e s R p f thee
’
a e o
i i L ock by rty f w r ters w h rgu d f

a z p o o a a i a e or
éa
o t
-
zas
e
de pth of f l ng truth of t h ught s bove the

‘c r
ee i , o , a a
r tr int f m r form li m R nging themselv b ehind

es a s o e e a s . a es
th e ir lead r J h nn J c b Bodm r o f Zurich these m

e ,
o a a o e , ,
en
rais e d t h nam of M ilton for the ir b ttle y For t h t

e e a -
cr . e en
years b efore 74 Gottsche d at Leip ig a scorner of 1 0 ,

z ,
M ilton dictated la ws of taste to G rma y

,
He did some e n .
I I 2 E N GL I SH I VR I T ERS .
G l sei d on a mind th u s pining F i o n himsel f b c m

ae ze ,
n e a e a
S ign of t h e ew sickness and the ghost of Fingal stalked

n ,
through the mist o f the hills protesting gainst peri wigs a .
—
While Bodm er wh o delighted also in S i r Roger de
’
Coverley and had himsel f written sort of Germ n S pec

,
“
a a
t t r upheld Milton in South Germany there w in

a o
”
-
,
as
N rth Germ any E b ert t Hamburg wh o transl ted t h

o ,
a ,
a e
“
Night Thoughts and O ssi n besides the P mela
“ “
a ,
a
”
and Si r Charles Grandis n of our Richardson w h w s o , o a
de r lso to Rousseau
a a .
The French influence f which we have b een spe king o a
was t that o f France

no a nation b ut of Fr nce s as ,
a a
Th m l
e
expressed
o t
b y the French Court o f L uis X I V o .
ne s t
{
in F
i l The
v o ent
ran c e .
reaction from it wa s universal nd no ,
a
where more lent certa n d rect i ons than n Vi o In i i i
Fr nce itsel f Klopstock in his old age warm fo human

a .
, r
li b erty received in 79 the diploma of citi en from the

,
1 2 z
French National Assem b ly and like compliment w s ,

a a
paid t t he patriotism of Gilles ther wise Schiller These

o , o .
w er e both m to shrink from t h last excesses of the gr at

en e e
French Re volution ; b ut the stir that led to it o f inde ,
pendent hu m an energies shaking themselves s they , a
thought fre e from the cl w s o f despotism was felt like in

,
a ,
a
Germany and France And out o f all its striving to b e true .
came no w the greatness of t he German literature .
Goethe the chie f lthough nearly the youngest f the

, ,
a , o
discipl e s of Bodm e r influenced de ply b y the literature o f

, e
G h
this
oe t
country
e.
becam b y the force o f his rare , e
g nius h i t l f an influ nce I n his arli t n t

e n se e . e es o
a bl w rk Go t von Berliching n in spite o f l l ritic l

e o , e z e ,
”
a c a
dr m tic c nons taking Shakespe re fo his guide b e de lt

a a a a r , a
honestly and freely b ut throughout as a true G erm n w ith

, a ,
a picture o f old Germ n n ti n l li fe H is b ent wa then a a o a . s ,
ho wever fo r the way of E nglish melancholy that enjoyed

, ,
the pinch o f a mi nd fold e d back upon its el f Al ways true t . o

I N T OD U C T I ON
R . I 13
his own e peri ence s of li fe and h i s own m anner of thought

x ,
h e worked out the megrims o f his youth in “

Werther ,
”
an d to the las t struggled boldly and unsuccess fully in his

, ,
w ritings w ith t h e pro b lems of man s inn er li fe

’
.
Goethe s mind was fixed on the li fe of t h e individual

’
Schiller s on that o f t h e State H is Ro bb ers gr ppling

“
’ ”
.
,
a
w ildly w ith the question o f social rights ; his

S h i ll c e r.
R epu b lican trage d y of Fiesco his exaltation ,
in Kab ale und L ie b e of the German citi en w orld ver

,
”
z o
the Court li fe steeped in French frivolity n d ice ; the a v
glow of humanity in Marquis P sa planted f ce to face o , a
with S panish despotism ; the great human struggle in his

“Wallen s tein his choice o f such su bjects fo dram tic r a
h andling as Tell and the M id o f Orleans — al l show a
h ow distinctly S chiller d welt upon the rights o f m as one an
o f a community while Goethe aw him as an indi idual

,
s v ,
and dreamed or reasoned out the pr b lem of his duties and o
his powers .
O f l l the Germans G ethe and those more formal

a ,
o
thinkers wh o attempted to dissect the inner li fe of m had an
m ost influence upon the literature o f E ngland

L i m it mm
.
s 0
T h e great German poet reflected b ack to us 9 m m
3 ,
intensified the light i f it w s light he had e ii giigii

, , a , r
'
p
e 0"
L m mm
c ei v e d from us In sei ing upon his humour u ’
. z
we ca ught as it wer e our o w, ball in the re b ound But

, n .
t h ere w as a transmuting po w er w here it struck it w ent from

us lead and came back to us silver
,
.
E d ward Young was transmuted into William Words w rt h o .
What Klopstoc k and K nt at first hoped from the a
French R evolutionists whose l ter friendship to himsel f

, a
Klopstock repelled with an abhorrent palinode W d h or s w ort
w hat se e med h Op e in them even to A l fi e i C l

dS
id
h y
r ,
o er g e.
ou t
unt l Wi tness of the i r excesses V ct m of the r
an e .
i , , i i i
—
greed he cursed them b itterly stirred also in t h e young
,
hearts o f our own Wordsworth C oleridge n d S outhey , , a .
I
r 14 E N GL ISH I VR I T ERS .
H ow strongly Words worth himsel f felt we read in his ,
Prelude The spirit f m ny a e rnest poet in th t

.
”
o a n a a
time rises in his E xcursion from t h mel ncholy e o l

“ ”
e a r c
lections o f the solitary

The n my sou l
T u rn ed i n w ard t o e x am i n e o f w h at st u ff
,
T i m e s fe t t e rs are co m p o se d an d l i fe w as p u t
’
T o i n qu i s i t i o n l ong a n d p ro fi t l es s
,
.
By p ai n o f h eart now ch eck e d an d n o w i m pe ll ed

, ,
T h e i nt el l ec t u al p ow e r t h ro u g h w o rd s an d t h i ng s
, ,
\Ve n t sou n d i ng o n a d i m and p eri l ou s w ay ,

.
F rom t h at abst ra ct i on I w as ro u s e cl , — an d ho w ?
”
By t h e fall of the Bastile ,

w hen
F ro m t h e w re c k
A g ol d e n p al ace ro se , o r s ee m e d t o ri se ,
T h e a p p o i n t e d seat o f e q u i t a bl e l aw
A n d m i l d p at ern al s w ay T h e p o t en t s h ock .
I fel t : t h e t ran s form at i o n I p e rce i v ed ,

A s m arv ell ou s l y s ei ze d a s i n t ha t m o m e n t
W h en , fro m t h e bl i n d m i s t i s su i ng , I b e h el d
G l o ry — b e yo n d al l g l o ry ev e r s ee n ,
C o nfu s i on i n fi ni t e
h eav en and ea rt h of ,
D azzl i n g t h e s ou l M ean w h il e p ro ph e t i c h arp s

.
,
I n e v e ry g rov e w e re ri ng i ng War s h al l ceas e ,
D i d ye n o t h ear t h at co nq u es t i s a bj u re d ?
B ri ng garl and s b ri ng fo rt h ch o i ces t fl o wers t o d eck
, ,
T he t re e o f Li be rt y M y h eart rebo u n d ed ’
.
M y m el an ch o l y v oi ce t h e c h o ru s j o i ned .
Words worth ent over to P ris d spent a year b e

w a ,
an
tw een Paris O rleans , d Blois Much was said in , an .
E ngland on t h t questi n o f the rights of m an in a com

a o
munity then r ised w ith so much earnestness in Fr nce

,
a a
an d Germ y C leridge an d Southey w ere at the age of

an . o
t wenty three happy in the daydream o f a li fe of patriarchal

-
i nno cence b y t he b ank of t he Su s queha na S outhe y s vers e

’
n .
1 16 E I VGL I SH I VR / T E R S .
and nice b l nce o f n t ith esis Here were b old b rderers

a a a . o
w h never w ore peruke and could h

o e ridden to the field ,
av
w ith G et f the Iron H nd himsel f

o z o a
Th ey q u i t t e d not t h ei r harne ss bri g h t ,
N e i t h e r b y d a y n o r ye t b y n i g h t
,
Th ey l ay d o w n t o res t
W i t h co rs l e t l aced ,
Pi l l o w e d on b u ck l er co l d and h a rd
Th ey carved a t t he m eal
W i t h g l o v es o f s t eel ,
A n d t he y d ra n k th e red w i n e t h rou g h th e h el met barre d .
When these metric l t les lost influence be fore the gro wing
a a
f me f Byr n Scott br ke w ith rhyme and b eg n in 8 4

a o o ,
o ,
a ,
1 1 ,
to pour out his prose rom nces At least one o ften t wo in a .

, ,
in year a d in one year three appe red fo r the nex t

,
an ,
a
seventeen ye rs w ithout i termissio except in the singl e

a n n,
ye r 8 3
a 1 Then the occ si n l historical and other work
0 . a o a
fo which Sc tt found time in ddition t

r o that spent on ,
a o
his romance w riting had fo o ce the w hole year to itself

-
, r n ,
an d he produced only t w o dram s the Letters on De a ,
monology the fourth series of the T les of a Gr nd father

, a a ,
and the second volume o f the History o f Scotland N o .

”
w here in print wa S cott so much a poet s in the earlier o f

s a
his r mances H i bright cheerful f ncy his quick humour

o . s ,
a , ,
his honest warmth of feeling t h t aroused every healthy ,

a
emotion without stirring a passion exercised in these i , ,

n
cessantly recurring novels influence as gradu l s sure ,

an a , a ,
an d s w ell fitted t
a its ti m e s that which had beeno , a
exercised by Steele and Addis n in const ntly recurring o a
numbers of their T tler d Spectator

“ There was a
a
”
an .
”
w ide general public o w able to fasten upon ente rtain in g

n
volumes Scott widened it

. d purified its ta s te By ,
an .
F e i m o e Cooper the best o f his imitators we have t he

n r , ,
f rmer str ins caught up in a recurrence of the re s tle ss

o a
dream o f an esc pe from civilis tion to im gined virtue s o f

a a a
the undrilled savage in his st te o f nature In S cott there a .
is no form w hatever of r m ntic discontent His world o a .
was the same world f geni l symp thies in which indi o a a ,
vidu lly t le st we m y l l live i f w e will and do live i f

a a a ,
a a ,
w e kno w it He enjoyed the real and Sported w ith t h

.
,
e
picturesque As he felt he w rote frankly and r pidly

.
, , a .
His kindly Toryism was a w holesome infl u ence T h e Jacob .
ites so real t De foe mused the public ow as the

,
o ,
a n
m teri al of ple sant dreams ; d the su light f Sc tt s

a a an n o o
’
fancy glistened upon rippling waters w here the stor m had

menaced wreck .
S cott s novels were for seventeen years so many

.
’
as
parts of a great influential f mily period i cal f irly punctual a ,

a
to its half yearly appearance But true jour D l

-
. a
ev e o
na l i s m w as t h en b eing developed into adequ te a

J
e pres sion o f the E nglish mind To Ne wbe y s
x . r
’
Public L edger started in 76 Goldsmith contri b uted

,
”
1 0,
his Citi en o f the World

“
z In 76 3 Wilkes in the ”
1 ,
Nort h Briton honestly printed all the letters in the n mes

,
”
a
o f pers ons co m mented upon and su ffered f his com , or
ments in No 4 5 on the prorogation Speech a fter an

. un
popular peace Of the L etters of J unius in the P blic

.
“
, u
Advertiser t h e first ppeared in April 76 7 the last in

,
”
a ,
1 ,
January 77 and these set an ex m ple o f ve y b old

,
1 2, a r
politic l ne wspaper criticism In tri ls that arose t o f

a . a ou
thes e letters L ord Mansfield sought in vain to d eny to t h e
jury the right o f deciding w h t w s libel nd wh t not b y a a , a a ,
confin ing its function to the questi n o f pu b lic tion This o a .
question wa not settled pr perly until the p ssi g of Mr

s o a n .
Fox s Li b el Bill in 79 In 76 9 the M rning Chronicl

’
1 2 . 1 o e
”
w as first brought out by Willi m Wood f ll w h o was a a ,
especially the ear of E ngland in the H ouse f Commons o .
Victu al led w it h a hard boiled egg he c uld sit t the -

,
o ou
longest de b te and next day write out fo r his paper which

a , ,
i 8 E N GL I SH I VR I
’
T ERS .
he both printed and edited the pith o f l l th t he had , a a
he rd In 77 appeared the Morning Post o f which

a .
“
1 2 ,
”
the edit r in 78 seceded to foundo , ew paper

1 0,the a n ,
“
M rning Herald At this date there w ere n weekly
o .
”
o
papers .
O n the 3 t h o f January 8
7 5 i ppeared a paper in fo ur ,
1 ,
a
p ges The Daily Univers l Register a fter wards pu b

_
a
“ ”
, a ,
l i he d on the
s ,t of January 7 8 8 under rs the e w name of ,
1 ,
n
The Times which as its proprietor nnounced being

,
”
,
a ,
a monosyllable bids de f ance to corruptors d mutilators

,
i an
o f the langu ge Morning Advertiser first p ”

T he a . a
p e d
ar
e in 79 ;
4 d in the year1 f ol l o w ing there w
anere in
London f urteen daily p pers ten pu blished three times a
o a ,
w ee k t wo t wice a w eek
, d t welve w eekly ; w hile the d i s , an
t i b u t i o o f ne w spapers throughout the country had been

r n
i ncreas ed six fold b y the introduction o f mail coaches -

.
In 79 7 Canning d his friends started as wee k ly

1 an ,
a
paper the Anti J cobin which had a brilli nt career o f

“
,
-
a , a
e i ght m nth with Willi m Gi ff rd a fter w rds

o s, ditor of the a o ,
a e
Q uarterly Revie w f man g r Thes e journ ls h d ”

,
or a e . a a
l rnt to speak boldly upon pu blic questions in the face f

ea , o
distinct p eril to their w riters In the fi rst year o f The “

.
Tim es its pr pri tor was sentenced t fi imprisonm nt

,
o e o ne, e ,
and pillory fo speaking his mind out upon the Duke of r
York In th year foll wing he was again pr secuted

. e o o .
The E nglis h j ournalists w ere in fact lik e the p ets bent , , o ,
up n full natur l utterance d upon the breaking do wn o f

o a , an
a l l undue restraints They w ere all more less in e rnest . or a ,
a n d b y their variety o f temper and opinion represented
the s ow though less completely the various interes t s

n, a n , ,
an d humours that contri b ute their tones to the common

voice .
To suc h continual discussion there was added the n ew

element of a representation of the deli b erate thought
o f the most cul t ivated clas s upon l l pu b li c questions a
,
i 20 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
l i v es . W eigh ty
itty though t w i t hout a was te word i
or w ,
n
e xpression o f i t — that is to s a ood literatu re — puts o

y g n
th e m a g eater strai n than they can b ear Trivial th ough t

r .
,
d i flu s e in the utterance — th t is to say b ad lit eratu re — as k s

'
fo r no po wer o f co n centr ted atte ntio n in its read er and a ,
the untaught mind will read it w ithout strain But as in .

,
most cases a course of wholeso m e food is the b est remedy

,
for w eak d igestion appetite then gro wing b y what i t feeds

,
on so there is li ttle more requi red t o give a s tomach for

,
g ood liter ture than steady

a applicati o n to it Add i so n s aid .
that t he hab it o f good reading was like that o f s moki ng .
There is a repugnance to get over b e fore the taste is

'
acquired and great solace d enjoyment to come of the

, an
acquisition Men who fight through thei r qualms to quali fy

.
as smokers might do as much to b ecome readers Ou

, . r
E nglish Writers should gro w in po wer for the utt erance o f

al l good that is in us as the day d raw s n ear when the ,
w hole nation reads ; and they w h o are not ch i ldren read

w ith all their m inds .
T h e E art h
’
t
from d us t t h e g ras s
s ou r ances or :
From h erbs t h e h erd s ; and from t h em bot h t h e man

F i xed ea rt h fe ed s m ovi ng eart h , u nt il i t p as s,
Du s t t o th e d u st , and e nd w h e re i t be ga n .
E arth , g ra ss , c x , m an , be h ol d ou r p ed i gree .
Res t o re d t o eart h , t h e m ed i tat i v e brai n

Tak es h er s h ap e
ot p erc h ance i n bu d or t ree
E art h t h at was p art o f New t on l i v es ag a i n .
Ch i l d ren E art h , w e l ov e t h e p arent soi l

of
B u t w h ence th e t ou ch t ha t b re ed s ano h er l o v e t
I n t h e cl a y
l am p t h ere l i es t h e p reg nan t oi l
Tha t gi ves no l i g h t t i l l k i n d l e d from above .
G od , w h o m ou r fat h ers re v ere n ce d , and we

S eek as b d i ng st reng t h
t h e sou rce of al l a i ,
Thou art Al l T ru t h and Th ou h ast mad e m a n free

,
T o q u es t i on and t o fi nd Al l T ru t h at l e ngt h
, .
By m any p at h s w e t rav el , an d w e s ee k
T o s e rv e Th ee, an d t o t read t h e u p w ard w ay
W hen, i n each t rack , w i t h w i l l i ng s t ep s t h ou gh w e ak ,
We fal t e r, g u i d e u s, t ha t w e m ay n o t s t ra y .
D ear E art h of E ng l and , w h i ch h as cl o t h ed the m i n ds

O f E ng l i s h s earc he rs fo r t h e w ay o f l i fe ,
Lan d t h at w e l ove , t h e h a pp y l an d t h a t bi n d s
U s m an t o m an i n b ro t h e rh o o d o f s t ri fe
F or h and ri g h t an d th e fu l fi l l ed d e si g n
t ru t ,
O f ou r C re at o r and t h ou E n g l i s h Sou l , ,
O ne i n t h e s t re ng t h o f all th e sou l s t h at s h i n e
I n E ng l is h an nal s an d w i t h w i s e co n t rol
S ee k t o b d u e th e w rong m ai n tai n t h e ri gh t
su , ,
B reed t h rou g h all t i m e hi g h s h ap e rs o f m an k i n d ,
T i l l al l be g ood i n t h e C reat o r s si gh t ’
,
A nd G od s fai r E art h b e T e m p l e o f H i s M i nd
’
.
1 24 E N GL I S H WR I T E R S .
thr ugh successive generations to find out the right d do

o an
it to root out the w rong nd l bour ever on ward fo the

, ,
a a r
love f God I f this be really the strong spirit o f her peo

o .
ple to show that it is s is to tell h ow England wo

, d o n , an
h w lone she ca n expect to keep her foremost pl ce among

o a ,
a
the n tions
a .
O nce E urop e was peopled only h re and there by men e
w h b e t at the doors o f nature and upon the heads o f

o a one
another with sharp fli nt What kn owledge they struck out s .
in many years was b ettered by instruction from incoming

tri b es wh o b eginning earlier or learning faster brough t
, ,
higher results of experience out o f som e part o f the region

th t w e now call Asia Generation after generation came
a .
and went and then E urope w s peopled b y tri b es di fferent

, a
in temper some scattered mong pastures w ith their fl ocks

: a
an d herds or gathering fo fight

, d plunder around chie fs r an
u pon w hom they depended others drawing together on the

fields they ploughed ab le to w i d strong to hold the
, n an
good land of the plain in b ttle under chie fs whose strength ,

a
depended upon them But none can distinguish surely the .
f re f thers o f these most remote fore fathers o f the Celt and

o a
Teuton in whose unlike tempers lay some of the elements

,
from w hich when generations ,fter generations more had a
passed away a Shakespeare w s to come , a .
There was a time w hen w riters w ere content to mis

apply to scientific use the spiritual teaching o f the book o f
E h l
t no o
Genesis T h e nations o f the world traced b ack
.
,
32 5313
h to tNoah
e s Ark w ere classed according to the
’
, ,
names o f No h s three sons Japheth She m and a

’
, , ,
H m the father o f C an n into I ap et i (first so called in

a aa ,
c
comp rative l y recent time b y Rask ) Se m itic (first so c lled

a ,
a
by E ichhorn) and Hamite (or C h am i t i c) families The

,
.
descend nts o f Japheth w ere said to have peopled E urope

a ,
a g e t part of Asia and perh ps Ameri ca b y way o f

r a ,
a ,
Behring s Straits To the Semitic languages b elonged

’
.
THE F OR M I N G OF T HE P E OP L E . I 2
5
Hebrew Ph oenician Syri c d Ar bic w hich still ret in

, , a , an a ,
a
that common name but the Hamite w ere the l n gu ges o f a a
the A frican tri b es Confident in this theory the w hite e

.
,
n
sl ver f the negr someti m es fitted i t c m forta b ly f him

a o o o or
sel f to the te t G d sh ll enlarge J phet h a d he shall

“
x ,
o a a ,
n
d well in the tents f S hem ; and Canaan sh ll be h i s o a
se vant
r .
”
Ou r ow place mong the posterity o f J phet h was once

n a a
defi ned also by accept nce o f a few convenient traditions a .
Gomer we read w s the son of J p h eth Ashken the son

, ,
a a ,
az
o f Gomer and A shkena as V e t eg has it

,
z, rs an ,
Accord i ng t o t h e Op i ni o n of su n d ry v er y l ea rn e d and j u d i ci a l
au t hors , w as t h e fa t e r h of T u i s co , h and co n
or T u i sco n , t h e fa t e r
d u ct or of th e G erma ns wh o aft er hi s n am e e v e n u n t o t hi s d ay d o i n
, , , ,
t h ei r ow n t ong u e cal l t h e m s e l v es T u yt s h a n d t h e i r co u n t ry o f G e rm an y , ,
T u yt s h l an d and t h e N e t h e rl a nd s u si n t h e D fo r the T d o m ak e i t
g , ,
D u y t sh a n d D u y t s h l a n d S o m e au t h o rs as nam el y S e bas t i a n M u n
.
, , ,
s t e r d o rep ort t h a t T u i sc o w as t h e s o n o f N oah

, by hi s w i fe Araza o r , ,
Arezi a (o f o t h e rs cal l ed T yt h ea) b o rn aft er t h e F l o o d ; an d t h a t , ,
c o m i n g w i t h h i s p e o p l e o u t o f As i a i n t o E u ro p e b e e x t e n d ed h i s ,
d om i ni on fro m t h e ri v er T an ai s e v en u n t o t h e R h i n e O t h er G erma n .
au t h ors are o f o p i n i on t h a t h e l as t l y m ad e hi s res i d e n ce an d abod e o n
t h e s i d e o f t h e ri v e r R h i n e a t a p l ace w h i c h u n t o t h i s d ay re t a i n e t h t h e
,
n a m e o f D u y t s h s i t u a t e d ri g h t o v er ag a i n s t t h e c i t y o f C u l l i n
, [I ) e u t z ,
O p pos i t e C o l og n e ] B u t n o w w h e t h e r T u i s c o w e re t h e s o n o f N oah
.
, ,
o r t h e s o n o f A s hk en az w h o w as g rand ch i l d u n t o J a h e t h al t h o u g h
, p ,
s o m e d o m ov e qu es t i o n y e t s u re l y w i,t h m o re l i k e l i h o o d o f t ru t h w e
m ay fol l o w t h e o pi n i o n o f s u ch a s afli rm h i m t o h a v e be en t h e g rea t

g ra n d ch i l d o f J a p h e t h a n d t h e ra, t h e r i n r eg a rd o f t h e m i g h t y an d
p o p u l ou s o ffs ri n
p g fo r e t ol d i n H o l y W ri t t o ro c e d f m J a h e t h
p e r o p ,
w h i c h i s v e ry ag ree ab l e u n t o t h e m os t p op u l o u s G erm an na t i o n a c ,
c o u n t i ng a l l m e m bers t h ere o f
”
.
to the nation b eing c lled by the f reigner Germ an

As a o
or Alman Gar s ys V e s t eg or Ger h in German the

, ,
a r an , , as
same sense as AI ; both German and Alman then is as

“
Anti qu i t i es , ed . 16 2 8 ,
’
Vers t ega n s p 9 . .
much s to y All or w hol ly M

a sa The Germ ns o f
,
a an . a
di fferent pr vinces b re di ff rent names

o d some w ere o e , an
S x ns thus c lled s me s id from m

a o , m bec use o f their
a ,
o a ,
xu ,
a
h rd d st ny ture O thers s id they w ere n med from

a an o na . a a
one o f the three princes S xo Bruno d Friso wh o c me , a , , an , a
fro m Indi w ith tro ps o f men to se ve Alexander the Gre t

a o r a
these settling fterw rds in Germ ny f unded Saxony a a a o ,
Bruns w ick d Friesl nd Others s id they w ere S —sons

,
an a . a ac ,
s ns o f the Asi tic S c

o But V e t eg n w sure th t th ey
a a ae . rs a as a
w ere Germ ns wh received their name fr m their use o f

a o o a
w e pon peculi r to themselves c lled the

a a sh ped like , a s ea x ,
a
a scythe just s the Scyths e n med f their good sh ot

,
a ar a or o
ing from the verb y t t hoot What more wa w nted ? sc a zz o s . s a
There were indeed pe ple even in V e st ega time wh o

, ,
o r n s
’
,
no t c ntent to have the S xons come

o German into a as s
Brit i n will needs bri ng them fro m else where to come

“
a ,
int Germ ny but f such requirement the good anti

o a o
q u ar
y s id “
This seemeth
a to proceed o f a cert in kind o f a
delight th t some people t ke in deriving d fetching

a a an
things very f off though most commonly upon ve ry little

ar ,
gr un d or show o f cert inty

o a .
”
We are in our d y nevertheless confident o f success i n a , ,
h ving by comp rison o f l ngu ges brought our ncestors

a a a a a
“u d n
theo
Germans s w ell s the Celts out o f Asia a a ,
2 d m de a w ide spre ding family tre e o f w h t

£ 253 a
rn an a -
a a
y
E r smus R sk grouped s the I ap e t ic but we
a a a ,
n o w call the Indo E urope n l ngu ges John Beca n eve n

-
a a a .
,
in the sixteenth century h d pointed out m any resem b l nces , a a
bet ween Germ n d Indi n words ; but the track o f ea an a r
se rch upon w hich students o f langu ge h ve been active

a a a
during the present century d tes only from b ut a hundred a a o
ye rs go In 78 4 Si Willi m Jones delivered his in u

a a . 1 r a a
gural disc urse s first President of the Asi tic Soc i ety o f
o a a
Beng l n d pointed out that there w s i n Sanskrit t he

a ,
a a ,
s acred lan gu e ndi im ense i e o f in for ma

“
g of I a m a m n a, n
ste d o f sitting on it he returned to he ven Alth ough the

a a .
incidents e wild even transl tion show s that there is much

ar , a
natural poetry in their expressi n and as much m y be s id o ,

a a
f the other Sanskrit epic This is the Mah bh arata by ”

o . a ,
interpretation the Gre t Battle p etical n rration f a wa a , o a O r
b et w een the Pa d and C f the right to rule i n

n us u ru s or
H s ti p
a Krishna
na inc rn tion of Vishnu figh ting
u ra .
, an a a ,
on the side o f the P d is the her o f the poem The an u s, o .
epic f the Gre t B ttl e c nt ins h undred thousand verses

o a a o a a ,
but there e incorpor ted in it epis des w ritten at differen t

ar a o ,
times by di ff erent uthors th t e i n fact separ te p ems a ,

a ar a o
the Bh g v t Git f ex mple which is but e pos i

a a a a,
”
or a ,
an x
tion of the l gy O ther notable works have b een written in

o o .
S nsk rit since the S nskrit ceased to be a living l anguage

a a .
S uch are the a book o f f bles which includes ”

H i t Op d e s a a, a ,
nearly l l that are in the ancient collection o f Bidpai and

a
h l a do en d r m s t h ree by K i li d
— ”
af z a S k O t l a t he
a asa, a n a
m st f mous o f th em ; three by Bh b ab h u t i wh o lived in

o a a ,
t h e eighth century .
To Si Willi m Jones S nskrit ppear ed as mine yield

r a ,
a a a
ing only the purest virgin gold The Sanskrit language he .

,
said was more per fect th n the Greek more copious tha n
, a ,
the L tin and more exquisitely refined than either T h e

a ,
”
mine once struck upon w s worked with energy In 78 4

, , a . 1
an Asi tic Society w s founded In 78 5 Dr Charles

a a . 1 .
Wilkins translated the Bh g v t Gita to w hich he d d e d a a a ,

”
a
in 78 7 th e H i t p d esa
1 d this w s follo wed t wo ye ars
o a ,
”
an a
l ter by Si William Jones s tr nsl tion o f the S k6 tal a

a r
’
a a a n .
”
S i W illiam himsel f did not reg rd Sanskrit as the p re n t

r a a
langu age of w idely dispersed f mily Believing that Ir n

a -
a . a
or Persi w as the country from which all n ti ns firs t

a a o
migr ted he supposed th t the language of the first Persian

a
“
, a
empire w s the m other of the S nskrit d consequently o f

a a ,
an
the Zend and Parsee s w ell as o f Greek Latin d ,

a , , an
“
As i a t i c R esearch es
”
VO L 6 6
"fl
PP 4 ’ ‘
5 "
T HE F OR M I N G OF THE P E OP L E . r2
9
Si r William
Jones l oked rather to the Persi n than to o a
t h e S nskrit as
a great parent language but the enthusiasm
a
f or the study o f S nsk rit spre d m ng schol rs nd in 8 8

a a a o a , a 1 0
w hen Frederick S chlegel published his work on the L n a
guage n d Wisdom o f the Ind i ns he w s c nsidered to

a a , a o
h ave discovered a e w intellectu l w orld in givi g t h nm a n e co
mon n me of Indo Germanic since ltered to Indo E uro

a — -
a -
pean to the l nguages o f India Persia Greece R me

— a , , , o ,
Germ y that he d cl red to be in br therh od In 8 6

an , e a o o . 1 1
Francis Bopp published his Conjug tions System com

“
a ,
”
paring the gramm r o f S nskrit w ith the gr mm rs o f Greek

a a a a
an d L ti Persi n d Germ n and in 8 3 3 ppe red the

a n, a an a 1 a a
first volume o f Bopp s Comp r tive Gr mm o f S nskrit ’

a a a ar a ,
Zend Greek L tin Lithu nian Sl von i c Gothic and

, , a ,
a , a , ,
G erm n The E tymologic l Rese rches f Pr fessor

”
a . a a o o
Pott w hich ppe red in 8 3 3 n d 8 3 6 contributed ls

, a a 1 a 1 , a o
very greatly to w rds the est blishment of a right system o f

a a
study .
The term Ary n ( y obl e ) is derived from Ary a Or a, n an a,
the supposed p rent country of the pe ple wh o sp ke a o o
S nskrit
a d the n me is considered to be derived from the
, an a
w ord to plough or till sh w ing th t n tion to h ve b n

O r, ,
o a a a ee
a gricultural T w o branches of A y ns e thought to h ve

. r a ar a
migr ted in some f distant prehistoric time one to the

a ,
— ar ,
south east to civilise

-
d even in
, gre t me sure to , an a a a
people Hindost n the ther north west to perform the

, a o ,
-
,
s me services fo E uro pe d Western Asi O f the hist ry

a r an a . o
o f these migr tions S nsk rit itsel f tells us nothing ; the very
a a
name Sanskrit whi ch me ns dorned completed perfect , a a , , ,

’
is a l ater cre tion o f gr mm rians There is no m enti n

a a a . o
o f any parent count y in the S nskrit bo ks The n mes o f

r a o . a
heroes gods d pl ces e those of Hindost n d more

, , an a ar a , an
especially o f its north w estern p rt -

a .
T he E nglish people in t h e vie w w e have been d i scuss ,
ing belongs to the T t ic bra n ch

,
f the Gothic eu on o
r
3 2 E NGL I S H WR I T E R S .
t he i i nct io n b et wee t he ed di s h hai and l arg e l i m bs o f

d st n r r
t h e Ca l edonia n s an d t h e d a k co m p l e xi o n o f t h e c rly hai e d

, r u -
r
S i l u ri an s Langu ag e is ot a e t est o f rac e t h e langu ag e

. n sur
o f one tri be m a y b e t ak e n b y a oth e r Cel ti c d Teu ton i c n . an
l an gu ag es a e m e m b e rs o f t he sam e g rea t A yan fam il y b t

r r ,
u
t e re s e i de ce t o s ho
h i n v w th t
a a non A y l angu ag t he
an e— -
r
E u s k ri an a ow s po k e n on l y b y t h e Bas q u es
, n w as t on e a
tim e spok en over l a rge e te n t of t h e rea occ p ied by t h e

a x a u
M e la noc hroi in E u ro pe T h e a ea o f t h e l an gu ag e h s . r a
d i m ini sh ed w ith o t a c or e s po n di n g e xt irp ti o n o f t h e pe ople

u r a
wh o s po ke it ; so t ha t the p eo ple o f S pa i n m ust b e i n t h e

pres ent day la rgely E uska ri n Co n is h men are Celtic a , as r .
But i f there w ere E u s ka ria ns in Bri ta in t t h e ti me of the a
R om n conquest t h ey h d a cce pt ed
a ,
s bo th the dark a d a , a n
t he f ir popu l atio n h d ccepted Celtic s pe ec h

a a A ccording
a ,
.
to t his b iologi c l view t h e n me o f Celt i c is not properl y

a , a
applied t t h e Mel nochr ic or dark s tocks of E urope

o a o .
T h ey are merely so to s pe k secondary Cel ts , The p ima y a ,

. r r
and ab rigin l Celtic spe king people e nthochroi the

o a X - — a ar a
typic l Gauls of the ncient w riters and t h e clos e allies by

a a ,
b l od customs d l ngu age o f the Germans

o , ,
an a .
”
Antiquaries agree o w in ccept ing the doctrine of three n a
p riods o f civilisation a Stone

e — Bron e and an Iron , a z ,
S t o ne ,
period first deduced b y Pro
,
fessor Wo s e o f r aa
{ 121153 531
0 Copenh gen from an ex a mination o f t h e D nish
a ,
a
barro w s From the remains in D ish bogs it

. an ,
a ppears that the ch g es o f clim te have produced three an a
great epochs i n the veget ti n f Denm rk There was a o o a .
f rs t a remote epoch w he
i the spruce fir n ow no l nger a
,
n , o
D nish tree predomin ted Upon this follo wed a epoch

a ,
a . n
o f the o k w hich is
a ,
o w rare A fter the oaks came the
n .
present period of b eeches The D nish co st is b re but . a a a ,
there e great beech forests in the interio r Si Charles

ar . r
L yell cal l e d a t t en t i on also to the evidences o f the three

period s o f ancient h uman civilisation found in the old
THE F P E OP L
‘
OR M I N G OF T HE E .
3
b urial places by Pro fessor Wo saae and others and ot r ,

n
found i n b urial places only .
The earliest o f these periods f civilisation is that in o
w hich men h d not advanced beyond the dev i ce o f t ols

a o
an d w e pons made by chippi g flint

a d other hard stones n an
i to ax es hammers spe r he ds In the second period a

n , , a -
a .
met l easily recognised and fused copper hardened w ith a

a , ,
tenth part of tin into b ron e w the materi l chosen In z ,

as a .
the third period civilis tio h d dv nced to the use of iron a n a a a ,
w hich is i n its ores less eas i ly disting ishable from stone u ,
and although more use ul less easy o f extr ction

, f — , a an
O pinion which h s been Opposed b y Dr aPercy *

Anti . .
q u a i ers commonl y consider that amon g o urselves the

Teutons at their first coming used iron b ut th t the Celts , a -
,
w h o preceded them used only bron e w eapons and to ls , z o .
O the first comi g o f the Celts into E urope s ys theory

n n ,
a
founded on ancient traditions nd research among the a
tomb s they found coasts and the patches of tolera b ly

, ,
clear land into which men with only fire and flint to aid
the m co u ld have penetrated thinly peopled w ith the r ce ,
a
or r ce s ow know n as the Stone pe ple O f the l

a
“ n o .
”
an
guage o f this apparently primev l popul tion the B sques a a , a
and the Lap or Finlanders are thought b y m ny to be a a
remainder although it is notice ble th t the Basques e

, a a ar a
freedo m loving active thriving r ce not at l l like the rem

-
, ,
a ,
a
nant o f a savage people in dec y O f th se m st nci nt a . o o a e
occup nts there w s proba b ly as Pro fess r Huxley argues

a a , o ,
a dis ppear nce o f th e lang ge b ut not f the r ce Be

a a ua o a .
that as it may man in his earliest state seems every where to

,
h ve been ignorant o f the u s e of metals ; hunting fishing

a , ,
fighting labouring by help o f instruments chipped and

, ,
ru bb ed out of stone or bone .
F or Sir Ch arl es Ly e l l ’
s v i e w s , s ee his G e o l o g i cal E v i d e nce s of
t h e An t i qu i t y o f Ma n .
i 34 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
early ma y h ve b een th t ea rl ie t state U de

H ow a a s n r
neath fallen fi r tree of t he prehis toric Dani sh fi epoc h

a -
r ,
Th S m
e u
d eep u n der g ro wt h o f p ea t tah t see m s t o b e a t a
leas t t he accu m ula tion of four thou san d years a ,
fl int instrument f s h ion ed b y m an s ha d s has b e e n fo u n d

’
a n .
Si r Ch rles L yell ca lls attention lso t o t h e she ll m o un ds or

a a -
kitchen midd ens on all but the weste n c oas ts o f t h e

-
r
D n i sh Islands mas ses of shells o f eatable fish m ixed wi th

a —
picked b ones th t when ma ro w bones have all bee bro ke n
a ,
r -
, n
for their ma ro w S ch he ps are still made on t h e s e

r . u a a
sh ore n ear their settlements b y s avage tribes o f America and

Au s tr lia These a cient h eaps u pon the D n i sh shore are
a . n a
someti mes feet long and nearly feet w id e 2 00 .
“
S cattered all through them are flint knives h tchets n d , a ,
a
other instruments o f stone horn w ood an d bone w ith , , , ,
fragments o f coarse potte ry mixed w ith ch rcoal and cinders,

a ,
b ut never any i m plements o f b ron e still less o f iron And z , .

”
it is ch r cteristic of th em that the shells although of l iving

a a ,
S pecies are not , s they are ow to b e found in t he b rackish

a n
inl nd waters o f the Baltic The oyster shells in such he ps

a .
-
a
were thro w n there w hen the oyster attained its full s i e z
w here it is o w una b le to l ve
n i — when there fore the oce n , , a
h ad freer access and Jutland perhaps w a s a archi pel go

, , ,
n a .
Cockle mussel and peri winkle shells a e also in these

, ,
r ,
h eaps o f their full

, tural si e s th ey w ere dra wn very long
na z ,
a
since from water in which a third of th t si e is o w th e a z n
lim t o f their stunted growth A fe w skulls scri bed t o

i .
,
a
’
men of thi s S tone ag e fou d in the pe t bogs rese m ble

,
n a ,
those o f the L aplanders .
To the s me period b elong anci ent S wiss L ake d well

a -
ings b u ilt pon piles n d Irish cran n oges Like t h e

u ,
a .
P eo n ia ns o f w hom Herodotus tells and l ike existing sav ges

o ,
a
in Ne w Guinea and else wh ere men o f the St ne period ,

o
sometimes l i ved together fo sel f de fence huts built upon r in
w od n plat forms r is e d s isla ds

o e a l ke connected with
a n in a a ,
i 3 6 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
dressed in skins sewn together merely w ith strips o f ski n , ,
pieces of hide serv ing fo shoes Their trinkets as w e find r .

,
them st ill w ere knobs of bone and amber b eads sometimes

, ,
formed int o chains .
These people did t burn th e bodies o f their dead no .
Burial was in w hat are o w c lled cromlechs (hunch n a
C ml h
ro ec
and it h s been w ell suggested b y Mr Thoms
s.
a .
th t the w ord cromlech should be confined to a
the buri l pl ce f the S tone period A complete cromlech

a -
a o .
is then slig htly elevated mound of e r th surrounded at

, , a a ,
its b se by number of upright stones and h ving a

a a ,
a
ch mber or sev eral ch mbers formed of large stones on its

a a
s mmit S uch buri l pl ces bound on t h e eastern co sts

u . a -
a a a
o f J tl nd u S lesviga d Holstein ; on t h e north and w est

, ,
an
co st of Icel nd and on the co sts o f F i hn e They are

a a a
’
i n .
r re on the west co st of Denm rk

a d still more rare in a a ,
an
the interior But w e must not accept the Danish anti .
q u ar
y s i n ference’
o f the e stern origin o f the S tone people a
fro m the r rity of their rem ins on the west coast o f Den
a a
m rk w ithout remem b ering th t the geologists ccount for

a ,
a a
this by gre t encro chment of th e sea upon those western

a a
shores since men w ere buried i the cromlechs S ingle n .
mounds v ry in length from sixty feet or less to a hundred

a
and t wenty feet or more one is four hundred feet long ;

—
their usu al breadth is from sixteen to t wenty four feet b ut the -

,
breadth o f the longest is even thirty f rty feet S ome or o .
t imes there is a do b le enclosure of the base with stones u ,
Cr obm -l er/z (as i t w as fo rm erl y w ri t t e n ) s ig n i fi es a c ro o k ed , fla t

s t o ne. H ad i t be e n cr obn -l ecl z (w h i c h i n p ro nu n c i a t i o n
d i ffers l i t t l e o r
no t h i n f ro m ( Obl l l i t w ou l d h a v e s i g n i fi e d a ro u n d
I fl a t s to ne
g
‘
, ,
an d b e en s y no n y m o u s w i t h q u ozt t h e n a m e by w h i c h t h es e e rec t i on s
’
a re h e re a n d i n s o m e p a rt s o f Wa l e s m o s t c o m m o n l y k n o w n
”
,
T he , .
La n d s E nd D i s t i c t : i t s A n t i q u i t i es &c
’
-
r By Ri ch a rd E d m o n d s , .
”
.
Lo n d o n 18 6 2 Cr ab i n W el s h i s acco rd i ng t o R i ch a rd s s \Ve l s h
,
.
, , ,
’
D i c t i o na ry a ro u n d h e a p o r h u n c h
,
[l ac/z any b roa d fl a t s t on e , ,
’
a
g ra v e s t on e , s l a t e , a l i ak e s t o n e .
T HE F OR M I N G OF T HE P E OP L E . I 37
b rough t evi d en tly from a distance O the top o f t he . n
m ounds and sunk in them w ere pl ced the burial ch mbers a a .
Each o f the s e is six or eight feet high and formed o f sever l ,

a
stones rough outside and fl t inside placed close together

,
a , ,
in a circle of from five to seven feet in diameter or in an
oval of from t welve to sixteen feet long the chinks b eing ,
filled up with small stones A great capstone o ften eight .

,
or ten feet wide smooth and fl t on the under side d

, a an
rough above is its roo f The floor of such a tomb is p ved

,
. a
p rtly w ith flat stones d partly w ith small fli nt s th t seem

a an a
t o h ve b een strongly he ted

a E nclosed roo fed approaches
a .
are rare and lead only to the largest cromlechs Gener lly
,
. a
there is an opening bet ween t w o supporting stones its pl ce ,

a
indic ted by t wo flat ston es or a ow of smaller stones along

a r
t h e hillside O riginally covered w ith earth except at t h e

.
t o p many of these cromlech to mbs n ow stand fully exposed

,
-
.
T h e skeletons foun d in the m sho w that a fter a corpse h d ,

a
been deposited the to m b was filled with cl y or e rth d

,
a ,
a an
pebb les in which room h d to be scooped fo the next

, a r
person buried Bodies seem to have b een usually pl ced

. a
in a sitti ng posture in the corners The skeleton o f one .
h s b een foun d k neel i ng in the middle because there w a

a ,
s
n o corner le ft fo r it to sit in The same rrangements e . a ar
found in the s m all round cromlechs consisting usu lly f ,

a o
one ch mber ma de w ith ca p upon five stones The

a a .
th eory th t these remain s are Druid or other lt rs or

a a a ,
places of j u stice is as f fro m f ct as the legend th t

, ar a a
a ccounts for their freque cy in the south east o f Irel nd n -

a .
There they a e called gi nts beds nd said to h ve been

r a
’
,
a a
made by D iarmai d O D i b h é w hen he ran a w y w ith’

u n ,
a
G i né the wi fe o f Fionn M C u m h i l and being pursue d

ra n
‘
a , ,
b y F i o n for a year and

n d y never slept t w ice in the a a ,
same bed The simple f ct that the gre t stones are

. a a
—
smooth often smoothed by artifici l splitting ou the inner
— a
si d e b u t rough and unsh ped outside sho ws that they

,
a ,
1
w ere n o m ore des i gn ed fo altars than fo b ed s St I l t u t s r r . .

’
H ermi tag e i n Breckn oc ks hire Arthu r s S t o e i n Glamo rgan ,

’
n
s h ire t h e Cro ml ec hs o f An gl es ey the Q oi t s o f C o rn wal l

, ,
u ,
Wayl an d Sm ith s Cave at As hbu y B e rks ’

d K i t s Cot y r , ,
an
’
H ou s e on Bl u e Bell H il l ear Roch est e are fam i liar ,

n r,
exa m pl es of thes e a ci en t b ria l p la ces n u -

.
The b urial plac es o f the B on e pe ri od e bar ows

-
r z ar r .
T h e have no s tone cha mbe s b u t c o ns i st m ere ly o f ea rt h

v r ,
wi th hea ps o f sm ll sto es The m a k e s o f the e a n . r s

T h B m
e ra
232
4 B .
ba ro ws b u nt their de d
ar r enclosed t h e as h es i
r a n
v ess els of clay within meta l or s m ll s to e c ys ts a n
a b o u t a foo t long pla ced these in the mou n d b t i n o defi ed ,

u n n
part of it ; and covered all with stones and earth A fe w .
o f the s e more recent b arro ws w ere for m ed over cro m l ec h s ,
to save l bour the u rns being bu ied at t h e side Arm s

a ,
r .
and o rn aments o f the dead w ere some t i m es pla ced among

the em bers of his funeral pile ; these w er e t he c overed n
with stones n d the barro w w ith t h e u

, a i n it was pl a ce d rn
over that S ometimes burnt bones not enclosed in an u rn

.
, ,
but s rro u nded w ith sm ll stones are found t the edge o f

u a , a
a f mily b ro w Sometimes a ciner ry

a ar . h as bee n a u rn
c heaply and ca relessl y inte red witho t r ising a barro w r u a
over it .
These Bron e p eople who burnt their de d e s id to

z , a ,
ar a
b e the Celts in th is country the ancient G el d Cym ry

, a an ,
w ith some o f whom there may have co m e over certain a
number o f the more ancient and less civilised people o f the

m i l nd or w h o found E ngland like t he rest o f Europ e
a n a , ,
thinly peopled w ith that e rlier race o f w hich the stones a
they shaped are all the tr ces that remain The men wh o a .
used b ron e or cop per hardened w ith a slight mi ture of

z , x
tin made axe s of the shape still common picks sickles

, , ,
( th a t s uggest corn gro w ing ) celts (from the L a tin

-
l t ir a ,
ce z ,
chisel ) which are chi s el or axe heads hollo wed to receive

,
-
t h ei r woo d en h andle s and sometimes provided w ith an ear ,

in bracelets finger rings d even in some little cups bout

, ,
an a
four inches high a d seven w ide acr ss the mouth w hich n o ,
may possi bly have been a luxuri us form o f ciner ry urn o a
f
or th se whose heirs would not grudge burying their shes
o a
in t heir gold .
The Bron e period was fol l o wed by th t o f men w ho had

z a
le rnt to extr ct iron fr m its stone like ore The pe pl e

a a o -
. o
T h m“
e o f this period d i d t burn their de d Their no a .
P ” d
e ° °
b rrow s o ften o f ex ggerated si e

a e more
,
a z , ar
rare and some o f them cont in w ooded sepulchr l ch m

, a a a
bers The iron s w ords e larger th n the swords o f bron e

. ar a z ,
have gu rded hilts d e not usu lly t wo edged There

a ,
an ar a -
.
is in this period less d e l i v o f ornament l w rk and to ca c a o , ,
gether w ith the use f iron appears fo the first time o ,

r
evidence o f the use o f silver .
These men of the Iron peri d were the a fter coming o -
Teutons But w hence came the Celts fr m w hom we have

.
, o
the tr ces o f n Age o f Bron e d w ho b eg n the peo

a a z ,
an a
pling o f this co ntry w ith o ff shoots of the Ind E uropean

u o -
f mily f Man ?
a o Says one O t o f Cimmeri n darkness ; , u a
s ys nother O t o f Hyper b ore n l i ght

a a , u a .
L et us t ke first theory which is b sed lt gether upon

a a a a o
fabulous tr ditions not bec use it cont ins

a y historic
,
l a a an a
f ct but beca use its tr ditions enter int

a our a o
We re t h e
,
L iter ture d Rome c red fo En e E g ’

E gg
l
gz fpi er r I
a an , as a a s, n
r t
l nd m y c re fo a f ble o f the British maid s
a a a r a
w h o first taught t the ancient Greek s the w rsh i p o f Apollo

o o .
There has been g od Celtic sch l r J hn Willi msa o o a ,

o a ,
Archde con o f C rdig n wh o argued th t this theory

a a a ,
a ,
w hich m de the Celts Hyperbore ns is true

a d f unded a , an o
u pon f ct It sets out with p ss ge quoted by D i od o u

a . a a a r s
S i l s from H eca t aeu the Milesi an o f w hose w orks frag

cu u s ,
ments lone remain H e at ae took p rt in the revolt of the

a . c us a
Ioni ns from D rius about the year 5 B C An inquisitive

a a 00 . .
traveller he knew wh t w k no wn amon g the Ionia s o f

,
a as n ,
T HE F OR M I N G OR T HE P E OP L E . 14 1
w hose n u mber the Phocaea ns had established a commerce

w ith T art e s su s and S outhern S pain A ga t h on i u s a long . r n ,
lived king o f T art essu s was an especial friend o f the ,
Phocae ns What there fore wa know n in S pain might

a .
, ,
s
b ecome kno wn to H e at ae s With this pre f ce Arch c u . a
deacon William s requoted from H ecat aeu s this re m arka ble

pas sage as given by D i od oru s the Sicilian
,
N ow , a ft e r d e scri bi ng
t h e p a rt s o f As i a l i ng n o rt w ar , w e t i n y h d h k
i t n o t i n ap p rop ri a t e t o n a rra t e t h e m t o l og i cal s t ori e s con cern i ng t h eyh
H ype rborea ns . H ecat ae u s , h e r a u t h o rs o f anci en t m y t ho
an d s o m e o t
l og y say t ha t i n
, t h e reg i o ns o v er ag a i n s t C e l t i ca t h e re i s i n t h e o ce a n ,
’
'
a n i s l and , n o t s m al l e r t h an S i c i l y ; t h a t t h i s i s l an d i s s i t u a t e d b el o w
t h e c o n s t e l l at i o n o f t h e Bea rs a n d t h a t i t i s i nh abi t e d by m en ca l l ed
,
H yp e rbo reans becau se t h ey a re p l aced beyon d t h e bl as t o f Bo reas

, .
Th ey ad d t h at t h e l and be i ng fe rt i l e and p ro d u c i ng e v e ry th i ng a cces

, ,
sary an d e nj oy i n
, g a fi n e t e m p e ra t u r e b ear s t w
, o c ro s i n t h e y ea r
p .
No w t h ey m y t h ol og i cal l y s t a t e t h a t Lat o n a w as bo rn t h e re an d t h a t
, , ,
o n t h a t acc ou n t A oll o i s h ono u re d b y t h e m abo v e a l l o t h e r o d s t h t

p
, g a
a m o ng t h e m t h e re are s o m e m en ri e s t s as i t w e re o f A p o l l o a n d t h a t
p , , ,
c on s e q u en t l y h e i s d a i l y an d co n t i n u o u s l y hy m ne d b y t h e m w i t h l y ri c
,
s o n g s and e x ce e d i n l y h o n ou re d t h a t t h e re i s a l s o i n t h e i s l a n d b o t h
, g
a c o n sec rat e d re c i n t f t m i fi c e n ce an d a t e m p l e o f co rre
p c o g re a a g n ,
s po n d i n
g b ea u t y a d o
, rn e d w i t h n u m e r o u s d e d i c a t e d g i ft s a n d i n s h a e
p ,
s ph e ri ca l ; t h a t t h e re i s a l s o a c i t y s acre d t o t h e o d a n d t ha t t h e
g ,
m aj o r i t y o f i t s i n h abi t an t s a re h arp e rs a n d t h at t h es e co n t i n u o u s l y
, ,
h arp i ng i n t h e t em p l e s i ng l y ri cal l y hy m ns t o t h e g od an d g reat l y

, , , ,
m ag n i fy h i s d e ed s Th ey al so s t at e t h at t he H yp e rb o re a ns h a v e a
.
pecu l i ar d i al ect an d are v e ry k i n d l y d i s po se d t o t h e H e l l e n e s a n d

, ,
e s pe c i a l l y t o t h e A t h e n i an s an d D e l i a n s a n d t h at t h e y h a v e i n h e ri t e d
,
t h i s fri e nd l y fe e l i ng fro m anci e n t t i m e s Th ey a l so say t hat s o m e o f

.
t h e H e l l e n es h a v e pas se d o v er t o t h e Hy pe rbo reans an d h a v e l e ft t h ere ,
p r ec i o u s d e d i c a t e d g i ft s b e a ri n g H , e l l e n i c i n sc r i p t i o n s ; t h a t i n t h e
sa m e m a n ner A ba ri s i n a fo rm er ag e h ad p as se d i n t o H e l l as a n d
, , ,
re n e w e d w i t h t h e D e li an s t h e b o n d o f fri e n d s h i a n d c o ns ang u i n i t y
p .
Th ey a l so say t h at th e m o on fro m t h i s i s l and ap pea rs t o b e n o t far

d i s tant fro m t h e eart h a nd c l ea rl y sh o w s ce rtai n e art h l y em i nence s
, .
I t i s a l so sa i d t h a t e v e ry n i n et e en t h y ear t h e g od d es cend s i n t o t h i s
i s l an d . Now e ve ry n i n e t een t h y e ar ce rt ai n ret u rn s o f t h e s t a rs t o fi xed
,
p o s i t i on s t ak e p l a c e a n d o,n t h i s acc ou n t a p e ri od o f n i ne t e e n y ears i s

ca ll e d by the H e l l e n es th e g rea t year ; t h at w h e n t h e g od m ak es h is

p e r i o d i cal a
pp e ara nce h e b o t h p l a ys t,h e h a r p a n d d an c e s d u ri n g t h e
n i g h t fro m t h e v e rn a l e q u i nox t o t h e ri s i n f t h P l i d t k i e a t
, g o e e a e s a n gg r ,
d e l i gh t i n h i s ow n s u ccessfu l effort s .
”
If th t in formation said the Archdeacon was derived

a , ,
from Phoc ns w h o frequented t h e court of A g t h o i s

aea r an n u ,
it is evident th t these Hyperbore ns w ere the occupants of

a a
Great Britain w hich is so accur tely described in the above

,
a
p ss ge th t one of the earliest editors o f Di od oru s could

a a , a
not re fr in in his index from w riting See whether this

a , ,
c nnot b e applied to Angl i a

a D i od oru s hi m sel f did not .
’
consider th t this passage re ferred to Brit in yet ; w hen he

a a
c mes to describe our isl nd his cc ount coincides it is

o a , a ,
observed curiously in sever l p rticul rs w ith the d es ri p

,
a a a c
tion Of the isl nd occupied by the Hyperbore ns a a
H e re fe w p o i n t s i n w h i ch t h e h i s t o ri a n D i od o ru s ag ree s w i t h
a re a
t h e a n c i e n t M y t h o l o g i s t (bo o k v ) .
“
F or o v er a g ai n s t t h e Paro ce an i c G al at i a t h ere are i n t h e oc ean
m any i s l a n d s , of h h
w ic on e , b e i ng al s o t h e g reat e s t , i s c al l e d Bre t
’
t an i ca .
“
C o m pare the i s l an d of M y t h o l og y, ‘
an i sl a n d o ff th e coas t of
C e l t i ca , i n th e ocean .
’
Ag a i n , t h e i sl an d b e i ng t ri a ng u l ar, s om et h i ng l i k e S i ci l y , h as
i t s s i d es qu al l y l o ng ’
no t e .
“ C o m are t h i s w i t h h e ex re s s i n h i
’
p t p o n o t l e ss t a n S c i l y , .
Ag ai n t h e H y pe rborean i s l an d w as u n d e r t h e B ear
’
, .
C o m pare Bri t an n i a s p os i t i on as i t i s si tu at e d u nd er t he Bears

’
, .
’
A g ai n t h e H y p e rbo rea ns fro m t h e H o m e ri c t i m es d o w n w a rd

, , ,
w e re d es cri be d as u n d i s t u rbe d by w a rs n on e of t h e i r ne i g h bo u rs e v er
m o l e s t ed t h em w i t h t h e s w o rd .
C om pa re w i t h t h i s t he fol l o wi ng p assag e fro m th e h i s to ry T he

i s l an d i n an ci ent t i m es w a s n ev er t rou bl ed by a fo rei g n m i l i t ary p o w e r .
F o r w e h a ve n o t h e a rd t h a t D i on ys u s n o r H e rac l es n o r an y o t h e r h ero ,
o r p ri n ce m ad e w a r a ai n s t i t
’
, g .
Ag a i n t h e H y p e rbo rean s are d escri be d as i n n o cen t p ros perou s

, , ,
p eace ful.
C o m pare th i s d escri p t i on wi t h t h e fo l l o wi ng accou n t o f the i a

h abi t an t s of B re t t an i ca ‘
I t is sai d t h at a bo ri g i nal races i n h a bi t
th t were he on y disputed f ct to pr cure the testimon y

a , an a o
o f one eye w itness it w s s fli i e t to outweigh l l that

-
,
a u c n a
poets might im gine or mythologists enigm ti cally suggest

a a
an d Herod t s did t believe in the existence of Hyper

o u no
b e an s
or His inquiries it is rgued proved only that there
.
,
a ,
w as no such people in the more northern p rts of Asia or a
E urope ; but o f Western E urope he con fessed that he kne w

little Now concer ing the w este rn extremities o f E urope
. n
I h ve n ccur te acc unt t give and his own state

a o a a o o
f Delian report should h ve led him to loo k for

o a a
t h e Hyperboreans w est w rd a .
B u t t h e D e l i an s s ay bou t t h e H y p e rborean s as t he y
m u c h m o re a ,
s ay t h a t s a c re d
g i ft s b ou n d u p ,
i n w h ea t e n s t raw a re reg u l a rl y con ,
v e e d t o t h e S cy t h i a n s
y an d t h a t t h e,
n e i g h b o u rs o f t h e s e rec e i v i n
g ,
t h e m i n s u cc e s s i o n co n v ey t h e m t o t h e H a d ri a t i c t h e fu rt h es t s t a t i o n
, ,
fro m t h e W es t ; t h a t t h e n ce b e i ng con v ey ed s ou t h w ard t h ey a re

, ,
esco rt e d u n t i l t h e D o d o n aea n s fi rs t o f H e l l e nes rece i v e t h e m ; t h a t

, ,
f ro m t h e m t h e y d e s ce n d t o t h e M a l as a n G u l f a nd c ross o v e r i n t o ,
E u b oea a n d t h e n t h at ci t y s e n d s t h e m t o an o t h e r c i t y u n t i l t h ey re ac h
C a rys t u s ; b u t t h e C a rys t i an s p as s i ng by A nd ros co nv ey th e m t o

, ,
T e n os a nd t h e T e n i a ns t o D e l os Tha t i n earl i e r t i m e s t h e H yp e r
, .
b o re a n s s e n t t w o v i rg i n s t o b ea r t h e s ac re d o ff e ri n g s Th es e t h e .
D e l i an s n a m e H yp e ro ch e a n d La od i ce ; a nd t h a t as a n e sco rt t h e y
s en t w i t h t h e m fi v e o f t he i r c i t i z e n s w h o m t h e y n o w c a l l Pe r h ere e s
p , ,
w h o h a v e g re a t h o n o u rs a t D e l os ; b u t t h a t w h e n t h e m e n t h u s s e n t ,
fo rt h ne v e r re t u rn ed back t h e H y p e rbo rea ns re g a rd i ng i t as a g rea t

, ,
e v i l t h a t i t s h ou l d al w ay s b e t h e i r l o t ne v e r t o re ce i v e b ack t h e m e n
d e pu t e d con v eyed on t h is accou n t t h e s ac re d g i ft s bo u nd i n w h ea t e n

, ,
s t ra w t o t h e i r n e x t n e i g h b ou rs w i t h i nj u n c t i o n s t o e sc o rt t h e m fro m
, ,
t h e i r o w n t o a n o t h e r na t i on an d t h e y s ay t h a t t h e o ffe ri ng s t h u s
, ,
e s co rt e d re a c h e d D e l o s
”
, .
The l ter Greek auth rs except C llimachus greed

a o ,
a ,
a
w i th Hero d tus i denying the existence o f a n tion o f

o n a
Hype bore ns or pl ced them in a Ut pi w i t hin the rctic

r a ,
a o a a
circle Ze lous f the h nour of the ancient Brit ns Arch

. a or o o ,
L ib i v . . ca p . 32 .
T HE F OR M I N G OF THE P E OP L E . 145
deacon Wi l l i a m s wh o wou l d
connect a hierarchy o f Druids
—
w ith the w orship o f Apollo and o f course could see o ly , n
S tonehenge in t h e consecrated precinct o f great m gni

“
a
fi c e n e and c temple f corresponding b eauty i shape

,
a o , n
spheric l quoted fu rther from Her dotus the Delian tr di

— a o a
ti n that Arge and O pis ca me to Delos from the Hyper

o ,
b o ean s b e fore H ype o h e

r d L odice ; that they ca me
r c an a
w ith the deities themsel es d th t their names w ere v , an a
invoked by n tions in an ancient hymn composed fo them

a r
b y Olen d L ycian w h o lived long be f re O rpheus

an , o .
Gree k te m ple tr ditions are next quoted from P us ni s

a a a a
( A .D . Priests o f the O lympi n Jupiter in E lis said a , ,
th t the w ild olive wa b rought by Heracles from the

a s
Hyperborean la nd According to tr dition of the pr i ests

. a a
o f Delphi the oracle o f Apollo in Delphi was est blished

, a
by H yperb reans and by Olen wh o was the first prophet

o ,
o f Ph oebus H ving argued thus f r an ncient connection

. a o a
o f the Hyper b ore an s w ith the religio u s creed o f Greece
be fore Hesiod and Hom er had invented the theogony o f

the Hellenes the Archdeacon quoted from fr gme nt o f
, a a
S teph nus o f By zantiu m a p assage stating that Pel m i ss s

a u ,
wh o w ent to C ari a w here the temple of t he P e l m i s i n

, s a
Apollo n ow ex ists was from the Hyperboreans N o w Pel

,
”
.
missus is at this day fam ous fo r Cyclopean ruins .
Through such reason ing the conclusion i s reached th t , a
the people ca lled Hyperbore ns inh bited the south w est o f a a -
S pain G ul w est o f the Alps and the island o f Gre t

,
a , a
Brit in th t they were prosperous and c ivilised th t th re

a a a e
w as commerce and sympathy bet w een priests o f S tonehenge

a n d those o f Delph i that prehistoric Britons w ere i n f ct , a ,
Titan Celts clo sely allied t the Pelasgians of ncient

,
o a
Greece ; and that these people migrated by water r t her a
th n b y l n d from Central Asia So the young nations

a a .
have also thei r n u rsery lore and s u ggestive fab le ble nds ,
with the dim shapings of a p st that lies b eyond the memory a

146 E N GL I S I I WR I T E R S .
of man This might b ecome inter woven with other legends

.
o f the sh ping o f our people

a d there is happy u se made , an
o f it b y Milton in his L atin verses to Count Manso .
Though still on dou b tful gro u nd w e are at least endea ,
v ou ri g to recover by the w ay of fair hist rical inq u iry some

n o
traces of the remote past of the Celts w hen w e inquire i to ,

n
the possi b le relation b et ween them and a people kno wn to

the Greeks as Cimmerians .
That the Welsh Cy m ry e descended fro m the ol d ar
Cimmeri ns while Scyth and S cot Gaul d Gael are

a , , an ,
W e re h t
related
e
names is an opinion w idely held W hat , .
may perhaps b e at present regarded as the

strongest theory on this subj ect is to be foun d
in the first E ss y appended to the Fourth Book of the a
”
a nnotated tr nsl tion o f Herodotus by Pro fessor George

a a
R wlinso to which Si Henry Rawlinson d Si r J Gardner

a n, r an .
Wilkinson contributed their notes Bet ween the years .
8 00 -6 the C i m m e i i G i m i i or G o m e i m w ere po werful

00 r , r , r ,
s ys this authority in Western Asi and Eastern E urope

a , a .
Herodotus is confirm ed as to that f ct b y Homer E s h yl s a ,

c u ,
C al l i s Aristotle
nu , d b y rem ining n ames o f places , T he
an a .
Cimm eri ns of H om er] d welt at the farthest limit of the

a
“ L
ocean stream immersed in darkness nd beyond the ken o f

,
a
the light giving su — a v gue geographical expressio n

-
n a ,
which m y o r m y not have meant some p rt of the northern

'
a a a
coast of the Black S e There cert inly E schyl u s r h as a . a I

’
placed Cimmeria s neigh bour to the S ea of A ov and t h e ,

a z
Bosphorus In the seventh and eighth centuries B C there

. . .
w ere Greek colonists upon the northern co st of the Black a
S ea from w hom trust worthy in formation might be h d The a .
poet C l l i u s spe ks of a Cimmerian invas ion that there

a ii a ,
H e ro d o t u s (Lo nd on v ol
’
1" R aw l i n s o n s , . i i i pp. . 1 83 - 1 9 1 .
“ O d sse y y xi. 1 3 -2 2 .
.
x P ro m e t h e u s Bo u n d . 8
74 7 5 0
-
. S ee al s o S t rabo , Vi i . 0
3 9.
Fragm en t of Gal li a ns , 2.
w ent w st B C 6 5 6 w h i ther did th y go ? Herodotus

e . . 0 -
0 0, e
k e w only in Central
n d Western E urope o f the Si gyn es
,
an ,
n ,
the C y et i ns d t he Celts The Sigy es and C y et i ns

n a ,
an . nn n a
s on dis ppe r and could s carcely be the great nation o f

o a a ,
the C i m m e i i which until driven from the Ukraine by t h e

r , ,
f rce of the Scythi n torrent w as w ont to extend its rav ges

o a ,
a
o ver l rge tr cts of Asia Minor We can only find th em

a a .
”
a mong the Celts wh h d an unv rying tr dition th t they ,

o a a a a
came fr m the E st d o f whom one division bears the

o a , an
speci l n me o f Cymry
a a .
C lts cc rding to this uth rity w ere the primitive

e ,
a o a o ,
inh bi t nts f Gaul Belgium and Brit in possi bly lso o f

a a o , ,
a ,
a
Sp i n a d Portug l anIn Spain Belgium d N rth G ul a .

, ,
an o a
the Celts w ere Cimbri In Brit in Cimbric Celts occupied . a
the south co st at the time of C aes r s l nding E ven i f s

a a
’
a .
,
a
I believe the Belgae in South Brit in w ere o f Germanic

,
a
r ce it was in Brit in
a ,
in Gaul the Celts w hom they dis a as
pl ced Pressed upon by the Gothic or Teutonic r ce

a . a ,
they h ve formed the b sis o f the population in sever l large

a a a
E ur pe n countries
o The name f the C i m m e ii
a d . o r an
Cimbri is w shared by the Cymry f C m b ria w ith the

no o a
Crim T rt rs f the Crime w h ich i s a portion of their

a a o a,
a ncient home .
It is prob ble this theory g es on to suggest th t the

a , o ,
a
Cimmeri ns found w hen driven w est w rd w ste land u

a ,
a ,
a n
inhabited or thinly peopled by T rt r M ngoli n r ce

, a a a or o a a ,
w hich w s bs rbed c using T rt r d m ixture w ith the

a a o ,
a a a a a
Celtic bl d or w hen not bs rbed w driven t the

oo , , a o , as o
north w here it is n ow represented by Finns E st h

, d , s, an
L pps Such m y h ve been the S p nis h Iberi s f re

a . a a a an ,
o
f thers O f the peculi r people f the B sque The C y mry w re

a a o a . e
first spre d ver centr l E ur pe by the force o f Scythi ns

a o a o a
from behind It is most likely to h ve been the impulse o f

. a
the G ths and other Teutons by which they were d i e o n

o i v n
t
o G u l and S p in and Brit in The pre ure o f l beri n s
a ,
a , a . ss a
T HE F OR M I N G OF T HE P E OP L E . 149
c used further m i gr ti n of Celts cross the Pyrenee s to

a a o a
their o w kinsmen in G ul Thence w nt f sp ce forced

n a . a o a
m ny across the Alps to found e w settlements in It ly a d

a n a n
Hung ry Next follo wed a per i od o f rest d p use in the

a . an a
movem ent ; but a century l ter bout the year B C 8 a ,

a . . 2 0,
hordes of G uls from these regi ns entered Maced ni n d

a o o a, a
thre tened Greece Repulsed from Delphi they went

a .
,
northw rd inv ded Asia Minor a d w hen other grou d

a ,
a , n ,
n
w s reconquered from them still d welt in the heart

a f ,
o
Ph ygi giving the n me Gal tia to its norther p rt

r a,
“
a a n a .
At this time also they retali ted on the Scythi ns inter a a ,

.
mixed w ith them f rming C el t Scythi ns d dv nced

, o o- a , an a a as
far as their old home in the Crime w hence th y w re a, e e
ag in driven b y the progress of S rm tic tribes w hich then

a a a ,
com menced Forced alo g the valley o f the D nube t here

. n a ,
they left their traces in the n mes W ll chi and G lici a a a a a a,
b ut themsel es finally s nk under the nt g nism o f more

v a a a o
pow erful nations From E stern n d Centr l E urope Celts

. a a a
h ve disappe red In Northern Italy in Fr nce w here

a a .
,
a ,
t heir l nguage is yet to b e he rd in Britt ny n d mong our

a a a ,
a a
selves in Corn w ll W les the Scottish Highlands a , d a , , an
Irel nd their traces a e distinct In many parts o f W les

a ,
r . a ,
North S cotland and Ireland the population is lmost

,
a
purely and entirely Celtic .
The w hole body then of the Celtic Briton s cert inly did
, ,
a
not consist of mere n ked b rb rians From the remotest a a a .
period to w hich w e can look back there seem T h C el tic e
t have been m ore races th n one in cc p tion

B i m“ r
o a o u a
f our islands That Herodotus prob bly m eant by the

’
o . a
C as s i t e i d e or Tin Isl nds the same Brit in which Aristotle

r s, a , a
w s the first to name t w isl nds which e very large

“
a as o a ,
ar ,
Al bion and Ierne c ll d the Britannic which lie be yond , a e ,
the C el t m ; that Polybius writing 5 C descri b es the ,

1 0 B . .
,
m ethod o f o b t aining d pre p ring tin i n the Brit nnic an a a
Isles ; that the Phoenicians tr ding from their port of , a

Gades ( ow Cadi ) obtained tin from Cornwall and the

n z ,
S cilly Islands keeping t h e source o f this com m erce so close

,
a secret th t as S tr bo tells a Ph oenician captain follow ed

a , a , ,
and watched by Roman vessels n his ship sh re rather ,

ra a o
than lead to the b etr yal f t h e mystery that the Ph oenician a o
tr de w s tr cked early in Julius C aes r s time by P blius

a a a a
’
u
Cr ssus are the familiar d almost the only details of

a— an
w ritten British hist ry be fore C aes r s inv sion The tenth ’

o a a .
p rt o f tin in t h bron e used alm st throughout E urope in

a e z o
the Bron e period m y have come chiefly from Corn wall

z a .
Advoc tes f very high previous civilis tion in t least

a o a a a
s me p rt of Brit in ascribe it occ si nally to the influence

o a a a o
o f supposed Ph oenici n settlements a .
But in C aes r s account o f Brit in w e find the race o f

a
’
a
the Belgae wh o he s ys w ere chiefly sprung from the

, ,
a ,
Th B le e
Germ
g as
ns most po w er ful of all the nations w est
a ,
*
o f the Rhine in occupation o f the co ast o f G ul

.
, a
opposite South e stern Brit in and evidently in occu pation

-
a a ,
als of our o w south eastern coasts C aesar notes that in

o n -
.
l nguage customs form o f houses n mes of to wns t he

a , , ,
a ,
S outh Britons greed w ith the opposite G uls that D i i t i

a a v
acus king f the S e s one s tri b e of Belg was the most

, o u s
,
a as ,
power f l in G ul and h d empire even in Britain ; that

u a , a
there w one n m e l C i g t o i fo a king o f Belgas on

as a a s o, n e r x, r
the Moselle a d f a king in Kent C aes r spe ks by

n or . a a
report o f the Northern or Cel t ic Britons s a p stor l people a a a
dressed in skins ; but the men o f S uth Britain w h con o o
tended w ith h i m lthough in Rom n phrase b rbari ns ,

a a a a ,
h d k o w ledge to give to the youths o f Gaul and used

a n ,
Greek letters in c nveying it ; h ad commerce lso accord o a ,
Sic re pe ri e b a t p l e ros q u e Be l g a s ess e ort os a G erma n i s R h e n u mq u e ,
ant i q u it u s t rad u c t o s , p ro p t e r l o c i fe rt i l i ta t e m i b i c on s ed i s s e . G al l o s q u e q u i
ea l oca i n co l e ren t e x p u l i s se .
”
De B G . ii 4
. . Tac i t u s , w ho n o t es t he s a m e
t h i ng . s p e ak s al s o of the l a ng u ag e o f t he I E stu i , a G e rm a n t ri b e . as
L i n g u a Bri t anni ca p rO p i o r (M or G e rm . .
15 2 EN GL I SH WR I T E R S .
n turally have b een given to them b y the Celtic tribes

a ,
w hom quitting the Rhine

, n d conquering their w ay long a a
the coast they disl dged from the north eastern sh ore o f
, o -
Fr n ce Opposite Brit in and drove b eyond the S ein e or

a , a ,
forced cross the Channel

a .
It is usual to think C aesar wrong in giving a Germ an

origin to the Belgas whom he pl ces opposite to our south ,
a
eastern shores on the co st east o f the Sein e in part o f

,
a ,
Norm ndy in Pic rdy Fl nders d the modern Belgium

a , a , a ,
an
and Holland Yet C aesar shre wd and travelled had per

.
, ,
so l k no wledge of the di fference he records b et ween the

na
people of the three divisions o f Gaul ; Belgic Celtic and , ,
Aquit nian The Aquitanians b ordered on Spain S trab o

a . .
s ys th t in langu ge and appearance they resembled

'
a a a
S p ni rds rather th an the other G au l s

a a They ppe r in .
l
= =
a a ,
f ct to h ve been Gaels
a , a the I b erian or Spanish Celts , as
w ere Only so could they di ffer in langu age fro m the

.
Cymry f Celtic Gaul s w ell s from the Belg as by whom

o ,
a a ,
some o f the Cymry o f the c st had b een cast out o f their oa
p ssessions That th ey did so d i fler is I think m de cer

o .
'
, ,
a
t in when of the people o f the three divisions C aesar em

a
phatic lly says that these al l differ in l nguage customs

a
“
a , ,
and law s 1 For although Cymric and Gaelic are both

.
” ’
Celtic languages they are as much unlike each other as ,
D ish d German The rel tionship is mani fest in their

an an . a
voc bul ries while the d i fl e en e is m rked not in the

a a ,
'
r c a
v cabularies only b ut still more in the i nfle i o s and

o ,
x n
distinctive char cters a .
I thi nk C ae sar was right in this matter There can b e .
Th G l
e
little
ae s
dou b t th t the first Celts w ho c me to a a
Britain w ere the G els and that they settled in

.
a ,
Irel nd and the West o f E ngland Irish and Sp nish

a . a
histories nd traditions agree in asserting that the Irish

a
Gael c me from S p in The l d history ascri b ed to N n i u s

a a . o en
“
i
’
L ib iv . . 1 -2 . 1
‘
D e Bel l o G al li co , . I .
THE F OR M I N G OR T HE P E OP L E . 1 53
distinctly st tes this From Irel nd t h e G el cr ssed t

a . a a o o
the Western Isl nds and Highl nds o f S cotl nd ; d he a a a an
crossed also into Wal s Welsh sch l rs h ve t l l times e . o a a a a
o bserved traces of previous G elic occup tion of their a a a
l nd They were observed in the last centu y by E dw rd

a . r a
L h yd and more recently demonstr ted by the Rev B sil

u ,
a . a
Jones in his b ook on Vestiges o f the G el in G wynedd or a ,

”
North Wales O e vestige for ex mpl e is the const nt use

. n ,
a ,
a
by the Rom ns o f isc “ — “ Isc S i l u u m & fo river

a — a a r ,
c . r
or water in the West o f E ngl nd the w ord being the G elic a ,

a
w hich is not Cymric at ll and still s rvives in the

”
u i s ge ,
a ,
u
E e n d E sk
x a E ven the tradition f the common people
. o
in North W les sserts th t the origin l inh b it nts w ere

a a a a a a
G wyt h el i a s or Irish The cr mlechs e sometimes c lled

n . o ar a
Irish cots d the foxes ,d polecats

an re s id to be an a a
descended from the Irish dogs and c ts a .
Tacitus says th t the Silures pe ple f W les d a ,

or o o a ,
an
the B i g t es ] or pe ple o f the North o f E ngl nd (occupy

r an ,
L
o a
ing Lancashire Yorkshire Westmorel d Cumberlan d d , ,

an , ,
an
Northumberland ) in his time resem bled the pe ple o f Sp in ,

o a
more than they did the other Gauls in langu ge d ppe r a an a a
ance The tribes on the opposit or e stern c ast of Irel nd

. e a o a
were called also Brig ntes d the province o f G ll i i in a ,

an a c a,
Spain w here the G all i ego di lect is s id t cont in many

,
a a o a
traces o f Gaelic h s to this d y the n me o f B ig ntin ,

a a a r a a .
A gl nce at the m p s ho ws th t Gaels cro sing t h

a from a a , s e s ea
S pain w ould in f ct strike most

,
turally upon Irel nd anda na a
our western shore Be fore the coming o f the C ymry these .
Gaels w ere thinly scattered over Engl d bet w een shore d an an
shore Their nami g of pl ces sh w s this Thus p or

. n a o .
,
en ,
“
V i t Agri c . ii . .
1
'
Bri g an t e s a n d S i l u re s s e em t o have b ee n n a m es a d o p t e d b y t h e R om an s
fro m C m ri c y au t hori t y t ho s e , q u i e t in W a l es b e i ng ca l l e d m en o f t h e sy l
(pl i y l u r) or
. s oi l , t h os e i n t h e N o rt h of E ng l an d , w h o b a t tl ed a g a i ns t the
g ra d ual p rocess o f e xp u l s i o n . b e i ng k n ow n as br ig a n t ed , fi g h t i ng t h i e ves .
B r ig a n t i s W el s h fo r t i e f h an d h i g h l an d e r .
p erm , means a head in W elsh Cornish and Breton ; , ,
( ca n , me ns h e d in Irish Gaelic— the in l l

66 07272, a a a c a
these l nguages being pronounced as k N ow the e rly

a .
,
a
existence o f the G elic form of m m fo he dland is trace a r a
able i n the five gre t headlands o f E as t Brit in from Can a a
tyre ( t z he d f the lan d ) t Kent b y the old names

rea r:
'
r, a o o ,
o f tribes — C ant i i Iceni C t ae C a t b i ga (C mbridge )

, ,
an n a r a ,
Canty B y nd the Pentland Hills and Frith w here the

a ,
a ,
Cymry next in possessi n have only h al f t r ns formed t

, o ,
a o
their own m anner the n me o f K entl nd Some o f the a a .
e rlier S tone people in Sp in w h o m y or m y t be

a a ,
a a no
represented o w by the B sques perh ps c me o er w ith

n a ,
a a v
the S panish G els ; and such a people o f which we find

a ,
the rem i ns w ere dou b tless already existent lso i this

a ,
a n
country In connection w ith th is part o f the subj ect it may

.
be w orth w hile to cite the pp rent connection betw een a a
Mendip Hills n d Grampi ns d the Basque w ords

a a ,
an
Mendi hill G ra a height

a, a ,
a ,
.
Mean while the Cymric Celts traced from Cimmeri ns , a
d Cimbri once occupied midland G ul

an d , a an
Th C m
e
the coast opposite Br i t in A pe ple d i fferent
y ry .
a . o
in l ngu ge customs and l ws chiefly Germ nic had come

a a , ,
a , a ,
from the Rhine d h d se i ed part o f this Celtic coast

an a z ,
“
expell i ng the previ us inh bitants Thes e ew comers
”
o a . n
w ere c lled the Belgas w hich me ns w e find i n the l n ”

a , a , , a
guage o f the Cymry rav gers The expelled people may

“
, a .
”
have b een d riven p rtly inl nd where they could only pos a a ,
sess goods by t king those o f their countrymen and neigh

a
b ours or they crossed the sea to get possession of the

,
thinly peopled district o f South easter n Brit in From the

- -
a .
south e st the Cymry spre d the G els yielding be fore them

-
a a a .
But Bel gas too w ere tempted to the British shore d h d

, , , an a
alre dy a firm foot in Southern E ngl nd w hen the Romans

a a
c me to add another f rm of pressure

a o .
The G el ic aspect o f the Silures in the time of Tacitus

a
by not cco n t i g ourselves m re x ct in our theories than

a u n o e a
so s h re wd d skill d w itness as C aes r was in evidence

an e a a
o f wh t he a w d he rd is th t the Belgae in G l w ere

sa an a ,
a au
but tribe o f the s me people by w h m the Frisian and

a a o
Anglo S xon dialects o f common tongu e w ere spoken and

-
a a ,
th t they had firm hold in t h e south of Britain even

a a ,
bef re C s r s time
o ae a
’
.
We find then in l l these changes no series o f sudden

, ,
a
pi m
r i convulsions By me ns o f the i r sm ll ships
t ag e n . a a ,
gig gg
n
f
slo
a
w ly d in course o f ye rs the S panish G els ,
an a ,
a
Eng li hs
colonised Irel nd and our western coasts By a .
more rapid invasi n prob bly the Belgae spread at very o , a , a
rem te time ver t h co sts pposite our south e stern

o o e a o -
a
sh res The exp lled C ym y must t first h ve crossed in

o . e r a a
l rge numbers and cle red the s uth e s t of E ngl nd o f the

a ,
a o -
a a
thinly sc ttered G el Aft er w rds there w s slo w and

-
a a . a a
ste dy migr tion volunt y migr tion prob b ly of Celts

a a ,
ar a , a ,
fr m t h p rt o f w h t is o w c lled Norm ndy w es t o f th e

o e a a n a a
S ei e n d o f so m e Bretons
,
an ol nt ry migr tion certain l y v u a a
o f the m re t h ri ing B e l gm ow hom C aes r found on t h e v ,

a
British shor people o f o e l ngu ge w ith those he had le ft

e, n a a
i Be l gic G ul
n O E nglish soil G el yielded ground t o
a . n -
a
Cymry Cymry to Belg d the Belg we sh ll find mus t

, ,
an , a ,
h ve di ffered little i f t al l from the people wh o s th e

a , a , , a
s t re m o f co l nis tion d inv sion still flo wed i were

a o a an a n,
t ken up by e rly chr niclers at a much l ter d te in t heir

a a o a a
hist ry Anglo S xo s
o as -
a n .
Me n while it w s from the first the E nglish people that

a a
was b eing f rmed T h e qu lity o f the bron e remains

o . a z ,
rea d , o ne t o t h e Ph i l ol og i cal S oc i e t y i n h n ol og i cal 18

55 . t he o t h e r t o t h e Et
S o c i e t y i n 1 8 5 7 b y t h e l a t e J a m e s K e n ne d y L L B an d rep u b li sh e d i n h i s
. , . .
,
E t h n o l og i c al a n d Li n g u i s t i c Lo n d o n a n d Le i p s i c 1 8 6 1 ”
E s sa ys , .
, .
T h o m a s W ri g h t h o s e na m e m u s t a l way s b e m en t i o n ed w i t h ho nou r i n
,
c o n nec t i o n w i t h E ng l i s h a t i q u i t i e s a n d w h o w ork e d s t e ad il y fo r t h e
n ,
d i ff u s i o n o f h i s k n o w l e d g e g a e h i s s u p p o rt t o t h e b e l i e f t h a t C ae sa r w a s
,
v
ri g h t a b ou t t h e Be l g as (i n T h e Cel t R o m a a nd S axon ed , n, , .
T HE F OR M I N G OF THE P E OP L E . 1
57
he rem ins also o f l nguage d o f liter ture show that

a a an a ,
the Cel t s whether G el or Cymry w ere no mere s v ges

,
a ,
a a .
They not only le ft the n mes given by the m t T h C i a a e

ele ment i n
el t c
tac h e d throughout the l nd to l kes r vers d E li h a a ,

i , an ng s .
mount ins but they perh ps contributed more than is n ow

a ,
a
believed to the fo rm tion o f E nglish in its e rliest st ge

a a a .
S uch common words as go w n glove b sket tho g h , , a u
M rti l did take t h e Britons f rude s v ges wh en to

a a or a a , ,
bring w rd into discredit h e w rote B rbar de p i t i s

a o , ,
a a c
venit B as d B it i —even such w rds s h t co t

c au a r an n s
”
o a a , a ,
an d b oots might be tr ced to Celtic origin ls When such

a a .
w ords are found w ith ut etym logy in An glo S x n b to an o -

a o ,
u
w ith etym logy in t h e l ngu ge o f the Cy m ry or the G l

an o a a ae ,
w e m y b e sure th t during th se centuries f cont ct bet w e

a a ,
o o a e n
Celt and Teuton it found i t s w y from the lips o f the e rlier

, a a
to those o f the l ter pe ple Thus h t is co nected w ith the

“
a o . a
”
n
Germ n [ mt s a shelter f the he d but there is Celtic

a a or a , a
verb l t m to cover and l l me ns y s rt o f he d covering

za ,
ze a an o a ,
whether a h at or a g rland This Celtic element in E g a . n
lish might h ve been i n dicated in the Pedigree by f int

a a a
dotted line of connection through which Celtic passes into

Anglo S xon -
a .
The following list illustr tes the Celtic origin f E glis h a o n
local n mes C is tt ched to Cymric G to Cel tic i

a . a a , n
G elic forms
a
m na es .
A be r i nver co n fl u e n ce Afo n al i h an a ri v e r
o f s m al l an d l arg e s t re a m ri v e r Avon Th e re i s a n A v o n a t
.
m ou t h as A be rd ee n , fo rm e rl y B ri s t o l a n t h er i n N o rt h a m p t o n
, o
A be r-d o n , nea r m ou t h of
D on ; s h i re an o t h e r i n W a rw i c k s h i re
, .
A b erg a v en n y , a t co n fl u en ce o f P t o l e m y c al l e d t h e H u m be r
t he U sk an d t he G a ve n ny . A Bp v p s —o w hi ch
r cis ,Avon
A ch a field as Ac h n i v e r, t he T ros (o v er e x ceed i ng ) an au g , ,
T ro sa c h s . m e n t a t i v e a ppl i e d t o t h e b ro ad
A rg y l l A rre -G ai d h el , t he e s t u ary .
fro n t i e r of t h e G a el . Bai l e a town : as B al l ysh an

Ard , hig h , l oft y Ard m i l l an . n o n, tow n on S h an n o n .
Ba l a flow of a ri v e r i n to a in L ond i n u m ,
g d u nu m , & c L u .
l ak e beal ach a p ass ag e . D u nad h (G ) i s s h u t t i n g , cl os i ng ;

.
B an n h i g h : as Bangor t h e , h enc e som e w ro ng l y d eri v e th e

h i g h cor ch oi r or Ch ri s t i an, ,
A -S. . t on and E ng l i s h t o w n ,
col l eg e Th ere are h i l l s s o

. and , in s e ns e o f h i l l sand d u nes
,
-
n a m ed i n B reck n ock s h i re C a e r ,
a nd d o w ns .
m art h en , an d G l am org a n . Ba n s D u bh (G bl ack : D u bl i n (d u b h

.
d ow n n ear B at h , P a n D o w n by l i n ne ) b l ack p ool

, .
N ew p o rt , L V Du n a fo rt i fi ed h i l l o r t o w n
V
.
. ,
Be i n n , Be n a m o u n t ai n or Dwr w a t er : D e rw en t , d w r
l B e n -Ne v i s (L an d fai r ; or g w en t , a fai r
'
i
’
p nn ac e : .
, m ws g w e n ,
of s now ) , o r co n t ra c t i o n of G . o p en reg i on ; D a rt , A d o u r, A d u r,
n ea m b a t h oi s , c l o u d b row ed
-
. C al d e r , S t ou r (E s D wr) . E l se
C ae r cat h ai r w al l s of w h e re , the D o u ro , &c .
d e fe nce , cas t l e , ci t y : C aer G w y, or wy w at er ri v e rs
m art he n , ci t y of M e rl i n ; Caer W ye , E d w y , L l u g wy , &c .
n arvo n , t h e s t ro n g hold y n Ar G w ys g u i sg e i s ca , a
V o n, o p p os i t e M ona (o r Von ) . s t ream : A x, E sk , E x, O u se ,

Cam (C .
, cro o k ed “
t he U sk , Ou s e, W i sb each (O u se
c roo k ed C am .
”
b each ) Os born (Ous e bou rn)
,
- .
C e an n a h e ad ce a n n t i re a , L l an (C an enc l osu re ch u rchyard

.
, ,
h ead l and K e n t C an t yre , . ch u rch La m p e t e r (l l an Bed r) ,
C il l k i l a h erm i t ce l l p l ace
,
-
, ch u rc h of Pe t e r ; L l an d afl ,
of w o rs h i p bu ryi ng g ro u n d ,
-
c h u rch o f Dav i d ; L l anb eri s ,
K il k e n n y ch u rch o f S t K e nn y
, . ch u rc h o f S t P e ri s L l a ng o l l e n
.
,
o r C a ni c e . c h u rch o f S t C o l l e n . .
C a rrai g crai g , ca rri c k a , L yn l i n (G a l a k e o r p oo l .
roc k o r cas t l e o n a ro c k : C a r
, Lynn i n No rfol k t h e p ool ;
, ,
,
ri ck fe rg u s cas t l e o f F e rg u s
, . Lo nd o n (l yn d u n) t h e t o w n o f ,
C l u yd a co m m o n r i v e r n a m e t h e p oo l , t h e p o ol o f t h e ri v e r
i n W a l e s , fro m c l yd , w arm , for m erl y o ve r flo w i n g the l ow

s hel t ered : t h e C l y d e i n S co t l an d s o f the m ars h es .
l and w as n am ed by t h e Cy m ry . M a en a s t one : P e m ae n
n -
C o ed fi od h a w o od m aw r, h ead l and of the g rea t

c o t e i n N o rt h c o t e S o u t h co t e
, , . s t one .
Cw m m a d a l e w h e n ce A S ,
.
-
. M on so l i t a r y , i s o l at e : M o n a ,
co m b : V ycom b w a t e re d d al e A ng l e s e y ; I s l e o f
V
, , ol d n am e o f
fro m ( C ) w
g y , o r w y.
, w a t e r ; M an . M aw n , m oi n (G m ou n .
C o m p t on , c w m m d u n, or A -S . . tai n , c o mm o n , b og .
t o n , D al e t ow n M aol mu l l , c h i ef h ead l and

Din a fort i fi ed h il l ; d i nas , a Mu ll of K i n t ore .
ci t y t h e R om an d u n u m , d i n u m Pe n a h ead , su mm i t , n ot con
h o b , m easu re h ooped v e s se l
p o t (G ael .
p o it to
d ri n k )
l l a th , ro d
l l ym ry , j el l y o f oa t p o t e s, a coo k ed
m es s
m eal
rh as a s l i ce
g ,
m atog
rh i m , ra i s e d e dge
m o p , m op a
s y th , s t i ffe ni ng
g l u e
p an , c u ,
p bo w l t ac l , i n s t ru m e n t ,
e
p g, p g ,
e e d a m ea t oo l
s u re
t ed d u , t o s p rea d
i e
P y .n
It may be th t in a fe w o f these cases d o f those

a , an
n ext quoted w ord h s come out o f E nglish into Celtic

, a a ,
or has p ssed into E nglish d into Celtic fr m a sep rate

a an o a
an d common s urce A l rge number of words h ve no

o . a a ,
doubt by Mr G rnett d others been derived from Cel t ic

,
. a an ,
where there is more than identity of origin or there m y

no , a
be even later Celtic word taken from E nglish B u t some

a .
o f the words h ve r tion l etymology in Celtic and in

a a a a
Celtic only ; d as to others there is the liveliest appear

an ,
ance o f the p ssage o f Celtic word in to vernacul r English

a a a
by old f miliarity f intercourse bet ween the Celtic and

an a o
Germanic tri b es settled in E ngl d In the f miliarly ex an . a
pressive but d i g i fi ed vern cular the Celtic element is

un n a ,
strongly m rked Thus b other is good Celtic and

“
a .
,
”
,
st n d s in ll seri usness fo tribul ti n in the Irish Scripture

a a o r a o .
The f ll wi g logies are mong t hose drawn promi s

o o n ana a
cu o s l y by Mr G rnett from the Cymric only

u . a
a s h ri , t ri c k , m is bl e w h ai r
, of an i
c h ief s p re e . m al s flu e (o f fu r) .
b al d o rd d u s , p ra t i ng , bal d erd as h . bwg, h o bg o b l i n b u g bu g b ear , .
b a m e i n (Bre t o n t o b ygyl u t o t h rea t e n b u l l y

, .
be w i t ch , c h eat ) ba rn .
caro l , m o v e m en t of
b i cra , to w rangl e b i ck e r . s ong o r d ance
T HE F OR M I N G OE T HE P E OP L E .
ci c , foo t , c i c i an , to h w ch , a s w i ne h og .
s t ri ke wi t h the l l ac h i a w , a cu dge l l i ck .
foo t k i ck . l l aw d , you t h l ad .
c n oc , a k no ck . l l od e s , g i rl l as s .
c nd l , ro u n d sum mi t k nol l l l u g , p art i a l

l u k e w a rm
.
be l l k n el l l l u g d w y, t e p i d
.
c nu l , p a s s i n g .
c o c ru , to i nd u lg e c o ck e r . l l u m on , lu m .
h ort s t a ff
c og e l , s cu dg el .
p a n eg , e n t rai l s
p a u nc h .
c rw t h fidd l e , cro w d .
p i c i aw , t o t h ro w p i t c h .
c w t a s h o rt cu t t y i e s m a rt , a
g y i nk
, p n , p .
(pi p e. (t o a o rn ) d .
ch w a p , s mart s t ro ke w h op .
p w m p, rou n d m as s p i m p l e .
d wn , d u s ky dun . t al , l o ft y t al l .
fu g , d ece p t i o n fu d g e . t o ci a w , t o cu t s h o rt d o ck
,
.
g l y n v
, a l l e y g l en . t os i aw , to j e rk
h o ch i t o e x p e c t o r
, th ro w t o ss .
at e t u i g u n d e rs t a n d
,
t wi g
h oed en , a fl i rt
ch Celtic w ords s cla n t rtan pl id kilt and reel

Su a ,
a ,
a , ,
ar e clearly mon g those of later introduction ; and some

a
others not only those formally recorded as Druid d

—
, an
b rd but those incorpor ted in other Western l ngu ges s

a , a a a a
in our w m y h ve found their w y to us from L tin or

— o n a a a a
from Norman French in sec ndary f rm There rem ins o o . a ,
ho wever certainly when large llo w nce has b een m de for

, , a a a
questio a ble etymolog ies a Celtic element in E nglish th t

n ,
a
indic tes lo g hab it of f mili r cont ct in nci nt time

a n a a a a e .
There are more w ords th n would h ve been t ken in the a a a
course o f conflict ; and the sort o f w ords do n o t belong t o
the l nguage that men le rn from enemies

a a .
Thus for ab out four hundred ye rs from the surrender a
o f C ract cus A D 5 a the Rom ns m int ined F aint

a ,
. . 1, a a a
t ra c e s
milit ry possession o f E ngl nd and in l l th t

a f m a ,
a a o t he R Q
o c c u pa t i o n .
a"
t me they set no mark o f theirs upon the l

i an
g u ge o f
a i t s people For w e h rdly cc nt . ca n a a ou
as m rk on l nguage the inevit ble ttachment to the soil

a a a a a
o f four or five milit ry word s in d ic tive o f th eir cam p s a a

( c astr in Chester
a, M nchester ) ; their colonies (as
,
in Lin a
coln ) their milit ry roads levelled d stre wn w ys str t

a ,
an a ,
a a,
streets their h rbours or ports d perh ps their r m parts

a an a a ,
since from t h Roman v llum a r mp rt some derive the

e a ,
a a ,
Celtic b ile w hence w e get the modern E nglish bail or

a ,
b iley d the Irish b lly prefixed to some n mes of to wn s

a ,
an a a .
O f really civilising intercourse evidence w ould h ve p ssed

a a a
into the l ngu ge b ut there w s none

a a ,
a .
The few w ords o f L tin origin just med re s id a na a a
technic lly to belong in E nglish to the L tin of the First

a a
Period ; th se intr duced fterw rds chiefly b y Augustine

o o a a ,
an d his successors among the E nglish w hom Rome Christ ,
i
an i s ed b ei g ccounted L tin o f the S econd ; those that
, n a a
w ere b ro u ght by the Norm n s Latin o f the Third ; a d a , n
l stly those introduced f technic l d scientific use sin c e

a , or a an ,
w h t is c lled the Revival o f Letters L tin o f the Fourt h

a a ,
a
Period O f these Periods the first second and third con

.
, , ,
tri b ted the first we h ve seen in almost no degree ;

u —
,
as a ,
the second ppreci bly ; d the third much to the for

,
a a an ,
mation o f the l nguage a .
We turn o w from th ese e rliest tr ces o f our language

n a a
to the first beginnings o f our liter ture O f a .
the w isdom and splendour of the Druids won

d e fu l things h ve been fabled by the later
r a
descend nts o f the Cymry b ut in the single tru st a ,
w orthy ccount le ft us b y C aes r w e find only t h e

a a
f mili r sketch f
a a priestly cl ss th t in rude age rises t o
o a a a a
influence by sh ring multiplying d using to its o wn gai n

a , , an
th t reverent instinctive sense o f unseen pow ers which b elongs

a
to the crude m nhood f the he then The comm nalty of

a o a . o
G ul we le rn from Julius C aes r was lmost in the con

a ,
a a , a
dition f slaves po wer being in the h nds o f priests and

o , a
w rior chie fs
ar The priests called Druids judged and
-
.
, ,
punished crimes excommunic ting those b y w hom th eir

,
a
sentences w ere disreg rded d this excommunication was a ,

an
1 64 E N GL I SH I VR I T E RS .
and the begi nnings of m onths and years in such an order

th t the d y f llow s the nigh t And so indeed we still
a a o .
”
, ,
spe k o f a se nnight or a fortnight O f the prod cers f

a
’
. u o
ou r e rliest liter ture w h t else is to be l e r t w e g ther

a a ,
a a n a
o nly fr m the st dent of the ncient records o f t he G el

o u a a .
The d wn o f tho ght w represented by a search fo God

a u as r
but in rem te ge there w s in this cou try a lettered

a o a a n
cl ss pp rently distinct from th t f the p riests prod uci n g

a ,
a a a o ,
a rude history d p etry fo quick w itted d imaginative

an o r a -
an
people .
We are o f sundry r ces but one pe ple within b ound s a , o ,
o f w hat the w orld calls E ngland A fair sketch .
f liter ture m ust needs tell how there w ere

o ou r a
fr m the b eginning w its t w ork in Irel nd S cotland a n d

o a a , ,
W les as w ell s in E ngl nd east o f the S evern a d south

a ,
a a n
o f the T w eed The genius of a great nation is our the m e

.
,
an d it is no theme to b e discussed in a prov i ncial pi rit s .
The name of E nglish was derived from one of ma n y

“ ”
Teutonic t ribes th t u ited t b ecome one people an d a n o
then bore single n me In the fus i on o f the Teut on

a a .
w ith the Celt fusion that has b rought quicken i n g o f

, a
pow er to the tion ; in all fusions b e fore and since ; an d

na
in all putting forth f br nches th t h ve spread over t h e o a a a
w orld E glish speaking people w ith its centre o f li fe i n

an n -
these i sl nds of Gre t Bri t in ; let th t old tribe of Angl i

a a a a
still furnish the me th t represents us all L e t the tri b e

na a .
th t w s b rely named by T citus d from w hich n ot a

a a a a ,
an
tithe of the First E nglish were descended still furn ish t h e ,
n me fo our gre t br therho d ow spread over the world

a r a o o n ,
one in ff ection one in pow er one in aim

a , , .
C H APT E R II .
OL D L I T E R AT U R E OF T HE G AE L .
T HE story of o u literature b egins w ith t h e Gael fo there

r r
is prese ved in Irel nd a gre t mass f nci n t Ancien

r a a o a e t
c pies f more ancient writings that reproduce fif fffi ffif

o o
most interesting tr ces of h istori c t le d

a
B i i
a an
r ta n
song in t he remotest epoch o f our common history .
Let us t once dismiss here s beside our purpose

a ,
a ,
t h e name o f E rse derived fro m Erin or Ierne to

“ “ ” “ ” ”
, ,
distinguish Irish from S cottish G elic The distinction o f a .
existing dialects does not aff ect the story o f their ncient a
common literature They w ere G aed h el s or Gaels spe king

.
,
a
G aed h l ic or Gaelic wh o coming most pr b ably from Sp in

, , o a ,
l anded in Irel nd d upon the w estern coasts o f E ngl nd

a an a
a n d S cotland w h o also
, s they spre d themselves a b ro d
,
a a a
over the n ew soil crossed the na ro w str it o f sixteen miles

,
r a
dividing Ireland from C t y e to settle also in the western an r
islands and highlands o f Scotl nd M ny o f the G ed hel s a . a a
wh o reached S cotland partly by land instead o f w holly by ,
sea n o dou b t sojourned a w hile in Irel nd on their w y ; and

,
a a
in that s ense most o f the S cottish G els e s id to h ve a ar a a
passed over from Irel nd be fore the third century But

a .
the old poems and tr ditions sho w that there w continu l

a as a
communic tion flux d reflux bet ween the G elic chie fs

a , an , a
in Ireland and the chie fs o f Alb n the S cottish m inl nd or a , a a ,
the intervening isl nds a .
There was no difference o f nat ionality b tween the Gaels e

of Irel nd d those o f the Scottish H i ghl nds In lan

a an a .
guage customs d tr ditions they were one people until

, , an a
the sixteenth centu y w hen political and religiou s ch nges r , a
p ted them Gaels on the British shores s poke to Phoenici n

ar . a
s ilors o f the other l nd as the isl nd to the w est (h )e i u

a
“
a a r
genitive (h )e en ; dati e (h) eri and the name Ierne

, r n v n n, ,
E rin wa adopted in t h t w estern l and

, s Mr Whitley S tokes a . .
c nnects E rin w ith older E e i o and the S nskri t

o
”
an v r n, a
(w d poster i o r w es t e nfi
ar “ E ri as the greater and more r n,
, ,
fer t ile possession dou b tless cont ined t he richest chie fs ; in

, a
E rin there fore w ould be the he d q arters o f son g

, , d st ry a -
u an o ,
an d this island was also the larger stage upon w hich t h e

more stirring political dr m s could be en cted Where the a a a .
priests and men o f letters could most readily grow f t d a ,

an
where there was court tha t represented the best stren gth
a
o f G elic civilis tion w e should expect to find

a s w e do
a , , a ,
the gre t m ss of rem ining G elic records But in the

a a a a .
b eginning f our liter ture there w s no re l separ tion

o a a
-
a a
b et w een Irish and S cot t ish Gael d w e dismiss there f re , an , o ,
as most unprofit b le all de b te s to the ncient right o f a , a a a
S c t or Irishman to
o exclus i ve proprietorship in any an
ancient worthy to the poet O isin fo example o f whom

—
,
r ,
S cottish an d Irish G el h ve to this day ret ined equivalent a a a
tr ditions Here too then let us avoid pro inci lism a d

a .
, ,
v a , n
simply reg rd as one r ce irrespective o f bsc u re rieties

a a ,
o va
o f tri b e the entire body o f the

, ncient G e d h el i a a
A fter the old w y o f inventing persons to expl in the a a
names of tri b es t h e name of G aed hel wa deri ed by the, s v
ncient Irish clergy from G ed b l or G d el as w h lived

a a a a a o
“ h h h ce nt u ry
Av i enu s i n h i s O ra M ari t i m a w ic b el o ng s t o t h e fou rt .
s pe a k s of I re l a n d as t h e s acre d i s l and . M .H G a i d o z i n t he R ev u e
.
Cel t i q u e, V o l . IL , p .
3 5 2 , reas o nab l y arg u e s t ha t t h i s w as h i s i nt erp re t a t i on
i s m. a b ou t I s l es o f th e Bl e s t
o f 159 m i n t o s u gg e s t e d by ol d l eg e n d s .
1
'
T h i s d oct ri n e i s e ff ec t i v e l y s u s t a i ne d by M r .
J . F .Ca m p b e l l , i n t he
fou rt h v ol u m e of h is P o p u la r T al e s of t he W es t H i g hl a n d s . O ra ll y
C ol l ect ed . E d i nb u rg h , 1 86 2 .
68 E NG L I SH WR I T E R S .
st nds fo the occult sciences ; d acco rding to Lucian

a r an ,
Ogb um was painted in the second century as a Hercule an

Mercury old in a lion s skin w ith a clu b in his right han d
, ,
’
,
and a bent b o w in his le ft ; the ears of his w orshippers

bound by a chai n of gold d mber to his tongu e These an a .
Ogham letters were cut w ith a kni fe on the staves or w ands

o f the poet A copy o f n ancient poem in a m nuscript
. a , a
itsel f 8 5 years 0 spe ks m ore than once of Ogh m a an a
cut i h oops or wand s and placed in the path o f Queen

n
Me d her army
av an As e ch staff w as found it w as . a ,
ca ried to the Queen wh o sent i t to the great champ i on

r ,
Fergus and by him it w s re d Again in the Book of

,
a a .
,
Leinster which contains copies made early in the tw el ft h

,
century o f ancient records then e isting there is a poem x ,
b y the second daughter o f King Cormac M cA t wh o lived r ,
in the third century setting forth tradition to account fo ,

a r
the agglutination of t wo ancie t Ogham tablets This is a n .
tradition to wh i ch re ference is made in other of the most

ancient Gaelic poems .
T l I e T al e f t /I e f at e qf B a i l e, t /ze Sw eet -sp oken , M e Pr i n cess A zl l zn

’
an d
' '
f
’
o L e zm t er .
Th ei r l ov es bei ng cross ed a nd t h em sel ves part ed t h is fa i t h fu l pa i r ,
s e t ou t t o m ee t each o t h e r p ri v a t e l y on t h e b ank s o f B oy n e Ba i l é .
re s t ed u pon h i s w ay a t T rai g hm Bai l e no w D u nd a l k H e re h e and h i s , .
eo
p p l e h a d u n y ok ed t h e i r ch a ri o t s sen t t h e i r h o rses ou t t o
g raz
, e a n d ,
t u rn ed t h em se l ves t o p l eas u re w h e n t h e y s aw a h orri b l e m a n l i k e a

,
s pec t re com i ng t owa rd s t h e m al ong t h e s h o re fro m t h e s ou t h s w i ft l y as ,
a h a w k d art s from a cl i ff o r as t h e w i nd ru sh es from o ff t he s ea .
s ai d B ai l é
“ “
t o ask w h i t h e r h e g o e s w h ence h e
”
L e t h i m b e m et , , ,
co m es a nd w h y h i s h as t e H e ca m e from M ou n t Le i n s t er t h e m an
”
.
, ,
T h e L e ab h ar na -h -Ui d re , q u o t e d i n t h e S eco nd Ap pe n d i x t o t h e l a t e
Pro fes s or E u g e ne
'
O C u rry s L
e c t u res o n t h e M S M a t e ri al s o f A n c i e n t
'
h
I ri s H i s t o r
”
y
Du b l i n ,
. 1 86 1 . Pro fe sso r O C u rry h ad ’
u n eq u a ll e d k no w
l ed g e o f t h e c ont e n t s o f th e O ld G a el i c M SS i n I rel a n d an d . wh ere no
.
ot her au t hori t y i s nam ed , the i nform a t i o n on t h i s s u bj ect g i ven i n th e t ex t

5 fou n d ed u po n hi s rese arc hes .
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OE THE GAE L .
9
sa i d , an d w en t n o rt h . H e h ad no n e ws b u t t h a t Ai ll i n as sh e w as
co m i n g t o m e e t Bai l é h ad been
you t h s o f L ei n s t e r o v ert a k e n by t he ,
an d w a s d e ad o f t h e h i n d ra n ce a s i t w as fore t ol d by D ru i d s t h a t t h i s ,
cou p l e w o u l d no t m ee t i n l i fe b u t w o u l d m ee t aft e r d ea t h a n d w o u l d , ,
n o t p art fo r e v e r a ft e r t h a t T h e m an t h e n p a s s ed by as a b l as t o f
.
w i nd W h en Bai l é h eard his ti di ng s h e fel l d ead an d Bai l es t o m b

.
,
’
s t one w as s e t u p an d a ye w g re w u
p t,h r o u g h h i s g ra v e an d t h e fo rm ,
o f Ba i l e s h e ad a p e a re d o n t h e t o Th s p ed
’
p p o f i t e n t h e s a m e m a n .
s o u t h a n d p asse d i n t o t h e su n n y ch a m b e r o f A i l l i n a nd t o l d h er h o w
, ,
h e h ad s e e n t h e l am e n t a t i on o v e r Bai l é w h o d i ed w h i l e c om i n g t o m e e t ,
a fav o u ri t e an d b e l o v e d w o m an \Vh e n h e h ad t o l d h i s e v i l ne w s h e .
d a rt ed ou t and A i l l i n fel l d ead and h e r t o m bs t o ne was s e t u p and a n

, , ,
a p l e t re e g re w t h rou g h h e r v e a n d be c a m e a g rea t t ree a t t h e e n d

p g ra
-
,
o f s e v e n y e a rs a n d t h e fo rm o f A i l l i n s h ea d a re d o n t h e m ) o f i t
’
, pp e a l .
A t t h e e n d o f s e ve n y ears po e t s a nd p ro p h e t s and v i s i on e rs c u t d o w n
, , ,
t h e ye w w h i ch w a s o v e r t h e g rav e o f Bai l é an d t h ey m a d e a Po e t s
’
,
T abl e t o f i t an d t h ey w ro t e t h e v i si on s an d t he es p ou sa l s a n d t h e
, , ,
l ov es and t h e c o u rt s h i p s o f U l s t er i n i t
,
T h e a p p l e t ree w h i c h g re w .
-
o v e r A i l l i n w a s al so c u t d o w n an d i n t h e sa m e w ay t h e co u rt s h i p s o f,
Lei ns t e r w e re w ri t t e n i n i t Long a ft e rw ard s w h e n o n N o ve m be r e v e

.
, , ,
A rt t h e s o n o f C o nn m ad e fes t i v al t h e p o e t s a nd t h e p ro fe ss o rs o f
, , ,
e v e ry art cam e t o t h a t fe a s t as i t w a s t h e i r c u s t o m an d t h e y b ro u g h t ,
t hei r tab l e ts w i t h t he m And t h os e T ab l et s al s o cam e t h ere an d A rt

.
sa w t h e m and w h en h e saw t h em h e as k ed fo r t h e m ; an d t h e t w o
,
t a b l e ts w e re b ro u g h t an d h e h e l d t h em i n hi s h a nd s fa ce t o face
, .
S u d d en l y t h e on e t ab l e t o f t h em s p rang u po n t h e o t h er and t h ey ,
becam e u n i t ed as i s w ood bi ne rou nd a t w i g s o t ha t i t w as n o t p os si bl e ,
t o s e p a ra t e t h e m A nd t h e y w e re p res erve d i n t h e T reasu ry a t Tara

.
,
u n t i l i t w as b u rn t b y D u n l a n t h e s o n o f E n n a a t t h e t i m e b e b u rn t
g , ,
t he Pri nc es s es .
Another story ascrib ed to the ye ar one tells h o w , ,
Cuchulain seeking three persons w ho had mysteri usly

,
o
dis ppe red w as helped by prince wh inscribed an

a a ,
a o
Ogh m in hi spe r
a Then he w ent out upon the sea d
s a .
,
an
his ch r m carried him str ight to the isl nd w h re the m

a a a e en
he ought h d b e en det ined Ag in in a story f which

s a a . a , o
the ction b elongs to bout the year 4

a king s son o f a 00, a
’
Munster o b liged to fly to the court of F d h King of

,
e ra ac ,
S cotland dou b t ful f his reception w hen there hid in a

, o ,
1 70 E N GL I SH WR I T ER S .
grove near F e ad ach pal ce where he was recognised b y

r
’
s a ,
the king s poet wh o h ving le rned his history bserved

’
, ,
a a ,
o an
Ogh m inscription in his shield

a Wh o was it th t b e . a
friended you w ith the Ogh m w hich is in your shield ? a
s id the poet
a It w as not good luck he designed f r you
. o .
W h t does it cont in ?
a sked the king s son from a a
’
Munster “
What it cont ins s id the poet is that i f a a , ,
y ou c me by day
a to F e d h s court your he d should be ra ac a
cut off b e fore evening ; d that i f it were by night you an
came your he d should be cut o ff b efore morning When

, a .
”
a king s so could travel or be supposed to travel with an

’
n , ,
open letter like that f stened to his arm the mystery o f a ,
w riting might w ell be ss ci ted with enchantments and be a o a ,
used to magni fy the pow er f the poet or the priest o .
These w ere the days when poetry was first written i n

st ves th t is to say cut on the four sides of a squ e st aff
a ,
a ,
ar ,
P oe t sS
’
or in the f lds of
ta v e s
thick sta ff opening f n w ise o a a .
In the ancient Irish or Brehon laws an rticle

.
,
a
th t belongs to Christi n times prescri b ing the sort o f

a a
w e pon persons of each r nk might carry for their de fence

a a
a ag inst dogs &c in their usu l walks allow s a slender l th

,
.
, a ,
a
or gr ce ful crook to priest b ut assigns to a poet his t b let

a a ,
a
s at fl ccording to the privileges f his order Poetry was

‘
a o .
then re lly a sta ff to le n up n d an irate b rd might

a a o ,
an a
literally bre k a critic s he d w ith qu train

a
’
a a a .
The primitive classific tion o f literary men among the a
Gaels according to their c pabilities was into the Ollamh or a ,
Old G 1
per fec t Doctor wh o w s q alified to recite at
ae i c
’
,
a u
giggi g pu b l c feasts d assembl es sevei

r
fi ft es o f an i i i
historic t les ; the A ot h wh o could tell h al f

n .
a nr ,
as m ny ; the C li w h o could tell a third o f the number ;

a ,
the C no and so on dow n to the Foc h l og wh o told thirty

a ,
an d the lo west class o f liter ry men the D ri s eg w h o coul d a , ,
rel te but tw enty In the in f ncy o f civilisation men e as

a . a ar
children incapab le o f giving their attention to a narrati ve

,
1 7 2 E N GL I SH l VR I T ERS .
Of a B at t l e f o ug l zt on t i re P l a i n o f M oy t u r a .
T he p l a i n i s s t i l l co v e re d wit h c ro m l e c hs , an d i f the st or y b e t ru e i n
i ts d a t es t h o s e c ro m l ech s w e re rai s e d o v e r t h e s l ai n
,
a b ou t t h re e
t h o u san d e ig h t h u n d red y e a rs ag o .
L e s s t h an t w o h u nd red and fi ft y years be fo re t h e co m i ng o f the

M i l e s i a n s t h e F i rb o l g s reach e d E ri n
, Lan d i ng a t d i ff ere n t poi n t s
.
,
t h ey co n t ri v ed t o m e e t i n t h e u n p e op l e d l a n d an d fi x e d t h e i r sea t o f ,
v e rn m e n t u o n t h e h i l l w l l d T ra T h e fi v e b ro t h e rs
g o
p g r e e n n o c a e a .
d i v i d ed t h e i s l an d i nt o fi v e part s and ru l e d i n p e ac e fo r s i x and t h i rt y ,
y ears b u t a t t h e e n d o f t h at t i m e t h ey we re s u rp ri sed t o fi n d t h a t t h ere

,
w as an o t h e r p eo p l e i n t h e l an d t h e T u at h a (t h a t i s , p peo l e ) d é ,
D anaa n o f w h o m t h e y h ad k n o w n n o t h i ng Th e s e p eo p l e a ft e r l an d i ng .
,
o n t h e n o rt h e a s t coa s t o f E ri n h ad d es t roy e d t h e i r b o a t s s l i p p e d i n t o
-
, ,
fas t n e ss es i n L e i t ri m an d s o g rad u a l l y s h o w e d t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e
,
F i rb o l g p e op l e p re t end i ng t ha t t h ey h ad com e t h rou g h t he ai r b y

,
s k i l l i n n ec ro m a n c y T h e K i n g o f t h e F i rb o l g s se n t a g re a t w arri o r
.
,
na m ed S re n
g t o o b s,e rve t h e s t ra n g e rs w h o s e e i ng h i s a pp roa ch sen t , , ,
fo rt h a ch am pi on o f t h ei r o w n n a m e d Bre as t o m e et h i m ,
T he t w o , .
c h a m p i on s a p roa ch e d c au t i o u s l y p p g
e e i n a t eac h o t h e r o v e r t h e i r
p ,
s h i e l d s ; B re a s s o k e fi rs t a n d S re n g w as d el i g h t e d t o h e ar h i m se l f
p ,
a dd re ss e d i n G a e d hl i c Th en t h ey conv e rs e d a nd fou nd t h a t t h e t wo
.
na t i o n s w e re o f o n e d e s ce n t t h e an ces t o rs o f t h e T u a t h a d é D a n an n
,
h av i ng pass ed i n t o t h e no rt h o f E u rope w h en t h ei r brot hers t h e , ,
an ces t o rs o f t h e F i rbo l s w e n t o f o l d i n t o Th race T h e h e roe s c om

g , .
p a r e d ar m s e x c
, h a n g e d s p e ar s f o r c o m p a r i so n o f a rm s o n e i t h e r s i d e ,
c o u n s el l i n
g d i v i s i o n o f t h e i s l a n d a n d m u t u a l f ri,en d s h i p b e t w e en t h e
t w o p e op l e s B u t w h e n S re n g re t u rn ed t o t h e F i rbo l g K i ng t ha t k i ng
. ,
an d hi s
p p
e o l e w e r e b en t u p o n g i v i n g b a t t l e T h e T u a t h a d é D a n ann .
,
e x p e c t i ng a t t a ck w i t hd re w t o M a h T u i read h (o r M o t u ra n ear t h e
, g y ,
p res en t v i l l a
g e o f C on g i n M a y ,o ) T h e F i rb o l g s .m a r c h e d u p on t h e m .
T h e T u a t ha d é D ana n n o ffe red t h ro u g h t h e i r bard s t erm s of aec om , ,
m od a t i on . B u t t h e F i rb ol g s w e re res o l v e d t o fig h t d i d fig h t a n d , ,
w e re d e fea t ed w i t h g re a t s l au g h t e r t h e i r n u m be rs b e i ng b ro u g h t d o w n ,
t o t h ree h u n d re d a ft e r fo u r d ay s b a t t l e S re ng cu t o ff t h e l eft a rm o f
’
.
t h e K i ng o f t h e T u ath a d é D a n a n n B u t t h e m ai m e d K i n g h a d a
.
s i l v e r arm m ad e t o re l a ce i t a n d w as ca l l e d i n s t o ry a ft e rw a rd s t h e
p ,
M . H e nri M art i n D A rch e ol og i e

’
Cel t i q u e . Pari s , p 79 ) sa s
1 8 72 , . y
t ha t T u a t ha d é D a na n n s ig n i fies Pe op l e of t he G o d s o f D a na D ana .
(g eni t iv e d an a n n ) , c a l l ed al so Anu or A n a , w as , w i t h t he m , he y
s a s , t he
M o t h er o f t he G o ds .
OL D L I T ERA T U R E OF T HE GAEL . 1 73
S i l ve r -
h and e d . h t he t h re e h u n d red s t i l l
S re n g , w h o s u rv i v e d wit ,
fou g h t o n an d o ff e re d t o co m p l e t e t h e ba t t l e b y a s e ri e s o f s i ng l e
,
co m b a t s B u t t h e T u a t h a d é D ana n u o ff ere d h i m p eace and g av e h i m

.
,
o ne o f t h e fi v e d i v i s i ons o f t h e l a n d t o ru l e o ver s o t h a t C o n n a u h t
g ,
b e ca m e k n o w n as S re ng s P ro v i n ce ’
.
this most ncient piece o f British history Pro fessor

Of a ,
OC
’
y s ys “
u rr I m b ound to ssert th
a t I believe
, there isa a a
not in l l E ur pe tr ct o f equ l historic l v lue yet lying

a o a a a a a
i nM S considering its undoubted ntiquity d the a an au n
t i c i ty .
step more w e w ill t ke in company w ith the most

One a
primitive o f our histori ns a .
Ancient m nuscripts th t cont i extr cts from the lost

a a a n a
b ook o f Drom S ea h t w ritten be fore S t P trick s time n c a, . a

’
,
represent from th t vener ble uthority wh t w the Prime a a a a as
Story o f Irruption and Migration th t accounted fo a r
T li ef i m t ea r a m e o f t /w Gard /I ai r i n E r zn
’
a
pp .
B efo re t h e i r t i m e t h e F i rbo l g s and t he T u at ha dé D an an n o ccu

p i e d
t h e cou n t r yh e se w ere o ri g i n al l y o f o n e race w i t h th e G ae dh el s i n
, an d t
S cy t h i a A b ranc h o f t h e m w en t t o E g yp t a ft e rw a rd s re t u rn e d t o
.
,
S cy t h i a t h en w en t t o G re ece a n d l as t l y t o S p ai n w h e re a ft e r a l ong
, , ,
re s i d e n ce t h e y bu i l t t h e c i t y o f B ra a n t i a b
g [O s e rv e t h e p e rfe c t c o i nc i .
d ence o f t h i s t rad i t i on w i t h w h at w e el s ew h ere l earn o f t h e B ri g an t es i n

S pa i n I rel a n d a n d E n g l a nd ] A t l as t a co l o n y o f t h e m ca m e i n t o E ri n
, , .
(ab ou t 1 700 u n d e r co m m an d o f t h e ei g h t s o n s o f G a l a m h w h o i s ,
co mm on l y ca l l e d M i l es i u s Th es e M i l e si an s l and e d a t t h e m ou t h of
.
t h e S l a n ey i n W e x fo rd u n o bs e rv e d by t h e T u a t h a d é D ana n n a n d a t
, , ,
o n ce m arc h e d u p o n T a ra t h e s ea t o f g o v e rn m e n t w h e re t h e y ca l l e d
, ,
u p on t h e t h re e k i ng s o f t h e i s l a n d t o s u rre n d e r Th ey re pl i ed t h at t h ey .
w ere t a k en b y s u rp ri s e a nd p ro p o s ed t o t h e i n vad e rs t o re e m bark g o

,
-
,
o u t t o s e a a d i s t anc e o f n i n e w a v es a n d t h en i f t h ey co u l d fo rc i b l y, ,
m ak e g oo d t h e i r l a nd i ng t h e y s h ou l d h a v e t h e c o u n t ry
, T h e M i l es i a n s .
ag re e d t h a t t h i s w as fa i r a n d w en t b a ck t o t h e i r s h i s b u t t h e T u at h a
, p
d é D anaa n t h e re u po n rai se d a fi e rc e m ag i ca l t e m p es t w h i c h d i s p e rs ed ,
t h ei r fl e e t T h e M i l e s i ans h ow e v e r h a d al s o D ru i d s an d al t h o u g h
.
, , ,
fi v e o f t h e ei g h t b rot h ers w ere d row n ed t h re e l and ed nam el y E re m o n , , , ,
E b e r F i rm and A m e rg e n o f t h e Whi t e Kn ee t h e poet ch ron i cl e r and

, , , ,
j u dge , an d Am e rg e n w as t h e fi rs t
d i s pens e d j u st i ce i n E ri n
m an w h o .
A ft e r t h e l an d i n g t w o bat t l e s w e re fo u g h t an d w o n al t h o u g h i n t h e ,
fi rs t t he M i l es i a n b ro t h ers l os t t h ei r m o t h e r S cota T he po w e r o f t h e .
T u a t h a d é D a n an n h a v i ng be e n t h u s o v e rt h ro w n E re m o n a nd E be r ,
F i n n d i v i d e d t h e l an d be t w ee n t h e m Bu t t h e y t h e m se l v e s q u arrel l e d.
a n d fo u h t
g A f t erw a rd
. s E re m on w a s s o l e k i ng a n d i n hi s rei n t h e
g ,
C ru i t h n e ans o r Pi c t s c a m e i n t o E ri n and pass e d over t o A l ban o r

S co t l an d w h e re t h e y s e t t l ed
, .
This is the n tive record tr diti n th t corrobor tes

a or a o a a
the rgument derived from other sources fo the comi ng o f

a r
the G aed hel into E rin out of Sp in s a .
Fights c urtship d bd ction occup tion o f the

, o ,
an a u a
riches of thinly peopled unpeopled soil com b at w hen

a -
or
ever t w o di fferent bodies o f colonists chanced to b e coveting

the s me broad l nds are the chie f fe tures of old Gaelic
a a ,
a
histo y It represents in its det ils a somew hat restl e s s

r . a
p stor l people apt to di ff se itsel f b y g re t and small

a a , u a
migr tions fi erce d persistent i fight b ut not cruel and

a ,
an n , ,
giving ho nour to very chiv lrous sense o f fair pl y There a a a .
are f w t les o f mean espi l d betr y l More n tural to

e a a an a a . a
the G el w s his notion th t the inv ders wh o had mad e

a a a a
good their l nding unexpected unopposed might re son

a , , a
ab ly t the req est of the inv ded people e em b rk retire

,
a u a ,
r -
a ,
n ine w ves d then let it ppe r whether in f ir fi ght th e y

a ,
an a a a
co ld m ke their l nding good The h l f ba rb rous Gael

u a a . a -
a
— p g n b uta a gentlem n in the rough wh o to the best of
— a a
,
his o w w y d time held w omen in honour nd was ofte

n a an ,
a n
gl dly subject to clever queen delighted in rich colour

a a ,
(not in M p h e s o i a gloom ) d h d the taste fo orn a

ac r n n ,
an a r
ment th t w fi d cle rly displ yed in the gold trinkets and

a e n a a
the chased w ork of the Bron e period d i scovered in its z
tombs H e liked the joyous festiv l the gl d run with t h e

. a ,
a
hounds He h d also a religious spirit a d a lively fancy

. a n ,
th t ccorded dignity to the o fli e not of the priest only but

a a c
o f the m n o f letters The young Gaeli c civili sation sh owed

a .
Bri n the son o f C i ei d igh as a punishment fo L ei st e s

a nn ,
r n r
’
service to the D nes i t m y be here dded th t fo reviving

— a a a a r
it Bri n o b t i ned the n me yet famous in nursery lore of

a a a , ,
Bri n Bo i m h e
a ro .
The f ncy o f the n rr t r lw ys pl yed over the sur f ce

a a a o a a a a
o f an l d hist ric tale giving it stronger hold thr ugh

o o ,
o
curi sity d wonder on the gener l ttention d through

o an a a ,
an ,
t h t upon t he memory o f l l Sometimes the w hole hist ry

a , a . o
wa so completely interpenetr ted b y the w orki n gs o f im gi

s a a
n tion th t i t bec m e a myth The most f mous o f such

a a a . a
myths is the rec rd o f the T i n Bo C h i lg é (C ttle spoil

o a ua n a -
of C h i lg éua pl ce ow c lled Co ley in the co nty

n ,
a a n a o ,
u
Louth ) through w hich w w ill p ss to consider ti n f

, e a a a o o
old Gaelic poet y The t le w as cont i ed in the most r . a a n
a ncient f the lost b ooks o f the G el the C i l m enn or

o a , u
Gre t Book o f Skins and it is referred to in the Book o f

a ,
Leinster It w s included in a M S o f the eighth century

. a .
,
n o w l st but described less than a cent u ry ago as among

o ,
the G elic M SS in the possession o f the H igh l nd Society

a . a .
There vener b le legends th t rel te the early loss o f

a re a a a
t h e w h le story o f the Tain

o d its recove ry ; b u t the an
n umerous ccessible copies o f the t le its el f a e c mp r

a a r o a a
t i e l y modern
v About the ye r 5 8 S ench n (pronounced
. a 0, a
Sh e ca ) w h w s the chie f poet c lled

n n , o meeting of the
a , a a
poets and le ed m e o f E rin to scert in w hether y f

arn n a a an o
them remembered the old t le o f the C ttle spoil f C h i l a a -

o ua
g n é ,
w hich took place bout the ye r 39 They s id th t a a . a a
they remembered only f gments of it whereupon Senchan ra
a sked w hether y o f his pupils w ould go into the country

an
Leth (It ly ) t le rn the t le w hich learned m h d

a a , o a a a an a
t ken to the E st fter the C il m e h d been c rried a w y

a a a u nn a a a .
The legend goes on to tell h ow s me of those w h w ent o o
h d pr ceeded no f rther than Conna gh t when at the

a o a u ,
cromlech of Fergus Mac R o i gh the ghost of Fergus ap ,
ea e d in a be auti ful for m

r I t h ad b ro w n hair an d w re a o
p .
,
OL D LI T E RA T U R E OF THE G AE L . 1 77
coll ared gold ri bb ed shirt a green mantle a gold hil ted

-
, ,
-
s word and sandals of b ron e Fro m the ghost s dict tion ’

,
z . a
S aint C iaran then wrote in its true form the Ta i n Bo C h i l ua
g n é ,o f w hich as a most lively relic o

, f old Gaelic civilis a
t ion , I will tell b riefly the subst nce H ero i c literature a .
g re w about it Some ten consider b le

. poems serve s a a
prel u des to it What the Argonautic E xped ition or the

“
.
,
”
Seven against T he b es is to Greci n history s u ch is to

”
,
a ,
I rish history
t he Ca t t l e '
T /I e T al e f
o p
-S
oi l f Cl ma i lg ne. ‘
o
M eai v (w ri t t en M eadh bh ) was th e d au g h t er o f th a t E och ai d h , K i ng

of E ri n, w h o fou g h t h is t h ree re v o l t e d
hei r d efe at an d
so ns , a nd a ft er t
d eat h was re vol t ed ag ai nst by t he m en o f C o nnau g h t T o k ee p t h e m .
i n o rd e r E oc hai d h m ad e hi s d au g h t e r M eé v Q u e en of C o nnau g h t and

, ,
h e ga v e h er t he pow erfu l C o nnau g h t c h i e f A i l i ll fo r h u sban d M eii v , .
h ad be fo re t h e n q u i tt ed C o nor K i ng o f U l s t e r t o w h om s h e h ad b ee n
, ,
m a rri e d u nh appi l y Ai l i l l d i ed and t h e w i d o w ed Q ueen w e n t t o t h e

.
,
C ou rt of Lei nste r t h ere t o choose fo r h e rs el f a th i rd h u s band H avi ng

,
.
c h osen th e Ki ng o f L e i ns t e r s y o u ng es t s on w h o w as na m ed a l so Ai l i l l
’
, ,
s h e m arri ed h i m and b rou g h t h i m bac k as h e r k i n g co nso rt

,
M an y -
.
c h i l d ren w e re bo rn o f t h ei r h ap p y m a rri ag e .
One d ay Q u ee n M eav an d h e r h u s ba n d a rg u ed w i t h each o t h e r as

t o t h ei r we al t h w h i c h w as t h e ri ch e r
,
fo r a t t ha t t i m e al l w o m e n h ad
t h ei r p ri vat e g ood s se cu red t o t h em i n m a rri ag e S o t h ey res o l v ed t o .
p ro d u ce a n d co m pa re t re a s u re s ag ai n s t e ac h o t h e r Th e re w e re b ro u g h t .
t o t h em al l t h e i r w ood en and m e t al v e s s el s and t h ey w ere fo u n d t o b e ,
e q u al i n val u e ; t h ei r fi ng er ri ng s c l as ps b racel e t s t h u m b ri ng s
-
, , ,
-
,
d i ad em s and neck l ets of g ol d and t h ey a l so w e re eq u al Th ere w e re

, , .
b rou g h t t o t h em t h ei r g arm en ts o f c ri m s o n and bl u e and bl a ck and , , ,
g re e n , an d y el l o w an d m o t t l ed a n d w h i t e
,
a nd s t rea k e d
, i n w ea l t h o f,
t h es e t oo t h ey w e re e q u al
, ,
Th e re w e re brou g h t t h e i r fl ock s o f s h ee p
.
t h e i r s t ee d s a nd t hei r s t u d s fro m p as t u re s ; g re a t h e rd s o f s w i n e fro m

fo res ts and d ee p g l en s and s ol i t u d e s ; a nd d ro v es o f co w s fro m t h e
, ,
fo res ts a nd m os t re m o te sol i t u d e s o f t h e p ro v i nce S t i ll a l l w ere e q u al .
b u t t h e re w as fou n d among A i l i l l s h e rd s a you ng b u ll cal v e d by o n e o f

’
M eav s co w s w h i c h no t d ee m i ng i t h o no u ra bl e t o b e u nd e r w o m a n s
’ ’
, ,
co n t ro l h a d g o n e o v e r an d a t t a c h ed h i m s el f t o A i l i l l s h erd s
’
.
,
T he na m e of t h i s fi ne an i m al w as t he Wh i t e h o rn e d and i t was -
,
fo u nd t hat t he Qu ee n had n o t o ne t o m at ch h i m .
M
S he s en t , t h erefore , for h e r co u s i n , M ac R o t h , and k ed w h ere i n

as ,
t h e fi v e pro v i n ces o f E ri n , s h e cou l fi nd a u l l t o d b m a t c h t h e Wh i t e

h o rn e ? d k
M ac R o th ne w o f a e t t e r u l l , cal l e t h e Bro w n Bu l l b b d of
C h u ai l g n é . It be l o ng e d t o D ar é , s on of F a ch t n a, of C h u ai l g né , i n
U l s t er .
G o, d t h e Qu een
s ai a sk D a ré t o l end i t m e for a y ea r a n d I
, ,
w i l l s e n d h i m fi ft y h ei fe rs b ack w i t h i t I f t he p eo pl e o f t hi s d i s t ri c t .
o bj ec t t o
p ar t i n g w i t h t h e b u l l l e t D a ré c o m e w i t h i t
, h i m s e l f a nd h e ,
s h al l h a v e l a n d s h ere o f m
y b es t e q u a l i n e x t e n t t o h i s o w n a ch ari o t
, ,
w o rt h s i x t y t h re e c o w s and m y fu t u re fri e nd s h i p
”
-
.
,
T h e cou ri e r w e n t o n h i s e rran d w i t h n i n e fo l l o w ers a n d w as h O S p i t ,
a b l y rece i v e d by D a ré w h o acce t e d t h e Q u ee n s t erm s h ’

p , B u t a t n i g t .
fal l M eav s m esse ng e rs w ere ch a t t e ri n g a m ong t h e m s el v es o v er t h e i r

’
O ne s ai d t h a t D are h a d d o n e w el l t o g i v e t o n i ne fri e n d l y m e n
’
cu p s .
t h e B ro w n B u l l t h at t h e fo u r p ro v i nce s o f E ri n cou l d n o t ha v e t ak e n b y
fo rce o u t o f U l s t e r A n o t h e r s a i d t h a t l i t t l e t h an k s w e re d u e t o h i m
.
,
fo r i f h e h ad n o t g i ven t h e bu l l w i l l i ng l y Q u ee n M c dv w o u l d h av e ,
fo rc ed i t fro m h i m D a ré s s t e w ard h app e n e d t o b ri ng i n foo d j u s t a t

’
.
t h a t t i m e a n d h e h e a rd t h e b o as t
, A n g ri l y t h ro w i ng d o w n t h e fo od .
a m o ng t h e m esse n g e rs h e t u rn ed bac k a n d t ol d w h a t h e h ad h e ard t o

,
hi s m as te r w h o s w o re b y h i s g od s t h a t t h e s e u nm an n e rl y c l a i m an t s
,
s h o u l d no t h a v e t h e B ro w n B u l l e i t h e r b y c o n s en t o r fo rce .
W h e n t h i s w as rep ort ed t o M eav s he t o o k u p t h e w o rd s o f h e r ,
b oas tfu l m es s e ng er an d ra i s ed an arm y t o m arch i n t o U l s t e r T h e

,
.
fo rce s m e t a t C ru a ch ai n w h e nce a ft e r con s u l t i ng h er D ru i d a n d a

, ,
B a ns h e e t h at a p p eared t o h e r t h e Q u ee n h e rs e l f l e d t he a rm y o f ,
i n v a s i on h er h u s b an d a nd h er d a u g h t e r t h e F a i rb ro w ed g o i n g w i t h
, , ,
h er . W h e n t h e h os t w as enca m p e d fo r t h e n i g h t M e av con t ri v e d t o ,
s p e a k p ri v a t e l y t o ea ch o f t h e c h i e fs a n d p ro m i s e h i m fo r h i s fid e l i t y ,
t h e h a n d o f h e r be au t i fu l d au g h t e r t h e F a i rb ro w e d i n m arri ag e , , .
I t h app en ed t h a t t h e U l s t e rm en l ay at t h a t t i m e u nd e r a c u rs e o f
d e bi l i t y s o t h a t t he on l y d e fe nd er o f t h e i r bo rd e r w as t h e you t h
,
C u ch u l ai n an d C u ch u l a i n s p a t ri m on y w as the fi rs t t o b e i n vad ed fo r
,
’
w i t h i n i t l i v ed t h e o w ne r o f t h e B ro w n B u l l o f C h u ai l g n é C u ch u l a i n .
,
c o n fro n t i n g t h e i n v ad e rs c l a i m e d o f t h e m s i ng l e co m ba t and adj u re d

, ,
t h e m b y t h e l aw s o f w ar n o t t o a d v a n ce fu rt h e r u nt i l i n fa i r s u cce ss i v e ,
fi g h t s o f m an t o m a n h e h ad bee n c o nqu e red T h e d em an d w as

, .
ra n t ed B u t d ays p as s e d an d C u c h u l ai n s t i ll w as v i c t o r i n e a c h
g .
,
c o m bat M e v b ec a m e t h e re fo re i m pa t i e n t o f d e l ay b ro k e c o m pac t
'
. ii , ,
c a rri e d ti re a n d s wo rd t h rou g h U l s t e r a n d m a rch e d b ac k t o M ea t h w i t h ,
t h e B ro w n B u l l .
Bu t no w al so th e t i m e of t h e cu rs e ca m e t o a n en d , a nd the U l ste r
of the stone over the grave of her husband C u ch orb , son

of M ogh c o rb
M og h co rb
’
s s o n c o n cea l s ren o w n ,
He s h ed b l o o d w el l w i t h hi s s p ea rs .
T i s pi t y
’
A s t o ne o v e r h i s g ra v e
H e w ho ca rri ed b a t t l e o v e r G l i fi M ai l .
My bl e ki ng ne v er sp ok e fa l s e h o od
no
I n ev ery p e ril h i s s u c cess w as su re .
Bl ac k as t h e rav e n w as h i s b ro w
S harp as a raz o r w as h i s s p ea r
W h i t e a s l i m e w as hi s s k i n
We u s ed t o feas t t o g e t h er .
H i g h w as h i s s hi el d as a ch a m pi on ,
L ong as an oar w as h i s a rm ,
T he p ro p ag ai n s t t h e k i n g s o f E ri n ,
H e m ai n t a i n e d h i s s h i el d i n ev e ry ca u s e .
H e fe d w i t h h i s s p ear cou n t l es s w o l v e s
A t t h e h e el s o f o u r m a n i n e v e ry ba t t l e .
T heseven b ttles th t were fought by C h o b e next

a a uc r ar
n med in his honour until from his death in the l st rises

a ,
a
the w il that destr cti n should h ve come upon h i m

a u o a .
The exercise o f fancy in a b und nt use of simile is here as a
notice b le s w e sh ll find its ab sence to be in the old

a a a
heroic Anglo S xon verse-

a .
But the most interesting fr gments o f old Gaelic verse e a ar
those fe w in number which b elong to or e c nect d b y

, , ar on e
remote tradition w ith Fi o O isin and the F e i When nn, ,

n an s .
in the l st century J mes Macpherson after publishing some

a a ,
apparently genuine fr gments o f ncient poetry collected

“
a a
in the Highl nds f S cotl nd h d pr ceeded to t h e f bri

a o a ,
”
a o a
cation o f his sentiment l epics Fing l and Temor investi a a a,
g at i o n ubsequently
s led a C mmittee f t h Highl nd o o e a
S ociety o f S c tl nd to the c nclusion th t th re w re re lly

o a o a e e a
a few short poems or fr g m ents o f ncient G elic verse a a a ,
ascri b ed to O i sin or relating to him retained mong the ,

a
Gaels b y immemorial tr dition ; nd th t in some d gree a a a ,

e ,
OL D L I T E RA T U RE OF T HE GAEL . 181
verses and lege ds still retained mong the G els h d b een

n a a a
inter woven b y M cpherson w ith his ow inventions A M S

a n . .
ascribed b y the Committee o f the Highl nd Society to the a
eighth century w hich cont ined the story o f the C ttle

,
“
a a
plunder of C h u il g é n d re ference to O isin h s dis

a n
”
a ,
a
appe red since it w s described i 8 5 Eugene O C y

a a n 1 0 .
’
u rr
found among old Irish M S S only eleven O ssi nic p ems i n . a o
records earlier th n the fi fteenth centu y O f these seven

a r .
,
are ascribed t Fionn t wo to his son O isin one to Fergus

o , ,
Fi nn b h eo i l d one to C e i l t e
,
an The most important a .
a uthority is the Book of Leinster c ntaining pieces tran , o
scribed i the t w el fth c ntury A ch rter f l nds in

n e . a o a
Mor yshire d t d
a r fers t
,
a e w el l o f the Fein
1 2 2 0, e o a
”
it a
M S in the Advocates Libr ry at E dinburgh d t ing in

’
. a , ,
a
12 3 8 cont
,
ins i Irisha ch r cter
,
the
n song o f D e i d i or a a ,
r r,
D ea d r
(raM acpherson s D t h u l ) In B rbour
’
s Brus ar a . a
’
,
1 3 75 the,
Lord f Lorn is representedo quoting to his men
Fionn b y the n me f Fing l in his stri fe gainst G ll M
,
a o a , a o ac
morna ,
ex mple o f cour ge William Dunbar in the
as an a a .
,
fi fteenth century re fers in his verses to tr ditions concern

, , , a
ing Fyn M k owl e d G w M acm o

a Also Gavin
an o rn .
”
Douglas Bishop o f Dunkeld inscribing a poem to

, ,
James IV tells h ow he w in his P lace o f Hono r

.
, sa a u ,
among other ch racters familiar to the people a ,
G rei t G ow m acm orne an d F yn M a C ou l , and h ow

Th e y s u l d b e g od d i s i n I rel and as th ey say .
In this w y there can be set forth a tolerably continuous

a
ch in f evidence that Fi o wa in Scotland s in Irel nd

a o nn s , a a ,
a popul r hero o f the Gaels but it is not necess ry to look

a a
to l ter d te when w e h ve extant the c llection f High

a a a a o o
l nd Traditions made by De n J mes M G eg o f Lismore

a a a
’
r o r, ,
C a m p b el l s ’
Pop u l a r T al e s o f t h e W e s t H ig h l a n d s , v ol . iv . , p .
45 .
and for t h e ne xt fa c t s .
in A gyl es h i e and his b rother Dunc n l l of it b e f re the

r r ,
a ,
a o
ye r 5 5
a d much o f it b e fore 5
1 0 , an The volume le ft by 1 12 .
them s The Book f the De n of Lismore

“
, a w f rms o a ,
”
no o
p rt f the collection o f G elic M SS in the Advoc tes

a o a . a
’
Libr ry at E din burgh

a The De n of Lismore s collection . a
’
cont ins t w enty eight Feni n poems nine ttrib u ted to O isin
a -
a ,
a
( f which one only is

o t m ni festly o f the Christi n period no a a
in which O isin was only fab led to h ve lived ) t wo to Fergus a ,
Fi b h e i l one to C e il t e M R o a three to couple o f ’

nn o ,
a n n, a
b ard s not else where n med and the rest t b ds u named a ,

o ar n .
F i o (w hich means the Fair haired ) w as the son o f

nn -
C u m ha i l l .
Fr m the L b/ o fi U ia or Book f the Dun ea za r -

I za - -
'
re, . o
C w a M S c llection m de in the eleventh century

.
o , . o a ,
there is an Ol d story f the Battle o f C u ha w hich ccounts o n c , a
f the feud b et w een Fionn M C u m h i l l

or d Goll M M o a 1 c a an c rn .
”
W he n C thair the Gre t “ s King in T r he h d a

a a a a a a
gre t Druid amed N du wh o sked fo l nd in Leinster

a ,
n na ,
a r a ,
an d chose Almu o w the hill o f Allen near N e w b i d ge in

,
n , r ,
Kildare H e b uilt there ho m e f which he r b b ed the

. a ,
o u
w lls w hite w ith

a l m (lime ) d called it Almu w
a ahich u , an ,
w as the na m e Of Nu d w i fe A son o f N u ad w as lso a a u s

’
. u a
celebr ted Druid His me was T d hg and he had a

a . na a ,
w i fe n med R i u a N nadu died and T d hg se ved in his

ar .
, a r
place as Druid to the Gre t Cath ir T d hg and R ri u h d a a . a a a
a daughter Murni f the Fair Neck wh o w sought fo her

,
o ,
as r
beauty b y the sons of kings d mighty lords C mha i ll an . u
w s mo g the king s sons wh o sought Murni and T d h g

’
a a n , a
re fused him C mh i l l w s serving Cond wh o w s his

. u a a , a
s e l e c t i o n o f all h “T he D ean Li s more s

A t a t i s m os t i n t eres t i n g i n of
’
Bo o k ”
h a s b ee n ed i t ed , (E di n b u rg h , 1 862 ) wit h a t ra n s l a t i o n a n d n o t es ,
b y t he R e v . T h o m as M ac L a u g hl a n , and an i n t ro d u c t i on a nd ad d i t i on a l
n otes by W i ll i a m S k e n e E s q t o w o m t h e F ac u l t o f Ad v oca t e s was i a

F . , .
, h y
d e b t e d fo r t h e f o rm a t i o n o f i t s i m p o rt a n t G e li c co l l ec t i o n a .
1 T ext a nd t ran s l a t i o n w e re c on t ri b u t e d b y W M . . H e nn e ssy t o t h e

R e v u e Cel f i q u e fo r A u g u s t , 1 8 73 (
v ol . ii .
,
p .
years earlier could only have survived in f b le to hol d

,
a
w ith t h e saint the dialogues ascri b ed to him by old tra

ditio The b ttle of G ab h a in w hich Oi i s son w s
n . a r s n
’
a
killed is the subject f one o f the t wo poems ascri bed to

, o
O isin hi m sel f in the Book of Leinster The other poem .
ascri b ed to him in this ancient b ook is nearly eight times s a
long d w ritten a romantic tale o

,
—
an — occ ion o f t he n as
a cient festival g mes on the Li ff ey w hen men spoke o f

n a ,
the blindness o f Oisin wh o outlived his f i e d fi O isin ,

r n s t
was b ard and war ior His b rother Fergus F i b heoi l

r . nn
(w hich means the E loquent ) w as chie f b ard and nothi ng ,
b ut a bard Ascri b ed to him there i s in the Book o f

.
,
the De n o f Lismore a poem in short smooth alliter tive

a , ,
a
lines w ith vocal concords that is said in form of l ngu ge

, , a a
s in matter to bear evidence o f a remote antiquity I '
a . .
qu ote it s a ch r cteristic and trust worthy ex mple o f the

a a a a
m ost polished form o f ncient Gaelic poetry Desi re to a .
make pe ce in a qu rrel b etw een his father d G 011

a a an
M M o a chiefly b y putting Goll into good humour be f re

c rn ,
-
o
proposing terms o f ccommo d tio n is the purport of the a a ,
so ng E very stop i ndicates the close of a line o f verse i

.
'
High -
m i n d ed G ol l , W ho bat s F i onu A h ero brav e Bol d i n
c om , ,
a ssau l t , His bo u n t y free, Fi erce t o d es t ro y B el o ved o f al l G o l l g ent l e

, ,
brav e , S on o f g re a t , ,M orn H ardy i n w ar

H i s p ra i s e o f ol d , A c o m e l y
m an , K i ng sol d i erl y free , O f n o soft s pe ech , N o l ac k o f se n s e , Ch ee rfu l
I n ba t t l e s d ay, H e m ov ed a p ri n ce ; Th ou g h so ft hi s s k i n ,
’
as g reat .
Not s oft hi s d e ed ; O f po rt l y m ou l d , A fru i t fu l b ranch , H i s h eart s o

p u re, H e t ra i n s t h e y o u ng .
’
Bo v e m ou n t ai ns h igh , R i s es i n v i ct o r y ,
We ev e r fea r, Wh e n he as sa i l s .
I t e l l y ou F i on n , A v oi d t h e m an , Te rror o f G o l l , S h al l m a k e yo u
q u a i l S oot h e h i m rat h er, B e t t e r t h a n fi g h t S k i l fu l and j u s t , H e
. .
r ul es h i s m e n H i s bou n t y w i d e , A b l oody m an , F i rs t i n t h e s c h oo l s ,
A free r h ym ed h
t ra n s l a t i o n o f t i s p oe m . b y D r A n s t e r, wi l l b e fo u n d
.
i n t h e D u bl i n U i v er s i ty I l l ag a z i n e fo r M a rch
n an d Ap ri l , 1852 .
1 B o f
. D o f is m .ore L T r , pp,
"
- 8
43 4 . . .
OL D L I TERA T U RE OF THE G A EL . 185
O f gent l e bl o od , And n o b l e rac e, L i be ral k i nd , U n t i red i n fi g h t, N o

i n w i B w h i l k M rbl e h i s s k i n, P e rfe ct h i s fo rm ,
p r c e s o s e ro n a re . s oc s , a
A l l fu l l o f g race , F i e rc e t o e x ac t , W h en au g h t i s d u e , I n v i g o u r g re a t ,
O f fai re s t fac e, N o k i ng l i k e G ol l .
I t ell yo u F i on n , H i s s t ren g t h as w av es , I n bat t l e s cras h ; Pri n cel y

’
hi s g ai t , C o m el y h i s fo rm , G o l l
’
s s k i l l e d fen c e , N o p l a y w h e n ro u s e d .
R ea dy t o gi ve , D read fu l hi s s t reng t h , M an l y hi s m o u l d , S o l d i e rl y g re a t ,
N e e r c ou l d I t e l l , H i s g race a n d p ow er ; A fea rfu l fo e , R eady h i s
’
h an d s , C o ncea l e d h i s w ra t h , A c h ee rfu l face L i k e m u rm u ri ng s eas , .
R u s h ed t o t h e fig h t A l i on bol d , , A s g rea t i n d ee d Pow e rfu l h i s a rm .

.
Ch o i ce am i d s t k i n s
g J o y fu l h i s . w ay , H i s t e e t h s o w h i t e
’
T i s h e t h at .
wo u n d s T h e g rea t e s t fo e
, H i s p u rpo s e fi rm A v i c t o r s u re D es i res
.
, ,
t he fig h t I n h i s t o ry l earn d Wa rri o r bol d S h arp i s h i s s w o rd Co n

’
.
, , ,
t em p t u o u s G o l l Pl u n d ers a t w i l l A fearl es s m an
, W ra t h fu l i s h e ,
.
,
D re ad fu l i n l oo k L eo p a rd i n fi g h t F i erce as a h o u n d O f w o m en
, , ,
l o v ed A ci rcl e t ru e E e r by hi m s t o od H e h u rl s h i s d a rt N o g en t l e
’
. .
, ,
cas t . S oft are h i s c h eek s I n b l os s o m ri ch O f b eau t e o u s fo rm U n , , ,
c h a ng ed s u c ces s N o s t re am so s w i ft A s hi s a s s a u l t
, M a e M o rn m o re , ,
brav e Th an a ny t o l d Of po we rfu l s peech I t far resou nd s H e s t ru l y

, , , .
’
g re a t L
, i b e ra l j us t D o es n o t d e s i se
p Y e t fi rm res ol v es
, G e n t l e ye t , ,
b ri s k Forsak es n o fri e nd I n fi g h t o f k i n g s N o pow e rl e ss arm Th e re

,
.
,
fi e rce h i s m i e n A nd s t ro ng h i s bl o w Wh e n ro u se d hi s w rat h H e s
, , .
’
t h i rd o f t h e c h as e .
No b l e M c C u m h a i ll S o o t h e an d p ro m i s e G i ve p eac e t o G o l l, , ,
Check w ra t h a n d g u i l e D u ri ng m y d ay W h a t e e r i t b e I d g i v e .
,
’
,
’
w i t h ou t gu i l e A t h i rd o f t h e c h as e
, .
L e t s s t ri v e n o m ore S o ft d o t hou s p ea k F i on n s l o ve t o G o l l
’
.
,
’
A nd t h i rd o f t h e b ou n d s .
G ol l l ea v e t h y w rat h W i t h u s h av e peace No w w i t h o u t g ru d g e , , ,
H av e o f F i onn s fo res t a t h i rd ’
.
Tha t w i l l I t ak e F e rgu s d ea r fri e nd My w ra t h i s go n e No

, , . .
m o re I as k .
F ri en d wi t h ou t g u iLi ps t h i n and
l e , red , Bo u n t y and s t re n g t h ,
S h al l w i n t h e p rai s e , H ig h mi n d ed G ol l -
.
”
Ascri b ed to Fergus there is found in the Iris h M SS , .
only one genuinely ancient poem It ccounts fo the . a r
name of spring by telli ng h ow Fergus s brother O isin

a
’
,
when hunting w a s b eguiled into a c vern and there kept,

a ,
b y the f iries fo a t w elvemonth during ll w hich tim e h e

a r ,
a
cut chips from the handle of his spear and cast them in t he
stream His father Fionn who was looking for him at

.
, ,
l st c me to the stre m saw a chip floating do w n knew

a a a , ,
immediately that it w as part f Oi s i spear follo wed t h e o n s

’
,
stre m up to its source and saved his s

a , on .
C ei l t e M R o a
a the other chie f poet was Fionn sc n n, ,
’
cousin and one f his bravest w rriors fleet f foot famou s

, o a , o ,
in s ng O f the songs of C ei l t e the one record left i n the

o . a ,
ancient Iris h M SS is love story ascribed to him w hich . a , ,
finds in the dr wning o f a lady amed C l i od hn a the local o n
n me Wave o f C l i od h f a part f the coast of county

a na or o
Cork It purports t have been sung b y him to St Patrick

. o .
,
and must there f re have been c mposed b y an ther poet

,
o , o o
in the e rly Christian times C aei l t e like Oisin was fabled

a .
, ,
t h ve survived the rest f the Feni ns till he lived to see

o a o a ,
the c ming o f St P trick and to travel w ith him on his

o . a
missi n ry j rneys thr ugh the country The tale of t h e

o a ou o .
first l b urs f the priest w a thus cunningly interw oven

a o o s
w ith the native p etry and legend f the Gael W ith lively o o .
w it d s me dram tic skill the blind old b ard is ep e

an o a r r
sented f ex mple in the Di logue w ith St P trick still

, or — a ,
a . a
tr diti n l in Mayo d the Western Highl nds as e

a o a — an a x
pressing Pag n w eariness at all t h e w ys o f th t clerk o f

“ a a a
clergy and the b ells and sighing f the l d d ys of chase ,

”
or o a
w ith Fionn s b o ds d the lost friendship f Fion the

’
un an o u
h spitable heart w ith ut m lice heart stern in defence o f

o , o a ,
b attle Says P trick

.
”
a
No w i s F i on n th e Wh i t eh an d ed p l ac e d by G od am ong t h e d e v i l s ,
an d al th ou g h once g reat hi s s t re n g t h to re l y u p o n h e i s w e a k n ow i n
,
the c ou n t ry o f p a i n s .
Oi s i n — My . my g ri ef I o wn ! no t t h at m ys el f o r
a ffl i c t i o n an d
F i on n w ou l d e v e r h av e an y regard for d evi l s , h o w e v e r h i d eou s .
P a t r i r/ — I t i s b e t t er fo r t h ee t o b e w i t h m e an d t h e cl erg y , a s
e
.
h ou
t a rt , t h a n t o b e w i t h F i on n an d t h e F e n i an s , fo r t h ey a re i n h e l l
w i t h ou t or d e r of rel e as e .
Oi s zn
’
.
— By thy book an d i t s m e a n i ng , by t h y croz i e r and by t hy
i m ag e , b e tt er w ere i t for m e t o s h are t h ei r t orm e n ts t h an , to b e a m on
g
T he corn e r s t ones of y ch am ber

its su n n
A re all o f s i l v e r and yel l o w g ol d

I t s t h at ch i n s t ri p es o f fau l t l es s o rd e r ,
O f w i ngs o f b ro w n an d cri m son re d .
T w o d oor pos t s o f g re e n I s e e
-
N o r i s i t s d oo r w i t h ou t b eau t y ,
L on g ren o w n ed fo r i t s carv ed s i l ve r
I s t h e l i n t el t h at i s o v er t h e d o o r .
C red es ch ai r i s on you r ri gh t h and

’
,
T h e p l eas an t e s t o f t h e p l easan t
A l l o v e r a b l a z e o f m o u n t ai n g o l d ,
A t t he fo o t of h er beau t i fu l c ou c h .
A g o rg eou s cou ch i n fu l l array ,

S t a n d s d i rec t l y a bo v e t h e ch a i r
I t wa s m a d e by (a t ? ) Tu i l é i n t h e E a s t ,
O f y e l l o w g ol d an d p re ci ou s s t o nes .
Th ere i s a no t h er b e d o n you r ri g h t h and ,
O f g o l d a n d s i l v er w i t h o u t d e fec t ,
C u rt ai ned an d s oft .
A n d w i t h g ra cefu l rod s o f g o l d en b ron z e .
a e a at s
a
An h u nd red fe e t s p an s C red e 8 h ou s e
F ro m o ne c o rn e r t o t h e o t h e r,
A n d t w e n t y fe e t a re fu l l y m e a s u re d
I n b re ad t h o f i ts no bl e d oo r
t he .
I t s p o rt i c o i s t h a t ch e d
W i t h w i ng s o f b l u e an d y el l o w bi rd s
I t s l a w n i n fro n t i t s w el l an d
O f cry s t al a n d of carm og a l .
a a is
Th e re i s a v at of ro yal b ronze ,
W h ence fl ow s t h e pl easan t j u i ce o f m al t
A n app l e t ree ov e rh a ng s t h e v at
-
Wi t h th e a bu nd an ce of i t s h eav y fru i t .
When C red es gobl et i s fi l l ed

’
Wi t h t h e al e of t h e n obl e vat ,
There d rop d ow n i nt o t h e cu p d i rect l y
nam ed
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OF T HE GAE L . 189
Although Cred es b ow er has no dou b t been partly ’
furnished w ith the che p ornaments o f poetical speech and a ,
although the picture is but o f a l rge b t T h g m a u e e .
pompous w ith b arbaric luxury yet there is a ,
truth to the old G elic character in all this glo w m

a
fa e
o f gold chased silver bron e and g y colour in r iment

, ,
z ,
a a ,
in the painting o f the very th tch a d i the tu rn o f fancy a , n n
that s u ggested for the lady s p rch a roofing w ith the blue ’
o
an d yello w w i gs o f birds The Gaels were skil f l in the

n . u
use o f dyes and had an O riental t ste fo the enjoyment o f

,
a r
bright colour Thus fo ex mpl e in the f mous t le of

.
,
r a ,
a a
the Cattle pl u nder of C hu i l gn é there is introd ced

“ -
a ,
”
u a
series o f descrip t ions of the chie fs of Ulster who pursued

and b e t the army of Queen M ea it is no dingy b rb rous
a v a a
host th t rises to a view Another comp ny h ve come

ou r . a a
to the same hill s id M a R o th through whose eyes the

,
”
a c ,
a rmy is pictured in Homeric fashion it is wild and unlike

“
,
the ther companies S me e w ith red clo ks ; thers

o . o ar a o
w ith light bl u e clo ks

-
others w ith deep blue cl aks others
a -
o
w ith green or grey or white or yello w clo ks bright and , a ,
flutte ing about them There is young red freckled lad

r . a -
,
w ith a crimson cloak in their m idst a golden brooch in that

clo k t his breast ; shirt f ki gly linen w ith fastenings
a a a o n
o f red gold t his skin ; white shield w ith b ook s o f red

a a
gol d t his shoulder f ced w ith gold a d w ith a golden

a ,
a ,
n
r i m ; a sm ll gol d hilted s w ord t h i s side ;

a light sharp
-
a a , ,
shi ing spear t his shoulder Such w ere the chiefs who
n o .
”
f ght w ith O isin and the Fen i ns

ou d w h w i th f ncies a ,
an o a
g y a s their
a cl ks listene d to the hist
oaries p ems d o ,
o ,
an
legends of the first litera y men co cer ing w hom th re r n n e
rem ins record in Brit in We sh ll fi d as this rr tive

a a . a n na a
adv nces that the m in current o f E nglish lit r tur c nnot

a a e a e a
b e disco nected from the lively Celtic wi t in which it h s

n a
one o f its so u rces The Celts d o not form an utterly .
distinct p rt of our mixed population But for early

a .
,
1 90 E N GL I SH I VR I T ER S .
freque t d v rious contact w ith the race that in its h l f

n ,
an a a
bar b ous days invented O i s i s d i logues with St Pa trick

ar n
’
a .
,
d that quicke ed a fter wards the N o t hm e b lood i n ’

an n r n s
Fr nce Germ nic E gl nd would not h ve produced

a ,
a n a a a
Sh kespe re
a The recollections of the past on w hich we
a .
ar e o w d w elling are not to b e t ken

n s mere tiqu arian a a an
d et ils They contribute to our full se se o f m ore t han t h e

a . n
history of the form ti o f the E nglish l gu ge They a on an a .
a an essenti l ch pter in the more interesti g tale of the

re a a n
formation o f the E glish ch r cter the righ t re di g of n a a ,

a n
which is the most vit l part of any study o f the E nglish a
written mind .
The chie f exercise of the G elic im gination from S t a a .
P trick s time u til the year

a
’
w s in t h e repetition and
n 1000 a
Th F e i i vention
e n an
o f t les h vi gnFionn O isin Fer g us a a n , , ,
T l
C ei l t e
a °s °
d the Feni s fo heroes a O e of the ,

an an r . n
oldest n d m ost f m us o f these w s t he tale f

a a o a o
T b e P u rsu i t o f D i an /m i d and Gr a i n a t .
Wh e n F i o n n w en t t o T ara d au g h t e r o f C o rm ac
t o s u e G ra i n n é , t h e
M ac A rt h e t o o k w i t h h i m h i s s on O i s i n h i s g ran d so n O s ca r a n d a
, , ,
h and s o m e c h i ef o fli ce r n am ed D i arm ai d O D u i b hn é F i onn w as a n

,
’
.
ol d , w a r w orn m an -
O i s i n an d D i a rm ai d p l eased t h e l ady m o re
. .
W h e n t h e re fo re sh e s en t h er cu p rou n d at t h e feas t se l e c t i ng as w as
, , ,
u s u a l fo u r ch i e fs a t a t i m e e ach o f w h o m
p a ss e d ,i t t o fo u r n e i g h b ou rs ,
s h e d ru
gg e d h e r c u
p an d c o n t ri v e d t h a
, t a l l s h o u l d d ri n k fro m i t b u t
O i s i n a n d D i a rm ai d Th ey w h o d ran k s l ep t Wh en t h ese al o n e re
. .
m a i n e d aw a k e G ra i n n é t o l d O i s i n t h at s h e w o u l d ra t h e r m a rry h i m
,
t h a n t h e o l d m an O i s i n w ou l d n o t b e t ra y h i s fa t h e r
. Th en t h e .
P ri n ces s b eg g ed o f D i arm a i d t h at h e w o u l d ru n o ff w i t h h e r So i t .
w a s t h a t t h e y fl ed t og e t h e r Fi o n n w h en h e a w o k e p u rsu ed an d
.
, , ,
s e n t h i s b e s t m e n o u t i n v ari o u s d i re c t i o n s b u t D i a rm ai d h ad t h e g o od
w i l l o f t h e o t h e r F en i a ns an d t h ey n ev e r ca m e u p on h i s t race s e x ce p t
,
w h e n F i o nn h i m sel f w a s o f t h e p art y A n d t h e n i t al w a y s h a pp e n e d
.
t h a t i n t h e m o m e n t b e fore cap t u re D i arm ai d an d G ra i n n é by t ri c k o r ,
a i l i t y c o n t ri v ed a w o nd e rfu l e s ca p e
g ,
.
The pursuit extended over all E ri n , an d the descripti n o
of it forms lively topographical s u rvey

a o f the l nd w i t h a ,
fightin g as one p eople to drive an invad er from the coas t .
Iri s h tradition says th at the F enians were an ancient militia

or stan d ing arm y employed only on home service for pro,
te ti g the coasts from i nvasion E ach of the four provi nces

e n .
,
says t h e traditio n had its b ard ; that of L einster to which

, ,
Fionn and hi s family belonged b ei ng calle d the Cl a n a ,

n
B o i sg ne
a This militia is said to have been p id by the
. a
king b illeted on th e p eOpl e in the winter but to h ave lived

,
'
in summer by the chase ; an d these are imagined to have

b een the qualifications of a F e n ian
E v e ry d i er was requ i re d t o s wear t h at w i t h ou t reg ard t o h er
so l ,
fort u n e h e w ou l d ch oos e a w i fe fo r h e r V i rt u e h er cou rt es y an d h er

, , ,
g o o d m a n n e rs t h at h e w ou l d nev e r o ffe r vi o l en c e t o a w o m an t h a t as
fa r as h e c ou l d h e w o u l d rel i e ve t h e po o r and t hat h e wou l d n o t refu se

t o fi g h t n i n e m en o f any o t h e r nat i o n .
N 0 p ers on cou l d b e rece i v ed i n t o t h e se rvi ce u nl es s h i s fat h e r a nd

mo t h er and al l h i s rel a t i v es g av e s ecu ri t y t h at none of t h e m s h ou l d
, ,
re v e ng e h i s d e at h u on t h e w h o m i g h t s l a y h i m b u t t h a t t h ey
p p e rso n ,
w ou l d l eav e t he m a t t e r t o h i s fel l ow s o l d i ers - .
T h e y ou t h h i m s el f m u s t b e w e l l ac q u ai n t e d w i t h t h e t w el v e b o ok s
of p o e t ry a n d b e abl e t o com p ose v e rs e s
, H e m u s t b e a p erfect m as t er
.
o f d e fe n ce T o p ro v e t h i s h e w as p l aced i n a fi el d of sed ge reach i ng u p

.
t o h i s k n e es h av i ng i n hi s h a nd s a t arg et and a h azel s t i c k as l o ng as a

,
N i ne e xperi e n ced sol d i e rs fro m a d i s t ance of n i n e ri dg es

’
m an s arm .
,
o f l a n d w e re t o h u rl t h e i r s ea rs a t h i m a t o n ce i f h e w as u n h u rt h e
, p
w as a d m i t t ed b u t i f wou n d ed h e w a s s e n t o ff w i t h a rep ro ach
,
.
H e m u s t a l s o ru n w el l and d efe nd h i m sel f w h en i n fl i g h t t o t ry

h is act i v i t y h e w as m ad e t o ru n t h rou g h a w ood h av i ng a s t art o f a ,
t re e s b rea d t h t h e w h o l e o f t h e F en i an s p u rsu i ng h i m i f h e w as o v e r
’
,
t a k en o r w ou n d e d i n t h e w o od h e was re fu se d as t oo s l u gg i s h a n d ,
u n s k i l fu l t o fi h t w i t h h ono u r a m on h l i t t o o s
g g s u c v a an r p .
A l s o h e m u s t h av e a s t ro ng a rm a n d b e abl e t o h ol d h i s w e ap on
,
s t e ad i l y .
A l s o w h en h e ran t h rou g h a w oo d i n ch ase h i s h ai r s h o u l d n o t

,
co m e u n t i ed i f i t d i d h e w as rej ec t e d .
H e m u s t b e s o s w ift a nd l i g h t o f foo t as n ot t o bre a k a ro t t e n

s t i c k b y s t an d i ng u po n i t a bl e a l s o t o l ea o v e r a t ree as h i g h as h i s
p
foreh ead a nd t o s t oo p un d e r a t ree t h at w as l o we r t h an h i s k n e e s
,
.
Wi t hou t s t op pi ng or l ess eni ng h is sp eed h e mu s t b e abl e t o d raw a ,
b o rn ou t o f hi s foo t .
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OF T HE G AE L .
Fi nal l y , h e m u s t t ak e an o a t h of fid el i t y .
T he R ev G eo ff re y K ea t i ng , w h o w ro t e a h i s t o ry o f E ri n i n t h e
.
year 1 6 30, grav e l y s ays , S o l o ng as th es e t erm s o f ad m i s s i o n w ere

e x act l y i n s i s t ed u p o n , t h e m il i t i a o f I rel an d w e re a n i n vi n c i b l e d e fe nce
h
t o t e i r co u n t r y , an d a t e rro r t o re be l s at h o me a n d e n em i e s a b road .
’
Goll M M o na had sl in Fi c s f therr C u m h i l l in a onn

’
a a
b attle and was Fionn s m rt l enemy in e rly li fe A fter

,
’
o a a .
wards he made peace w ith him d fought under him s

a ,
an a
C hie ftain o f the Conn ught Feni ns But the supremacy o f a a .
the Cla n B oi sg e led t feuds and t l st Fi nn and his

n a a n o , a a o
clan defying the throne itsel f were tt cked by ll the f rces

, ,
a a a o
of E rin except those o f the King o f Munster w h o took p rt , a
w i t h him n d su ffered carn ge in th t b ttle

,
a f Gab b r in a a a o a,
the flat country f Me th w herein O i i s son Osc r and the

o a ,
s n
’
a
Ki g fell b y e ch other s h nds Fi

n s
a C i b w as
’
a . onn
’
son a r ar
then dead but poets feigned th t he was nly bsent th t

,
a o a , a
he arrived in time to cl se his gr nds n s eyes d o a o

’
, an
a fter this de fe t pe ce h d no s w e ts f him and w no

a ,
a a e or ar
t riumphs Fion died at l st it is s id by the l nce f an

. u a ,
a , a o
assas sin .
The foll wing piece is from the collection of old Gaelic

o
poems in The De n f Lismore s Book The Rev Thom s a o

’
.
”
. a
M c L a ch l
a their tr nsl tor is not ans werable fo the
u an , a a , r
attempt I have here made t represent the song o f the chief o
bard to modern ears by a rude blending f rhy m e a d o n
a sson nce Fergu s F i b h eoi l is supposed to tell i reply

a . nn , n
to questions from his father Fi o M C m h i l l the nn c u a ,
sl ughter o f his Fei or Feni ns t the b ttle of Gab b ra

a n n, a ,
a a ,
and the de th of Osc r Ois i s son the old m n s grand

a a ,
n
’
, a
’
son A Gaelic poe m close s usu lly with repetiti n f its

. a o o
first w ord or phras e Th t repetition here serves lso to . a a
suggest the b rd wh o w the hist rian f ancient times

a ,
as o o ,
passing from tribe to tribe d nsw ering in e ch pl ce the ,

an a a a
demand fo f ll detail o f the great deeds whereo f it w as he

r u
only wh o kept the record and maintained the f me a
N
I
T b e D eat b of Os ca r .
S ay, B ard o f th e F e i n n o f E ri n ,
H o w fa red t h e fi g h t , Ferg u s , m y son ,
I n G a bh ra s fi e rce ba tt l e d ay ? S ay
’
-
T hefigh t fa re d n o t w e l l s on o f C u mh ai ll
, ,
From G abb ra com e t i d i ngs o f ru i n ,
F Os car t h e fearl es s i s s l ai n
or .
T he s ons o f C a ei l t e w e re s e v en
T hey fe l l w i t h th e F e i nn o f Al ban .
T he you t h o f t he P e i na are fal l en ,
A re d e a d i n t h e i r ba tt l e a rray .
A n d d e a d o n t h e fi e l d l i es M a c L u y ,
Wi t h s i x o f t h e s o ns o f t h y s i re .
T h e y ou ng m e n o f A l ba n a re fal l e n
T he F ei nn o f B rea t an a re fa l l en .
A nd d ead i s t h e k i ng s s on o f L ochl a n
’
,
Wh o h as t e ne d t o w a r fo r o u r ri g h t
T he k i ng s s o n w i t h a h ea rt e v e r o pe n
’
,
A n d arm e v er s t ro ng i n t h e fi g h t
”
.
N o w , 0 Bard — m y d esi re
’
son s son , my ,
M y O sca r, of hi m , F e rg u s t e l l
,
H ow h e hew ed at t h e h el m s e re h e fe l l .
H a rd w ere i t F i o nn t o nu m b e r
, , ,
H eav y fo r m e w e re t h e l a b ou r ,
T o t e l l o f t h e h os t t h a t h as fal l en ,
S l a i n b y t he v a l ou r o f O s ca r .
N O ru sh o f t h e w a t e rfal l s w i ft e r ,
No p ou n ce o f t h e h a w k on h i s p rey ,
N o w h i rl p oo l m o re s w ee p i ng an d d ead l y ,
Th an Os car i n b at t l e t h at d ay .
A nd yo u w h o l as t s a w hi m cou l d s e e
H o w h e t h ro bb e d i n t h e ro ar o f t h e fray ,
As a s t orm w o rrie d l eaf o n t h e t ree

-
Wh os e fel l o ws l i e fal l en bel o w ,
As an as p en w i l l q u i ver and s way

W h i l e t h e ax e d eal s i t bl ow u pon b l o w .
W h en h e s aw t hat M acA rt , K i ng of E ri n ,
S t i l l l i v ed i n t h e m i d s t of t h e roa r,
1
D an a n n (pe ple o f the D c untry

o
) landed in S c tl nd an o o a ,
an d ppro ching the headl nds f the north western sh re

,
a a a o -
o ,
g ve to the country the n me of Al b n (Highl nd or Alp

a a a a
l nd the words Al b d Alp b eing o f one Celtic origin)

a ,
an ,
w hich as Al b ion b ecame the first n tive name o f the w h le

, , a o
isl d The T at h a d é Da
an . passed as tr diti n has
u n an n , a o
a lr dy told us into E rin

ea d partly occupied the l nd
, ,
an a
b f r the Milesian b rothers c me from Sp in The

e o e a a .
C i t h e w hom some connect w ith the Picts first l nded

ru n , ,
a
fr m L
o h l a in E rin and migr ted thence to Alb n
oc n To
,
a a .
the b rds then o f these n rthern Celts wh o h d ot

a , , o , a n
re ched u shores b y w y o f s uthern E urope the Feni ns

a o r a o ,
a
an d their poets m y h ve been allied most closely a The a .
tr ditions o f the C u i t hne i descri b ing their migr ti ns

a r ,
n a o ,
even name as the myth ic p et o f their race one w hom they o
c ll d H u asei n
a e .
”
W may only touch here on the relation of t h bright

e e
heroic stories o f the P ga time among the Gaels to the a n ,
Ad o rn m e n t sa m e q u ick rtistic feeling that g ve w ith the

— a a
“ 53
A4
eal o f which w sh ll find eviden ce hereafter
z e a
c lour n d for m to their first C h risti n utterances They

o a a .
show ed their native genius for rt even in the miniature a
painting that illumin tes their manuscripts The adorn a .
ment f b ooks used in the Church servi ce w ith initi l s

o ,
a
c r fully designed and coloured began in I rel n d in the

a e ,
a
seventh century i f t in the sixth the artistic spirit blend

, no
ing itsel f w ith the first utterances of their Christi n f ith a a .
T h e m st beauti ful ex mple kno wn is a M S o f the Gospels

o a .
w hich came from the C thedr l f Kells d is in the library a a o , an
o f Trinity College Du b lin Next in b e uty to the Kells M S

,
. a .
is t h e M S o f S int Cuth bert kno wn lso as the D rh m

. a , a u a
M S b ec use it was b r ugh t from Lindis farne to Durh m at

.
,
a o a
the time f trans ference o f the See I n the north where the
o .
,
Irish priests C u ldees — wh o received inspiration from the

,
a
—
E stern Church w ere b e fore Augusti n e the first bringers of , ,
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OE T HE GA EL . 197
Chri s tianity to Britain their illuminators also brought their t

, ar
into the first E nglish Church While the Irish illuminations .
h ve a common origin w ith other ancient e mples of the

a xa
art and owed something to Byza n ti ne influence they h ve

, ,
a
characters f their o wn They are marked by an absence

o .
o f decoration dr w n fr m flo w ers and foliage ; a grotesque

a o
elaboration o f anim l forms d especially by the frequent

a an
use of spir l ornament and f an interl cement o f lines

a a , o a ,
r ther suggestive o f b sket work to fill up the ground of

a a -
, a
design These interl cements d the spir l line like the

. a an a ,
vol u te of an Ionic col mn sin gle or double e both u , ,

ar
c ommon as orn ments f the Bron e period

a B t w hile o z . u
these spiral ornaments are trace ble from the earliest t o f a ar
the Celts it w s in Irelan d th t t he l x u ri nt and pl y f l

,
a a u a a u
f ncy was first a pplied to the tre tment o f ni m al forms

a a a
in the decoration o f their books Another f ature in the . e
decoration o f old Irish M SS is a red dotted bordering to .
the initial letters .
A legend ry tale of the B ttle o f M gh Rath is in a

a a a
fi fteenth century M S in the library o f Trinity Coll ge .

e ,
Dubli containing als other pieces There is h B “

n, o .
T e at t le
.
another M S c py o f it in the Book of Fe m oy

. o M h R “ r ,
ag at
d there w s third in the Duke o f B ckingh m s libr ry ’

an a a u a a
a t S to w e This t le blends f ble with the rec rd f

. a a o o a
f mo u s b t tle ctually fought in t h e ye r 6 3 7

a a a It w s edited a . a
fo the Irish A rch aeological S ociety w ith

r tr nsl tion and , a a a
notes by a famous Iris h schol r John O D o o in the a ,

’
n v an ,
year 1 8 4 a d in the editor s Opinion the t le s we h ve

2, n ,
’
,
a , a a
it belongs to the tw el fth centu y I f it was written to please

, r .
a descendan t o f its hero wh ile his race still h d po wer in , a
the North of Irel nd it must have been written be f re the

a , o
year 9 7 when t h e last chief of the f mily died

1 1 , a .
The battle upon which this tale was founded was in

resistance to i nvas ion bro u ght on b y domestic stri fe A .
good k i ng M al cob a was c t off by his s u ccessor

, , d the u ,
an
s u ccessor was cut o ff b y his en emy Congal Glaen a man of , ,
gen i us and po wer M al cob a b rother D om h nall then .

’
s , ,
b ecame kin g de feated Congal C l ae n i n b attl e and drove

, ,
him to e ile among t h e Scots in Britain C o gal s hi gh

x . n
’
qual i ties gathered to him friends amon g the Scots of Al b n a ,
Picts Briton s and Saxons and he came back with a great

, , ,
force to I reland D om h al l King of I reland gath ered all

. n , ,
the forces o f t h e country which united for the common ,
safety an d t Magh Rath t he t wo great armies fought a

,
a
six d ys battle ending with su ch de fe t of the S cots of

a
’
,
a
Alban as acc rding to Ad am a wh o lab oured al ways for

, o n n,
accord bet ween the brother tribes i n Irelan d and Britain ,
to this d y has obliged the S cottish natio n to succumb to

a
foreign po w ers and which gives our heart grie f w hen we

,
consider it .
”
The legendary tale o f the battle had soon after its pro
d u ction an introd u ctory tale written for it call ed ,
T I re B a n qu et o f Dun na u -
Ged/z and tfi e Ca u se o f t he B a t t l e f
o
Th ere w ere no egg s fo r t h at banq u e t o f Du n na n G ed h an d egg s -

,
w ere ve ry s carce Th o s e s ent i n search o f egg s carri ed away a t u b o f

.
o o s e e gg s be l o ng i n g t o a h o l y s ai n t
-
w h o se c u s t o m w a s t o s e n d t h e
g p
,
d ay i n t h e B oy n e u p t o hi s a rm p i t s p rayi ng from h i s Ps al t er o p en o n
-
t h e s h o re b e fo re h i m t h en t o g o h o m e an d d i ne u p o n an eg g an d a
,
h al f a n d th re e cres ses fro m t h e wat e r o f t h e Boyne W h en t h e sai n t .
“
ca m e h om e an d fo u nd h i s egg s g one t o t h e K i ng s b a nq u e t h e cu rs ed
’
,
t h e ban q u e t as bi t t e rl y as h e w a s ab l e t o cu rs e i t T h e fi rs t p ers on
”
.
w h o c rac k e d on e o f t h e s ai n t s egg s b e fo re t h e b anq u e t h ad bee n

’
,
b l ess ed w as C ong a l C l aen t h en th e p ro v i nci al k i ng of U l s t e r an d h e

, , ,
d id so w i t h o u t w ai t i ng for a bl ess i ng o n t h e m eat Th ence cam e t h e .
a t c rac k i n t h e p eace o f E ri n al t h o u g h t h e K i n s i d n o n e l
g re g a, o e s e
s h al l p art ak e o f t h i s feas t u n t i l t h e t w el v e a p os t l es o f E ri n a re b ro u g h t
t o bl es s a n d con s e c rat e i t a n d a v e rt t h e c u rse i f t h ey can

”
, T he .
t w el v e a p os t l es o f E ri n cam e and each b rou g h t a h u nd red sai nt s w i t h

,
hi m and t hey m u s t h av e s ai d g race p ow erfu ll y ; b u t t h ey cou l d n o t

,
a v e rt t h e cu rs e b e ca u s e C o ng al h a d t a s t e d o f t h e fe a s t b e fo re i t h a d
been bl es t and t h e v eno m of t h i s t h ey w ere not abl e t o a v e rt

, .
z oo E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
men of t h e contending hosts We have the later and more .
florid manner o f recital and there was terror in the grimness ,
o f t h e Gaels d h o rri b le aeri l phan t o ms rose up in

,
an a ,
dismal regular aerial storm shrieking hovering fi end like

, , ,
-
,
-
hosts constantly in motion shrieking and ho wli g as they , n
h overed b ove the rmies ; n d the grey haired Morri gu

a a a -
shouts victory over the he d of D o mh al l a n
O v er h i s h ead i s sh ri ek i ng
A l ea n h ag q u i ck l y h o p p i ng
,
O v e r t h e p o i n t s o f t h e i r w eap on s an d s hi eld s
S h e i s th e g rey h ai red M o rri g u
”
-
.
But the to u ch of the Christian teacher is felt i n th ese later

tales Apostles and saint Church blessings and cursings
. s,
enter n ow into the argument E ven the cowardi ce of the .
her S i b h n e whose sudden fear is a feature in the story

o u , ,
an d w h o is said in another tale to have died of the many

poems m de upon him is thus moralised It con fo u nded him
a ,
.
b ecause he had been cursed by St Ronan and denounced .

,
by the s ints of E rin for having slain an ecclesi stic l

a a a
student o their people over the consecr ted trench that

f — a ,
”
is the clear stream over which the shrine of the Lord had
,
b een placed fo worship be fore the b ttle God b efo e l

r a . r
His blessing on the b read His blessing on the bat tle so , ,
the ew n ote rises in the ancient son g

n .
The chie f M S materi ls fo a study o f the old Gaelic

. a r
L anguage and Literat u re are
L AT I N M SS . OF T HE 8 1H ' ‘
on 9T H C E NT U R Y WI T H
G A E L I C G ros s e s .
“
I . d e x o f Pri s ci an i n t he L i bra ry at S t G al l i n Sw i tze rl and

A co , .
,
c ro w d ed w i t h I ri s h g l oss e s i n t e rl i nea r a n d m argi na l as fa r as p 2 2 2

, , . .
(Th e y w e re I ri s h m o n k s w h o fi rs t ca rri ed Ch ri s t i an i t y t o S w i t z e rl a n d ) .
i f
Qu ot e d i n Z eu s s s
’
G ra mm at i ca Cel t i ca ,
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OF THE GAE L . 20 1
2 . A cod ex o f St . Pau l
’
s E p i s t l es , i n the U n i v e rs i t y L i b ra ry at
Wu rzbu rg , con t a i n i ng e v en m ore g l oss es t h an t h e S t G al l . Pri sc i an .

”
“
3 . A L at i n C o m m ent ary o n t h e Ps al m s , asc ri bed
”
now to St .
C o l u m b an u s , i n t h e A m b ros i a n L i bra ry at M i l an, ye t m o re c row d ed

w i t h an c i e n t I ri s h g l oss es .
4 . dA e x a t
co C ar l s ru h e con t a i n i n
g so m e f
o M e w o r ks
f
o B e d e A n .
e n t ry o f t h e d ea t h o f A e d K i n g o f I re l a n d e s t a b l i s h e s t h e d a t e 8 1 7
, , .
n d co d e x o f C h h ”
A P ri s c i an l t l w i t f w
5 .s e c o a s o a a r s ru e e , e r ,
g l o s ses t h a n t h a t o f S t G al l . .
6 A m i s cel l a n eou s cod e x o f S t G al l i n c l u d i ng m ed i cal c h a rm s i n

. .
, ,
w h i c h G o i b ne n n t h e s m i t h an d D i a nc e ch t t h e l eech o f t h e T u a t h a d é
Danann a re m e n t i on ed .
7 A. c o d e x a t C a m b ra y w r i t t en b e t w ee n t
, h e y ears 6
7 3 an d 790 ,
I cou n c i l h e l d A D 6 84
co n t ai n i ng ca non s o f a n I r i s/ an d a f r a m en t o
g f . .
,
an I r i s / I ser m on co n t ai n i ng L a t i n s e n t en ces .
A N NA L S A N D OT H E R L I T E R AT U R E .
—I I T H C E N T U RY .
T he S yno ch ro n i s m s of F l an n o f M o n as t e rb o i c e , a m on k , w h o
d i ed in 105 6 , a s k e t ch o f U n i ve rs a l H i s t ory fro m t h e re m o t e s t t i m e s .
T he c h ron ol og i cal Po e m of G i l l a C ae m h ai n ,
”
w ho d i ed A D
. . 1072 .
“ A nnal s d T
(p
’
T he of
T i g h e rna ch na h ) O B r a ozn ,
'
r n ee -
o o u n c e r
a bbot of t he M o n as t e ri es o f C l onm ac no i s and R o sco m m o n , w h o d i ed

A D . . 1 088 . O f t h e A n na l s T i g h ernach t h e re a re s e v e n M S c op i e s , a l l
of .
d e fec ti ve , an d a v e l l u m frag m e n t Th i s i s t h e m os t t ru s t wort hy o f t h e

.
a n c i en t re cor ds .
T he A n n al s of I nn i s fa l l e n , b el i ev e d by P rofes s o r O ’
C u rry t o h a v e
bee n m ai n l y w ri t t e n by M ae l s u t ha i n , a p ri n c e of t he t ri b e s o f L o ch
L éi n or K i l l a rn ey , w h o w a s
d u ca t e d i n t h e m onas t ery o f t h e l ak e and
e ,
d i ed i n i t re t i red fro m t h e w orl d A D 1009 Th es e ann al s b e i ng

, , . . .
,
con t i n u ed t o 1 2 1 5 a re c o m m o n l y as c ri b ed t o t h e 1 3 t h c e n t u ry
, .
o r Bo o k of t h e D u n C o w
”
T he L eab h a r n a h U id re - -
a frag m e n t
,
re m a i n s o f 1 3 8 fo l i o p ag e s w ri t t en b y M a e l m i o re w h o w as k i l l e d i n
, ,
1 106 co n t ai ns a nci e n t p o e m s a nd t a l e s
,
I t c on t a i ns pa rt o f t h e B o o k .
G i l l a N ae m hi n
’
of G en es i s , p art of s t ra n s l a t i o ns o f N e n n i u s , p a rt o f
t h e T ai n Bo , a n a cco u n t o f t h e Pag a n ce re m on i es o f I re l a n d , a n d o t h e r
t ract s . I t i s i n t h e l i brary of t he R o a l I y ri s h A cad e m y .
12 T H C ENT U RY .
T he L e i n st er co m p i l ed by F i nn M G o rm an Bi s h op o f
Boo k of ,
’
,
K i l d are w h o d i e d A D 1 1 60 for t h e D e rm o d M M u rro ch w h o i n

’
. .
, ,
v i t e d S t rong b o w i n t o I re l a n d I t co n t ai n s i n v as i on s a d escri p t i on o f
.
,
zo z E N GL I SH H RI
’
T ERs .
Tara , ol d c h roni cl es
, a fragm e n t G l ossa r of C o rm ac s
y , a copy of t h e ’
D i nnse n ch as , g eneal ogi e s, and l i v es o f t he I ri s h S a i n t s T he bo ok , .
n o w i n t he l i b rary o f T ri n i t y C o l l eg e , D u bl i n , co n t ai ns m ore t h an 400
a
p g es o f l arg e fo li o v el lu m .
14 T H C E NT U RY .
T he Bo ok of Ba ll y m o t e,
”
5 02 pp . o f l arg es t fo l i o v el l u m , w as b e i ng
w ri t te n i n 1 39 1 . It co n t ai nsp ed i g ree s , t h e ad v e n t u res o f E n eas, t h e
B o ok of R i gh t s , t h e D i nns e nch as , and s ev e ral h i s t ori ca l and m yt h o
l og i cal pi eces I t i s i n th e l i brary o f t h e R oyal I ri s h A cad em y
. .
L eab h ar B reac , or S p eck l ed Book , i n t h e sa m e L i brary

”
T he .
T he Y e l l o w Boo k of L ecai n , h i s t ori cal pi ec es i n p rose an d verse,

”
a l s o a c u ri ou s l aw t rac t , cop i e d in 1 390 . I t i s i n t h e l i b ra ry of T ri n i t y

C o l l ege D u b l i n w h ere i s al so th e Book of Leca i n co m p il ed i n 14 16
, , ,
by M acF i rh i s es o f L ecai n i n S l i g o
, , .
“ Bo o k o f Li s m ore w ri t t e n i n 1400 d i s co v e re d i n 1 8 14 i n
”
T he , ,
Li sm ore C ast l e co n tai ns l i ve s o f Sai nts d i al og u es of t he sag es t h e

, , ,
H i l l of th e Bel l ow i ng Oxen T rav e l s o f M arco Po l o and oth er pi ece s

, , .
1 TH3 C E N T U RY .
“ A nnal sU l s t er so cal l ed becau se t hey w e re com pil ed i n

of
T he ,
U l st er and t reat m ore o f U l s t er affa i rs t h an o f t h os e o f ot h e r p rov i nces :

,
c o m pi l ed b y C a t h al M G u i re o f Lo c h E rn e w ho d ied A D 14 98
’
. . .
, ,
T h e annal s w e re con t i nu e d aft e rw a rd s t o t h e y ear 1604 .
16 T H C E N T U RY .
Annal s of Ki l ro nan , or L o ch Cé , e x t e nd t o 1 5 9 0 .
Annal s of C onnach t ,
”
a frag m en t d et ai l i ng Co nnau gh t h i story fro m
122 3 t o 1 56 2 .
1 7T H C E N T U RY .
T he “ Ann al s of th e Fou r M as t e rs , col l ect e d fro m anci en t MS .
m at eri al b y Fa t h er M i ch ael O C l e ry
’
a nd hi s t h ree co l l eag u es, mas t ers
in an t i q u ari an l ore , w ere p u b l i sh ed i n 16 34 .
“
By t h e s am e c o m p i l ers , t he S u ccess i on o f t he K i ng s and th e
Book
”
of I nv as i ons .
G ul into t h e south e st of Brit in hence the few Gaels

a -
a a — w
wh o h ad w andered so fa from E rin d our w estern shores r an
w ere driven b ck on the m i b ody o f their ow a a n n

G e manic
r
s et t l
B
e m people
e nt s
ri t a i n
— the Cymry w ere in their turn pressed , ,
by the Belg a Germ n c r ce w h o partly d S

In
b e fo re ae, a i a ,
l
4 4 9'
lodged them first in G ul d a fterw ards in ,
a ,
an
Britain These people as w e h ve see h d occupied the

.
,
a n, a
Frisi n shore o f the continent d the co st o f Fr nce east

a an a a
o f the S eine But the ncient l ngu ge of the Frisian co st

. a a a a
is llied more closely th n O l d S x n itself or y other

a a a o ,
an
l nguage t the l nguage f the Anglo S ns Anglo

a , o a o
-
a xo .
s
Sax n and old Frisian are in f ct

o llied so closely that ,
a ,
a
they seem to be only di lects of t h e s me tongue A a a .
di lect lso o f th t t ngue may have b een the l ngu ge

a a a o a a
sp ken by t h e Belgae w h h d crossed into Brit in be fore

o o a a
C aesar s time ’
d the m in bulk o f the Anglo S x ns may
an a -
a o
h ve been only Belg f l ter d te d from noth er p rt

a ae o a a a ,
an a a
o f their l ng line f continent l shore opposite Britain

o o The a .
beginning f the Germ nic immigration is in f ct pre

o a , a ,
historic Spe king of Brit in from direct kno wledge C aes r

. a a , a
s id
a
“
The interior is inh bited by those wh o are tra a
d i t i o ll y s id t o be
na tiv s o f the isl nd itsel f ; the se c ast
a na e a a -
o
by those wh o h ve cr ssed from Belg i m f the s ke of a o u or a
spoil or w their settlements bei g lmost ll c lled by the

ar, n a a a
names of the pl ces w hence they came Having c rried a . a
w ar into Brit in they rem ined there d began to cultiv te

a , a an a
the fi el d 1 This pr cess f gr du l conquest and tillage

s .
” '
o o a a
led to the existence o f recognised Saxon fringe o f “

a
”
L ib . v . c . 12 .
1
'
T h e w ri t er of t he a rt i cl e u p on t he Be l g ae i n D r . W i ll ia mhs Sm it
'
D i ct i onar y of A n ci e n t G e og ra p hy .
"
b el i e ve s t ha t t h e Be l g ae w ere p art l y
G e rm a n i c a nd p a rt l y Ce l t i c . T h e fa c t . ”
he sa ys , o f C ae s ar m a ki ng s u ch
a ri v e r a s t he M a rn e a b ou n d a ry b e t wee n Cel t i c and Be l g i c p e o p l e s . i s a

p roo f t ha t h e s a w s om e m ark ed d i s t i n c t i on b e t ween Be l g ae a n d C el t ae Bu t .
t h e M e na p i i t h e s a vag e N erv i i ,
”
i f we e xc l u d e , he ad d s , , an d t h e p u re
G erm a n s , ”
th e res t m ay h ave b ee n Ce l t s .
'
OL D L I T ERA T U RE oE T HE C YM R Y . 0
5
population S axon being the n me formerly ppli ed from

,
a a
w ithout to the Germanic popul tion in this country In the a .
reign of Diocleti n A D 9 M am e t i athe or tor in hi s

,
. . 2 0, r nu s, a ,
panegyric on M i m i the E mperor s colle gue spe ks of

ax an ,
’
a ,
a
a victory t London w o by the Roman provinci ls over

a ,
n a
Franks (Germans ) wh occupied the city In 3 6 Con ,

o . 0 ,
s t a t i u s dying
n t York Germ n chie f in Brit in E o
a ,
a a a ,
r c
King o f the Alem nni helped his son Const nti ne to ssume
a , a a
the empire Towards the close f the period o f R m n

. o o a
oc cupation the Notiti utriusque Imperii compiled

,
a ,
b et ween the ye rs 3 6 9 d 4 8 describe the administr tion

a an 0 , a
o f a Saxon S hore (L i t t S o i m ) in Brit in and i G ul us ax n cu a n a .
The L i tt u s S o i u m in Brit in appears from t h e pl ces

ax n c a a
na med in it — u Br nc ster and Burgh C stle in Norfolk

o r a a a ,
O t h o a in E ssex
n , o w under the s e ; Dover ,Lympne n a , ,
Reculvers d Richborough in K ent ; Pevensey d the

, an , an
River Adur in Sussex to h ve extended from the Wash to

—
,
a
Southa mpton W ter It h been rgued th t the S xon

a . as a a a
S hore wh ich is c lled also in the same record the S xon

, a a
Boundary (Limes ) me nt shore not occupied by but liable

, a a ,
to attack from Germ nic people This however is only

, a a .
, ,
a rgu ed to evade one o f the d i fli u l t i e m de by rejection of c s a
that evidence of C aes r Str bo d Tacitus w ith which the a ,

a , an ,
appointment in Brit in o f a Rom n Count o f the S xon a a a
S hore is w ithout str in o f interpret tion per fectly con

, a a ,
sistent E u t opi s wh o died bout the year 3 7 spe ks

. r u , a 0, a ‘
o f the Fr nks d S xons wh o in fested the se betw een the

a an a a
coasts o f G ul and Brita in Ammianus Marcellinus in

a .
,
wh om Gibb n ckno w ledged o ccur te d f ith ful gu ide

a an a a an a ,
an d w h o w rites f h i o w times in his history w hich closes

o s n ,
w ith the ye r 3 78 spe ks under d ate 3 6 4 and 3 6 8 o f the

a , a
Britons or Cymry s invaded by t h e Picts Scots and a , ,
At t c ot s (in E rin the A i t hea h T

a th turbulent u c ua a, a n
L ib . xi i . ca p . 2 1 .
privileged cl ss of the Gaels) and t h e Fr nks an d t h e

a
“
a
S xons wh o
a e on the frontiers o f the G uls ravagi ng t h e
, ar a ,
country w herever they could efl ect entran ce H e tells '
an .
”
,
also of the Fr nks d Saxons having b een gain fought

, a an a
w ith in L ondon city being attacked and b eaten b y Theo ,
d o i u in L ondinium ancient tow n n ow called Aug usta ’

s s , an ,
as they were driving the inhabitants prisoners in chains , ,
w ith cattle be fore them 1

‘
.
But at this time the Cym ry had not yet driven t h e Gaels
“
or Scots out of Nort h Wales After Britain had b een .
p f
relinquished
YC S S U RC
'
0
by the Roma n s at the clo s e o f t h e
fourth century fresh successes of the Gae ls and

$3?n ,
Sa x o n s onPicts c used aid to b e invoked by t he Cymry

.
a
2 from Roman legions b y which they were hel ped

‘
, ,
hw i
N °rt
in the ye r 4 8 only to fall again into extrem ity
a °"
a 1 , ,
n d send by ambassadors to Rome in 4 4 6 t h e Groans o f

“
a
the Britons The Rom n s had no thought to spare from

. a
th eir own troubles ; and i t is s id to h ve been b y t he a a
advice of Vortigern th t the Cymry made common cau se a
w ith the intruders from t h e south east t h e Saxons ag a in s t -

, ,
the G aed h el s d the Picts Then with the landing of

an .
,
Hengist and H rsa ascri b ed to t he year 4 4 9 s uccess began

o , ,
to cro wn the w ork of forcing the G aed hel s in Wes tern

Britain to cross over to E rin Very remarkab le illus trat i on of .
this is afforded by the recurren ce fi e d twenty ti m es i n v -

an -
W les and t w enty times out of the fi v e an d twenty in North

a ,
- -
W les o f the name G wyd d el (for G aed h el ) attached to

a ,
places w hich m y h ave been remaining stron gholds held b y

a
the Gaels after their m in body h d been cas t out b y t he a a
Cymry with t he added pressure of the Saxon The old

,
.
n ame o f H olyhead w as Cerrig y G wyd d el ; an d there are
three other G wyd d el s in Anglesey four in Caernarvon fou r , ,
O C u rry M S M a t o f I ri sh H i s t
’ ”
.
p 2 30 . , . .
1 Amm ianu s M arcell i nu s , b k x xv i i cap 8

'
. . . .
h aml et s a Ga el to wn a Gael port a d in t w o pl ac es th e

, , ,
n
Gae l s Wall ’
s .
Bu t their G erman llies soo n began to o e whelm t h e a v r
Cymry and after the depo s ition of Vortigern the struggle ,
”m m f o f the Cymric
o Celts w as to resist the oc cupation
”
t
w
h C m
e y
o f their
ry .
land by succes s ive wa rior b ands o f r
“ 4
W" W
A n gl o Saxon colon sts S I X s e ttlements by m i
m
-
.
iii iiii
sc c
c h
as i o n sprea d over period of a century a e
v ,
a , r
recorded upo n the autho rity of the Saxon Chronicle w hich ,
was not b rought into its present form until after the death
of B ed e and o f Bede s E cclesi as tic l H istory dedicated
’ ”
,
a ,
to a k ing wh o re i gned in Northumberland b et ween the

y ear s 7 9 and 73 7 Of these settlements the first under
2 .
, ,
H en gist and Horsa is said to have b een of Jutes the next , ,
thre w ere o f Saxons t h e last t wo o f Angles They w e e

e ,
. r
s e ttl e m e nts
t .Jutes landing A D 4 4 9 under Hengist and ,

. .
,
l l or a at E hb fl e t in the Isle o f Thanet

s , s S i years later
e ,
. x
th ey establi sh ed th e ki ngdom of Ken t .
2 S axons landi ng A D 4 77 under E ll

. in Sussex
, . .
, a, ,
wh ich t h e y mad e the k ingdo m o f the South Saxons .
3 O f S axons
. l nding A D 4 95 under Cerdic in , a . .
, ,
l l am p h i re wh ere they established the kingdom of the

s ,
We t Saxons (Wess x )
s e .
4 Saxon s l anding A D 5 3
. leader unnamed i ,
. . 0, ,
n
Es s e x .
5 An g l
. e w ho l and e d in Nor folk and S u ffol k s,
d ur i ng ( Terd ie s re ig n in W s ex
’
e s .
6 An g l es l anding A D 5 4 7 under Ida o n t h e

.
, .
, ,
sou t h e a t e rn c o as t of S otl and bet w een T weed an d

s c ,
l t t rt lt
f .
ir o f bat t l e i n the co nflict o f the Cym y w ith

I t is t he st r
t h e e l as t o me rs t h at anim at e s t he old e st lite ra ture o f t h e

s c
t ytnri C e l t Agai n t I d a and hi s Ang le s Urie n R h eged

‘
s.
‘
t s
l ed t he wa rri or of Bri tain and t he p rais e of U rien was s ,

OL D L I T ERA T U RE OE THE C YM R Y . 2 09
s u ng by m ny bards w ho received gi fts from his h nd

a a .
Urien fought n ot only against Ida but after Id s de th , ,

a
’
a ,
against his sons and gr ndsons and w s trea C n ecti “ a ,

a
o n on
c h e o u s l y slain
r by M o ca t another Cymric { h i r n ,
e a nc e n t
f I t e ra t u re o
ch ief w hile b esieging Theodoric the son o f Ida a C m
, , ,
t; y ry
on his extreme seaward border in the island of Xfiéxé’ém ’ ’

n
Lindisf rne w hich is off the coast n ear t h e mouth

a ,
o f t h e T weed I d died in 5 6 ; his son Adda reigning

. a 0 ,
eigh t ye rs succeeded him and then follo wed the four

a , ,
years reign o f E t h l i c t h e son of Adda b efore the

’
e r , ,
accession of Theodoric t h e son of Ida w h o reig ed seven , ,

n
years Urien there fore did not survive the year 5 79 T he

.
, ,
.
contest w ith Ida the Angle ended in the formation o f the

, ,
great Anglian ki gdom of Northumbria n d the origin l n a a
territory of Urien probably was in the coun try of the

Cumbrian Britons lying bet w een the v le of the Clyde and ,
a
t h e Ribble w ith t h e sea fo w estern boundary and the

,
r ,
e stern bou n d ry v rying with t he fortune of w a since it

a a a r,
touched the An gli n or Saxon k ingd oms of Deira and a
Bernicia Th ese Cymry of the Sco t tish Lowlands Cumber

.
,
land Westmorel nd d North Lanc shire were called also

, a , an a ,
n eighbours to the Ot ad i n i wh o had occupied t h e shores of ,

‘
North umberl n d from F l am b o o gh Head to the Frith o f

a r u
Forth O verpo wered by the Angles some o f the Cy m ry

.
,
at last w ithdre w from Cumberland to W les while others a ,
rem ined living quietly under the n ew rule or m i n taini ng

a , ,
a
among the hills fo the next centu y or t wo n acknow ledged r r a
independence .
*
U rien s dist i ct of R h eged ( gift ) placed by S i Francis

’
r a , r
P lgrave in the forests s outh of Scotland is U i

a ,
ssigned by traditions that make U ien a nephe w

r e n.
a ,
r
o f King Arthur to Gl mo rgan d t h e country is said to

, a an
h ve been given to Urien fo his v lour in d riving certa in

a r a
Iris h Gaels from Go wer in Glamorgan b ack to Anglesea , , .
Bed e
'
s Hist . lib . v . c. 2 3 .
He appears accordingly in French Arthurian romances as

, .
S i r U ri en c e o f Go re The Cymric b ards o f t h e sixth

.
century stand forem ost i n connection w ith t h e wars of Urien

an d of t h e S trathclyde Bri tons L l ywarch H en wh o was
— ,
b rd and prince Aneurin who w as hard and warrior an d

a ,
T liesin who was ha d lone T o each of t he latter poets

a , r a .
h s b een give n in posthumous honour the name

a King of
B rd s But i f we are o w to judge them by the few
a .
”
n
rem ins of each that are not clearly spurious Aneuri and
a ,
n
Taliesin were excelled by L l ywa ch H en r .
Taliesin (Shining Forehe d ) was in the highest repute a
in the middle of the t welfth centu ry and he was then a d ,

n
T li i
a fter wards unless we except M erlin the hero o f
, ,
a es n .
the greatest number of romantic legends H e .
is said to h ave b een the son o f H enwg the hard or S aint ,
H e wg of Caerleon u p on Usk and to have b een ed cate d

n ,
- -
,
u
in the school of Cat t wg at L l anvei t h i i n Glamorgan ,

n, ,
w here the historian Gildas was his fello w pupil Sei e d . z
when a youth b y Irish pi rates w hile fishi n g at sea in a

coracle of osier covered w ith le ther he i s said probably a , ,
b y rational inter pretation of a later fa b le of his his t ory to ,
have esca ped b y using a w ooden bu ckler for a b oat ; so he

c me into th e fishing weir o f E lphin one of the sons of
a ,
Urien Urien made him El ph i n s instructor and gave h i m

.
’
,
an estate o f land Bu t once introduced t o the court of

.
th t great warrior chie f T liesin became his foremost bard

a -
,
a ,
follo w ed him i n his wars an d s ng his victories He s ings

, a .
victories over Ida at Argoed bout the year 5 4 7 at Gwen n a ,
E s trad b et ween that year and 5 6 0 at M en ao a b out the yea r ,
5 6 0 . A fter the death o f Urien T aliesin was the h ard o f ,
his son Owai n b y whose hand Ida fell After the death of
,
.
all Urien 8 sons T aliesin mourned t he past in Wales dyin g

’
, , ,
it is said at Bangor T ei vy i n C ard igan shire and he was

, , ,
buri ed under a cai rn n ear Ab e ystwi th T aliesin is am ed r . n
by Aneuri n i n th e G od od i n :
“ I Aneu rin will sin g what , ,
2I 2 E NGL I SH WR I T E R S .
L et my k i ns m en co m e h
t og e t e r,
An d w e wi l l ra is e o n t he h i l l s ou r banner ,
A n d w i l l t u rn h
ag a i n s t t ose w arri ors o u r fac e s ,
A n d w i l l l i ft a bov e t h e h e ad s o f m e n o u r s p ea rs ,
A n d w i l l s ee k F fla m d w yn i n h i s a rm y ,
A n d w i l l s l ay h i m t og e t h e r w i t h h i s t roo p
’
.
B ecau s e o f t he bat t l e pf A rgoed L l wy fa i n

Th e re were many d ead
R e d w e re t h e rav e n s t h rou g h t h e s t ri fe o f m en ,
A nd has ty m en carri ed t h e n ew s .
I w i l l d i v i n e t h e y ear, w h os e l i fe i s on t he w a n e
B u t t i l l I fal l i n t o o l d ag e
A n d t h e p ai n fu l g ras p of d eat h ,
M a y I n e ve r s m i l e
I f I p ra i s e n ot U ri en .
pr ised not Urien there was neither w ine nor

I f be a ,
b read for Taliesin He was ha d and not a w a rior wh o

. a r , r ,
li ed by and praised the chief s li b erality the next goo d

v
’
,
thing after the valour that gave po wer of gi fts into his hand .
The bro d spoils of t h e spe r says Taliesin in another

a a ,
”
,
o f these songs
T b e Sp oi l s of T a l i es i n .
T he b ro ad s p oi l s of the s p ea r re w ar dbefore
my s on g , D el i v e red
t h e b ri g h t s m i l i n g h e ro
, T h e m os t res o l u t e o f C h i e ft ai ns i s U ri en
. .
N o p ea ce fu l t ra fli ck e r i s h e C l a m orou s l ou d s h o u t i ng s h ri l l m i g h t y
,
-
, , ,
and h i g h l y e x a l t ed E v e ry o ne k n o ws o f t h e e x t erm i na t i o n on t h e s i d e
.
o f M erw yd d a nd M ord e i T h e ch i e f i s ve ry s w i ft t o p re p a re p l eas u re ;

.
W h en ha rpe rs p l a y i n h al l he i s o f peace fu l cheer A p rot ec t o r i n A eron ; ,
E xcel l en t h i s w i ne , h i s poe ts , hi s m u s i ci ans : H e g i v es n o res t t o h i s

e n e m i es H e i s t h e g reat s t re n g t h o f t h e B ri t on p eo p l e L i k e a w h i rl i ng .
fi e ry m et eo r a c ros s t h e eart h Lik e a

, w av e co m i ng fro m L wyfenyd d ,
Like t he s w ee t s o ng of G w e i t hen ,
G w en n a nd Li k e M o r, t he v ery
c o u rt eo u s , i s U ri e n I n
. t h e a s s e m b l y o f a h u n d re d w a r-h e r
oe s H e
d i re ct s an d i s t he l ead er am ong pri nces , H e i s ch i e f o f t he peop l e of

s wi ft h o rs es . I n t h e begi nn i ng o f M ay i n com p l e t e ord e r o f bat t l e ,
Wh en h i s peopl e s end fo r h im , h e i s co mi ng E ag l e o f t he l and , v ery .
k ee n i s t h y s i g h t . I h av e m ad e a requ es t for a m et t l e d s eed , T he t

r i ce of t h e s oil s of T al i es i n
p p
OL D L I T ER A T U R E OF T HE C YM R Y . 2 13
O ther of Taliesin s songs praise Urien as the provider o f

’ “
w ine and meal and me d The issue o f one of his ”

, , a .
battles is look ed to as men would loo k t o the issue of a

foray in a b undance
, of calves and co ws— milc h co ws an d
oxen—and all goo d thi ngs also .

”
We s h ou l dj oy fu l w e re U ri en s l a i n H e t e rri fi es t h e
not be .
t re m bl i n g S a x o n w h o w i t h h i s w h i t e h a i r w e t i s carri ed a w a y o n h i s
, , ,
b i er and h i s fo reh e ad bl oody I h a v e w i ne fro m t h e ch i e f t o m e

.
w i ne i s m os t ag reeab l e D oo rk e e p e r l i s t e n
. W ha t n oi s e i s t h at ? I s
,
i t t h e eart h t h a t s h ak es O r i s i t t h e sea t h a t s w el l s R ol l i ng i t s w h i te
, ,
h ead t ow ard s t hy feet ? I s i t abov e th e v a l l ey ? I t i s U ri e n w h o th ru s ts .
I s i t a bo v e th e m ou n t ai n ? I t i s U ri e n w h o co n q u ers I s i t b ey on d .
t h e sl ope o f t h e b il l ? I t i s U ri en w h o w ou nd s I s i t h ig h i n ang er I t .
,
i s U ri en w ho s h o u t s A bo v e t h e road a bo v e t he p l ai n A bo ve a l l t h e
.
, ,
d e fi l es Ne i t h e r on o n e s i d e no r t w o I s t h e re re fu g e fro m hi m
, Bu t .
t h os e s h al l n o t s u ffer h u ng e r W h o t a k e s p o i l i n h i s c o m p an y H e i s t h e ,
p ro v i d e r o f su s t enan ce W i t h i t s l o ng b l u e s t rea m e rs H i s s p ea r w as
.
t h e ch i l d o f d e a t h I n s l ay i ng h i s e ne m i es A n d u n t i l I fal l i nt o ol d
.
ag e I n t o t h e s ad n ece s s i t y o f d ea t h M a y I n e v er s m i l e I f I p ra i s e n o t
, ,
U ri en .
”
In lines of t wo or three w ords each h ere run together to ,
save space I quote fro m this ha d of the sixth century one

, r
illustration m ore of the con fessed dependence o f t h e

anci e nt poet upon t he favour of a single p tr n in the a o
warrior chief whose praise he lived b y singi g

-
n
I n t ranq u i l re t i rem e n t I w as p ro d i g al o f s on g ; h o no u r I ob t ai ned ,

and I h ad a bu nd an ce o f m ead , I h ad a b u nd ance o f m ea d fo r p rai s i ng
hi m .A n d fa i r l a nd s I h ad i n ex ces s , and g rea t fe as t i ng , and g ol d and

s i l ver, an d g o l d and g i ft s , an d p l e n t y , an d e s t ee m , an d g ift s t o m y
d esi re, an d a d es i re t o gi ve i n m y p rot ect or I t i s a b l ess i ng , i t i s .
g o o d , i t i s g l o ri o u s , i t i s g l ori ou s , i t i s g o od ,
i t i s a b l e s s i ng i n
the e nce , t h e p rese n ce o f t h e be s t o we r T h b a rd s o f t h e w orl d

p re s e .
y ren d eri ng h o mage t o t h e e accord i ng t o t hy d es i re G od

are cert a i n l .
h at h su bj ect ed t o t h ee the ch i e fs o f t h e i sl and t h rou g h fear of thy ,

2I 4 E NGL ISH I VR I T ERS .
assa u l t , p k i n
g b a t
ro v ot l e P ro t e c t o r o f t h e l an d
. u su al w i t h t h ee i s ,
h ead l o ng act i v i t y an d t h e d ri nk i ng o f al e a n d al e fo r d ri n ki ng and , ,
fai r d w e l l i ng a nd beau t i fu l rai m en t

,
O n m e h e h as b es t o w ed t h e .
es t a t e o f L l wy fe nyd d an d a l l m y re qu es t s t h ree h u nd red a l t og e t h e r

'
, , ,
rea t a n d s m al l T h e so n g o f T al i es i n i s a p l e as u re t o t h ee t h e g rea t es t
g . ,
e v e r h e ard o f ; t h e re w ou l d b e reaso n fo r ang e r i f I d id n o t p ra i se t h y
d eed s A n d u n t i l I be co m e ol d an d i n t h e sa d n ec ess i ty o f d ea t h I
.
,
s h a l l n ev er rej o i ce e xce p t i n p ra is i ng U ri e n
”
.
The f iry tales f w hich T liesin afte wards b ecame t h e

a o a r
her d the mythological poet y scribed to him b elo n g

o , an r a ,
Ll ywm h to a l ter chapter in this na rative a W e kno w r .
H“
him here only one o f the b rds of the w orld as a
wh o f u nd in Urien o m i fi ce t re w rder o f their song s a un n a ,
and as the h ard o f the sixth centu y w h o seems to h ve r , a
b ee n most care ful o f himsel f Another poet of the sam e .
period wh o g ve l l to h i cou try is L l yw h H en (that

, a a s n ,
arc
is to say L l ywa h the Ol d ) warrior who sang w a and

,
rc ,
a r, ,
s fl e i g w ith his pe ple p pe rs by his remains to h ve

'
u r n o , a a a
excelled chiefly in p thetic l ment tion His poems illus a a a .
tr te w ith peculi r felicity the man ers and feelings o f h i s

a a n
time nd in h ppy incident l touch we le rn from him

a a a a a
h w f mili r w
o the d ily c nt ct between li fe d liter
a a as a o a an a
ture wh en he thus p irs s the t w o lights o f a home the

, a ,
a ,
b rd s song d the household fire

a
’
an
T he h al l o f C y n d y l l an i s d k ar t nig
o -
ht
Wi t h ou t fi re , w i t h ou t s o ng s .
”
L l ywarc h was b orn

bout the ye r 4 9 and educa ted in a a 0,
t he north
of E ngl nd mong the woods o f Arg ed where
a ,
a o ,
his father E lidir was so ereign chie f He went w hen y ung

, , v . o
to the court o f E rbin King o f Corn wall d Devon T ,

an . ra
d i t i o n s o f the t wel fth centu y send h i m to King A rthur s

’
r
court and m ke him for time King Arthur s minister for

, a a
’
t h ey are the dayspr i ngs o f Arthuri n r m nce to which w e a o a ,
are o w looking back through their contempor ry records

n a .
asylum i W les w ith C y d yl l a a Prince of Po wys at his

n a n n, ,
capital o f P e gwe (Shre wsbury ) C ynd yl l recei v ed

n rn . an
such exiles w ith open arm s and maintained const nt battle ,

a
w ith the S xons In battle w ith the S xons fought at Tren

a . a ,
(n o w Tarn ) near the W rekin

, C n
y yd ll a and t wo other ,
n
Cymric chie fs fell in the year 5 8 That is the C y d yl l a 0 . n n
w hose hall was then made dark w ithout fire and w ithout ,
songs His house was burnt and his whole family w s

.
,
a
massacred The Cymry w ere ow b eing hunted from the

. n
plains d L l y wa h found no b etter refuge than a hut o f

,
an rc
b oughs on the b anks of the Dee near Bal He s ys that , a . a
he h d there b ut a c ow fo his companion His four and

a r .
-
t wenty sons w ere de d O e o f them had in his d y a . n a
rescued from prison Aneurin wh o sang From the u , ,

n
pleas nt prison o f earth I am rele sed from the haunt of death

a a ,
and a h te ful land by Cen the son of L l ywa h magnan

a ,
an , rc ,
d bold But o f all L l ywa h s sons G wenn w s

” ’
i mo s u an . rc ,
a
the de rest to him d he was the first wh o fell under the

a , an
spears o f the L l oeg ia s The poet grieves that he is too r n .
old and feeble to avenge him O f Peil his second son .

, ,
“
a hall says L l yw h could have b een built w ith the
,
“
arc ,
splinters o f the bucklers he has broken With melancholy .
ch nt the old m passes l l too slo wly to his gr ve He

a an a a .
sees in the night the spirit of his mother ; do u bts whether

the God who h s not heard his prayers fo his sons o w
a r ,
n
listens to his grie f He turns ag in to his superstitions. a .
The grey monks o f the neighbouring monastery of L l anv o r
then fflict him He ch nges his ho m e to the valley o f

a . a
Ab er K i oh and sits there on the mountain side lo ging for

,
-
n
death H e c lls hi m sel f the son o f sorro w B t t he

. a . u
monks of L l v o follo w him to teach h i m faith in one

an r
w h o w hen on earth was yet more a man o f sorro w s and

, , ,
acquainted w ith grie f S o at l st in the church o f their . a
monastery Ol d L l ywa ch L l ywa h Hen was b uried H i s

— — r rc .
li fe was one o f p triotic stru ggle b ut the te m per o f his mind

a ,
OL D L I T ERA T U R E OF T HE CY M R Y . 21 7
w as gentle In composition o f the tenth century there is

. a
attri b uted to him the courteous precept Greet kindly

“
, ,
though there be no acqu int nce In the l ment over his a a . a
son a fter describing the de th at the contest o f the ford

, a ,
o f Morlas o f his b est b eloved G wenn

, w h o w s strong and ,
a
large of stature the old ha d s ys ,

r a
’ '
L ly wa r c/z s L a m e nt f or l us s on Gw en n .
L e t t h e w av e b reak no i s i l y ; l e t i t c o ver t h e s h o re w h e n t h e j o i ne d
l an ces a re i n b a t t l e 0 G w en n , w o e t o h i m w h o i s t o o o l d t o av e ng e
.
y o u ! L e t t h e w a v e brea k n o i s i l y ; l e t i t co ve r t h e p l ai n , w h en t h e
l an ces j oi n w i t h a s h o ck O G w e n n , w oe t o h i m w h o i s t o o o l d , s i n ce
.
h e h as l os t y ou A m a n w as m y s o n , a h ero , a g en e ro u s w arri o r, an d
.
h e w as t he nep he w
U ri e n G w e n n h as bee n s l ai n a t t h e fo rd o f
of .
M o rl as . H e re i s t h e b i e r m ad e fo r h i m by h i s fi e rc e con q u e re d e ne m y
a ft e r h e h ad bee n s u rrou n d ed o n a l l s i d es by t h e arm y o f t h e L l o eg ri an s
h ere i s t h e t o m b o f G w en n t h e s o n o f t h e O l d L l y w a rch
, S w ee t l y a .
bi rd s ang on a p e ar t ree abo v e t h e h ead o f G wen n be fo re t h ey co v e re d

-
hi m w i t h a t u rf Th a t b rok e t he h ea rt o f t he Old
.
It i s a curious f ct that a tumul u s called Gorsed d Wen

a ,
w ithin 5 y rds o f the river Morlais (which flo w s into a lake

1 0 a ,
n e r Merthyr T yd fi l ) w hen O pened in

a 85 w as fou n d to , 1 0,
conta in the skeleton o f a m six feet seven inches high an
the place of the tom b its name and the stal wart si e o f the , ,
z
w rrior there b uried testi fying in favour o f the b elie f that

a ,
these were the b ones of Gwenn the son of L l ywa c h ,

r .
We will part w ith this best poet of his time at the

blackened and oo es s a o C y d y an i his patrimony
fl h l l f n ll — r
‘
o f T ren (n o w at T rn Bridge by Wroxeter) that he had de

— a ,
fended i n vain ag inst the r vaging L l oegri a s The w hole

a a n .
T he o ri g i n a l an d t ra nsl a t i on i n t o F re n c o f t h e p oem fro m w i ch t h i s h h

p as sa g e i s t ak e n , a n d o f o t er p o e m s h
w il l b e fou nd , w i t h m u c v a l ua b l e
, h
t h e w ol e s u bj e c t , i n
h Poé m e s d u
'
i n fo rm at i o n u pon L e s Ba rd e s B re t o n s
V I e S i ecl e . Pa r l e V i c o m t e H e rsa rt d e l a V i ll e marq u é . N o u ve l l e E d i t i o n .
Pa ri s , 1 8 60 .
2I 8 E N GL ISH I VE I T ERS .
p oe m is l o n g; b u t t h e fo l l o wi ng pa s sag e fro m i t s u ffi c i en t l y
re prese n ts
L ly wa r ch ? L a ment f or Cj u dj l l a n .
T he ha l l C ynd yl l an i s g l oo m y t hi s n ig h t , ‘ Vi th ou t fi re, wi th ou t
of
b e d —I mu st w ee p a w h i l e an d th e n b e si l en t T he b al l o f C yn d y llan i s .
l oo m y t hi i h t W i t h t fi w i t h ou t a
c n d l — E c e t G o d d o t h
g s n g , o u re , e x
p ,
w ho w i l l en d u e m e w i t p h C
a t i e n ce n
y y?d ll a n i s g l
T h e ha l l
oo m y of
t h is ni g h t , W i t h o u t fi re, wi t h o u t b e i ng li g h t ed — Be t hou enc i rc l ed w i t h

s pread i n g si l e n ce ! T h e b a l l o f C ynd y l l a n, g l o o m y see ms i ts roo f,
S in ce t he s w eet s m i l e o f h u ma ni t y I s n o m o re — Woe t o hi m t hat saw i t ,
—Ah D
i f he n eg l ec ts t o d o g ood ! T h e b al l o f C y nd yl l a n I s w i th ou t l o v e t hi s
n ig ht , S i nc e h e ow ne d it no m o re eat h , i t w il l b e b u t a s ho rt
t i me h e w i l l l ea v e m e . T h e ba l l of C ynd y l l an i s n o t ea s y t hi s ni g ht ,
O n t h e t o p o f t he roc k o f H yd wy t h , \Vi t h o u t i ts l o rd , w i th ou t co m pan y ,

w i t h ou t t he c i rc li ng feas ts ! T h e ba l l o f C yn d yl lan i s g l oo my t hi s
ni g h t , \Vi t h o u t fi re , w i t h o u t so ng s — T ears a ffl i c t t he ch ee ks T h e ha l l .
of C y nd yl la n i s g l oo m y t hi s n ig h t , fi re , w i t h ou t fam i l y — My
o ve rflo w i ng t ea rs h t T h e h all of C yn d yl l a n p i erces m e t o se e
g u s o u
i t , Roo fless , fi re l ess , M y c h i e f is d ea d , an d I a l i v e m yse l f ! T h e hal l

of C ynd y ll a n i s an o pe n was t e t is h n ig ht , Aft e r b ei ng t h e con t e n t e d
res o rt o f w arri o rs ; E l v an , C ynd yl l an , an d C aea w g . T h e ba l l of C yn
d y l la n h
is t h e se a t o f c i l l g ri e f t is h ni
g h t , A ft e r t h e res pec t I had ;
W i th o u t t he m en , w i t h ou t t h e w o m e n w ho t h e re d w el t T h e b al l o f
C yn d yl l an i s s i l en t t h is n i g h t , A ft er l o s i ng i t s m as t e r .
— T h e g rea t ,
m e rci fu l G o d, w h a t s ha l l I do T he h al l C yn d yl l a n , g l oo m y see m s
of
i ts roo f, s i nce t he L l oeg ri ans ha ve d es t royed C ynd yl l an and E l van o f
hose victories w ere thus lamented by

T he L l oeg ri a ns, w
the Cymric b rds were the people of L l oeg the part of
a ,
r,
ancient Britain occupied by the Belgae ; r b ut the n ame now ’
applie s to all E ngl nd o f which ho wever the people ha ve

a , , ,
b een long called not L l o egri a b ut Saxon n, .
T he He roi c El og i es an d o t her Pi eces of L l yware H en Pri nce of t he ,
Camb ri an Bri t on s : wi t h a L i t e ral T ran s la t i on By W i ll i a m Owe n .

”
.
Lond o n 179 2 ,
.
“
1 Oc
’
s L l yware H e n Pu g h e
’
s W el s h D i c t i o na r y , s u b v oce
in Brit in fr m the spe r f the Celt to the plough o f t h e

a o a o
Teuton But w e see in this s ng o f the great tri fe when

. o s ,
“
the men o f G o d od i w ent to C t t et h the tumult w ith n a ra ,
”
,
out indic tion o f the strength that w as to come o f it there

a
a fter As to C t t et h the poem tells us that it w a d y s

. a ra ,
as a
’
m rch from the s t rting point f the G o d od i neigh b ours

a a -
o n,
o f the men o f D e i y d B yn ei h Deir and Bernici v r an r c ,

a a,
t h t is t
a s y Durh m n d Northum b erland In the ad
o a ,
a a .
j ining county f York w a R m n tow n o f note c lled

o o as o a ,
a
C t ra t o i m
a a c ow Catterick three
n u f ur miles from
, n ,
or o
Richm n d w here an ffluent j ins the Sw le and there

o , a o a , ,
perh ps w f ught the gre t b ttle cele br ted in Aneurin s

a ,
as o a a a
’
G od d i There it m y b e that the three hundred and

o n .
”
a
sixt y three chie fs who w ere t C t t et h w ere l l sl in except

-
a a ra a a ,
three in battle w ith the S xon s The Roman n me o f C t

, a . a a a
rac t o i m only Latinises the British w ord

n u o w pron unced , n o
Catterick d s id to be derived from

,
”
C at h i i gh
an a a rr ,
fortified city or C er d
“
ich the c mp on the water The ”
a -
ar- , a .
churchy rd f the vill ge o f C tterick mile from the site

a o a a , a
o f the Ro m n st tion d c m p is w ithin a ancient camp a an a , an
o f unkno w n origin d ncient b uri l mounds are in the , an a a -
neigh b ourhood A eurin present in t his battle survived . n , ,
it to b e killed b y B iddin son o f E i i g with the blo w o f ,

n an ,
an axe ccord ing t t h e Cymric Tri ds one of the three

,
a o a ,
a ccursed deeds o f Brit in In the O pinion o f the Rev a .

”
.
John Williams b I t h el n by w hom the G o d d i has

“
a
L
o n
”
b een edited d tr nsl ted C t t et h is identic l not w ith

an a a ,
a ra a ,
C tterick Bridge but w ith the t i l

a
“
r mp rt and fosse ,
c a ra ,
”
or a a
extending across T e i o td l e fo fi e d f rty miles from v a ,

r v -
an -
o
G l shiels south w rd to Peel fel l in the Cheviots This

a a ,
a ,
-
.
S te p h e n s ’
s
“
.
Li t e rat u re o f t h e K ym ry .
1
'
Y G o d od i n : a Poe m on t h e Ba t t l e of C a t t raet h , b y Aneu ri n , a
W el s h Ba r d of t he S ix t h C e n t u ry ,
wit h an E ng l i s h T ra n s l a t i o n and
nu m e ro u s H i s t o ri c al a nd C ri t i cal A n n o t at i o ns By t h e R e v . .
Jo h n W i ll i a m s
ab I t h el , M A . R e c t or o f L l a n g m o w d d w y M e ri o ne t s i re , hh .
”
Ll an d o very ,
1852 . T h i s b o ok i s m y ch i e f a i d i n d e s c ri b i ng t h e G o d od i n .
OL D L I T E RA T U R E OF T HE C YM R Y . 22 1
was a rampart raised t check the further progress of the o
Saxons w est ward ; and i f the fight was here the word , ,
C at t aet h m y possibly me d t aet h the w tr ct ; or

“ ”
r a an ca -
r ,
ar -
a
cad h i t h the leg l w fence B t I h ve little

-
r a ,
”
a ar- . u a
dou b t th t the true site o f C at traet h I s the Yorkshire

a
Catterick .
When in the year 5 4 7 Ida c me to our northern co st

, ,
a a
with forty ships i n aid o f the S xons comb t nt lready w ith

,
a a a a
the C ym y the people of G od od i n D ei y and B yn ei ch

r , ,
v r, r
( Deira and Bernicia ) on the e stern sh re bordering

, on a o ,
L l ywarch Hen s distric t f Arg e d were especi l l y liable

’
o o ,
a
to depredation and mos t probably already in the po wer of

,
the Saxon .
At the cal l of M y yd d wg L rd of B iddin Cymric n a ,

o ,
chie fs f rmed an alliance brought their forces to B iddin

o , ,
and w ere sumptuously entert ined B iddin is commonly a .
identified w it h E din b urgh I f so we must look for .

,
C at t ae t h to the C at ai l
r No b ody I b elieve has su ggested
r .
, , ,
o bvious as it seems that the lands of the L rd o f B iddi n, o
w ere on Words w orth s “

li fe s neighb o u r t he river E den
’ ’ ”
, ,
whose bold rock s are w orthy o f their fa m e The E den ”

.
,
passing through Westmorel nd and Cumberl nd flo ws a a ,
to wards the north east into the S ol way F rith and has i t s
-
,
source on the opposite side o f the same hills from which

the Sw le rises to flow b y Catterick to the s ut h w est The
a o -
.
sources o f the E den and the Sw le are only t w o or three a
miles dist nt from each other ; and i f the fort of B iddin

a ,
t hat was the g theri g point o f the Cymric allies was among
a n -
the fells n e r the head waters of the river it w s but a m rch

a -
,
a a
for the her es o f some fi e and t w enty miles fro m thence

o v - -
through Sw ledale to C at t et h The host was l rge T h e

a ra . a .
l arger army o f the Saxons gathered in G o d od i and n,
m arch ed west ward to meet at Cat t aet h the Britons of the r
yet unconquered West The fight b egan on a Tu esday .

,
and like one of the great battles o f the Am eri can C ivi l
,
Wa was maintai ned for a w eek the las t four days being
r, ,
most bloody Aneuri n was himsel f made prisoner in a

.
panic of t h e men with whom he fought and aft erwards ,
forci b ly li b erated b y a son of L l ywarch H en Aft er this .

,
at con ference d u ring the struggle Aneurin as b ard nd

a , ,
a
herald demande d restoration of a part of G od od i n as the

,
conditio n of peace The Saxo herald ans wered him by . n
k i l ling the h ard Owain and the b ttle was rene wed b y the ,
a
Cymry and maintained so doggedly that of their three

,
hundred and sixt y three ch iefs only three Cynon and -

, ,
C ad ei t h and C ad l ew of C ad an t survi ved with Aneurin

r ,
n , .
All u sions to protection o f corn indicate that the great figh t

was in the harvest seas on and the date usually as signed t o ,
it is the year 5 7 0.
Aneurin s poe m of The G od od i n as it remains to

“ ’
,
us co n sists of ninety seve s tan as ; and w ith the story

,
-
n z
o f the b attl e com b ines p raise o f ninety o f the Cymri c
chiefs I t is consid ered that in t he whole poem every

.
chief ha d his eulogy ; and th t variou s d etached piece s a
w hich are extant and w hi c h ans wer to its character are

, , ,
in f ct fragmen ts detached from t his old wail over the d eath

a ,
o f Cymric heroes upo w hom the Saxon s e t his heel n .
O ne o the inety seven stan as the t wenty fi s t was put

f n — -— z -
r
into verse as T he Death of H oel by Gray who had found

“
, ,
literal translation s i n E a s s S pecimens o f Welsh Poetry

“
v n
’
.
I h ve follo wed an edition of The G od od i n pu b lished in

a
“
1 8 5 2 b y the Rev John Wil l iams a b I t h el w ith a literal

,
.
,
pros e translation in the follo wi g attempt to give metrical

,
n
form to the successive sta n as as far as the t wenty fi t z -

rs ,
w hich is the one kno wn to modern readers as Gr y s Death ’

a
o f H oel H ere I b reak off that m y own ruder ttempt to

”
.
, a
rhy m e the G od od i n may have the advantage of a poet s ’
close .
M a n awyd , t ho u s w i ft an d fearl es s ,
By no foem an
’
d e l ay e d
s s p e ar
F o e m en s t e n t s t h ro u g h t h e e are ch eerl es s
’
.
,
No ne ev ad e t hy s pea rm an s rai d
’
.
W rea t h e d d
t h e l e a er w ol f ca m e fo rt h
A m be r ri n g s h i s t em p l e t w i n e ,
A m be r w o rt h a feas t of w i ne .
He q u el l ed t he s t ro ng o f t h e h o s t i l e t h ro ng
Th ou g h hi s s h i el d w as sh at t ered h e sh u n ned n o m an .
M i n e w o u l d h a v e been V e n ed o t and t h e N ort h ,
S ai d t h e h eart o f t h e son o f Y s gy ran .
V.
Wreat h ed w as t he l ead er w h o , a rm e d fo r t h e bl o ody s t rife ,
W e n t t o t h e ba t t l e fi el d n ot ed -
o f al l .
Ch i e f i n t h e fo re m o s t ran k , fea rl ess l y s p en d i ng l i fe,

S w ee p i n g ba t t a l i on s d o w n , g ro a n i n g t h e y fa l l .
F o e m en o f D ei vyr a nd foe m e n o f B rynei ch sl ai n ,
H u nd red s o n h u nd red s i n one l i t t l e h ou r .
E v e r h i s b ri d e feas t u n t as t e d m u s t no w re m ai n
-
H i m n o w t h e w o l v es and t h e ra v en s d ev ou r .
M e a d i n t h e h al l H yv eid d H i r co s t u s h i g h
, ,
Prai s e s h al l ye t l i v e for t h ee t i l l ou r so ng d i e
T o G o d od i n m arch ed t h e h eroes G ognaw l au g h ed .
R ou n d t h e i r fl ag s t h e y fi erc el y ba t t l e d b ore t h ei r s m art s

F e w t he fl e e t i ng ye a rs w h e n p l eas u re s c u p t h e y q u a fl ed
’ '
S t ro k es o f G og n aw so n o f B o t gad s h o o k m en s h ea rt s
’
, , .
B e t t e r p e nan ce i s t h an l au g h t e r o n t h e b re at h ,
W h en yo u n g a n d o l d and s t ron g and bo l d

'
, ,
H e roes m arc h t o m eet t he fat ed s t rok e of D eat h .
T O G od od i n march ed t h e h eroes G wanar l au g h ed

A s h i s sh i n i ng t roo p w en t d ow n ad orn ed t o k i ll .
J es t t h ou ch eck es t w i t h the g ri pe of t hy s wo rd h al t -
Wh en i ts bl ad e , 0 D eat h , t h ou w av es t , w e are s t i l l
OL D L I T E RA T U RE OF T HE C YM R Y . 22 5
VI II .
T h e w arri o rs m arc h ed t o C a t t rae t h , fu l l of wo r ds

Bri g h t m ead g av e t h em p l easu re , t h e i r b l i ss was t h ei r
I n s e rri e d array t h ey ru s h ed d o w n on t h e s word s
Wi t h j oy o u s y —t he n was s i l enc e ag ai n
ou tcr .
Be t t e r pe n a nce i s t han l au g h t e r on t h e breat h ,
Whe n you ng an d ol d and s t rong a nd bol d

, ,
H eroes m arch to mee t t he fat ed s t rok e of Deat h .
T h e w arri o rs march ed t o C a t t rae t h , fu l l of mead

D ru n k e n , b u t fi rm i n array ; g reat t h e s h am e ,
B u t g rea t er t h e va l o u r no h ard ca n d e fa me .
T h e w ar -
fou g h t fi e rc el y , red s w o rds see m ed t o b l ee d
d ogs .
Fl es h a nd sou l I had s l ai n t h ee m ys e l f, had I t hou g h t ,

S o n o f C i an , m y fri e nd , t h a t t hy fai t h had bee n bo u g h t
By ab ri be from t he t ri be o f the Brynei ch Bu t no
H e s corned t o t ak e d o w ry fro m h an d s o f the foe ,
And I a l l u nh u rt , l os t a fri e n d i n t h e fi g h t
, ,
W h om t he wrat h of a fat h e r fel l ed d own for the sl igh t .

“
U p o n t h i s verse. a nd t h e g e ne ral se nse o f i ts con t ex t , G ra y fo u n d ed

“
o p e n i ng o f h is Od e fro m t he W el s h , T he Deat h of Hoel
'
”
t he .
H a d I bu t t he t orre nt s m i g h t
’
Wi t h head l ong rag e an d W i ld a fl ri g h t

'
U pon B e i ra s sq u a d rons h u rl d
’ '
T o ru s h and s we e p t h e m fro m t he wor l d .
T oo , t oo s ec u re i n y ou t h fu l p ri d e
B y t h e m m y fri e nd , m y H oe ] , d i e d ,
G rea t C i an s s on o f M a d o c o l d
’
H e as k ed no h e a p s o f h oa rd e d g ol d
Al o ne i n N at u re s w ea l t h a rra y d ,
’ '
H e as h d a nd ha d t he l o v e l y ma i d
’
.
Bu t t h e se n se of t h e ori g i nal i s far m ore v i g o rou s. T he so n of C i a n h ad

m a rri ed t h e d au g h ter of o ne o f t h e H i s m arri ag e d i d n o t s ta y
B ry ne i ch .
h i s fe u d wi t h h i s w i fe s t ri be
’
H e re p u d i a t ed h er fa mi l y d i s da i n ed t o ta k e
. ,
h er d owry and was s o u g h t an d s l a i n i n t h e b a t t le by h e r i ns u l t ed fa t h er

. .
T h e res t o f G ra y s Od e is a s u ffi c i e n t l y cl ose veI s i on o f t h e t wen t y fi rs t

’
s t an za o f t h e G od o d i r . G ray cl o s es i t l i k e t h e t ru e p oe t t ha t h e is ; b u t
P
WR l T E R S
’
2 26 E N GL I S H .
T h e warri o rs m arch ed t o C at t rae t h w i t h t h e d aw n

They feare d t h e m wh o m et t he m w i t h m arti al u p roa r
A h os t on a h and fu l t o bat t l e w ere d raw n ,
B road m ark fo r t h e l a n c es t h a t d re nc h ed t h e m i n g o re .
T he s ho c k o f t h e ba t t l e be fo re t he b rav e ba nd
,
O f t h e n o b l e s w h o fre e l y o be y ed hi s c o m ma nd ,
M ynyd d aw g F ri en d o f H e roes was h ol d t o w i t h s t and

, , .
T h e w a rri o rs m a rch e d t o C a t t rae th w i t h t he d aw n

T he l o ved o ne s l a m en t e d i n m as t e rl e s s t e n t s
A s n a re ha d th e s w ee t ye l l o w m e ad ro u n d t h e m d raw n .
Th at d a rk
year fu l l o ft en t h e m i ns t re l l a m ent s
R ed p l u m es redd e r s w o rd s b rok en bl ad es h e l me t s
, , , c l e ft ,
E v en t h os e o f t he ban d t h at o beyed t h y c o m m a nd ,
M ynyd d aw g F ri e nd o f H eroes of h eroes b e reft

, , .
T h e w arri o rs m arch ed t o C at t ra e th w i t h t h e d ay
Bas e t au n t s s h a m e d t he g re a t es t o f ba t t l es Th ey . c ri e d
As th ei r bl ad es s l e w t h e bap t i s e d G elorwyd d A w ay ,
\Vi t h y o u r k i n d re d t h e h o m e l e ss t h e d e ad t o abi d e
, ,
F o r t h e G e m o f t h e Ba p t i s e d be h ol d w e p ro v i d e
—
\Ve t h e h o s t o f G o d od i n an u n c t i o n o f b l ood
,
A l as t u nct i o n i s d u e ere t h e l as t fi g h t i s fo u g h t .
S h ou l d t he m i g h t o f t ru e c h i e fs no t be m as t e red w i t h t h o u g h t ?
T h e w arri o r m a rc h e d t o Cat t rae th w i t h t h e d a y

I n t h e s t il l n e ss o f n i g h t h e h ad q u a fl e d t h e w h i t e m e ad
'
H e w as w re t ch ed , t ho u g h p ro p h es i e d g l o ry a nd s w a y
H ad w i ng ed h i s a m b i t i o n \Ve re n o ne t h e re t o l ead
.
T o C a t t rae t h w i t h a l o ft i er h op e i n t he i r s pee d .
the d i ct i o n o f t h e ei g ht een t h ce n t u r y i s an swerab l e for hi s i nfl at i on of

t h e p la i n wor s d wi ne a nd m ead i nt o
N ec t a r t h a t t h e b ee s p rod u ce ,
Or t he g ra pe s ecs t a t i c u i ce
’
j .
"
z 28 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
I her d ays b e bl end ed m ead and al e

n ot
I n o t h e r d ay s p u rpl e and g ol d h e w o re
I n o t h e r d ays G wart h l ev t h e V o i ce o f B l a m e
H ero d ese rvi ng of a t ru e r n am e
H a d s t a l l fed s t eed s w ho sa fe l y s w i ft l y bo re
-
, ,
Th ei r m as t e r ou t o f pe ri l These now fai l . .
I n o t h e r d ays h e t u rn ed t h e e bbi ng t i d e ,
A nd b ad e t h e fl oo d o f w a r s w ee p h i gh s p rea d wi d e , .
XV I 1 .
Li g h t of l ig h t s— the s u n ,
L e a d e r o f t h e d ay ,
F i rs t t o ri se a nd ru n
H i s a p po i n t ed w ay ,
C ro w ned w i t h m any a ray ,
S e ek s t h e Bri t i s h s k y ;
S ees t h e fl i g h t s d i s m ay
’
,
S ees t h e Bri t o n fly .
T h e h orn i n E i dd i n s ha l l
’
H ad s pa rk l ed w i t h t he w i ne ,
A nd t h i t h e r a t t h e ca ll
,
T o d ri n k an d be d i v i ne ,
H e w e n t t o s h are t he fea s t
,
O f rea pe rs w i n e and mea d

,
H e d ran k and so i nc reas ed

H i s d ari ng for w i l d d eed .
T he re a pe rs s a ng o f w ar
That l i ft s i t s s hi ni ng wi ng s ,
I t s s h i n i ng w i ng s o f fi re ,
I t s s hi el d s t h at fl u t t e r fa r .
T he b ard s t oo sang o f w ar ,
O f pl u m ed a n d c rest ed w ar
T he s ong ro se e v e r h i g h e r .
Not a s h i e l d
E scapes t h e s h oc k ,
T o t he fi e l d
They fie rcel y fl ock ,
Th ere t o fal l .
Bu t o f a ll
Who s t ru ck on g ian t G wrv eli ng,

Who m h e wou l d he s tru ck ag a i n ,
All h e s t ru c k i n grave were l ai n

OL D L I TE R A TU R E OF T HE C 229
E re t h e b eare rs cam e to b ri ng
T o hi s g rav e s tou t G w rv el i ng .
XV I I I .
Th es e g ath e red fro m t he l and s arou n d

Th ree ch i e fs fro m t h e N o v ant i n e g rou nd
Fi v e t i me s fi v e hu nd re d m e n e m ba t t l ed band s , ,
Th re e t i m es t h re e h u nd red l e v i e d fro m t h e i r l and s

Th ree h u nd re d m en o f ba t t l e a rm ed i n g o l d , ,
F ro m B i dd i n t h en t h ree c u i rass e d h os t s en ro l l e d
B y t h ree k i ng s g o l d e n ch a i ne d t h re e c h i e fs b e s i d e
-
W i t h w h o m t h re e h u nd red m a rch e d i n e q u al p ri d e ;
Th ree o f l i k e m ark and j e al o u s e ac h o f e ach
, ,
F i erce i n a t t ac k and d read fu l i n t h e breach ,
W o u l d s t ri k e a li o n d ea d w i t h g o l d t h ey s h one .
Th ree k i ng s cam e fro m th e Bry t h o n C yn ri g o n e , ,
A n d Cyn o n an d C y nra i n fro m A ero n ,
T o b reas t t h e d art s t h e s u l l e n D ei v yr t h ro w .
B e t t er t h an Cy n o n ca m e fro m B ry t h o n n o ne ,
H e p rov ed a d ead l y s e rp e n t t o t h e fo e .
I d rank t he M o rd e i ’
s w i ne and m ead
S pears w e re m a n y , m en p re pa red
F o r t h e ba n q u e t , s ad l y s ha red ,
T he s ol e m n fe as t w h e re e ag l es fe e d .
Wh en C yd yw a l t o ba t t l e
d s
p e ,
I n t h e g re e n d a w n h e ra i se d a s h ou t
,
T ri u m ph a nt o v e r m an y d ead .
U po n t h e fi e l d w e re s t ro w n a bo u t
T h e s h i el d s h e s p li n t e re d t ea ri ng s pe a rs
,
H e w n a nd cas t d ow n H i s w e re n o fears
.
S on of the s t a r-w i s e S yv n o , h e
K n e w t h a t h i s d e a t h t h at d a y s h o u l d b e
B y s pear or b o w , n o t by s w o rd -bl a d e ,
And no t a s w o r d h av oc s taye d
hi s
O r cou l d ag a i n s t h i s s w o rd a s t ri fe s u s t ai n .
H e gav e h i s o w n l i fe t o o k a h o s t
,
B l ae n G w y n e dd k n e w h i s anci e n t boas t
O f t h e b ra v e t oi l ers pil ed w h om h e h ad s l ai n .
z
I d rank t he M o rd ei s w i n e a nd m ead
’
,
I d ran k a nd n o w fo r t h a t I b l e ed
, ,
A n d y i el d m e t o t h e s t ro k e of p ai n
Wi t h y earni ng t h ro b of hi g h d i s d ai n ,
That u pward pa nt s t o s t ri ke agai n .
Th ee t oo the s w o rd t h at s l ays m e sl ays .
Wh en d ange r t h rea t ens u s th e d ays ,
O f e v i l d o i ng q u ai l t h e h an d
-
H ad w e w i t h s t ood w e c o u l d w i t h s tand .
P res yn t was bo l d t h ro u g h w a r s al arm

,
’
H e t h ru s t h i s way w i t h d o u g h t y arm .
’
T oC a t t rae t h s v al e i n g l i t t eri ng ro w
T w i ce t w o h u nd red warri o rs go
E ve ry w arri o r s m an l y n ec k
’
Ch ai ns of regal h on ou r d eck ,
W reat h e d i n m any ad en l i nk
g o l
F ro m t he go l d e n cu p t h ey d ri n k
Nec t ar t h at t he b ees p ro d u ce ,
O r t h e g rap e s e cs t a t i c j u i ce
’
.
F l u sh ed wi t h m i rt h a nd h o pe t hey bu rn
fro m Ca t t rae t h ’
Bu t n on e s v al e re t u rn ,
S a ve A ero n bra v e an d C o nan s t ro ng ,
B u rs t i ng t h rou g h th e bl o o dy t h rong ,
A n d h e t h e meanes t o f t h em al l
, ,
Wh o l i ves t o weep an d si ng t h ei r fal l .
T he c h i e fsfro m t h e No v a nt i n e g rou nd refe rred t o i n t he e i g h t e ent h

s t anz a w e re fro m t he o ppos i t e s h o re o f t h e S ol way F ri t h , w h e re a re n w
o
Wi g t o w n , Ki rk cu d b ri gh t , a nd A yr ; l e v i es fro m B i dd i n w ere fro m t he
bank s a nd es t u a r y o f t he E d en h h
t ree c i e fs fro m B re i t an w e re fro m t h e
s h o re s o f C l yd e ; a nd A eron m ay be a n ol d form o f A yr . Th es e co m
l t e d t h e list of th e co n fe d e ra t e Cy m ri c t ri b es o n t h e w es t c oas t o f t he
p e
Cy m ry w h o m arch ed t o C at t rae t h t o resi s t t h e s ei zu re by E ng l is h i n ,
vad e rs o f t h e i nl and reg i o n i m m e d i a t e l y b e h i n d t he c o a s t s o f D ei v yr

,
an d B ryn e i c h ro m a n i s ed as t h e O t ad i n i from O d o d i n
, O d od i n
, .
,
w i t h o u t t h e p re fi x o f an u nes se n t i al was t h e Cy mri c nam e o f t he

”
G ,
232 E N GL /S H I VR / T E R S .
a nd w e n t t o h i s d ea t h at C a t t rae t h w i t h t h e C ym ry . I n m a rshal l e d
a rra y t hey h s h o u t o f w ar wi t h po w e rfu l s t eed s an d d k bro w n
w en t w i t ,
ar -
h arness w i t h s hi e l d s w i t h u pl i ft e d j a v e l i ns a n d p i e rc i ng l an ces wi t h
, , ,
g l i t t e ri n
g m a il a n d w i t h s w o rd s M o r i e n f e l l i n a
. t
”
t a c k o n t h e S ax o n
c a m p a s h e ca rri e d an d s rea d fi re a d as hi s s w o rd res o u n d ed o n t h e

p n ,
s u m m i t h e w as k i l l e d b y a s t one h u rl ed fro m t h e w al l o f t h e fo rt Bu t .
t h e fo rt w as t ak e n Te rri bl e w i t h i n i t w as t h e cry o f t h e t im i d m u l ti
.
t u d e ; t h e v an o f t he a rm y o f G o dod i n w as sca t t e red A no t h e r fi e rce .
a t t a c k w as m ad e ; a d w a rf m es se n e r o f t h e S a x o n s h as t e ned t o t h e
g
fe n ce ; t he Cy m ry se n t fo rw ard t o m e e t h i m t h e i r c h i e f co u n se l l or a ,
h o ary h ead e d m a n m ou n t ed u po n a pi e bal d s te ed a nd w ea ri ng t h e

-
,
o l d e n c h ai n T h d w f d m t b t t h Cy m ry ans w e red
g e. a r
p p
ro os e a c o p ac u e ,
“
fo r t h e m se l ves w i t h a g rea t s h ou t L e t h e av e n b e o u r p ro t ec t i o n
,
.
L e t hi s co m pa ct b e d e a t h b y t h e s pe a r i n ba t t l e F o r t h i s w as a .
l i fe s t ru gg l e i n wh i c h e v en w o m e n o f t h e Cy m ry fo u g h t am o ng t h e m e n
-
.
E q u a l t o t h ree m en t h ou g h a m ai d w as B ra d w e n ; E q u al t o
, ,
t w el v e w as G w e nab w y, t h e son of G w en . F or t he p i e rci ng o f t h e

s kil fu l an d m o s t l ea rned w o m an , H e r b h d se rv an t o re a s i e l i n the
a c t i o n a n d w i t h en e r y h i s s w o rd fe l l u o n t h e h e ad s o f t h e foe ; I n
, g p
L l o e g yr t h e ch u rl s c u t t h e i r w ay be fo re t h e C h i e ft a i n H e w h o g ras ps .
t h e m an e o f a w o l f w i t h o u t a c l u b i n h i s h and w i l l h a ve i t g o rg e ou s l y
, ,
e m b l az o n ed o n h i s ro be I n t h e e ng ag e m e n t o f w ra t h a nd ca rnag e
.
,
Bra d w n e ri h e d — s h e d i d n o t esca e C a rcase o f g o l d m ai l ed

p
-
e s s
, p .
w arri o rs l ay u p o n t h e c i t y w a l l s ; n on e o f t h e h ou se s o r c i t i es o f
Ch ri s t i an s w a s any l o ng e r ac t i v el y e ng ag ed i n w ar ; Bu t o ne fe e bl e
m a n w i t h h i s s h o u ts k e pt al o o f t h e ro v i ng bi rd s ;
, , M y l i m bs a re
r i ck e d a n d I a m l o ad e d
, I n t h e su b t e rrane o u s h ou s e ; A n i ron c hai n
,
Pa s s e s o ve r m y t w o k n ees ; Y e t o f t h e m ead a n d o f t h e h o rn A nd o f ,
t he h o s t o f C a t t rae t h I A ne u ri n w i l l s i ng Wh a t i s k no w n t o T a l i e s i n
, ,
Wh o co mm u n i ca t e s t o m e h i s t h ou g h t s O r a s t ra i n o f G o d o d i n Be fo re , ,
t h e d a w n o f t h e b ri g h t d ay T h e ch i e f e x p l o i t o f t h e N o rt h w as a o
.
c o m p l i s h e d by t h e h e ro O f a e n t l e b rea t a m re l i b e ral l o rd co u l d
g , s o
n o t b e s e e n ; Ea rt h d o es no t s u o rt n o r h as m o t h e r bo rne S o i l l u s
pp ,
t ri o n s and po w e rfu l a s t e el cl a d w a rri o r B y t h e fo rce o f hi s g l ea m i ng

-
s w o rd h e
p ro t e c t e d m e F ro m t h e c ru el u n d e rg ro u n d
, p r i s o n h e b ro u g h t
m e o u t F ro m t h e ch am be r o f d ea t h fro m t h e ene m y s cou n t ry ; S u ch
’
, ,
w as C e n en s o n o f L l y w arch e n e rg et i c an d h o l d
”
, , .
T h e t id e o f b a t t l e t u rned ag ai ns t th e Cy m ry Th ey w e re fo rc ed t o .
c o n s i d e r t e rm s o f a g re e m en t T h e d e m a nd m ad e o f t h e d al es b ey o n d
.
t h e ri d g e o f E s s yd (pe rh ap s E s t h w a i t e L ak e ) t h e s t a bb i n g o f A n eu ri n s
’
,
c o m p a ni o n by t h e S a xo n h e ra l d a nd t h e u ri s i n
p o f t h e Cy m r y t o
g ,
u rs u e t h e t ra i t o r a re t h e nex t i nci d e n t s t o l d
p ,
.
OL D L I TE R A T U R E OF THE C YM R Y . 233
T og e t he r a ri se th e exp ert w arri o rs and p u rs u e t he s t ra nger t h e

, ,
m an w i t h t h e cri m so n ro be T h e e n cam p m e n t i s b ro k e n d ow n by t h e
g g o r eou s p i l g ri m , W h e re t h e y o u n g d eer (c o l l ec t e d as p r o i s i o n s fo r v
“
t he a rm y ) w e re i n fu l l m e l od y A m o ng s t t h e s p e a rs o f B rych t h ou
.
cou l d s t s e e no rod s (w h i t e fl a s )
g W i t h t h e b a s e t h e w o rt hy c a n h a ve
n o c o n co rd M o ri al i n p u rs u i t w i ll n o t co u n t e nan ce t h ei r d i s h o no u ra bl e
d eed s wi t h hi s s t e el b l ad e ready for b l oo ds h ed T o g e t h er ari s e t h e
, .
co n fed e ra t e w a rri o rs S t rang e rs t o t h e c o u n t ry t h e i r d ee d s s h a l l b e

.
,
p roc l a i m e d ; Th e re w as s l a u h t e ri n
g g w i t h a xe s a n d b l a d es A n d t h e r e ,
w as rai s i ng l arg e ca i rn s o v e r t h e h e roe s o f t o i l T h e w arri o rs a ros e

.
,
m e t t og e t h e r A nd a l l w i t h o n e acc o rd s a l l i e d fo rt h
, s h o rt w e re t h e i r
l i v es l o ng i s th e g ri e f o f t h o se w h o l o v ed t h e m ; S e v e n t i m es t h e i r
,
n u m be r o f L l oe ri an s h ad t h e y s l ai n ; A ft e r t h e c o n fl i c t t h e i r w i v es
g j
ra i s e d a scre am A nd m an y a m o t h e r h a s t h e t ea r o n h e r ey e l as h .
T he sol d i e rs ce l e b ra t ed t h e p ra i s e o f t h e H o l y O n e A n d i n t h e i r ,
p re s e n ce w as k i nd l ed a fi re t h a t rag e d o n h i g h O n T u es day t h e y p u t
.
o n t h e i r d a rk b ro w n
-
g ar m en t s ; O n W e d nes d a y t h e y p u r i fi e d t h e i r
e na m e l l e d arm ou r ; O n Th u rsd a y t h e i r d es t ru c t i o n w as c e rt a i n ; O n
F ri d ay w as b ro u g h t carnag e al l rou nd O n S a t u rd ay t h ei r j oi nt l abo u r

w as u s e l es s ; O n S u n d ay t h e i r bl ad e s as su m e d a ru d d y h u e ; O n
M o nd ay w as se e n a poo l k nee d ee p o f b l oo d -
T h e G od od i n re l a t e s
.
t hat a ft e r t he t o i l B e fo re t h e t e n t s o f M ad og w h e n h e re t u rne d O n l y
, , ,
o n e m an i n a h u n d re d ca m e w i t h h i m .
A t C at t e ri ck a t ri bu ta ry ri v e r fl o w s i n t o t h e S w al e ; an d t h e n e x t
i nci d ent o f t h e G od o d i n i s t h a t a t e a rl y d a w n th e re w as a ba t t l e a t
'
t h e co n fl u e nc e o f ri v ers w h e re a fi re w as k i nd l ed i n fro n t o f t h e fe n c e
”
, ,
a n d t h e d w a rf h e ral d s ee m s t o h a v e b e e n k i l l ed t rea ch e ro u s l y i n re v e n e
g
fo r t h e t reach e rou s s l ay i ng o f A n eu ri n s co m pan i o n by t h e S a x o n h era l d
’
.
T h e res t i s s t i ll ce l e b ra t i o n at l e ng t h o f t h e d eed s o f s l au g h t e re d ch i e fs ,
t h e l as t n a m ed be i ng M o ri e n and G w e nab w y .
“
A nd M o ri e n l i ft e d u p ag ai n h i s anc i e n t l an ce A n d roa ri ng , , ,
s t re t c h e d o u t d e at h T o w a rd s t h e w arri o rs t h e G w yd d yl and t h e , ,
Pryd yn ; Wh i l s t t o w ard s t he l o v e l y s l e nd e r b l o od s tai n e d bod y o f

, ,
-
G w en , S i g h ed G w e nab w y t he o n l y s o n o f G w e n
, Bec au s e o f t h e .
w o u nd o f t h e s k i l fu l a nd m os t w i s e w a rri o r G ri e v o u s an d d ee p w h e n ,
h e fel l p ros t ra t e u po n t h e g ro u n d T he b ann e r w as p o m p o u s l y u n fu rl ed

, ,
a n d bo rn e b y a m an a t h i s s i d e ; A w i l d s ce n e w a s be h e l d i n B i dd i n ,
a n d u p o n t h e ba t t l e fi e l d -
T h e g ras p o f hi s h an d p e rfo rm e d d ee d s o f
.
v a l o u r U o n t h e Gy n t h G d d l d h I d H ’
p t e , w y y an t , e r
y y n e who .
m edd l es w i t h t h e m ane o f a w o l f w i t h ou t a c l u b I n h i s h an d w i l l
, ,
h av e i t g o rg eou s l y e m bl azo ned on h i s ro be Fa i n w o u l d I si ng . w ou l d .
t h a t M o ri e n had n o t d i e d I s i g h for G w e nab w y t h e s o n o f G wen

’ ”
.
, .
So cl oses ,
wi th a s igh , t h e so ng of A n e u ri n C hi e f
.
af te h e has mars hall ed i n h is p ri d e

r c hi ef o f l i fe an d fl u s h o f
y
va l o u r, o n l t o w ee p fo r h is d eat h i n t he d ay w h en t h ere
g t g t
w as s la u h er i n wi h ax es an d l a d es , an d h ere was b t rai s i ng
l a ge ca irns o ve t h e h e
”
r r L l ywarc h u rged al l h i s
roes o f toil .
so ns t o ba t t l e fo r t h ei r co u n t ry, an d a ft erw ard s, a c h il dl ess
ol d m an, h e m o u rn ed t he m al l w i t h we n, t h e d eares t, w h o G
fe ll by the fo r d at M orlas ; al l sl ai n ,
”
h e wai l s , “
by my
w ords fo i t w as he who as o ice o f h i s co t ry
,
”
r ,
v un , u ged
r
the m to t h e fi el ds o f d eat h I t was oth e G wen w h o fell . an r
i n t h e d ea d l y an d d isas t o us st ggl e at Cat t ae t h and o e

r ru r ,
v r
w h ose l o vely l e n d e bl oo d s tai n ed bod y k n el t G we na

“
,
s r, -
h wy h is o n l y so n
,
I sigh for G wenabwy t he so n o f ,
G we n M e rl in cared by t h e ho o s of t he st ru ggl e
.
”
, s rr r ,
passe d at l s t from a wi ld batt l e fi el d wi t h th e l igh t of h is

a -
,
rea son que nched i n b l oo d t o d i e a h om el ess wand ere , r
u pon a l on el y rive ba k T h e c h i e fs of th e C ym ry m ay
r- n .
h ve bee n t oo rea dy to q u afl t h e whi t e m ea d on se e e

a
'
r n
nights o on the ev e of batt les th ey m ay have b ee n

,
”
r
pla gues to each other wi th d is p tes fo ays and pe tt y d i s u , r ,
cord it may be that amo ng the m en o f D ei vyr and Bryn

eich on the eas t e rn coas t nort h an d so th o f t he H u m b e
, , u r,
there were Cymry subject to th e coas t ravagi ng Saxons who

,
-
,
fought w ith the invaders ag inst th e ir o w n count ymen ; a r
and the pecu li r bittern es s with which Cymric poets s pea k

a
al w ys o f the B y ei c h i s tho u ght to support t h i s o p i n io n ;

a r n
but t he best min d of the Cym y as expres sed by their poe ts r , ,
h ad in these grievou s ti m es ass u redly t h e stro ngest i nfluence .
The seven day s battle at Cat t raet h where the S trathclyd e

’
,
Britons gathered their forces for a last fierce s tan d and ,
stood firm to the de th bore w itness to the S pirit of a a ,
generation that m kes poets Urie n chief of the co nfed er

a .
,
ates am ong the hills o f our C ym ryl d of the North — a an
land stretching beyond the bounds o f Cumb erland a d n
Northum b erland into t h e Scottish lo wlands — had many

2 36 E NGL I SH I VR I T ERS .
The verse system of the Celts w s f unded not like th a t a o ,
o f the Greeks d R m ns upon length d shortness o f

an o a ,
an
syll bles b ut upon agreements in the s ounds o f

a ,
initi l nd fin l lett rs The old Te tonic verse

a a a e . u ,
as we sh ll find in the ca se of Anglo S on w s based upon

a -
ax ,
a
all i ter tion o f initials only The G elic d Cymric Celts

a . a an
used gr ement not o nly of fin l conson nts the most simple

a e a a ,
an d ncient form o f fin l sson nce b t lso o f fin l syll b les

a a a a , u a a a .
The Cymric verse might cl se t wo three or even six or more o , ,
successive lines w ith the s me syll b le In G elic syll b le a a . a ,

a a
e ding in a vowel
n sson te nl y w ith syll b le ending can a a o
‘
a a
in vo w el A syll b le ending in t wo conson nts

a . w ith a a can ,
a f w exceptions sson te only w ith

e syll ble ending in t w o
,
a a a a
conson nts In the c se o f d uble d triple ss n nces

a . a o an a o a ,
the first syll b le o f the first member of the t must h ave the
a se
acute ccent d the second syll ble of the second member

a ,
an a
must h ve either the cute or the gr ve but r ther the cute

a a a , a a .
A m nosyll ble h ving the acute ccent m y ss n te wi th

o a a a a a o a
a fin l syll b le h ving only the gr ve In ss n nce b y

a
“
a a a . a o a
repetition o f the fin l syll ble we h ve the germ of rhyme a a a .
It is more tr e rhyme th n w uld b e the ss ci tion of

no u a o a o a
ship w ith h rdship

“ ”
d “
w orship The G els used
a
”
an .
”
a
m ay b e na m e d he re a s a c u ri os i t y o f Li t era t u re . T he a u t h o r t ak e s
t he p ri n c i p al w o rd s i n ea ch l i ne of the G od o d i n ,
”
by t h ree l i ne s o f t hem
a t a t i m e , t ra n s l a t es e a c h w o rd i n t o H e b re w , fi nd s al l t h e s y n o ny m s of ea c h
H eb rew w ord a n d t he n p u zzl es ou t a new s e ns e b y p i ec i ng t og e t her s u ch
,
s y n o ny m s a s c a n b e m a d e t o s u i t T h e n h e t ri e s t o j o i n h i s l i t t l e g rou p b y
.
t w o s m ak i ng i n e v e ry ca se t we n t y fi v e e x p eri m e n t s
, L a s t l y t h es e d ou b l e
-
.
,
g ro u p s a re to b e t ri ed w i t h e ac h o t h er, and t ha t s e l ec t e d w h i c h m ak es t h e
m os t c o h e re n t w h ol e t h i s res u l t ca n ne v e r b e m i s t a ke n — fo r s en s e . T he
”
p ro ces s i s s h o wn i n ac t i o n b y c o nv e rs i o n o f t h e G od o d i n i n i ts Ara m i t i c ,
se n s e i n t o a n i n c o h ere n t
, p o e m o n t h e g a m e o f ch es s T h e h e roes .
”
m a rch t o C a t t rae t h w i t t h e d aw n , b e co m es h N e i g h b ou rs w i t h c es s e n d h
”
t h e e v e n i ng .
W h i t l ey S t ok e s on I ri s h M e t ri c .
”
R ev u e Cel t i q u e for M ay , 1 88 5 (v ol .
vi .
, p . S ee al s o R T h u rn e ys e n
. on T h e I ri s h
M et re R i n n a r d , i n
”
t h e s am e R e vi e w for Ja nu a r , 1 8 86 (vol y . v n, .
p .
OL D L I TE R A T U R E OF T HE C YM R y . 23 7
o ten a tw o syllab led as z d m : ( health d misery )

f -
,
’
s o re,
'
a an ,
sometimes even a three syll bled assonance -

a , ,
as
th t of the Cymry wa almost l ways one

a s a
syllabled ; d w hile the Cymry depended chiefly for e ffect

an
upon the ssonant ends o f their lines the G els cared more
a , a
for assonant initi l letters fo lliteration The Gaels also

a ,
r a .
were more care ful th n the Cymry to b alance w ith a a
rhythmic l antithesis the t wo h lves of a verse There was

a a .
, a ,
—
peculiar ag in to the G elic poetry what Dr Zeuss whose a .
Celtic Grammar is the b est u thority upon this su bj ect a
calls a hal f sson nce where the vowel being the s me the
-
a a , , a ,
consonants were only those of the same cl ss No distinct a .
ru le was kept as to the length of lines b ut they were short , ,
—
and seven s in the first line of Gray s partly imit t ive
a
’
a
D eath o f Hoel from the Welsh — wa ve y commonly

,
s r
the n umber o f their syllabl es But much depended upon .
accent .
The chie f M S materi ls fo study of the ol d Cymric . a r a
l a ngu age n d literature are a
LAT I N MSS . OF T HE 8T H on 9T }! C E NT U R I E S w rr u
CYM RI C 6 1 05 5 5 5 .
1 . T he O x ford C od ex i n th e Bod l ei an L i bra ry (A u c t . F .

4
co n t ai n i n a t i f t h e t rea t i s e o f E u t ych i u s t h e g ra m m a ri a n , w i t h
g p o r o n o
i n t erl i n ea r Cym ri c g l os ses . T he E xo rd i u m of O vi d

’
s A rt L o ve
of ,
wi t h Cy m ri c i n te rl i near g l osse s fro m v 3 1 to 3 70 . . A n a l p h ab e t

asc ri be d t o N e m n i v u s w i t h l e t t e rs rese m bl i ng w h at
,
a re p ri n t e d as
Ba rd i c Le t t ers b u t o f d i ffe re n t si g n i fi cat i on a nd a frag m en t o f a t reat i se

, ,
on Wei g h t s an d M eas u res part l y i n B ri t i sh part l y i n La t i n Th ese

,
”
, .
Cym ri c rem ai n s a re of t h e e nd o f t h e 8t h o r beg i n ni ng of t he 9t h .
cen t u ry .
“
2 . T he S e co nd O x ford C od e x a l s o i n t h e B od l e i a n i s t h eo
, ,
l og i ca l an d co n t a i ns i n t h e m id d l e fro m p 4 1 t o p
, a v oc a b u l ary
, . .
o f L a t i n w o rd s w i t h B ri t i s h i n t e r re t a t i o n s w ri t t e n o v e r o r u n d e r t h e m
, p .
T he Cy m ri c i s of anc i e n t form an d t h e fo l l o w i ng La t i n en t ry s h o ws
,
Qu o t e d on p . 2 25.
h
t at i t w as w ri t t e n w h e n t h e Cy m ry w e re res i s t i ng t h ei r i n v ad e rs
H u mi l i b u s D eu s d a t g ra t i a m e t v i c t o ri a m C l ad es m ag na facta es t , .
”
d e S ax on i b u s p e rcu s s i s u n t m u l t i , d e Bri t on i b u s au t e m ra ri .
(formerl y L l and afl ) C od e x, or Chad s

” ’
3 T he L i ch fi e l d
'
. St .
Boo k c o n t ai n s La t i n e n t ri es o f d o na t i on s &c w i t h m any w o rd s and

”
, ,
.
,
s e n t ence s i n Cy m ri c o f t h e be i nn i n o f t h e 9 t h ce n t u ry
g g .
4 O f t he s am e ag e i s a l eaf w i t h Cy m ri c g l o s se s fo u n d by M o ni u s
.
, ,
at t ach e d t o a co v e r o f a c o d e x i n t h e L u x em b u r L i b ra ry
g .
5 .A M S o f t he G os p el s p arap h ras ed by J u v encu s i n La t i n h e xa

.
,
m e t e rs co n t ai ns Cy m ri c g l oss es a l so so m e v e rses a t pp 4 8 4 9 50
, , .
, , .
T he M S o f t h e 8 t h or 9 t h ce n t u ry i s i n t he U n i v e rs i t y L i b ra ry a t
.
, ,
C am bri dg e (F f 4 .
,
AN N AL S A N D OT H E R L I T E RAT U R E .
10T H C EN T U RY .
T he La w s of H ow e l D d a, co m pi l ed i n th e 1o t h ce nt u ry . T he
ol d es t M S is . of t he 1 2 t h .
C E NT U R Y 12 T H .
T he Li ber L a nd av ens i s or Boo k o f T ei l o anc i ent Chartu l ary , ,
o f L l an d a fi C a t h ed ra l p u bl i s he d fro m M SS i n t h e l i b ra ri es of H en g w rt
'
.
,
a n d o f J es u s C ol l eg e O x fo rd b y t he Wel sh M S S S oci e ty com p i l ed

, , .
,
e arl y i n t h e 1 2 t h ce n t u ry .
V el l u m M S o f T h e G od odi n a p a ren t l y of t h e y ea r 12 00 i
.
p n , ,
p oss es s i on o f M rs E P o w e l l o f A .b e rg av en.n y , .
Bl ac k Bo o k o f C ae rm art h e n i n t h e l i b rary of H eng w rt a

”
T he , ,
4 t o o f 54 l e a v e s co n t a i n s i n t he ea rl y p art an e l eg y o n t h e d eat h o f
,
H ow el Dd a s g ra nd so n i n 1 104 an d l a t e r an el eg y o n t he d ea t h o f a
’
, ,
P ri n ce o f Po w ys i n 1 1 58 Th i s book i ncl u d es t h e so ng o f T h e Sons

.
”
of L l ywarch H e n, &c .
C E NT U R Y 14 T H .
“
L l yfr C o ch R ed Boo k o f H erg es t
”
T he or i n t he li b rary o f
, ,
J e su s C o l l eg e Ox ford a fo l i o of 72 1 pp i n d ou b l e col u m ns A t p 208

, , . . .
“
is a B ri e f Chro n o l og y fro m Ad a m t o A D A t p 4 99 a . . .
,
Ch ro nol og i cal H i s t ory of t he S axo ns t o A D I n t h i s v ol u m e . .
a re t h e o l d es t k n o w n co p i es o f m os t o f t h e p oe m s as cri be d t o Tal i es i n
and L l y warch H e n b eg i n ni ng a t p 5 1 3 and t h ere fore w ri t t en aft er t h e

, .
,
year 1 3 76 .
OF V A R I OU S D AT ES.
A col l ect i on o f M SS . form ed by Mr . O w en j o ne s , a fu rri er, i n

t t
o
Th ames S tree t , at hi s own g reat e x pense . T he con e n s of m any of t h em

CHAPTE R I V .
OL D L I T E R AT U R E O F T H E T EU T ONS .
G I L D A S the histori n by Anglo S xons called the Wise is

,
a ,
- a ,
s id to h e b een Str thclyde Briton o f the S ixth century

a av a a ,
fello w pupi l o f L l ywa h and a b rother o f

a -
rc ,
G i ld as
Aneurin i f not Aneurin himsel f Bo rn in or

.
.
,
s o b e fore the b eginning of the century he w s taught

o n ,
a
first by St I l t t d then studied for seve years in Gaul

. u ,
an n ,
be fore he dwelt ne r the present St D vid s Head a the . a

’
, on
co as t o f Pembrokeshire d himsel f became a teacher H e ,

an .
went t E rin and there founded mon steries mong t h e

o , a a
Irish Gaels After his return t Brit in he proceeded t

. o a o
Rome and on his w y back when in Brit t n fo nded

, a , a y, u
the Mon astery o f St Gildas de Ruys w here its monks y .

, sa
th t he ended his li fe O thers ay th t he came ag in to

a . s a a
E ngl nd and died in an oratory ne r Glaston b ury

a , a .
To the Gild s o f whose li fe these det ils are usually

a a
given is cribed a very ancient history w ritten in monasti c

' as ,
L tin De C l mit te E i d i o e t C o q u e st B i t a i ae
a ,
a a a ,
xc , n u r nn
or as the text itself enl rges on the title

, b out the situa a , a
tion o f Brit in her di o b edience and subjection her e

a ,
s ,
r
bellion second su bjection d dread ful Sl very ; f her

,
an a o
religion persecution holy martyrs heresies o f di fferent

, , ,
k i ds o f her tyr nts her t wo hostil e d r v ging nations

n a , an a a
T he c h i ef a u t h o ri t y fo r d e t a l s . o f t he l i fe of G i l d as i s a b i og ra p h y
wri t t en i n t h e t wel ft h cen t u ry by Carad oc of L a ncarvan .
OL D L I T ER A T U R E OF T HE TEU T ON s . 24 1
of her first devast tion her de fence her second devast tion
a , ,
a
and second taking venge nce ; f her third devast tion o f a o a ,
her famine d the letters to Aet iu s ; o f her victory and

, an
her crimes ; o f t he sudden r mour o f enemies ; o f h u er
famous pestilence ; o f her counse l s ; o f her l st enemy f a ,

ar
more cruel th n the first ; o f the subversion o f her cities

a
and of the remn nt th t esc ped ; d fin lly o f the pe ce

a a a an a , a
which b y the w ill o f G d h s b een gr nted her in these

, o ,
a a
our times The hist ry is very ncient but m st ssuredly

. o a , o a
it was not w ritten b y m wh o h d in his veins the b lood a an a
o f Aneurin A ssuming to be one o f themselves t h is priest

.
,
uses a tone tow rds the Cymry o f contemptuous hostility

a ,
under the cloak o f p stor l d brotherly reproo f “

a They a an .
are impotent s ys the covert ss il nt i f llo wing the

,
”
a
“
a a a , n o
standard o f peace d truth b ut b ld in w ickedness d an ,

o an
fal sehood Brit in h kings but they e tyrants ; h e

. a as ,
ar S
has judges b t unrighteous ones gener lly eng ged in

,
u , a a
p l u nder d r pine
an b t l w ys preying
a on the,
innocent ;u a a
w henever they exert themselves to venge or pr tect it is a o ,
sure to b e in favour o f rob b ers d criminals ; they an
are ever re dy t take o ths a d s o ften perjure them

o a , an a
selves ; they m ke ow and lmost immedi tely act

a a v , a a
falsely ; they make wa b ut their w rs e g inst their r, a ar a a
c untrymen d unjust ones This could not have b ee n

o ,
an .
s id b y a Str thclyde Briton in ne r the d ys of the b ttle

a a or a a a
o f C at t et h ; b ut it m ight w ell be said b y an Ang l o S axon

ra -
monk of the seventh century wh o g ve force to his censure ,

a
by w riting s one wh o must tell the b itter tr th to his w

a u o n
people .
Through the equivoc l Gild s then w e pass from the a a , ,
Cymry to the Anglo Sax ns Wh w ere they ? Something -

o . o
h as been lre dy said of their strong ffinity to T h A l

a a a
e ng o
the Frisi ns and o f the r pro b able rel t on to the Sm m

,
a i a i a x on s e t t l e
,
Belgae wh o w ere on our southern co st in

e b ’
,
a
C aesar s time We have cited lso the i recorded settle

’
. a S x
Q
242 E R GL I SH WR I T E R S .
m ents be tw ee n t he a s 44 9 d 5 4 7 fi st e f J t es v r an ,
r on o u
then t h e e f S o r o d th en t w f A g l es
ax ns , R an o o n
th i se t t l emen t
es e s x m ai l y p e
s e t t i e o f
s ast h e p e i n re r n a v r
an d ch a t e f A g l o S a o co q es t
ar c r o d co l
n isat i o w x n n u an on n,
h e ne t t k w h t i m m t by t h d i s t i ct i o be tw ee
av x o as , a s e n n
J tes Sa
u , d A ngles
xo ns , an
Th at t he e w e e ch sett lem ts w e lea r on t h

r r su en n,
authori ty of V e e ble Be d e d f the S xon Ch ni cle

n ra ,
an o a ro
w hic h h e ein foll w s B d r The st tements f B de cor

o e e
. a o e
re po nd als to t h e b i f n t i e in the hist y o f Gildas

s o r e a rra v or
w ri t t en pr f s e dly se en t ee n
o e s d t l tes t a h nd e d yea r
v ,
an a a u r ,
aft er I d a l nded o a no th e t c oas t s Be de born i

on ur r -
as .
,
6 73 w , stu dyi ng hist ory i

as North mbri m onas t n a u an e
only t
a cen u r
v d h al f ft er the l andi ng of Ida Th
an a a .
in fo m tion u p n w hich h e w ot w the best he co l

r a o r e as u
g ther chi fly by inquiry mong hi s neighbo urs t h monk

a , e a e
in the no th o f E ngl nd b t l o by collecting record

r a u a s an
l c l traditi n from t h monas te ies o f the S ou t h d o n

o a o e r , an c
su l t i g in f ct every cc sible record

n ,
a , To the best o f t h
a es .
b li f of his o w d y he tells us the ma n er of e t b li hi

e e n a , n s a s n
the A ngl o S xon po w r in this count y O f the Sax

-
a e r . o
Chronicle the p t r l ting t this rly period was prob b l

ar e a o ea a
t put togeth r till King Al fred s time t w o c ntu ies la t e

’
no e , e r
than Bede Use w as t hen m de o f the existing record s

. a
the E cclesiastic l History o f Bed b eing mong t h a

”
e a
number In f ct the n the account o f the i settlement

. a , , S x
r mains to us upon Bede s single d s fe testimony to t h

e
’
an a
r cord or tr dition ext nt in his ow d y

e a a n a .
The chie f sourc s f the h i story o f the fir t coming 0

e o s
T utonic settlers d inv ders are Gild w h o wrote p e h p

e
— an a as , r a
ea rly in the s eventh century B de wh o w r te in the eight e , o
century finishing his history in the ye r 73 and the late

,
a 1
hist ry o f a w riter wh o in the t w el fth century w

o name d as
as N n i who b elongs to the ninth ce nt ry nd who was

e n u s, u , a
writing in the year 8 2 2 Of Bede and of Nen n i u s w e Shal l.

the eas t coast various Teuto nic tri b es from the oppo s i te
shores know n to the Rom ns generally b y the name o f
, a
Saxons made fi erce descents

, The Roman milita ry pow e .
r
spreading d strengthening w lls w ere built around to w n s

an ,
a
even in the regions more firmly held as protectio n agains t ,
attack from the people o f the co u ntry and there was estab ,
l i s hed a strong chain of fortresses against attack from acro s s

t h e sea — fortresses man ned b y ten thousan d soldiers under a
chie f kno w n as the C ount of the Saxon shore While th is .
lasted t he Teutonic inv ders c uld gain little or no hold u po n a o
the l n d But when di ffi culti es at home o b liged t he R oma n s

a .
to w ithdr w their soldiers from Britain and at l ast in the year

a , ,
4 10, Brit in w as requireda by letter from the E mperor t o , a ,
provide f its o wn de fence we have a generat ion of co

or ,
n
fusion follow ed by the b eginning in the ye r 44 9 and 4 5 ,

a 0,
of a series o f large Teutonic settle ments pon our southern u
and e stern Shores Th ese e represente d b y the six

a . ar
settlements t h t Bede describes a .
Now s to the first s ettlement o f Jutes under H engist

, a
and Hors (Horse and M re) wh o estab l ished themselves i

a a ,
n
Kent Hampshire and the Isle o f Wight an d

, , ,
who m Bede distinctly b elieved to have c om e

from Jutland it is to b e observed th t Jutlan d is no w
’
, a
occupied by Danes and th t men from Jutland settli ng o , a n
our e stern coasts in the d ys o f the Angles were cal l e d

a a
Dan s ; but th t i n this c se they re c lled Jutes n o t

e a
“
a a a ,
”
D nes nd do not seem to have b een D nish Wh e re

a , a a .
there h b ee n a D nish settlement to wns commonly are

as a ,
found w ith nam es ending in “

by Thus in L incolnshire .
”
,
w ithin d en m i l es f Gre t Gri m s by there stand F ores by

a oz o a , ,
T he s tate men t of Be d e i s as fol l ow s De J u t a ru m ori g i ne su n t
C a n t u a ri i ct V e c t u a ri i , h oc es t ea g e ns , q u a: u sq u e hod ie i n p ro vi nc i a
o cc i d e n t a l i u m S a xo nu m c on tra i ps a rn
J u ta ru m nat i o p o s i ta
n o m i na t u r,
ns u la m V ec t a m . I ’
ot t o dc A ng l i s h o c e s t il l a pa t ri a q u ze Ang u l u s ,
d ie i t u r et ab eo t e m po re u squ e h o d i e m ane re d e se rt u s i n te r p rov i n ci a r

J a t a r u m et S ax om n n perh i b et u r — E rc1 H i m , i . . . 15.
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OF T HE TEU T G I vS . 24 5
U tterb y Fotherby Ashby cum Fenby Barnol dby Irby

, ,
- -
, , ,
Lace b y Keel b y G r sby Br ckles b y Ulce b y Yet through

, ,
a , o , .
out this Jute region of Kent H ampshire d the Isle o f

“
, ,
an
Wight there is not even one pl ce to be found th t h a a as a
n me ending in b y There is no cle r ground fo ssert

a .
”
a r a
ing lthough it h b een suggested one way o f c nquer

,
a as as o
ing this di ffi culty th t Germanic people occupied Jutl nd , a a a
in the middle f the fi ft h century But th t o inv ders f . a ou r a o
A D 44 9 (or s Bede s c ntext sho w s c lled the Jutes ’

. . a o a ,
w ere D nes from Jutland is not only g inst loc l evidence

a , a a a .
I t might b e urged g inst f ir likelih od th t the first ships

as a a a o a
from Jutland to this country inste a d o f cr ssing the N rt h , o o
S ea as they fterw ards did

,
d striking on o
a e stern , an ur a
coas t should have t ken the trouble to m ke a l ng v y ge

, a a o o a
south w rd nd land now here until they got to Pegw ell B y

a , a a ,
where a farmhouse be ring the n me o f E b b fle et ow , a a s ,

n
s ho ws w here the old p ort used to be But t this it be . o ca n
re plied th t they came invited a f reign uxi li ries d as o a a , an
c me to a p rt of the co st ppointed fo them U po politic

a a a a r n
conside rations And s me unkno wn preceding rel tions

. o a
w ith their le ders or other politic c nsiderations m y

a , o , a
a ccount fo their h ving been fetched fr m far w hen a like

r a o a ,
help could h ve b een found ne r t hand The S xon

a a a . a
C hronicle is not here a Sep r te uthority d si m ply d pts a a a ,

an a o
the q 1104 7 o f Bede in testi fying to that tribe m gst

“
us ue 5 , a on
the West Saxo n s which is yet c lled the Jute kin Ag in a -

.
”
a ,
i the Angl o S xon poem o f Beo w ul f presently t b dis

n -
a , o e
cussed as wel l as in the fragment on the battle o f Finnes

,
burgh Hengist appe rs as the n ame f Jute her It is

,
a o a o .
notice b le also that w ith the neighbou ing regi ns med

a r o na
E ssex S ussex and Wessex a fter the S xo s

, ,
f the E t ,
a n o as ,
and South and West Kent kept its Bri t ish n me d h d

, ,
a ,
an a
a peculi r division into S i n rly equal lathes inste d f

a x ea , a o
the usu al h ndreds of the Anglo S on hires w hi l e it h

u - ax S as
b e en po inted out t h t by Jutish l w military e pedition is a a a x

246 E N GL I S H I I R rT E R S .
st il l led a l et h i g or i Da i h l ed i g (l a d i g ) O
ra i n ,
"
,
n n s ,
“
n n . n
t h e O t h r ha d i epp o t f t hn p i,
i o t h at t h i
n sufi rs t r o e O n n s
se tt l e m e n t w as t o f J t es f m J t l nod b t o f G o t hs f o m u ro u an ,
u r
G ul D R G I t ha m ha bse ed t hat Ki g Alf ed i n

a ,
r . . . a s o rv n r ,
tra n lat ing Bed

s Ec cles i as t i ca l H i t o ye s
’
has d eal t w i t h s r ,
Be d rec o de d c q es t b y t he t h ee t o nges t of t h e i n
e s
’
r on u r s r
va di g peo p le
n Sa o i b A gli s, J t is as t h t o f x n us, n s, u ,
”
a
Sa m xu d f A gl e an d f Ge t m
o an d n f t he G e nt s ;
,
an o a u o
w hile t h e Ki g i w h ose reig t h e Sa o C h o i l e p pea s

n ,
n n x n r n c a r
to h e b ee es t bli h ed lso dro ppe d o t f h is ers i o o f

av n a s , a u o v n
Be de t h e re fere ce t o l “
J A ”
p p
eo e ye t ca ll e
n d t e g a i n a u .
,
it i o bs r ed tha t Be d e co e ts t h e m e of t he peo pl e o f
s e v nn c na
the I le f s ow aer V —
i a wi t h J t ae as -
e, e -
v ar u ,
King Al fred i his d a y co nn e cted it wi t h G eat B t t he

n . u
e ror here is cert a in the me be ing B it is h n m e k n o wn

r na a r a ,
to the R man s d cu rent i So uth B i ta in long b efo re

o , an r n r
a n yt hi g h d be en he rd f Hengi st d H o sa I
n a a T he o an r . n
Li fe of King Al fre d rib ed t his Bish p As s er Al f ed ,

”
asc o o ,
r
himsel f is m de by inference Jute hi s g an d fa th e bei n g

a a ,
r r
O l s ac , G o th by n ti n f he was bo rn o f t h e Go ths d
a a o , or an
Jute ; th t is t y o f the r ce o f St f d Wi h tga

s a o sa , d a u an r, an ,
b ing m de Go vernor o f the Isle o f Wight killed i

e a , n
G w i t ig b g h (C isbr ke ) their l as t stro ng h ld in t h e

ara ur ar oo ,
o
i l nd the fe w n tive Cym y wh w ere not lrea dy s la i o

s a , a r o a n r
ex iled Dr L th m d w ells u pon this ph se Goth a d

. . a a ra n
Jut e ,
d upon Al fred s rende ing f Jute by Ge t w hen he
an
’
r o a ,
ir g u s th t the J tes f the fir t settlement w ere in f ct

e a u o s ,
a ,
l o t b ; or tha t i f Jutes they w ere Jutes wh

s ,
c me in m ,
o a co
p a ny w ith G oths and that they c me not , t o f Jutl n d bu t a , ou a ,
o nly f om t he coast f G ul across the str it s that divide

r o a ,
a
G au l fro m Britain Thus he rgu es we may h ve i n t h e .

,
a ,
a
names of t h e t wo Ki ng o f Wessex C y e i d C w i c h el m s ,
n r c an ,
G ot hs H u n neri c (H einrich ) d Wilhelm He observe s an .
wordi ng t o t h i s t heory we have still in Kent a people

!
t Saxon t o preserve t h e ancient n am e o f that part ,

248 E N GL IS H WR I T E R S .
t hi s country Ag in this Angulus is the e stern n ot the

. a ,
on a ,
w estern co st ; so that i f their district b e confined w ithin

a
Bede s definition o f it the Angles w hen they c me to Britain

’
,
a
either b eg n their migrati n over la d or h d to sail out o f

a o n ,
a
the Baltic and come round Denm rk on their way The

, a .
dist nce ho w ever is but fi e and tw enty miles from the he d

a , , v - -
a
o f the Sli c to the w est coast The w hole breadth of l nd . a
fr m the mouth f the Flensborg Fiord to the shore o f the

o o
North Sea is only forty m iles d on th t O pposite shore an a ,
a mong the Frisi n po pul tion north o f L e k anot her little

a a e ,
district bears yet t this d y the name o f A ngeln I f they o a .
w ere in Slesvig the s me Angles w h pr ved so b usy and so a o o
strong w hen they reached Brit in w e m y be quite sure th t a ,

a a
in Slesvig they occupied the w hole bre dth o f the l nd from a a
c st to co st N rth o f the Angles as thus pl ced w ere

oa a . o ,
a ,
the Jutes and to the south bet ween t hem d the E lbe , an ,
th t is to say in modern H olstein w ere the S x ns

a , ,
a o
Denm rk Proper in a S light measure d Slesvig and a , an
H lstein almost entirely being acc rding to this view t he

o , , o ,
p rent count y o f the Angl o Saxon race

a r -
.
We h ve here no more than a fr gment f the truth

a a o .
From the whole r nge f the coast O pposite Britain betw een a o
Jutland d the Seine c me rein f rced by kindred t ibes

an ,
a ,
o r
th t e tended inl nd the men w ho t di ff erent times took

a x a ,
a
p ssessi n f the pl ins o f Brit in They w ere F i i

o o O Of a a . r s an s
the co st from isl nds over g inst u ide f the Slesvig

a , a a a o r S o
sh re still c lled the Frisi n Isl nds t the border f Fr nce

o ,
a a a ,
o o a ,
in the country th t is to this d y n med fter the Belgas a a a a .
Th y were c lled by a n me o f their w

e a Angles ; but a o n as
the n me f S x n like th t f Welsh (f reigner) given to

a o a o ,
a o o
the Cymry seems t h ve been ,

n me pplied from o a a a a
w ith ut by the Romans

o d the Celts Welsh meaning an as ,
f reign w s
o n me given by th se w hom they called
, a a a o
S xons to the Cymry

a The Angles f the N rth f E ngl nd . o o o a
were call ed Saxons b y the b a rd of

“ h
T e G od o d i n and ,
OL D L I T E R A T U RE OF T HE TEU T ON s . 249
w ere S ssenach l ng a fter to the Highl nd Sc t It is

a o a o .
there fore n t impr b able th t the pp rent di ff erence

o o a a a
b etw een S xon and Angle h a risen from the f ct th t the as a a a
same people w ho ruled in the n rth under a n tive n me o a a ,
accepted the ther w hen est blish ing among those by w h m

o a ,
o
they w ere c lled S xon their Angle kingdoms I f it w

a a , . as
E gbert King o f the West Saxons wh o first gave to the

, ,
w hole c untry the n me o f E gl nd — the land

o f t he a n a o
Angles we m y c nsent to the pini n th t he w uld not

— a o o o a o
h ve done this h d it b el nged to di ffering r ce of Saxons

a a o a a ,
he being h imsel f a S xon a .
From the Angles f Bede we turn lastly to the S x ns o a o ,
w hos e l nd he identifies w ith H lstein

a There is no record o .
o f the geography f Germ ny w ithin the peri d O a o

S
f Bede s six Anglo S xon settlements But
ax ons .
’
o -
a .
reaso ble in ferences

na be dr w n from comp ris n o f the can a a o
l test acc unts be fore t hat period w ith the earliest accounts
a o
a ft er it ; th t is to s y o f the ccounts given b y Tacitus in

a a ,
a
t he Germani (A D d by Claudius Ptolemy in his

a . . an
Geography (A D w ith th se
”
f the nnalists o f
. . o o a
Ch rlem gne d his successors (f m re th n century

a a an or o a a
fter C h rlem gne s accession A O In T ci t us there

’
a a a ,
. . a
is no S xony ; there e S x ns The first mention f

a ar no a o . o
S xons is by Ptolemy w h o places the m on the m inl nd

a ,d a a , an
in three isl nds adj cent t the land n rth f the E lbe
a a o o o ,
from H m b urg west w rd to the sea and north w rd t

a the a , a o
E ider This is the reg ion corresponding to the Holstein

.
districts Of S t o m nd D i t m h w i t h the (Frisi n ) isl nds

r ar a ars , a a ,
it is supposed o f Dyl t Fohr d N rdstrand Both T citus

, , ,
an o . a
an d Ptolemy pl ced on the c st south o f the E l b e b et w een

a oa ,
th t river and the E m

a people c lled the Ch n ci The s, a a a .
rest of the co st north eastern Fr nce included w s s id

a ,
-
a , a a
t
o b e occupied by F i s i a s d B t vians The Angles o f r n an a a .
Tacitus were on the Low er E lbe a bout H mburg Lauen , a ,
burg and H olstei n They w ere the Angles o f Bede s

,
.
’
2 5 0 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
A ngulus w ith a wider extension to the south and w es t

, .
Behind the C hau c i o f the coast whose country dipped far ,
inland south also o f the Angles w ere a people calle d b y

, ,
Tacitus and Ptolemy Cherusci Their land co tain ed w hat . n
we ow call the Hart

n Mountain s and included m odern z ,
Saxony S outh of the Cherusci w ere the L ongobardi and

.
,
between the C heru sci and the Frisian coast were other
tri bes the Angri va i i whose district was ab out E ngern
,
r , ,
which is a small tow n bet w ee n Biele fel d and Minden and ,
the C h m a i an d Chasu ari i in the province called after wards

a v
Westphalia .
We pass n ow over the b lank period of the six Anglo

S xon settlements in E ngl nd to the geography o f C ar lo
a a
i gi a times t wo or three centuries su b sequent to those

v n n ,
events The F ranks called the part s lying to the nort h an d

.
e st o f their own frontier the four countries of the Slaves

a ,
the D nes the Frisians d the Saxons The Sl ves were

a , ,
an . a
in E astern E urope ; Dani wa the country north of the a s
E yd e modern Jutland and Slesvig

r, F risia wa the coast . s
country b etween the Frank b oundary and the Weser con ,
sisting o f the present Dutch provinces of Friesland and

Gr ningen E ast F riesland and a part of Olden b urg ; thu s
o ,
including the chie f part o f the region formerly ascri b ed to

the C hau ci As fo the Sax ony o f Carlovingi n d ays this
. r a ,
wa a large region through w hich flo w ed the E lbe

s North .
o f the E l b e No d al b i g i a or T ansal b i a Saxony nearly

,
r n, r n ,
corresponded to the S axony o f Ptolemy its pe ple being , o
divided into T h i ed m a i (Di t m a h e s) with M el d rp fo rs rs r , o r
their c pital and H ol s t i (d wellers in woods H lsteiners )

a a , o
s ep r ted b y the river S turia from the S t o m a ii

a a w hose r r ,
capital was H am b urg S outh o f the E lbe the C i l b i a . sa n
S axons were d ivided into Westphalians and Eas t p h l i a s a n ,
w ith the A ng a i an s formerly A g i va i i b et w een them

r r ,
n r r , .
The C ham a i and C hasu a ii are now Westp halian (wes t

v r
dwelli g) Saxons the Angles and the Cherusci with a tri b e

n ,
E N GL WR I T E R S
‘
25 2 I SH .
t h eir national li fe l i fe t hat h as

since been m rked b y great
— a
changes in their method of speech d thei voc bula ry an r a ,
and by some changes of imp rt nce even i t h e temper o f o a n
the mind th t these are to express a .
To the geogr phic l deta ils here given I d d only a a a a
pertinent sentence or t wo from King Al fred s acc unt f the ’

o o
geogr phic l voy ges of the N o t h m e Oht he e

a a a d r n r an
Wul fstan comm nic ted to him by those explorers a d

, u a ,
n
intr duced mong his numerous v ri tions d dditions t

o a a a an a o
the Geogr phy tr nsl ted by him from Orosius

“
a
” “
T a a . o
the nort h o f t he Thuringians he s ys (i f the district ,

a t e . o
o f S xe Goth S axe Weim r e the O l d S axons

“
a -
a, -
a ,
ar .
To the north w est e the Frisi ns d to the w est o f the

-
ar a ,
an
Ol d S xons is the mouth

a f the E lbe lso Frisi o ,
as a a .
Hence to the w est north is th t l nd c lled Angle l nd -

a a a -
a ,
S e l nd d some p rt o f Denm rk Ag in in desc ibing ”

a a ,
an a a . a . r
a v y ge o f Oht he e t I E t H aet h m
o a
“
p rt b y t h e r o -
u , a o
he ths w hich is identified w ith H d d by on the S li c

a ,
”
a e ,
O pposite the to w n o f S lesvig or sometimes w ith l d S lesvig , , ,

o
itsel f Alfred s ys that Z Et H aet h m st nds bet ween t h e

,
“
a -
u a
We e d ae t he S x ns
n d the Angles and is su bject t
, a o the , an ,
o
D nes For t wo d ys be fore Oh t h e e c me to H aet h u m on

a . a r a ,
his right h nd w Jutl nd Sae l nd d m ny isl nds all

a as a , a , an a a ,
w hich l nds w ere inh bited b y the E nglish be fore they c me

a a a
h ither T h ese w ere the l nds in d about the Ang lus

”
. a an u
o f Bede .
To l l this ext ern l evidence as t the p rt o f the Con

a a o a
ti n ent from w hich the Angl S x ns c me to E ngland there o- a o a ,
is to be added the internal evidence o f c mmunity o f loc l o a
an d personal names d close n logy o f l ngu ge Thus an a a a a .
in E nglish names of pl ces w h ve w rds ending in a e a o
hurst me ning copse or wo d d b eck meaning a

,
”
a a o ,
an ,
”
brook Betw een the L wer E l b e d Weser as w ell as in

. o an ,
H lstein n rth f the E lbe such horsts e numerous O u r

o o o ,
ar .
b ecks we find g in in t he beck s nd b achs of t he sam e

, a a , a
OL D L I T ERA T U RE OF T HE TE U T O Ns . 25 3
region especially in the more inl nd p rt where t he Leine

, a a ,
flow s tow rds the Aller and the Weser

a .
The evidence of language to the Frisi n origin f the a O
Saxons is so strong th t there is contradicti n betw een

a no o
the st tement o f Procopius in the S ixth century

a
*
F i i d , r s a ns a n
th t Britai n was inh bited b y the three races of

a
S m
a
a
Britons Angles d Frisian s d Bede s state m ent that

, , an , an
’
the inh b ita nts w ere Britons Angles d Saxons Jac b

a , , an . o
von der M rl nd w h o in the thi teenth century produced

a a , r
the fi t fru its o f Dutch poetry in his Spiegel Historical

rs -
,
or Mirr r o f History cl ims Hengist himsel f as a

o , a
Frisian a S xon wh w s driv n out o f the l nd using the

, a ,
”
o a e a ,
t wo w ords as synonyms
E en hiet E ng i s t u s , ee n V ri es e , ee n S as
Die, u t en Land e v e rd re v e n w as .
”
And V e s t egan quotes to like e ffect

r , , an old Teut ni c o
author wh o s ith thus

, a
O u d e Bo ek en b o o rd e i c g e w ag e n ,
O l d bo o k s h eard I t o m e n t i o n ,
Da t al be ned e n N u e m ag e n
h et l an t ,
Th a t al l t he l an d be nea t h N i m egu e n ,
Wy l e n N ed e r S as s e n h i e t ,
Wh i l o m e N e t h e r S ax o n h ig h t .
’
Th e n goe t h he on an d t el l et h h o w t h e ri v e r of S ch e l d t w as th e w es t e rn
li m it of the S a x on cou n t ry S o as acco u n t i ng no w fo r t h e e a s t s i d e
. of
H o l sa t i a , w h i c h co n fi ne t h on t h e Ba l t i c S e a , u n t o t h i s a fo re sa i d ri v e r of
S ch e l d t , S a x o n l a n d , or t h e co u n t r y of t h e S axo n s , c o n t a i ne d i n l e ng t h
m o re t h an t h re e h u nd re d m i l es . T he s am e T eu t o ni c au t h o r add e t h
fu rt h e r,
D i e N ed e r S ass en b i e t e n F ri es en ’
nu ,
t hat is ,
T h e Ne t h er S ax o n s are h ig h t no w F ri s i ans .
"
De Be ll o G o t h i c o , iv . 20 .
254 E NGL I SH I VR I T E RS .
A glance at the m p of E urope w ill soon Sh ow b y what a
cu rents in the course of n ture the tide o f migratio fro m

r , a ,
n
the m i nland to Brit in must have s ped over the dividing

a a
se a From each region it strikes on the shore m ost nearly

.
o pposi t e d w e find accordi gly to this day in ou pro

, an n r
i
v nc ai l speech and in the very fr mes ,d faces o f the a an
spe kers S candin vian i n the north to which Scandinavian s

a , a ,
w uld h ve found their wav most readily D nish types i

o a ,
a n
the Midl nd F isi n in the south The g eat characteristic

a ,
r a . r
di fferences bet ween Low l nd Scot or a Northumbri an a a
d lesman
a d a S ssex l bourer w hose fore f thers h ve
, an u a a a
never strayed b eyond the p rent soil still cle rly p int to a ,
a o
di fference o f ch r cter in the Teutonic t ri b es from w hich

a a
they are descended .
The de fe t of the Rom ans in the year 9 b y Armin chief

a ,
o f the Cherusci h d checked their successes in Germany

,
a ,
11 R m
1. o
d w fo
an,
the brave
an enemy high respect
on r a .
i G
n “ The Germ ni
e rm a n
f T citus w ritten in the year a a o a ,
1 00, le ves us record f the Germ n ch r cter as t h e

a a o a a a
Rom ns understo d it and o f the divisi ns o f their tribes

a o ,
o .
He describes them s p ple f l rg gro wth b lue eyed a a eo o a e ,

-
,
and uburn h ired wh w orshipped g ds o f wa cl shed

a -
a , o o r, a
their sh ields t the time f w songs d pr ised in their

o o ar -
, an a
feasts Armin w h delivered them from Rome They

,
o .
reverenced w omen w ere true to their marriage v ws d ,

o , an
held together s pe ple by strong pirit of ssoci tio a a o a S a a n
th t would d aw them readily t common action fo a

a r o r
c mm n go d A recent writer tr ces them b ck to the

o o o . a a
S cyths c lled by the P rsi ns S c

,
a wh spre d from the e a a ae, o a
Ary n h me t t h e h ighl d f t h Scythi n Ima s and

a o o an s o e a n ,
t h nce
e ver l rge p rt f Asi a wit h
o a influence th t a o ,
an a
imposed s m f th ir th ught o th d rk skinned Mon

e o e o on e a -
goli n a d levi d t i b ut
ra c e s , a n l l Asia b e f re the time of e r e on a o
Ninus wh o freed Assyri from their yok e The Scyths he

,
a .
,
argues w ere kin to the Thraci ns and appearing first as

,
a ,
near the tow n o f Parn ssus Born with the genius of a

'
a . .
le der h e completed the conversion o f the tribe They

a ,
.
sent him b out the year 3 8 to represent them at the

,
a 2 ,
court of the E mperor Const ntine nd there he was in the a ,

a ,
year 3 4 t the ge of thirty ordained Bis h op by E use b ius

1, a a , .
He returned then to his people w hose faith in h i m w s so ,

a
complete that saying arose mong them All that U l fi l as

a a
does is well done He preached and wrote in Greek in

.
”
,
L tin and in t h e l nguage f the Goths and he beg n to

a ,
a o ,
a
transl te f their use the Scriptures into their own language

a or .
Th t he might do this it is s id that h e per fected a Gothic

a a
a lphabet w ith letters based on Greek r ther than L atin

, a
f rms this being d ne t

o ,
void the u se o f h eat hen runes
o o a .
When he h d been Bis h op fo seven ye rs t hat is in t h e

a r a , ,
ye r 3 4 8 his Christi n tribe h d endured so much p e secu

a ,
a a r
ti n fr m the unconverted tri b es round them that h

o o a e
obt ined le v fr m the E mperor Constantius to lead th e m

a a e o
a cross t he D nube and pl nt th e m t safe distance from t h eir

a , a a
persecutors in M oesi ow k o wn as Servia and Bulgari a a, n n .
U l fi l as h ving led t h em to the prom i sed hills they w ere

a ,
kno w n thence forth s the M oes o Goths Not counting t h e

a -
.
seven ye rs be f re their remov l U lfi l as conti ued to be

a o a ,
n
their teacher o thirty three ye rs th t is u til the year 3 8

f r — -
a a ,
n 1 .
He was then summ ed by Th eodosius to the imperi al on
court t Const ntinople w here he w s held in high honour

a a , a ,
an d requested as head f the Ari n p rty w hich T h eodosius o a a
f voured to dispute
a , g inst cert in propou ders o f a a a a n
doc t rine th t began t spread among the Goths but w hen

a o
h e re ached the capit l he was sei ed w ith his last illnessa z ,
and died in the s me year t the ge of seventy In h i s

a a a .
l st hours o f li fe having in mind the theological dispute s

a ,
th t h d b egun to vex his people he dictated decl r tio n

a a , a a a
o f his f ith aI believe God the Father to b e o e only

. n ,
un b egotten d invisi b l e and in His on ly b egotten So n

an , ,
our Lord and God maker o f all that is created havi g one
, ,
n n
OL D LI T E RA T U R E OF THE TEU T ON s . 25 7
like unto H im ; so that there is one God over all who is ,
also God of our God and one Holy Spirit an illuminating , ,
and sancti fying power neither God no Lord but the , , r ,
m inister o f Christ obedie n t in all things to the S on , ,
as the So is o b edient in all things to the F ther

n a .
”
Phi l ost orgi u s s ys that U l fi l as translate d the whole Bi b le

a
except the Books of Kings those b e omitted b ecause they

contained histories of wars and hi s Goths had delight in , a
war that c lled rather fo r repression than enc uragement

a o .
T he translati n was m ade chiefly from Greek M S S

o Copi es .
o f it w ere in the armies f the Goths when th e y invaded o
I taly and m ny o f the fr gments wh ich have furnished

, a a
additions to the text of the chie f copy the f mous S ilver ,

a
Co dex ow belonging to the University o f Ups la have

,
”
n a ,
b een found in Italy There rem in l arge fragments of the . a
four Gospels the E pistle to the Romans p rt f the F irst

, , a o
and the whole of the Second E pistle to the Corinthians ,
the only complete book the E pistles to the G latians

—
,
a
an d E phesians w ith a few gaps here and there in each and

, ,
fr gments o f Paul s other epistles Of the M oeso Gothic

’
a .
-
tr nslation of the Ol d Test ment th ere are only t wo scraps

a a
from the first and seco n d b ook o f E xodus .
I t was t the end of the year 4 76 that Odo cer t the

a a ,
a
head of his hordes Of H eru li R gi i Scy ri P i l i gi and , u , r ,

u rc n ,
Goths b ecame m ster of I t ly and ruled in the n me o f

,
a a , a
the E mperor Nepos wh o w s murdered t S l n in M y ,

a a a o a a ,
4 80 . Both o f these d tes w hich mark the extinction o f a ,
the Western E mpire fall within the li fetime o f U l fi las I t , .
was also w ithin the li fetime o f U l fi l as that the E mperor

Zeno at C onstantinople had in 4 74 ceded to the O str goths , , o
the southern p rts of Pannoni and Daci a d trusted to a a, an
them the de fence o f the lo wer D nu b e In 4 75 The doric a . o ,
wh o from the g e o f eight to the g o f eighteen had lived

a a e
a s a friendly ho s tage in C onstantinople and w ho m U l fi l as ,
must have known personally b ecame King of the O tro , s
R
25 8 E NGL ISH I VR I TERS .
goths Ze n f und him incon eniently i g us i the

. o o v v o ro n
as se tion f h i ights
r o d di r t ed hi s m i li t a y ardour
s r , an ve r
t w rd s O doa cer agai t w hom he b egan hi s m rch seven

o a , ns a
y a
e s r fter t h a de a th o f U l fi la e
s W ome an d h ildr e . n c n
f ll wed wi th the
o o my o f the Go ths who w ere m i grating
ar ,
to the fertile p la in s o f Ita ly w hich h d b ee ma de over t o ,

a n
Theod ic by the E m peror t Co ta ntino ple d w ere t o

or a ns , an
be hi i f he co ld conq er them Go ths t o the nu m be r i t

s, u u .
,
i sa i d o f t wo hu ndred tho us an d h d cro sse d t h e Al ps by

s ,
a
the summer of the year 4 8 9 eight ye rs fter t he death o f , a a
d copies o f U l fi l as Bi bl e w ere brought w it h '
U l fi l as ; an s
them o f w hich frag me nt h ve si ce bee n fo und i It li

, s a n n a an
mo te ies Bef re the end o f the year O doacer was

nas r . o
de fe ted t Aquilei d t Vero na Then ft er e du rance

a a a an a .
, a n
of three ye s siege in R ven na he surrendered in 4 9 3

a ar
’
a , ,
on condition o f j oint rule w ith Theod ic But a few days or .
a fte wards
r c c sed o f trea chery
,
a he w as murdered t
u , a a
b nquet to w hich The odo ic in i ted him The odoric the n

a r v .
m de himsel f m ter o f l l Italy and until his de th in

a as a , ,
a
the ye r 5 6 ruled s P t i i u over the Ro m ns d as

a 2 , a a r c s a an
King over his w pe ple o n o .
T he nly note o f old German heroic song that h as

o
come dow n t us is a strain from one o f the heroic poems

o
S f in
o ng o
w hich incidents o f this great w a w ere cele r
“M bm d ‘
b t e d b y the O strog ths
'
ra The only kn w n o . o
M S o f it is on a piece o f p rchment fo nd betw een t h e

. a u
wood and le ther o f the binding f a La tin Prayer Book in

a o
the ancient monas tery o f Fuld It is M S of t h e a . a .
e igh t h century ow in the pu b lic library at C ssel T he o

,
n a .
doric the Os t rogoth con q uer r o f It ly ppe rs in later

, , o a , a a
rom nce as Theodoric of Ver n Dietrich von Bern

a o a, .
Hilde b r nd chie f of his heroes h d fought in his youth i n

a , ,
a
It ly m rried there and le ft a three ye r old son wh en he

a ,
a ,
-
a -
was driven b y O doacer to Attila King o f the Huns Afte ,

. r
years during which the s on gre w up to manhood Hildeb ra n d ,

Wi th s l y en t i c i ng wo rd s w o u l d
’
st w i n m e nea r
My a ns w er h em i s w i t h cas t o f s pear
to t ,
Th o u rt o ld Th i s cu n ni ng ou t o f age i s bred
’
. .
O v e r t he M i d l an d S ea ca m e foes w h o sai d ,
H i l d ebrand son o f H e rb ran d h e i s d ead

, , .
H i l d ebrand s on o f H erbrand s pak e ag ai n

, ,
Th i n e arm s s h o w t ha t i n t h i s l and t hou cou l d s t no t g a i n ’
A l i be ral l ead er o r a royal fri en d .
N o w wel l aw ay g rea t G o d Fa t e s e vi l end

’
, ,
F o r s i x t y years e x i l e i n s t ran g e r l a n d s
, ,
S u m m e r and w i n t er w i t h s p ea r d art i ng ba nd s -
,
N ev er o nce l eg b ou nd w i t h i n c i t y w al l ,
I co m e bac k b y m y o w n s o n s h an d t o fa l l
’
,
H e w n b y h i s s wo rd or b e h i s m u rd erer
, ,
B u t i f t hy s t reng t h h o l d t ho u ca n s t read i l y
’
,
Wi n o f t h e b rav e hi s arm s s poi l o f t he s l ai n , ,
Wh e n t h i n e b y ri g h t S ai d H i l d e b rand
.
”
N ow w o rs t , ,
O f O s t rogo t h s b e h e w h o h ol d s m e back
M y h eart i s fo r t h e fray .
J u d g e com rad es wh o l oo k on w h i ch of u s wi ns
, ,
T he fam e bes t t h ro w s t h e d a rt and earns t he s poi l

, ,
T h e as h e n s pears t h e n s p ed s t u c k i n t h e s h i e l d s ,
W i th t h ei r k een p oi n ts a nd d ow n on t he w h i t e s h i el d s
,
T h e h eav y ax es rang w i t h s ou nd i ng bl o ws ,
S h at t e ri ng t h ei r ri ms t h e fl es h beh i n d s t ood fi rm
, .
Th ere is no more Thank s to the t wo monk s who dis

.
s e c t ed the cover o a prayer book

f — not the only exam ple of -
a gain to L iterature from studies in the anatom y o f old b ook

covers— there is this one ri ft in t h e thick clou d that hides
from us the inner li fe o f the Germans in the s ixth or seventh
century one ray o f light shoots forth t hen all is dark again , .
B t w e h ave seen enough to k n o w t hat the ol d literatures of

u
the S candinavi ans and First E nglish pass o u t of an cien t

times from brotherhood with Teuton s of the Continent ,
among who m there was no t silence though there b e o , n
record of t he song Very noticeable in this fragment is t h e

.
—
sudden rise of the wa spi it o f what Gaelic poets m ight
r r
OL D LI T ER A T U R E OF T HE TEU T ON s . 26 1
have called Hilde b rand s b ird o f valour the close ’

— at
even the s t rong instinct of f mily affectio was su b dued a n
fo a tim e b y that appetite fo wa which made it seem

r r r
pru de t to U lfi l as to leave the record of the w ars o f Israel

n
out of his Gothic Bi b le .
T h e la guage of U l fi l s and o f t h e O strogot hs w as o f

n a
the L ow Ge rma type After t h e de th of Theodoric the

n . a
power of the O strogoths declin ed I t was fi ally D n“ . n aw

.
destroyed i n Italy i the ye r 5 5 5 d the n a , an
Teutonic tri b es who next played foremost $3 32? a

3
part in the shaping o f the future w ere a c o P

n
ra y ”
federacy k no w as the Franks from whom France takes

n ,
her nam e They w ere o b oth sides o f the lo wer Rhi e

. n n ,
a d s pread their po w er
n M ero eu s wh o gave t he name o f
. v ,
M erovingian to the li e of Fran kish k ings c me t o his ru le

n , a
i n the year 4 4 8 His gran dso n Clovis succeeded i t he

.
, ,
n
ye r o f the de th o f U l fi l as 4 8 b eing then only a boy of

a a ,
1,
fourtee n He succe eded to a smal l d omi io a d army

. n n n an
o f not more than fi e thousand fighting m e v But it was n .
he who l aid the foundations of t he Fra kish power He n .
married in 4 9 3 a Christian prince s s and pro bab ly through ,
her influ ence was draw n to Christianity himsel f and to t he

Christian isi ng of h i s people Christianity thus spread .
t hro u gh a l rge popul tion spe king a langu ge o f t h e

a a a a
high German type and the earliest trace s of high Germ

, an
liter ture are few Fr kish pieces of Church w riting

a a an
portions of catechism promises at b ptism con fessio s o f

, a ,
n
fai th and the Lo rd s Prayer— instrume ts in the w ork o f

’
, n
conversion There is als o one small piece of origi al verse

. n ,
which i s kno wn as
T be Wezss m bm
'
n n er P r ay er .
I s ou g ht ou t an d h eard a m ong m en
T he g reates t of w on d ers .
Ea rt h was no t , n o r h ea v e ns bri g h t ,
There was n ot hi l l or t ree ,

N0 sun s h one , no m o o n g a v e l ig h t ,
T he re w as n o t t h e se a .
There w as no t hi ng , so n o en d ,
B eg i n n i n g , b o u n d s , w ere t h e re
O n l y G od , m an s t e nd e re s t fri e nd ,
’
A nd H i s a ng e l s fa i r
.
H o l y G o d A l m i g h t y G od
, ,
That m ad es t s k y a nd l and ,
Th at g i ve s t m an so m any a goo d ,
G i v e m e t o u nd e rs t a n d
Thy g race i n ri g h t b el i ef and w i l l
, ,
I n w i sd o m a n d i n s t re ng t h ,
T o fi g h t ag a i n s t t h e p o w e rs o f i l l ,
A n d co m e t o Th ee a t l eng t h .
This prayer which I have ventured to turn

, the old
unrhymed alli terative measure into modern rhym e withou t one
—
ch nge in the sequence o f its thought u n less it b e a change
a
to tre t in the last line coming to God as equivalent to

a ,
”
“doing f God s w ill — is the oldest attempt at Christian

’
t he o
song that has come do w n to us from our Teutonic fore

f thers upon the C ontinent
a It was discovered i n the Bene
.
di tine monastery at W eissen b ru n n in Bavari a set mong

e , a
Latin pieces and having L tin inscription over it D

, a a , e
I ts author pro b b ly lived after our E nglish C a d

a
mo b ut his date c nnot b e later than the eighth century

n, a ,
an d it was follow ed in the ninth centu ry b y a f more i m ar
portant work the H eliand (modern Gem an Heiland

,
“ ”
i ,
”
S viour) a detailed poem on the Messiah i

a ,
b out six , n a
thousand lines of L ow German w ith only t wo High

—
German forms composed by Saxon priest a b out the ye r
— a a
I have take n my vers i o ns o f t h e Hi l d ebra n d s Li ed a nd W e i ss e n

“ ’ ”
b ru n ne r G e be t fro m t h e s t u d y o f t he m by t he Bro t h ers G ri m m :

”
Die
b e i d e n al t est en d eu t s chen G e d i ch t e au s d e m ach t en Jah rh u n d e rt : D as
Li e d v on H il deb ra nd u n d H a d u b ra n d u nd d as W ei s s enb ru n ner G eb e t zu rn ,
e rs t e n m a l i n i h re m M e t ru m d a rg e s t e l l t u n d h e rau sg eg eb e n d u rch d i e
Brii d e r G ri m m .
"
C as sel 1 8 1 2
. .
CH A PTER V
S CA N D I N AVI A .
P YT H EA S a Greek navigator who live d in the time of Alex

,
ander the Great sailed from the port of M ssilia no w a ,
U l im
t Marseilles
a on voy ge
, o f inquiry
a to Thule
a ,
w hich he made to b e six days sail b eyond

’
Britain He brought home reports concerni g lands which

. n
m ust h ve been a part of S candinavi a b ut his reports w ere

a ,
treated as untrustworthy by Polyb ius and S tr bo For the a .
next t welve hundred ye rs until the time o f Ki g Al fred

a ,
n ,
little w as kno w n of the lands whence the ships o f the

N o t hm e came with cre ws o f plunderers or settlers to the
r n
British shores Those were the lands o f L o w Germ an

.
tri bes quickened to energy by soil and clim te d by a ,

an
b attle w ith the wild Atl ntic i their search f bre d

a n or a .
With high free spirits the S candinavi ns w ere b old

, , a
a lso in invention ; long winter nights m u ch f voured story a
telling and none but the old Greeks excelled them i n the
,
number nd the beauty o f their legendary tales They per

a .
s on i fi ed the g reat forces o f N ture until they h d fr med a

a a a
w ide an d b eauti ful mytholog y ; they developed their chie f

heroes into mythical forms h l f human hal f divi e ; they
, a , n
prese ved the glory o f the deeds of the i r foref thers in f mily
r a a
tr ditio n s that were cherished in the settlements of every

a
valley .
They shape d at l st their god Odi n or Woden (after

a ,
w hom w e n ame ou Wednesday ) into an historic l myth that

r a
S CA N D I N A VI A . 265
accou n ted in their o wn way fo the division of their tribes r
into Norwegians Swedes and Danes When Pompey de

, ,
.
feated Mit hridates (B C he overc me lso Scythia . . a a n
tri b es that M i thridates had armed against Rome O e o f . n
these t i bes was said to have b een he ded by Sigga s o o f

r a ,
n
Fri d u lf who fled from the Rom ns to the nor th o f E urope

,
a ,
a nd took the name o f O d in the chie f god o f the Teutons , .
H i s t ri b e had been the fi s h b et ween the Black S e d ,

a an
t h e Caspian and the chie f city o f the fi s h w s Asg rd a

,
a a ,
famous centre o f w orship These w ere n ames o f the gods .
an d o f their home borro w ed fro m myth fo ,

the making o f r
history O din led his follo wers to northern conquest and

.
,
gave sons to rule k ingdoms that he founded S taying .
lo g i the pleasant island of Funen he there b uilt the

n n ,
to w n of Od en s e e Su b duing the rest of Denm rk he

. a ,
made his son S i ld its k i ng He p ssed to S weden . a ,
w here G yl fi its king paid him worship There he e

, ,
. s
tab l i s h e d his uthority d le ft his son Y g i as king

a ,
an n v ,
whence k ings o f S w eden w ere said to be o f the r ce o f t he a
Y ngl i gan Odin est blished in S weden his form o f w or

r
. a
ship and w ent on to Nor w y over which he g ve the rule

,
a ,
a
to his s o S aem i g Then ssembling his f iends he g ve

n n .
,
a r , a
h imsel f nine l nce wounds in form o f a circle

a -
d m ny , an a
s word cuts whereo f he died decl ring that he o returned

-
, ,
a s
to Asgard to sit at etern l b anquet w i t h the other go d s a ,
where he would receive w ith great honour a l l those w ho

s hould die b ravely s w ord in ha d The northern chro i
,
n . u
clers m ake this Odin the most persu sive o f men first a ,
teacher of poe try to the S candinavians and inventor of ,
runes H i s ski l l in m gic helped him to pass s god and

. a a a ,
his singin g was s o sw eet th t mount ins opened w ith delight a a
and gho s ts w ere drawn out of their caves In wa he was . r
as a w ild wolf biti g his Shield with r ge so that his

, n a ,
enem i es b y ter or o f his aspect w ere str ck blind d

,
r , u an
dea f .
Runes w ere the letters of the lphabet s used by al l the a
o l d Teutonic tri b es When the t of conveying so u nd by . ar
R
sight was ew it w a great marvel and n , as a
mystery kno w n to fe w This we h ave s een in

u nes.
.
the Gaelic Ogham letters an d among Germans an d Sc ndi a
n av i a s Rune w s at once used s nother word fo secret

n a a a r
convers tion private council The letters w ere even con

a , .
sid e ed rmagical and cas t into the air writte n sep r tely
,
a a
upon chips or spills o f w d to f ll as fate determined on oo ,

a
a cloth nd then b e re d by the interpreters S o in our

,
a a .
First E nglish r i n w s to whisper or speak secretly

“
,
un a
”
a ,
runin g was dealing in secrets d with the phonetic ,

an ,
addition o f a d after the n (like that in sound “

d ,
”
an
rem ined s round even to S h kespeare s a a a

’
The writing o f the ru nes w s upon S lips o f w o d or a o ,
upo st n e when perm nence w s sought they were set as

n o a a
ch rms lso upon weapons and the first sense of the w ord
a a ,
w rite was to cut or carv e I n our F irs t E nglish

“ ”
'
Beo w ul f the hero in mortal b ttle w ith the dragon w t

, , a ,
ro e
hi m in t h e middle w ith his de dly kni fe The as soci tion a . a
o f the runic letters w ith he then mysteries an d superstition

'
c used the first Christi n te chers to discourage

a d a a ,
an ,
indeed s fa as possi bl e suppress their u s e They w ere

, a r , .
,
there fore superseded by the L tin alpha b et which in First

,
a ,
E gl i sh w as supplemented b y retention o f t wo o f the runes

n ,
named thorn and we to represent sounds o f t h

“ “ ” “
n,
and w fo which the L ti lph b et had no letters pro

“
,
r a n a a
vi d ed E ach rune was named a fter some o bject w hose

.
name b ega n with the sound represented The first letter .
w as F P e h money ; the second U Ur a b ull

,
o ,
the thi d , ,
r
Th Thorn a thorn ; the fourth 0 O S the mouth ; the fi fth

, , , ,
R R d a sad d le ; the sixth C Cen a torch ; and the s i x

,
a , , ,
ro u n d e d i n th e ea r
By t hat sa m e p u rp ose ch a ng er . i ng l oi n.
than the l ter a e to be fou n d scattered b out E nglan d and

a ,
r a
the northern l nds As old b uil d ings a e taken dow n and

a . r
var i ous diggi gs e m de ru n ic stones are con t in u lly being

n ar a ,
a
found b t n o t one ever comes to light in

, u y S axon or an
German territory Of the thousands of inscri bed remain s

.
dug up i n German y says Pro fessor George S teph en s al l are

, ,
Rom n tiles alt rs nd fu neral stones or other such T he

a , a a ,
.
region within w hich these ru n es e found he s ays is l l ar , ,

a
S candin via from Lapl nd to the E ider and all E ngland

a a ,
from Kent to the Firth o f Forth d to his mind there is , an
no longer doubt th t the old popul tio o f D nish South

a a n a ,
an d North Jutl nd the old o t flo wi g An glic nd Jutish

a ,
u n a
and F i si c settlers mixed w ith Norsk and Swen sk ad e

r ,
v n
t e s w ho flocked to E n gland in the third fourth

ur r d fi fth , , an ,
a n d follow ing centuries w ere chiefly S ca n dinavians North , ,
men not S xons still less Germans That is to say the

, a ,
.
,
North fu nished the domin nt type of the L ow German

r a
people w h o united to make E ngl n d The n orth o f E ng a .
l nd w chiefly peopled by t he N rthern S candinavian s

a as o
wh o w ere most ne rly opposite to them the Midland b y a ,
the D es d the en rgetic North h d touched lso and

an , an e a a
le ft its m rk u pon the So thern Frisi ns

a
“
This runic u a .
brand dds Pro fessor S teph ns this Broa d Arro w this

,
”
a
“
e , ,
outst nding m rk o f a peculi r culture d n tion lity i s

a a a an a a ,
not confined to o n e p rticul r sp t i each nort hern land a a o n .
The ru es meet us in S weden from t he north to t he

n
south in N rway from t h e nor th to t he south in Den mark

, o ,
from the n or t h to the south in E n g l a n d from the north t o ,
the south ; and every where from the oldest Northern

d ys and at one common period But over all this
a ,
.
common ground there were diversities o f tribe n d speech a ,
d ialects th t into each other and under di ff eren t

a ra n ,
conditions w ere su bjected to different degrees an d rates o f

chan ge .
For record of t he li fe and literature of ou r S can di

SG A ND I N A VI A
'
. . 269
n avian fore fathers b efore they b ecame C hristians s i d to , a a
the study o f our own e rliest heroic poem Beo w l f w e a , u ,
ar e i n de b ted chiefly to the norther n colonists o f

I l d ce a n
Iceland
.
Icelan d touchi g the Arctic c i rcle on the north is a

, n ,
fi fth larger than Irel nd It is volcanic and deeply indented a .

,
w it h fi ord s on ll sides except the south a The chie f moun .
tain s are in the south In the south east is a m ss o f .

-
a
glacier co vering an are o f

,
square miles the V tna a , a
J O k u l l W est wlard
= =
b et w een this and B l afe l l r
, Hekla Tor fa ,
’
,
J O k u i l is ground
, risi n g in s w eeps to w rds the gl ciers a a .
North of this o the eastern hal f o f th e isl nd is a d esert

,
n a
plai n cros s ed b y three tracks the routes being m rked by ,

a
ston e pyr mids or he ps o f turf Th ese regions include

a a .
square miles of b rren country imperfectly explored a ,

.
Ice desert geysers and volc noes s w mps l kes and

, , , a ,
a , a ,
chasms in the earth leave i the w hole isl nd a bout ,

n a
square m i les o f hab it b le ground At Reykj vi k on the a . a ,
so u th west peninsula the m e n te m perature o f the year is

-
,
a
39
°
at Akureyri in the north it is I,
w inter there ,
n
is t h e aurora there a e electric flames a b out metals and

,
r ,
s tream s from t h e heads o f m e n like glories o f s ints There a .
are m o ck suns — so m etimes nine at once storm rings ab out ,

-
the m oon meteors also fierce hurric nes and whirl winds
, a .
Iceland was d iscovered in the year 8 6 by Nad d o t h a 0 r,
Norwegian V i k i g $ wh o was voyaging to t he Faroe Isl nds

n r, a .
Va i n , wa t e r ; jbk u l l , i
a n ci cl e , a g l a c i e r F i rs t E ng l i s h gi re l , whence
i S g i cel , i ci cl e
- ‘
.
1 B id
'
, bl u e of wav es or hori zo n , b u t i n th e eas t o f I ce l a nd i t m e ans a
m ead ow c o ve red wi t h hal f m el t ed

-
s n ow . F el l , a s i ng l e wi l d h ill . i n p l u ral
a ra ng e o f hi l l s . H ek l a fja l l , a b ri d g e d to H ekl a , so c a ll e d fro m i t s c o w l
of s n o w , k ek l a b e i ng t h e na m e o f a s o rt o f c o wl e d o r h o o d e d fro c k . T f
or a ,
t u rf, o r a g ree n s p o t , o r a l
p ace w here m an y fa rm s are b u i l t t og e t h e r .
I Vi k i n
g r w as t h e m an w h o w en t o n a v i k i ng . Vi ki ng wa s a free
y
b oo t i ng vo ag e , nam ed fro m t h e a rk , o r s m a ll b ay , o u t o f w h i c t h e p i ra t e h
v es sel ra n , or wi t i n w i c i t l u r edh h h
Bu t free b oo t i ng was s o fa r fro m k .
-
He looked out on it from hill on the east coast and a ,
c lled it S ja l nd Snow land I the ye r 8 64 G a t hr a

a n -
a ,
-
. n a ,
r ,
S wede w ent r und Icel nd i n his ship

,
d called it G a th r
o a an r
h Ol m In 8 6 8 P loki Ra fn another Nor wegi an explor e d

.
*
, ,
the south and w est o f the island and it was he who called ,
it I l nd Icel nd
s -
a ,
a .
S oon after w rds w he Harold H fagr (F i h i red )

a ,
n ar a r a
had b een crushing the petty chie fs of Nor w y I gol f and a ,

n r
Hj o l e i f w ere the first to seek indepe dent li fe in Icela n d

r r n .
They were follo wed b y b nds of such exiles w ith their a ,
serv ts cattle household goods their national traditions

an , , , ,
and their spirit o f freedom I g ol f h d killed his ad v er . n r a
sary on sm all barren isl nd w hither they h d gone to

a a ,
a
fight lone together t the de th fter the way kn wn as a

a o a , a o
h lmg ng As H rold w ould m ke him ns wer ble he

o a .
”
a a a a ,
sa i l d a w y w ith all his h usehold and his household goods

e a o ,
a n d w ith the door p sts o f his N r wegi n ho m e w hich b e -

o o a ,
cast int the sea ne r Icel nd that he might est b lish h i s

o a a ,
a
n e w h me w herever they w ere c st

o shore B t this was i n a a . u
the ninth century in the d ys w he n o Al fred s u cceeded t o

,
a ur
a kingdo m w hich he h d to save from rui by the Dane s a n .
The earliest piece of Icel n d ic literature the I sl e d iga a ,

n
is ascribed to Ari Frothi 1 wh o w not b rn until t h e ,

'
as o
T h i l “
e
year a fter the N rman C onquest of E ngland
s e . o .
Ba“
He g thered into this book as accur tely as he
a ,
a
co ld the tr diti ns of the island He cites v rious people

u ,
a o . a ,
upon whose testimony he gives f cts and d tes b t o ly a a , u n
once quotes written authority th t being fo the ye r 8 7 , a r a 0,
b ei ng reg a rd e d a s d i s c re d i t a b l e t h a t , an ol d S ca nd i n a vi a n s ca rce l y ha d s o c i al
p o s i t i on u nt i l h e h a d d i s t i ng u i s h ed h i m s el f i n a bold ra i d by land or
s ea .
H el m r an i s l et , w he nce t h e n am e o f Hol m s i n t h e O rk ne ys and th e

Bri s t o l Chann el .
N an o l d
'
1 A ri , w d f E l F é t k l ned T h e m os t
'
o rs e o r o r a g e r z e a r . , .
t h o rou g h acc o u n t o f A ri a n d h i s w ri t i n g s w a s b y P ro fe s s o r W erl au f w h o ,
p u b l i s h e d , a t C o p e n h ag e n i n 1 80 8 a D i s s e rt a t i o n D e A , ri o M u l t i s c i o .
For sixty years after the arrival o f the first emigr nts a
there w constant i nflux o f settlers Celts came so me

as a .
I l d
ce an times and some w ere b rought home as priso ner
,
s
o f the vikings By the ye r 9 3 t h e land was

l d
Pe °P °
a
°
. 0
as fully peopled as ever a fte w rds d a cod e o f l aws was r a ,

an
the adopted An a nual m eeting was appointed o t h e

n . n n
pl i n of T hi gvol l r Th is meeting w hich esta b lished t h e

a n .
,
g overnment as com m on w ealth was called the Alth i ng

a ,
.
The Althing met b y the river Gx r near A m ans fel l ; an a a, r
assembly h d b efore b ee held at Kjal e s The time o f

a n arn .
meeting was bout the last fortnight in June The Althi g

a . n ,
instituted i the year 9 3 w s re formed in 9 6 4 and in t h e

n 0, a
ye r a i t resolved upo the establish m ent o f C hristi nity

1 000 n a
as the religion o f the l nd a .
The colony had been f r m ed as a pl ce o f ref ge for o a u
men wh o were among the foremost of their land who took ,
w ith them their f milies their househol d goods their o l d

a , ,
religion customs and tr ditio s and tr nsmitted t he m to

, ,
a n , a
th i children s children Although the actual liter ture o f

e r
’
. a
these Northmen is all l ter th n th t ye r in w hich a a a a 1 0 0 0,
Christianity w as dopted as the National faith the estab

a ,
l i h e d f m ilies in Iceland th t had preser ed their tr ditions

s a a v a
and ad anced th eir culture were able t furnish to t he ew

v o n
church their o wn b ishops and priests b orro wing little fro m ,
abroad after the consecration o f their first n tive b ishop a ,
I sl e i f in , 5 6 To these
10 n tive priests
. and b ishops the a
tr ditions o f the f ith o f their f re f thers were of the deepest

a a o a
interest From li fe to li fe through successive generations

.
, ,
tales and so gs h d p ssed fo the lightening of ti me

n a a r
Vbl l r m ea n t
'
a fi el d
p l a i n ; T h i ng vo ll r w as , t e re fo re t h e Pa rlia
or h .
m ent F i el d T k i ng m ea n t t hi n g a s i n E ng l i s h b u t as a l aw p h ras e m e an t
. , ,
-
a l s o a n y p u b l i c m e e t i n g , e s p ec i a l l y
fo r l e g i s l a t i on o r a d m i ni s t ra t i o n o f t he
l aw . A 1, as a p re fi x , m ean t q u i t e -
t h o ro u g h l y —c o m p l e t el y so t ha t
A l t /ri ng m ea n t t h e s u p re m e o r ab so l u t e A s s e m b l a s d i s t i ng u i s e d fro m y , h
su c h as se m b l i e s a s t a t o f h
t h e h as (o r o u s e )ht h i n —
g , w h en ce ou r wo rd
h u s t i ng s ,
”
—t o w hi ch a ch i e f s u m m o ned hi s p eo p l e or g u ard s m en .
S CA N D I N A VI A .
3
through th e l ong n orth ern winters among m en w hose hom e ,
steads were thinly s cattere d i n valleys p arted b y wi de

s ol itu d es o f rock an d glacier fro m n earest settle m ents out
s i d e th eir o wn .
F ro m t h e end of the thirteenth cent u ry come s t h e

earl i e s t k no wn copy o f a c ollection b egun about t h e year ,
1 2 4 0 of ol d m ythica l religious and he roic songs

, , ,
T h Edd as .
an d tale s then c hanted an d told b y the grand
e
m oth ers throu g hout the l an d That earliest copy of them

.
was a p archment b oo k ( Code x Regius

“ ”
N in ,
o .
C o penhage n ) wh i ch was sent in 6 6 fro m Iceland as a

, 1 2 ,
pre sent from t he Bishop Brynju l f Svei nsson of Skal holt r , ,
t o K i ng Frederick I II o f Denmark . The b ishop had dis .
c o ve r ed i t i na farm hous e in 643 T his work was ascri be d

1 .
to Sa mu nd Si gfu s s on wh o was priest poet d h istorian

, , ,
an ,
had a s hare in for m i ng the ec clesiast i cal code in Iceland ,
a nd d i ed i n t h e year 35 h u n d red
11 years b,e for e t h e a
col l ec ti on was made It has b een k no wn there fore as

.
, ,
Sa mu nd s E dda or the E l der or the Poetical Edda

’ -
, , .
T h e Y ounger or Prose Edda— Snorri s Edda—was the b oo k

’
t o w hi ch t h e n am e E d d a was first attached and the auth o r of ,
this was Smot ri S tu l u son Sno ri S t u l u son poet T h l d

r . r r ,
an d h i s tori an w as b orn i n ros to h gh e o
, 7 8 e i N
11 h , o rt e rn
.
A
o ffi ce i n I celand a d was murdered in 4 His
,
’
n 12 1 .
"
b ook calle d E dda was an Ars Poetica containing the ol d

”
,
rul es for verse m aking and poetic diction ; but as t he

-
d i ction included a large num b er of allusions and phrases

deri ve d from the old Northern m ythology a summary was ,
a l so gi ve n o f t h e myths from w hich t h ey al l w er e draw n .
Fi rs t ca me t wo sections G yl fag i n i ng (the Delusion of

,
n
G yl fi ) and B agaraed u r (Bragi s T les ) which gave larger

’
r a ,
an d s m all e r sketches o f t h e old mythology ; then came a
third s ec ti on called Skal d s kapa m al (the Ars Poetica) r ,
which d esc ri b ed the c onvention l c ircum l ocutions and t h e a
other devi ces of t h e Skal d s or Northern poets ; the fou rth

,
S
las t sectio n was calle d H att atal (C ou n ting of M et res )

'
an d ,
w hich was a Prosody i gen i ously s e t fo rth b y hel p o f a n
S ong of Praise i n a hundred a nd t wo l i n e s c on tri ved as ,
examples of all verse me asures i n use F our gram mati cal - .
a n d histo rical trea t ises w ere a ppe n ded t o S orri s w o r k

’
n .
The oldest of t hese gr mm ati cal treati ses i s as cri be d t o a a
T h o o d d called t h e R u n em ast e wh o l ived i n t h e m i ddl e

r , r,
o f the t wel fth c e nt u ry and t he third treati se was b y O laf ,
T h ord arson H v i ta S k ald a n eph ew o f Sn orri s T he d i s

’
.
,
c o e ry o f this w ork was d e to Arngri m

v Jon as an I c e u ,
lau di c lergyman who sent i t i n 6 8 to Ol e Worm t h e

e , ,
1 2 , ,
Dan ish an tiquary with w hom he was corres pondi n g abo u t

,
runes The b ook was called E dd a from i t s great gran d

.
-
mother s tales of a d ead f ith that had b eco m e li vi ng p o et ry

’
a .
But as the whole work w as designed to teach the ru l e s o f

,
poetry E dda and rules of E dd w ould b e o ften us ed as a

, , a,
nam e for t he poet s craft Some have derived E dd a ’

.
from O dde the home of S aem u d , Pro fessor Rhy s has n .
suggested Aid ead h a Celtic nam e given to old Irish tragi c

,
”
,
t les concerned with ait t e death There wil l b e n ee d t o

a ,
”
.
re fer to th e ru les of S orri when di s cuss i ng our o wn early n
form s of verse
,
.
The oldest of the E dda poems date n o farther back than

the ninth cent u ry They reproduce the ol d faith of t h e .
R eu i n f
no p e ople
o b u t w i t h touches of li fe and
,
action in m yt h s
325338 an d
3
heroic
”
tales w ith a w ealth of fresh an d v i gor ,
m h
y‘ s°
ous imagination for w hich there was no paral lel ,
except in ancien t Greece Professor S ophu s Bugge o f Ch ris .

,
i i n a stu dy of t h e origin o f the old myth s and t al es r

’
tian a, ,
h s pointe d to word s in the E dda poems as w ell as to

a ,
I n t h e A cad emy for Jan u ar 3 1 . 1 8 80 y .
S t u d i en ii b e r d i e E n t s t e u ng d e r no rd i s c en G o t t eru nd He l d en
h h
sa g e n v o n S Op h u s Bu g g e , Pro fes s or d er U n i vers i t ii t ri s t i a n i a V om Ch .
V e rfass er au t ori s i ert e u nd d u rc g ese e ne U eb e rs et zu ng vo n D r O scar h h .
d er U n i v ersi tbl t M i t u ch en M u ni ch , 1 88 1 - 82
‘
Bre n ner, Pri vat d ocent . .

C H APT E R VI .
B E OW U L F .
l AS ED on historical events e rlier perhaps in d te than a , ,

a
those which have give n rise to ny hero ic tal e mong t he a a
S candinavi ns w e have at the b eginning of First B

a , lf e ow u ,
E nglish Literature the great poem entitled B EO

W U L F It sho ws the touches o f a Christian hand
.
,
b ut it preserves w ith the fidelity of one w h o took an ,
artist s ple sure in the w ork

’
picture o f the Norther n
a ,
a
li fe and tone of thought in days b e fore the spread of

Christian ity G u n d t i g s cle r identific tion of H ygel ac
. r v
’
a a ,
a chief in t he story w ith C h oc il ai c u s wh o fell in b attl e , a
in the ye r 5 fi es a ti m e for the historic l events

a 2 0, x a
that were tr nsformed into the fab les of the poem The
a .
poem extends as w e have it to 6 3 5 6 o f the Short First , ,
E nglish lines or h al f lines s they are usu lly printed i n

, ,
a a
E ngland The o nly existing M S i s in the Cotton L i brary

. .
i
n the British M useum ; it is fu ll of inaccuracy and the ”
, ,
Cot t
MS . . V i t el l i u s , A . 15. DrM a t t he w Park er Arc hb i s hop o f
. ,
C an t erb u ry (b . r 5 04 ; d . 1 5 7 5 ) re s cu e d m an y A ng l o S axon M SS fro m -

.
a m on g t h e ru i n s o f t h e di ss ol v e d m o n a s t e ri e s . They w ere b e q u ea t he d by
y
h i m t o h i s ow n U n i v ers i t an d C o l l eg e w h e re t e y are a m o ng t h e Park eri an , h
M S S o f C orpu s h ri s t i ol l eg e C a m b ri d g e
. C C
S i r R o b e rt C o t t o n (b 1 5 70 ;
, . .
y
d 1 6 3 1 ) re s c u e d m a n m o re o f t h e A ng l o -Sax o n M S S n e wl s cat t ered
. . y
a b ro ad . b eg i n n i n g t o co l l ec t a t t h e ag e o f 1 8 . By t h e fi re , i n 1 73 1 , i n i tt l e L
D ean
’
s Ya rd . W e st m i n s ter , 111 M S S w e re
. l os t . b u rn t , o r e n t i rel d efa ce , y d
an d 99 , i n c l u d i n g t h e Beo wu l f, m a d e i m pe rfect . T he c ol l e c t i on was te
m o ved t o the O ld D orm i t ory at W e s t m i n s t er ,

a nd th en , i n 1 75 3 , t o th e
Bri t i s h M u seu m .
BE O WU L F . 2 77
change beginni ng at line 9 4 w s written b y t w o copyi sts 1 0, a ,
pro bab ly i the first hal f of the eleventh ce tury It was

n n .
also m u ch injured by the fire t Cotton House We must a .
th i nk o f it however not as a tindery manuscript but s a

, , , a
br ight gleam of human light and l i fe fro m the fa past T he r .
gre ter part of Beo wul f b elongs at l test to the seventh or

a a
eighth century and r nks s the oldest heroic poem extant

,
a a
not only in E nglish but i any Germa i c tongue n n .
And ow is to be asked what is the su b stance of this

n ,
a ncient tale ? For we must kno w something o f the text

itsel f before we turn to its interpreters We T h S b .
e u
enter one o f the great festive h alls to join at h l ’ f s t a nc e o

t
the ale drinking and hear the gleeman 5 song
e a e'
’
-
.
The b l l s long and w ide say

a i feet b y 4 w ith a ,
2 00 0,
high roo f and curved gab les There is at e ch extremity . a
an entra ce in the middle of the wall protected by a

n ,
porch that is continued at its farther end to form cell r

,
a
and pant y We pass into the hall a spaciou s nave with

r .
,
n rro w side aisles

a Pill rs dividing aisles fro m nave s u p
. a , ,
port the central roo f The n ve is the great hall itsel f . a ,
and down the middle o f its floor run the stone he rth s a ,
upon w hich bla e gre t tim b er fires At the upper end is

z a .
the r ised se t o f the chie f t a oss b e h w here h i s

a a , a cr o
nc ,
w i fe w h o fills the cups o f the guests and his f miliar

, , a
th nes or those whom he dist i nguishes sit w ith him O

a , , . n
each side of the long he rth there runs line o f t bles a a a ,
flanked with b enches and stools t w h i ch s i t the people ,

a
wh o are the chie f s hearth sharers At the lo wer end in

’ ”
-
.
,
the space corresponding to the d s is a t ble fo the ai ,

a r
drinki ng c u ps Bet ween the ro ws o f p i ll rs d the outer

-
. a an
w alls spaces are parted o ff w ithi the n rro w i sles f n a a or
sleepi ng benches of the warriors In some o f the sp ces

-
. a
are the gilded vats of liq or into which the p ils of the cup u a
bearers are dipped I f w omen sleep in the h ll the . a ,
recesses of the pill rs b ehind the d i s e kept s cred to

a a ar a
them and there are in the ai sles i f the hall b e t he ch i e f s

, ,
’
d well i ng as that in Beo wu l f w s n ot d i stinct enclosures fo

, a , r
t h e occupatio n o f the family The sleeping space beh i n d .
t he pill ars might perhaps be parted fro m the hall b y

, ,
p an ell i ng and tapestry In such a hall the gleeman o fte n .
cha ted to his h rp n ow one adventure ow another as t h e

n a n ,
g uests or their lord might c ll fo t h is or that fa vourit e a r
i cident from the long rhythmical lliterative poem that

n , ,
a
cont ins the t le of

a a
B E O WUL F .
An elder Beo wulf was for a long time the b eloved

king of the S yl d i gs and from his root gre w forth at last
c n ,
the lo fty H eal fd en e O l d and w a fi e ce he gave to t h e

. r -
r ,
world fo r children head s o f hosts H eo oga and H rothgar

u ,
r r, ,
an d Halga the good and E l a , .
Th en w as t o H rot h gar g i v en speed i n w ar ,
H on ou r i n ba t t l e h i s d ear k i n s m en t h e n
O b eye d hi m g l ad l y t i l l t h e y ou t h g rew u p
, ,
A n u m e ro u s ba n d o f k i n d red I n hi s m i n d .
I t ran t h a t h e w o u l d b i d a c ou rt b e b u i l t
A m ead h al l g rea t e r t h a n h ad ye t be e n k no w n
-
B y t al k a m o ng t h e s on s of m en t h e rei n ,
Wou l d d ea l t o y o u ng an d o l d w h at G od m ad e h i s ,
E x ce pt t h e pe o pl e s s h are an d l i v es o f m en
’
.
,
Th e n w as I t ol d t h at am ong m any t ri bes

W i d e w ent t h e cal l o v e r t h e ea rt h t o w ork ,
T o ad orn t h i s h o m e of t h e p eo pl e Ti m e w ent by .
A m o n g m e n s w i ft l y t i l l t h e c h i ef of h al l s
,
“(as al l pre p ared and H eorot w as t h e na m e

,
Th a t h e w h os e w o rd h ad po we r sh aped fo r i t
, ,
H e w as fa l s e t o h i s p ro m i s e , ri ng s h e g av e
no t
A n d t reas u re a t t h e feas t Th e re rose t h e h al l .
H ig h c re s t e d w a i t i ng t o b e t ri e d b y h ea t
Of h a te fu l fi re .
Then the grim fo e ca m e Gre n del l e that held the

, , i
moors the f n
,
e ,
and f stness
a Forbidden the homes of
.
2 80 E N GL I SH WR I T E RS .
cam e h e warred against righ t one again s t al l till empty , ,
s tood the b est o f houses Tw elve wi nters tide was hi s rage ’

.
hom e and it be cam e openly kno wn i n sad s on gs that

,
Grendel warred then agai n st H rothgar would have peac e ,
of n o Dane w as not to b e met w ith money

, T h e high and .
young he sought and snared In l asting n ight he held t h e .
m isty moors H e orot he held in the s wart n i gh t with i t s

.
,
seats richly stained b ut t h e gift stool [the chief s seat

,
-
’
,
w h ence gi fts were distri b uted] he m i ght not tou c h H ro t h .
gar the S cyl d ings friend broken in mind sat many a tim e
,
’
, ,
in thought Sometimes they w orshipped at the holy places

.
,
prayed in words for help from the Ghost slayer -

.
Wh en from h i s h om e H yg el ac s t hane had heard ’

,
G o od G ot h s o f G re nd el s d e ed s h e t h en
’
a m o ng , , ,
T h e s t rong es t of t h e l i v i ng race o f m an ,
N o bl e and p ro s pe ro u s , he bad e re
p p a re
A g ood s ea t rav ers e r, s ai d h e w o u l d s ee k

O v e r t h e sw an road t h e b rav e k i ng , g reat p ri nce ,
B e cau se h e w as i n n eed o f m en Th at v oyag e .
T h e w i se b l am ed l i t t l e t h ou g h t h ey l ov ed hi m mu ch
, ,
B u t w h e t t ed hi s k e e n m i n d fo ret ol d g oo d end , .
Fi ft een t h e brav es t w arri o rs h e cou l d fi nd

,
A m ong t h e G ot h s t h e g ood ch i ef c h os e w i t h t h em
, ,
H e s o u g h t t h e fl o a t i n g w oo d A w arri or s k i l l ed .
I n s hal l o w s eas m a d e k no w n t h e b ou n d s of l an d .
A space o f t i m e p as sed o n a fl oa t o n wa v es ,
T h e boat l ay b y t h e h i l l t h e re ady m en ,
M ou n ted t h e prow t h e s h al l ow w at ers rol l ed

U pon t h e sand t h e w arri o rs bore b righ t arm s
I n t o t h e b ark s h ol d w ar g ear w ell p re pared
’
, .
U pon t h e ch ose n pat h t h e m en s h ov ed ou t

T h e b and ed w ood O n w av es o f t h e d eep s ea
.
T h e fl oat er foam y n e ck ed d epart e d t h en

, , ,
S pe ed ed by w i nd and m os t l i k e t o a b i rd
, ,
U n t i l t he t wi s te d pro w had ru n for an hou r 5
O f t h e s econd d ay and t h en t h e v oyagers

,
S aw l an d t h e s ea c l i ffs g l i t t er t h e s t eep h i l l s
, , ,
T h e b road sea ness es Th en i n s h al l ow er s ea

.
T h e sai l ors v oyag e e n d ed u i ck l h

’
Q y t e n c e .
B E G WU L F .
U p s t ep ped t h e \Ved e r s p eop l e on t h e p l ai n ,

’
B ou nd t h e s ea w o od , s h oo k w ar S h i rt s , an d t h an k ed G od ,
-
Wh o eas ed for t hem t h ei r w ay acros s t h e w av es .
Wh e n the Scyl d i g s warder wh o had to keep the sea

n
’
shores s aw from t he w ll bright shields b orne over the

a
b ul war k of the s h ip he asked in his mi n d w hat men those

,
were Then w ent to the shore H rothgar s thane the ’

.
mighty spear qu ked in his hand ; and he sked What

a
“
a ,
w eapon be rers are ye wearing w a s h irts w h o thus come

-
a ,
r
-
,
hither leading over the water street a foamy keel ? I hold -
ward that to the Dane s land no fo e may bring w b y sea

’
ar .
Never have I seen a greater earl on earth than is one o f

you ; he is a m a w orthy with his w eapons i f his f ce tell
n , a
true Now ye far dwellers quickly tell me whence ye

.
— -
,
co m e
T he leader o f the b and unlocked his w ord hoard “ We -
:
a e o f the Goths kind H yg e l c s hearth sharers my father

’ ’
r , a -
was kno wn w idely a high born lord hight E cgt h eo w ; he

,
-
abode in hi s house m ny w inters ere he went on his way

a ,
al m ost all t he w i se throughout the wide earth keep him in

mind We have come through kindness to help thy lord
. .
We have heard say th t a w retch I kno w not wh o does to

a , ,
the Scyl d i ngs hurt in the dark n ights I may teach H oth . r
gar h ow to overco m e the fo e .

”
The fearless warder se ted on his horse then said A

,
a ,
sharp shield warrior knows w ords from w orks I hear that .
this i s a band friendly to t h e S yl d i gs Bear we pons c n . a
forth I S ho w the w ay I w ill b id also my fello w th nes to a
hold against every fo e your ew tarred Ship until it b e r n -

a
b ack to the Weder marches those to w hom it sh ll b e given a
to c om e whole out o f the rush o f w ar .

”
They went there fore ; the w ide bosomed ship stood fast -
at anchor heavy in the mud

, .
E nw rea t h ed w i t h g o l d , o v er t h ei r faces ro s e
A b oar-l i k e cres t , fi re -h a rd en ed , m an y -h u ed ,
It held th e l i fe i n g u a rd fi erce . Wa rl i k e an d
T h e m en p resse d o n t og e t h e r t h e y w e n t d o w n , ,
T i l l g ay and gol d e n ri ch i n t i m be r wo rk , ,
Th e y saw t h at g reat es t h ou se u nd e r t h e s u n ,
T h e k i ng s h o u s e w h os e l i g h t l i g h t ed m an y l and s
’
.
,
Of the warriors one turned his horse and said No w

, , ,
is my time to go may the all w ield ing Father hold you safe -
in yo r undertaking I w ill b ack to the sea to hold ward

u :
against foemen .
”
The street was made hands ome w ith stones it sho w e d ,
the path to the men The wa shirt shone hard han d . r -

, ,
locked the bright ringed iron sang as they came w lking t o

,
-
a
the hall in gruesome gear Sea weary they set broad s hi elds .
i
, ,
round and stone hard against the house wall then stoop ,
-
,
ing to b ench placed in a ring their wa shirts garb of

a ,
r -
,
men the darts the s eam e s weapons stood together w ith

,
n
’
, ,
t h e ash w ood grey a b ove

-
Then Wul fg r a proud warrior . a , ,
a sked the sons o f stri fe hence b e r ye yo r s tou t

“W
a u
shields grey sh i rts fierce helms d he ps of wa shafts

, , ,
an a r-
The proud lord of the We d e s ns wered h i m fro m r a
beneath his helmet We e H yg e l board sharers ar ac s

’
-
,
B E OW U L F is my n me I w ill make kno wn my errand t o

a .
the lord thy m ster i f he grant us th t w e give good greet

, a ,
a
i g t him Wul fg r sa id
”
I then the Danes frie d w ill ’
n o . a , , , n ,
speak to the lord of the S yl d i gs the S h rer o f r i ngs and c n , a ,
I w ill soon make kno wn the ns wer he thinks fit to give a .
He then turned to where Hrothg r old d h airless s t a , an , a
among his earls He went so th t h e stood be fore t h e

. a
shoulders o f the D nes lord fo he kne w the w ys of a a

’
,
r a
k ing s house Wul fg r spake to his friendly lord Hi t he

’
. a r
ar e come Goths fr m afar the le der these sons o f stri fe

o ,
a
n me Beo w ul f ; they b eg
a my lord to talk w ith you ; d o , ,
n o t deny them They seem w orthy to be gladdened wit h

.
your speech and mix with e rls ; t le st he seems so w ho a a a ,
has led hither the men of w H rothgar helm o f t h e ar .

,
H m d la le ft m e, it is We la nd ’
s w ork . Wha t is t o he g oes
e ver as it m ust .
”
h
H ro t gar, h e l m of t h e Sc yl d i ngs, sai d :
F or fights , fr ie nd B eo wu l f, an d for hi gh pra i se t h ou h ast
so ught s T hy u q e.ll e d fo r m e t he g rea tfa t her
es t fe u d u ,
co m ing o e t h e w es t o t he Sc yl d i gs w he I in m y you t h
v r av n , n
fir t ruled t h e D n es Sorro w is m e t o say why G re nd e l

s a .
sh mes me t h us i H eo o t F u n O ft en ha e so ns of t i fe
a n r . v s r ,
dru nk en w ith be e id er t h e l e cu p th t t hey i n t h e

r, sa ov a -
a
beer hall w ld b ide G e d el o sl ugh t w i t h sharp ed ges

-
ou r n
’
s n a
the al w ys in the m o i g was t hi m ea d h ll tai ned wi t h

n a rn n s -
a s
gore ; w hen the d ay d wn ed l l t h e be ch floo was b e a a n -

r
stea med w i th blood o f faith f l m e S i t n o w to t h e b oard u n .
a d n s eal with m ea d t hy breast m o g m y warri ors

un a n .
”
Then was be nch c lea red in t h e be er h ll fo t h e so ns o f

a -
a r
the Goths The t han e who ba re i n hi han d t h e b ra vel y

. s
beset ale c u p mi nded h is w ork po ed out t h e b ig ht s wee t

-
, , ur r ,
ale at times the glee m n sa ng pea ceful i n H eo ot t h e e - a ,

r : r
w as gl dnes s of wa rrio
a of m e gre t m ong Dan e s an d rs , n a a
Wed ers .
spake Ecgl f s s o who sat at the feet of t he

H u n fert h a
’
n,
S yl d i g lord To hi m was the coming of Beowul f t h e

’
c n s .
,
b old sea farer most irksome beca use he grudged tha t an y

-
, ,
other man ever w o n more praise tha n h imsel f Art t h ou

“
:
the Beo wul f wh o strove wi th Breca on t h e sea w he ye f o m ,

n r
pride tri ed the fords and fo fool is h bo st risked l i fe in t he r a
deep water ? [Mor e also in this w ise s id H u n fe t h]

”
, a r
He overcame thee in s wimming He h d more stre ngt h . a .
N o w I look fo worse things though thou shine ever i n r ,
i f thou durst bide a ight ne r Grendel Beo wu l f ”

w ar, n a .
replied Well thou a great de l my friend H u nferth

“
: , a , ,
drunken with b eer hast spoken abo u t Brec I say truly ,

a .
,
that I had greater strength at sea than any other man We .
agreed being stripli ngs that we would risk our li es o n t he

, , v
fl o d and we did thus We h d a n aked s word in han d

o ,
: a
when we ro wed on the deep meant fo our w against t he , r ar

B E G W OL F . 28 5
w hale fishes H e could not s wim a way from me nor I

.
,
fro m him ; we w ere together in the s e five nights t i ll the a
flood drove us as under ; the b oiling fords the coldest o f ,
weather clo u dy night and the north w ind de adly gri m

, ,
threw ti p rough billo ws roused was the rage of the sea :
fi s he s . There my b ody shirt hard hand locked gave me -

, ,
-
,
help against the foes ; my b r ided war r il lay upon m y a -

a
b reast handsome w i th gold

, A painted foe dre w me to the .
ground a grim one had m e in his grasp yet it was gr nted

, , a
me to reach the wretched b eing with the point o f my wa r
b lade Thus o fte n my foes threatened me I paid the m

. .
as was fit w ith my dear s word In the morni ng wounded .
with thru sts they lay put to sleep in shoals so th t they

, ,
a
have n ot afterwar d s been any let to the s ea farers Light -

.
came fro m the eas t the se s were st i l l so that I might see the
, a ,
headland s w indy walls The Must Be o ften helps an

’
. un
doomed m a when he is br ve Yet it w s my lot to slay

n a . a
nine nickers I have not he rd of harder fight b y night

. a
under heaven s round Brec never yet nor any o f you at

’
. a , ,
the g me of war did such great deeds Of this I bo st t

a . a no .
Though thou hast been the sl yer o f t hy brothers fo whic h a , r
thou shalt pay i n Hell Grendel w ould not h ve done s ch

, a u
gru esome deeds in H e ot i f thy mind were s w fi e e or ,

a ar- rc as
thou tellest of thysel f H e has found that he cares t f r

. no o
the strength o f your folk he slays n d shends you and , a ,
expects not stri fe fro m the Gar Danes But a Goth sh ll . a
sho w h i m fight and a fterw rds he shall go to the m ad wh

,
a e o
may i n peace and gladness

,
.
”
Gl d the n was the bright D nes lord ho ry locked and

a a
’
,
a -
war prais ed t rust i ng i n help w hen he heard Beo wul f There

-
, .
was laughter o f men the din rose w ords w ere w insome

, , .
Weal t h eow H rothgar s q u een went for t h Mind f l o f their

,
’
, . u
rank the cheerful wi fe gold decke d greeted the men in h ll

, ,
-
, a ,
fi rst gave the cup to the lord of the Danes bade h i m dear , ,
to h i l nd h blithe t t he b ee r d ri ki g H e gladly
s a , e a -
n n .
shared the mea l d hall u p The h e we t rou nd and

an c
-
. n s n ,
g e on every ide rich esse ls t l d and you g u nti l s h e

av S v o o n ,
bore the me d cup br celet c o e ed q ee n t o B eow u l£

a -
, a -
v r u ,
S h e greeted the Goth s l o rd thanki ng G o d t h at t he wi ll h ad

’
,
be f llen her to t ust in y ea rl fo h elp H e t he fi e rce

a r an r .
,
w rior drank of the cu p from Weal t h eo w an d t h en

ar , ,
“
B eo w u l f, t h e so n o f E cg t h eow , s pa ke : I m ean t ,
in boa t se t w i t h m y w a rri o r ba n d
t he
I m o u n t ed t h e d e e p sea t h a t I a l o ne ,
w o rk yo u r p e o p l e s w i l l o r yi e l d m y l i fe
'
, ,
F as t bo u nd i n t h e foe s g ri p I sh al l u se s tre ng t h'
N o b l y o r i n t h i s m ea d h al l h i d e m y e nd
”
-
.
,
Tho se w o rd s t h e G o t h s p rou d s pe e ch w e ll pl eas e d th e w o m an

,
’
, .
T h e p e o p l e s j o yfu l q u ee n ad o rn e d w i t h g old
’
, ,
t o h e r l o rd s he sa t ,Th e n as be fo re .
Bo l d w o rd s w e re s po k en i n t h e ha l l w i th j oy ,
T h e pe o pl e rai s ed t h e c ry o f v i c t o ry .
T i l l s u d d en l y t h e so n O f H e a l fd e ne
P re pa red t o s ee k h i s re t S t ri fe w as o rd a i n e d
s .
,
H e k n e w ag ai n s t t he w re t c h i n t h e h ig h h a l l
, , ,
A ft e r t h e su n l i g h t l e ft t h e m an d d u s k n i g h t , ,
T h e s had o w h e l m o f al l crea t e d t h i ng s
-
,
C a m e ro l l i ng o nw a rd w an be nea t h t h e c l o u d, , s .
T h e w h o l e ba nd rO e m e n g re e t e d o n e a n t h e r
S , o ,
H ro t h g ar s o g ree t e d Be o w u l f bad e h i m I I a i l , ,
G a v e p ow e r o v e r t h e w i ne h a l l s a i d t h e re t o -
,
N e v er b e fo re s i n ce I ra i s e d h a n d o r s h i e l d
, ,
G a v e I t o a n y m an t h e D a ne s s t ro n g h al l
’
\s n o w t o t h ee
. I l a v e t h ou a nd h o l d t h o u n w
. o
T h e be s t o f h o u se s h a v e t hy fam e i n m i nd
, ,
S h o w t h y g rea t s t reng t h k e e p w at c h ag a i n s t t h e foe s , .
Th o u s h a l l n o t w an t al l t h i ng s t o t h y d e s i re
I f t h o u co m p l e t e t h i s w o rk o f s t reng t h and l i v e .
Th e n t he d e fe nce o f Scyld i ng s H rot hg ar w e n t , ,
a l l h i s w a rri o rs fro m t h e h al l w ou l d s ee k
, ,
\Veal t h e ow t h e q u e e n h is bed fe l l ow
, M e n sa y
, .
T h e g l o ry o f k i ng s h ad ag ai n s t G re n d el s e t
A gu ard ov e r t h e h al l a bou t t h e ch i e f o f D a ne , s
Tha t h
h fo rt h
t h e fou l s p oi l er m i g t n o t d rag t em ,
S i c e t h e L rd w ed n o t
n o i l l — u nd e r s h ad e of n ig h t
, ,
B u t h e i n w rat h w as w at ch i ng fo r at t ac k ,
Wai t ed w i t h s w el l i ng h ea rt t h e s t ri fe s o rd eal ’
.
Th en from t h e m oor u n d er t h e sh rou d o f m i s t

, ,
C am e G re nd e l s t rid i ng W rat h of G od h e bare . .
S ca t h er o f m en h e t h ou g h t i n t h e h i g h h al l
,
S h rou d ed h e w en t
’
T o s nare o ne o f m an s race .
Ti l l h e s aw cl earl y th e g o l d h al l o f m en -
,
T h e w i n e h o u s e g ay w i t h c u p s
-
, n o r t h e n fi rs t s o u g h t
T h e h o m e of H ro t hg a r B u t i n h i s l i fe d ay s
.
-
N e v e r b e fo re o r s i nce a bol d er m an
H e fo u n d o r h al l t h a nes
, J o u rneyi ng t o t h e h ou se
.
C a m e t h en t h e m an d i v i d e d from al l j oys
Q u i ck l y h e ru s h e d u p on t h e d oo r m ad e fas t
\ Vi t h b an d s fi re h ard e n e d
’ -
w i t h hi s h an d s b rok e t h rou g h ,
F o r h e w as s w o l l en w i t h rag e t h e h ou s e s m ou t h
’
.
,
Th e n s oo n u pon th e m an y co l ou re d fl oor -
T he fo e t rod o n h e w e n t w i t h i re fu l m o od ,
C a m e fro m h i s ey es a fi e rce l i g h t l i k e s t fi re .
H e saw w i t hi n t h e h al l a k i n d re d band
Of m an y m e nas l ee p a c o m p an y ,
O f co m rad e s al l t og e t h e r t h e n h e l au g h ed
,
F o r t h e d i re m on s t e r t h o u g h t be fo re d ay cam e
T o p a rt l i fe fro m t h e b ody o f eac h on e .
H op e o f a g l u t o f foo d had g ro w n i n hi m ,
Y e t i t w as n o t h i s fat e t h at h e S h ou l d e a t
A ft er t h a t n i g h t m ore o f t h e race o f m e n .
H yg el ac s s t ro ng k i n s m an s aw h o w t h e fo u l fo e
’
W ou l d m ak e h i s su dd en g ras ps n o r m ean t t h e w ret ch

'
D e l ay fo r at t h e fi rs t h e s w ift l y s ei zed
,
A s l e e p e r s l i t h i m u naw a re bi t t h ro u g h
, ,
H i s b o n e ca s e fro m h i s v ei ns d ran k bl o od an d s oo n
-
, , ,
S w al l o w i ng i n l a rg e l u m p s , h a d e a t e n al l
T he d ead m a n , fee t a nd hand s . Th en n earer fo rt h ,
H e s t e p ped , l ai d h an d s on t h e s t o u t h eart ed ch i e f
-
U pon h i s co u ch . Bu t h e ag ai n s t t h e fo e
S t re t ch e d ou t a h a nd
k new h i s fou l i nt en t
, so on ,
A n d fas t ened o n h i s arm H e rd sm an of m i sch i efs.

,
S o on h e fo u n d t h at o n eart h i n a l l i t s p arts
A s t rong er h and g ri p n e ve r had h e fe l t
-
.
E E OW U L I' . 2 89
Fearfu l i n m ind an d s ou l , he sou g ht e s cap e ,
Bu t not fo r t ha t cam e h e t he s oo n e r h
t e nc e .
H e t o hi s l u rk i ng p l ace w ou l d fly , w ou l d s ee k
-
T he w i l d t h rong o f t h e d e v i l s hi s l i fe d ay s -
H ad k no w n be fore n o t u g s o S h a rp as t h i s .
The n I l yg e l ac
’
d k i ns m an bo re i n m i n d
s g oo
I l i s ev e ni ng s p e ech s t o o d u p ri g h t g ras pe d h i m h ard

, ,
H i s fi nge rs b u rs t ou t w ard t h e e o t e n w as
, .
T h e earl ad van ce d m ore T h e b o l d ch am p i on t h ou gh t

.
Whe th er he m i g h t no t s o g e t roo m t o es cap e ,
F l y t o h i s fen p oo l b u t h i s fi ng e rs s t reng t h
’
, ,
I n t h e fi e rce g ri p h e k ne w , T h e h armfu l S po i l er .
Fou nd t h at h i s pa t h t o H e oro t l e d t o g ri ef .
T h e g reat h a l l t h u nd ere d fo r a ll Da nes w h o d w e l t ,
Th ere fo rt i fi ed fo r al l t h e b ra v e m e n earl s
, , ,
T h e al e was s p i l t t h a t t h e w i n e h al l w i t h s t o od -
,
T h e fa i r h ou s e o f t h e w orl d t h e s h o ck o f w a r , ,
That i t fel l n o t i n ru i n was g reat w o nd er , .
B u t i t w as s t reng t he ne d ag a i n s t t h a t w i t h band s ,
W i t h i n w i t h ou t o f i ron cu n ni ng w o rk
, , ,
O f s mi t h s .Th e re m any a m ead bench go l d ad orned -

, ,
Was t i l t e d fro m i t s s i l l as I v e h eard t el l

,
’
O ld c ou ns e l l o rs o f t h e S cy l d i n g s n e v e r t h o u g h t
Th at a ny ma n i n h at e and s l au g ht er s t ai ned
C ou l d b rea k i t o r u ncl ose i t by h i s c raft ,
Bu t onl y by t h e ho t em b rac e o f fi re .
U p ros e a c ry n ew u rgent a d i re fear

, ,
Fell on t he N ort h Danes o n e ach one o f t h os e ,
Who fro m t h e w al l h ea rd t h e w i l d w h oop t h e c h an t ,
O f h orro r s u ng b y G od s an t ag o n i s t ’
,
S o ng of no v i c t o ry t he t h ral l o f h e l l
,
Wai l i ng i n pa i n t oo t ig h t l y h e w as h el d
By hi m t h en s t rong es t of a l l l i v i ng m e n .
T he h el p o f ea rl s w o u l d n ot fo r an y t h i ng
L e t g o t h a t d ead l y g u es t w h i l e l i v i ng t h o u g h t ,
H i s l i fe d ays o f n o u s e t o an y m an
-
.
Then m an y an earl of Beo w u l f s d re w h i s s w ord ’

,
H i s an ci e n t h eri t age a nd w o u l d d e fend

, ,
I f so he m i g h t t he p ri nce s l i fe Th ey k n ew n o t
’
, . ,
These eag er s o ns o f bat t l e w h en t h ey j o i ned ,
T he s t ri fe and s o u g h t t o h e w on eve ry s i d e
, ,
T o s ee k hi s s ou l , t hat d u pon eart h

no swor ,
Ch o i c es t of bl ad es , cou l d t ou ch t h e w i ck e d fi e nd .
Bu t h e al l m art i al w ea p on s h ad forsw orn ,

E v e ry d g ed b l ad e And he was w ret ch ed l y
e .
O n t h at d ay o f t h i s l i fe o f m e n t o d i e ,
H i s g h o s t fa r j o u rn e y i n g t o serve t h e fi en d s .
Th en h e w ho e rs t agai ns t t h e race o f m a n
I n m i rt h fu l m oo d had w rou g h t o u t m a n y c ri m es ,
H e w as G o d s foe fo u nd t h a t h i s bod y fai l e d

’
,
T o s e rv e h i m be cau s e H yg el ac s b o l d k i ns m an
’
,
I I ad h i m i n h a n d T h e ot h e r s l i fe t o e ac h
’
.
W as h at e fu l t he fe ll w re t ch e n d u red s o re pai n ,
A w i d e w ou n d o n hi s s h o u l d er cou l d b e s ee n
T h e s i n e w s s nap p e d t h e bon e e n cl os u re s b u rs t
, ,
G l o ry o f b at t l e w as t o Beo wu l f g i ve n
T o h i s fe n S h ad es d eat h s t ru ck m u s t G re nd el fl ee
,
-
, ,
S e ek a s ad h o m e w e l l k n o w i ng t h a t l i fe s e n d
’
,
Was co m e t h e n u m ber o f hi s d ays w as p as t

, .
S o h e w h o had co m e fro m a far fu l fi l l e d

I n d e ad l y fi g h t th e w i l l o f al l the D a n es
Wi s e
'
an d s t o u t - h e art ed d H ro t hg ar s h al l
, h ad c l ea n s e ,
S av ed i t fro m m al i ce G l ad i n hi s n i g h t s w o rk
’
.
,
H i s fa m e fo r s t re ng t h t h e C h i e ft ai n o f t h e G o t h s
,
H ad s e rv e d t h e Dan es acc o rd i ng t o hi s b oas t ,
H eal i ng t h e d ee p s e t g ri efs t h e y h ad e nd u red

-
,
N O s l i g h t a ffli c t i on borne t h rou g h h ard es t n e ed

, .
C l ear w as t h e t ok e n o f t h i s w h en t h e s t o u t ch i ef ,
Lai d d o w n h an d arm an d Sh ou l d e r t h ere was al l

, , ,
T h e g ri p o f G re n d e l u n d e r t ha t g rea t roo f .
Then came in the morning as I have h e rd tell m ny , a ,

a
a warrior b o t the gi ft hall from f and near to see t h e

a u -
ar ,
w onder . The foe le ft his track as he fled death doomed ,

-
and w eary to the ickers m ere There w as t h e surge

,
n
’
.
b oiling with b lood the waves w elled hot with clotted gore
, .
Grendel had dyed it a fte he laid dow n his li fe in Shelter of r
t h e fe
n. From the mere again went the gl d fellow warriors a -
proudly to ride on horses Beo wul f s praise was sung n or .

’
,
b lamed any the gl ad Hro t hgar for that was a good k i ng ,

s word of great w orth many a w borne be fore the warrior s .
Beo wul f s hared the cup in the court T h e shelter of earls .
then bade eight steeds be led into t h e court ; on on e 0 1

them stood a saddle cunningly worked ; that was the war
seat f the high king w hen the son o f H eal fd ene played the
o
game o f s w ords To Beow ul f he gave all h orses and— .

,
w e pons
a Also the lord of w rriors g ve to each o f th os e
.
, a a
on the mead bench wh o came the e way with Beo wul f a

-
s a-
gi ft an heirloom ; and b de th t the on e who m Grendel

, a a
slew sho ld be paid fo w ith gold Be fore H eal fd e e s

u r . n
’
w a r- leaders the glee w ood w to ched and H rothg r s -

as u , a
’
gleemen glad deners o f the h ll told of the w orks o f F i n s

, a ,
’
o ff spring the t le o f Fin F ol w l d i g o f H naef d Hengest

, a c a n ,
an ,
and the sons o f H i l d eb u h burnt by their mother at H aef s r n

’
pile The l y w a sung the gleeman s song games w er e

. a s ,
’
,
beg n gain the noise was loud the p be rers gav e wi ne

u a , , cu -
a
from w ondrous cups Then We lt h eow w earing a golden . a ,
cro w came forth to w here t h e t wo good kinsm en sat

n, .
There lso s t H u fert h the spokesman at the feet o f t h e

a a n , ,
S yl d i g s lord The Queen s id Take this cup dear

“
’
c n . a : ,
lord d b e thou hap p y golden friend o f m e speak to t h e

,
an ,
n,
Goth s kindly H eo ot bright h ll o f ri gs is cleansed

. r ,
a n , .
E njoy the mead o f the m n y and leave to t h y sons folk a ,
and l nd wh en thou must forth to behold God Th en she

a .
turned to w rds t h e b en ch wh ere her sons were H ret hri c

a ,
an d H ro t h m d w here Beo w ul f the Goth sat by t h e t wo

un ,
brethren To him the cup was borne a d friendly biddi ng

. n
done and tw isted gold t wo sleeves a cloak and rings were

, , ,
given the l rgest I have heard tell of on e rth S ince Hama

,
a a
bore o ff t h e B o i g neck ring Weal t h eo w said Wear

r
“
s n s -
.
this ring d ear Beo w ul f 0 you t h w ith all hail ! and wi th

, , ,
this clo k these riches thrive enliven thysel f w ith strength

a , , ,
and be to th ese b oys a kind helper Thou h st done that . a
wh ich sh ll b eget p ra i se thro ghout all time as w idely as t he

a u
water girds the w indy walls o f l and L ive thou a thrivi ng .

B E O WU L F . 2 93
Athel i ng and b e k i nd to my sons H ere all are friends

, . .
Sh e then w ent to her se t The meat was choice the men a .

,
dran k w ine they knew not of grim hereafter When

, a .
eveni ng came and H rothg r had gone to his rest m any a ,
e rls guarded the house as o ften they had done They

a ,
.
bared t h e b ench floor it w s overspread w ith beds n d ,

a a
b olsters Filled with b eer ready for Sleep they bo w ed ;

.
, ,
th ey set t th eir h eads the round bright shields There

a ,
.
,
on the b ench was to be seen over each Atheli ng his h igh

,
w ar- h elm h i s ringed S hirt

, d stout war wood It was ,
an -
.
their way to b e ready fo r wa t home and in the host ; r a
w hen need cam e to their lord their help w as n ear .
But G rend el s m other etched o an she wh dwells

w w m
’
— , r o
—
in gruesome waters the cold streams came on a path of ,
s o rro w to w reak w rath fo her dead s on She ca me to r .
H eo o t whe re the Ring D es w ere all sleeping through

r ,
-
an
t he hall When in r u s h ed G en d el s m oth er the hard edge ’

. r ,
was d rawn m any a broad s h ield li fted

, Sh e was in haste . ,
w ould save hersel f being thus found and quickly sei ed , ,

z
o e o f t h e Athelings as she w ent to the fe n

n He whom she .
killed was H rothgar s counsellor his dearest frie n d betw een ’

,
t h e seas B eo wul f was not there for another abode h d

.
, a
been fixed fo him after the gi fts to the gre t Goth There
r a .
was a din in H eorot S h e took a way the k indred h nd . a
cl otted with gore .
Then was the wise k ing the h oar warrior wroth when , ,
he kne w h i s ch ief thane his dearest to b e dead Quickly , , .
to his bo wer was B eowu l f fetched H ro t hgar helm o f the .

,
S yl d i g s spak e “jE sch ere is dead Y m e nl af elder ’

c n , : ,
r s
broth er w ho know s my runes my co u nsellor F o th t

, ,
. r a
thou killedst Grendel yesternight there is now come another ,
mighty ma scat her to ave ge her son

n -
n .
T he y peopl e t al k i ng i n m y h al l
cou n t r
I h av e h ea rd s ay t h at t h e y u po n t h e m oo r
,
H av e seen t wo s t ri d e rs of t he bo rd er l and -
,
S t ra n g e be i ng o f w h i c h o n e as t h ey cou l d t e l l
s, ,
M os t nea rl y w a s i n w o m a n s l i k e ness o n e
’
, ,
A w an d e ri ng m an l a rg e r t ha n o t h e r m e n
, ,
\Vho m t h e o l d d w e l l e rs o n t h e l a n d na m e d G re n d e l .
Th ey k n o w n o t o f a fa t h er w h e t h er m o re ,
11ad b e e n o f t h o s e d ark s p i ri t s The y i nh ab i t .
T h e d i m l an d t h a t g i v es s h e l t e r t o t h e w o l f ,
T h e w i n dy h ead l an d s p e ri l ou s fe n p a t h s , ,
\Vh e re u n d e r m o u n t a i n m i s t t h e s t rea m fl o w s d o w n
, ,
A n d fl o od s t h e g ro u n d N o t far h en ce b u t a m i l e
.
, ,
T h e m ere s t an d s o v e r w h i ch h ang d e a t h ch i l l g ro v e s
,
-
,
A w o o d fa s t roo t e d o v e rs h a d e s t h e fl o o d
-
Th ere e v e ry ni g h t a g h as t l y m i rac l e
I s s e e n fi re i n t h e w a t er
, N 0 m an k n ow s .
,
N o t t h e m os t w i s e t h e b o t t o m o f t h at m e re
, .
T h e fi rm h o rn ed h ea t h s t a l k e r t h e h a r t w h e n p ress e d
- -
, , ,
VVe a ri ed by h o u n d s an d h u n t e d fro m a fa r
, ,
W i l l ra t h er d i e o f t h i rs t u p o n i t s ba n k
Than be nd hi s h ead t o i t I t i s u n h o l y . .
Da rk t o t h e cl ou d s i t s y eas t y w a v e s m o u n t u p
Wh e n w i nd s t i rs h at e fu l t e m p e s t t i l l t h e ai r ,
G ro w s d re a ry a n d t h e h ea v e n s p o u r d o w n t e a rs
, .
A g a i n no w c o u n s e l i s w i t h t h e e a l o ne ,
Th ou k n o w e s t n o t ye t t h e s po t t h e p l ace o f d ari ng ,
W h e re t h o u m ay s t fi nd t h i s w i ck ed be i ng S e e k i t
’
.
I f t h o u b e b o l d I rec o m pe n s e t h e s t ri fe
,
\Vi t h g i ft s o l d t reas u re s a s I d i d b e fo re
, , ,
I f t h ou re t u rn t o u s
”
.
Th e n E cg t h e o w s s o n ’
,
Be ow u l f re p l i e d t o h i m
, W i s e m an s o rro w no t
, , ,
B e t t e r fo r e ac h t o a v e ng e h i s fri e nd t h an m ou rn .
A n e n d t o t h i s w o rl d s l i fe aw ai t s u s al l
’
L e t hi m w h o c a n d o h i g h d eed s e re h e d i e
, ,
S o w i l l b e h ap p i es t w h e n t h e w a rri or s d ea d
’
.
G u ard o f t h e h el m ari s e a n d l e t u s g o ,
Qu i ck l y u po n t h e t rack o f G re n d e l s k i n ’
,
I p ro m i se t h e e t h at n o t i n t h e d e e p sea
S h a l l s he e sca pe n o r i n e m brace o f ea rt h
, ,
No r i n t he w ood u p on t he m o u n t ai n s i d e -
,
N or on t h e s ea s b roa d b ed g o w h e re sh e w i l l
’
, .
H a ve pat i e nc e fo r t o d ay i n a l l th y w oes -
, ,
Th i s I ex pect o f t he e .
”
Bes t a nd bra v es t
B rou g h t t o h i s e nd .
Th en t h ey t h rea d e d ,
A t h e l i n g s so ns
’
,
S t ee p s t o n y g o rg es
, ,
A s t rai t roa d ,
W e i rd narro w w a y , ,
Was t es u n k n o w n ,
Nak ed h ig h n esses , ,
N i ck er h ou se s m an y .
B e fo re al l Beo w u l f
A nd som e o f t h e b ra v e s t
\Ve n t on t h e w a y,
W i se m en ,
T o e x l o re
p t h e pl a i n ,
Ti l l , p l a n t e d l e an i ng
O v er th e h ro c k
ro u g ,
He reac h e d s u dd e n l y
An u nw i nsom e w ood .
d u n de r i t
s t oo
G h as t l y w i t h g o re
I t w as g ri e f for al l D a n e s ,
A s i g h t o f s o rro w
F or t h e S c yld i ng s fri e n s ,
’
d
A h o rro r fo r h e ro es ,
W h e n th e h ead o f [Esch e re
Was fo u nd by t h e s t ee p fl oo d
F l o at ed as h o re .
T h e w a t er w e l l e d b l o od ,
T h e w a rri o rs g a z e d
O n t h e h o t h ea rt s bl ood
’
,
W h i l e t h e h o rn s an g
A d o l e fu l d ea t h n o t e - .
The b and all sat They saw along the water man y o f
.
the wor m kind str nge sea dr gons ; also in clefts o f t he

, a a
nesses Nic k ers lying T hese hurried a way bitter an d ang y

.
, r ,
as soon s they heard the w r horn On e the Goth s lord

a a .
’
killed w ith a rro w Quickly on the wave h e was w ith

n a .
,
boar spe rs sh rply hook ed and dra wn on t h e ness

-
a , a .
B E G WU L F . 297
Beowul f clad himsel f in w eed s of a chief His w by n i e . ar r ,
t wisted with hands w ide and cunningly dyed must kno w , ,
the deeps But th e wh ite helm guarded his he d made

. a ,
w ort hy w ith riches girt w ith lordly link beset w ith the ,
s,
likeness o f s w ine that o br nd might bite into it Nor ,

n a .
least of ids w as the hafted s w ord H ru t i g its n a m e lent

a ,
n n ,
h i m b y H rot hg r s speak er Its edge was iron tainted with

’
a .
,
poiso n t w igs h rdened with warriors blood E gl f s s on

,
a
’
. c a
’
bore not in mind w hat he h ad said d unken w ith w ine r ,
w hen he lent the weapon to a b etter s word w ielder H im -

.
self du rst not meet death under the stir of w ters Beo wul f a .
sp k e Gold fr i end of men I m ready I f I die fo thy

a ,
-
, a . r
n eed b e a helper to my fello w thanes

, d send dear -
,
an ,
H rothgar to H ygel ac the gold thou hast given me that the

, ,
Goth s lord may kno w I found a good bes to wer o f rings

’
.
A n d let the fa f m ed man h ve my s w ord H r

-
a fe t h the a un r ,
old relic I w ill with B runting work my doo m He

. .
a waited no ans wer the s e wave to ok the w rlike man , a-

a .
I t was day s S pace ere he sank to ground Then she

a
’
.
wh o had d w elt i n the fl ood gri m d greedy fo a hundred ,

an ,
r
years saw a m an coming from above into the land of

,
wo n d e rs g asped at him a d clutched t h e wa rior

,
r But n r .
she co u ld not break his ri ng mail w ith her fi gers The n .
sea wol f bore the prince o f rings to her d welling m any a

-
,
s ea beas t w ith its w ar t u sks broke his mail

-
The n the .
w a rior found himsel f in a roo fed hall where w s no w ter

r ,
a a .
A pale b eam of fi rel ight shone nd then he w the gro nd ,

a sa u
w ol f the mighty mere wi fe

,
H e struck h ard w ith his wa . r
s word The edge failed The an gry fighter cast upon the
. .
earth the t wisted b rand and trusted in his strengt h the ,
might of his hand gri p So sh ll a man do when he thinks -

. a
t o g ai n in b ttle lasting pra i se nor careth fo r his li fe

a ,
.
Then G e d el s mother sei ed the Goth s lord by the

r n
’
z
’
shoulder Fe rless b e dr gged her till she bo wed Sh e

. a a .
cau ght him quickly w ith fierce grasps d thre w him weary ,
an ,
pressed him do wn and dre w her seax broad bro wn ed ged

, , ,
-
S h e w ould venge her son a The braided b reast net on his .

-
shoulder w ithstood point d edge an .
He aw among the weapons huge b ill a old s w ord

s a ,
n
o f the E o t e w ork o f gi nts greater than a y other m n

n s, a ,
n a
mig ht be r forth to the g me o f w

a The Scyl d i g a ar . n s
’
w arrior st od up d sei ed the knotted hilt fast and fierc e

o an z ,
he struck with the br nd upon h e neck her bone rings a r ,
br ke the bill w ent through h flesh S he s k on the

a , er ,
an
g round The s
. w ord w s gory the be m still shone mild a , a ,
as the light from he ven s c ndle He looked through thata

’
a .
d welling d saw Grendel lying li feless His huge trunk

an .
spr ng f
a w y w hen he cut o ff the head
ar a a ,
But then .
behold th t s word melted w y as ice in the hot venomous

a a a
blood ; there w s left only the h ilt Beowul f took none o f

a .
the we lth th t he saw ; he took only the giant s head and

a a
’
the rich s word hilt .
The men who w ere w ith H rothgar lookin g on the w ater

sa w it mixed w ith e w blood They said this was a w rning
n . a
th t the Atheling wa S l in Then c m e the noon of d y

a s a . a a ,
an d the bold S yl d i g le ft the he dl nd sick of mood

c n s a a , ,
g ing upo the mere w ishing not w eening to see their

az n , , ,
de r lord F o t hwi t h he w
a . float ; he dived up through
r as a
the w ter c me s wimming to l nd gl d in t he burthen he

a ,
a a , a
brought w ith him The stout band o f th nes loosed quickly

. a
his hel m and w Shirt the stre m trickled d o wn of water

ar -
, a
s t ined w ith gore When they went forth from the s e

a . a
shore four m e could h rdly be r upon the deadly st ke

n a a a
the head o f Grendel .
S o they c me to the h l l fourteen br ve Goths march

a a ,
a ,
ing with their lord over the me do ws The wor thiest o f a .
th nes came to g eet Hrot hg r ; then G e d el s he d w s

a r a r n
’
a a
bor e by the hair into the place where men were drinking
n ,
and the he d of the w oman also Beo wulf s id Behold

a . a , ,
these token s from the se we bring with gladness to thee a ,

of H yge l ac , w h od welt by the s ea w all t he wealth of t h e -

,
Athelings Kinsm n f ced kin sman ; H ae et h s dau gh ter

. a a r
’
,
gentle of m ood ba e the w ine cup to the high chief s hand

,
r -
’
.
H m et h daughter wh o poured wine fo her lord when

r
’
s ,
r
Beow ul f returned w s H ygd the second wi fe of H ygelac , a ,

.
S econd w i fe because S h e is described as e y y oung an d

, v r ,
H ygel c had alre dy when he ca me to the gi ft s t o ol a

a a ,
-
,
mar i ge ble d ughter H ygd seems in the poe m to be

r a a a .
first described as young w ise w ell bre d an d genero u s and , ,

-
, ,
then held p to scorn fo cruelty and murder and spoken

u r ,
o f as w i fe o f O ffa
a Dr Grein has su ggested th t in . . a ,
fact the word tr nsl ted violent is

, proper n me ppl ied
a a a a ,
a
to a hal f mythic l she monster w hose ch r cter is contraste d

-
a -
, a a
w ith the mildness o f Q een H yg d as in earlier part o f u , an
the poem the pr ise of a good king had been en forced a
i m mediately by contr st with bad one a a .
H ygd had a young son H e d ed When Beo wul f t e , ar r .
turned afterwards from the expedition in w hich H ygel c a
w a slain H ygd believed th t her child w

s , too young to a as
succeed his f ther and off ered the chie f rule to Beo wul f
a ,
.
But Beo wul f s stained the b oy in his hereditary r nk and

u a ,
served h i m as protector O e l the son of O get heow . n a, n ,
w asthen ruling in Sw ede and t wo of his nephe w s s ons o f n, ,
a younger brother having re b elled against h i m came as , ,
exiles Ean m d and E d g i l s to young H e d ed s court

,
un a ,
ar r
’
.
H e d e d received them hospita b ly H i s land was there fore

ar r .
inv ded by O e l he was besieged in his high w ll nd

a n a, a ,
a
killed in b ttle E a m d lso was then sl in O nel a

a . n un a a .
ret u rned to his ow la d and B eowul f then b ecame king o f n n ,
the Goths keeping Ead gi l s at his court and helping h i m

, ,
a fter w rds to his reve nge upon O ela wh o w s att cked in

a u ,
a a
his turn and killed Beo wul f was Goth only on his mother s .
’
S ide His f ther E gt h e ow w s o f another race

. a , c , a .
We m y n o w go b ck to the old poem a d tell i t s story

a a n
t the end
o B eo wu l f returned from his adventures am on g
.
,
b E o I VU L
’
. E .
3
the Dan es had lan ded in G ot hl a d He w ent w ith

, n .
chosen band alo g the s nds treading the sea plain

n a ,
-
,
w id e shore s .
Q u i ck l y t o H ygel ac w as Beowu l f s vo yag e ’
M ad e k n ow n t h at t h e re w as co m e i n t o t h e p l ace
, ,
T he w arri o rs s h el t e r h i s s h i el d fri e nd al i v e
’
,
-
, ,
S ou n d fro m t h e w a r p l ay co m i n g t o h i s h o u se
-
, .
Q u i ck l y t he h al l w as c l ea red fo r t h e m ,
As t h e k i ng b a d e Th e n fac i ng hi m w ho cam e
.
S afe fro m t h e con fl i c t k i n l o o k ed u p o n k i n

, .
A ft e r hi s l ord h ad g re e t e d w i t h l ou d v o i c e
T he fai t h fu l fri e nd w e n t H aere t h s d au g h t e r s h e
’
, ,
W ho l o v ed th e peop l e t h ro u g h t h e ha l l p o u red m e ad
,
:
, ,
A nd ba re t h e w i n e cu p t o t h e h i g h c h i e f s h an d
’
-
.
Th en i n t h e h i g h h al l H yg el ac b egan
-
K i n d q u e s t i on w i t h hi s gu e s t e ag er d e s i re ,
U rg ed hi m t o k now h o w t h e se a G o t h s h ad fared -
.
H ygel ac asked and Beo w ul f ans were d dding to his

, , a
recital o f the greatness o f H eo ot that at times he h d r ,

a
s een the daughter o f Hrothg r w hom he heard called a ,
F reaware b e ar the al e cup to the earls

,
-
.
F re aware married I g el d son o f Frod king o f th e n ,

a,
H eat hoba d s b et ween whom

r d the D nes there had b ee n
, an a
l ong fe u d in the course of which I g el d s f ther Froda

’
, n a , ,
had b een slain When F eawa e w s taken to her hus b nd s

. r r a a
’
cou rt one of her Dani sh followers w ore as trophy F od a s

, a r
’
s w ord . This was noticed a d t h e old feud which t h e ,

n ,
marri ag e was to have ended b roke o t g in fiercely ,

u a a .
“
T hen said Beo wul f finishing that episode i his narra
,
”
,
n
ti ve
Th en bo t h si d e s t h e o a t h s o f w arri o rs b reak
on .
I n I ng el d d ead l y h at e bo i l s fo r h i s w i fe ,
Lo v e coo l s a ft er t h e bu rn i ng o f h i s ca re .
Th erefo re I d o no t cou n t t he H ea t h ob a rd s
As h av i ng l o v e o r p a rt i n fe l l o w s h i p
, ,
O r any se t t l ed fri en d s h i p t o t h e D a n es .
Bu t n ow of G re nd el I s p ea k on t ha t t h o u , ,
G i v er o f g ifts m ay st k no w h ow w e n t t h e fi g h t
’
,
3 0 2 E N GL I S H WR I T E R S .
O f w a rri o rs h andh a nd to . \Vh en h eav en s ’

g e m
H ad g li d e d o v e r e a rt h i n , a ng e r ca m e
T h e g u es t , t h e g i a n t , g ri m a t e v e ,
T o v i s i t u s w h o sa fe l y k e p t t h e h a l l .
Th e re w as hi s g l o v e d ead l y i n w a r l i fe bal e
, ,
T o t h e d oo me d H e w h o l ay fi rs t g i rt ch am p i on
.
, ,
T o h i m t h e b ra v e t h an e o f o u r b l o o d b e cam e
, ,
G re n d e l m ou t h m u rd e re r t he b ody a l l
-
, , ,
O f t h e b e l o v e d m a n h e s w al l o w e d, Y et .
F o r t h a t n o s oon e r w e n t t h e m u rd e re r
W i t h bl oody t o ot h an d e v i l i n hi s m i n d ,
F ro m t h at g o l d h al l b u t t ri al m ad e o f m e
, ,
Pro u d o f h i s m i g h t g ras ped w i t h a ready h an d

, ,
H i s g l o v e b ro ad w o nd ro u s w i t h s t ra n g e fas t e ni n g s
, , , ,
A l l c u n n i ng l y p re p are d w i t h d e v i l s c raft s
’
A nd s k i ns o f d rag o n s S h a p e r o f i l l d eed s
.
,
H e t h ou g h t t o m a k e m e u no ffe n d i n g on e , ,
O f m an y v i c t i m s B u t t hat m i g h t n o t b e
.
,
W h e n I i n w ra t h s t oo d u p ri g h t L o ng t o t e l l .
,
O p ri n c e h o w I re p a i d t h e m i s crea n t s w ro ng s
’
, ,
W ha t I d i d t h e re s e t fo rt h t hy p eo pl e s w ort h ’
.
”
Beo wul f proceeds in this manner to recount h o w

Grendel fled to his mere leaving his arm in H eorot h ow ,
Hrothgar re warded his cha m pion how G e d el s mother r n

’
c me and sn tched aw y E h e e h ow he descended

a a a sc r
to the bottom o f the mere d overc me th t monster an a a
also .
No t ea s i l y I b ro u g h t m y l i fe a way,
I w as n o t fa t e d ye t T h e s h i e l d o f ea rl s ,
.
H ea l fd e n é s s o n , ag ai n g av e m a ny g i ft s
’
.
S o t h e g rea t k i ng l i v e d a s h e s h ou l d , re w a rd s ,
T h e m e ed o f s t re ng t h , h av e n o t bee n l o s t t o m e ,
’
F or h e , H e al fd e n é s son , p u t i n m y p o w er
T reasu res t h a t I w i l l b ri ng , O w arri o r k i n g ,
T o t h ee w i t h j o y p re p a re fo r t h e e
, Of t h ee .
A re al l m y s a t i s fac t i ons F o r I ha ve .
F e w k i ns men n ea r m e H yg el ac sa v e t h ee , , .
Then Beo wul f bade them b ear in the b oar head ensign -
,
the helmet c rs let

, d rich s wor d and said
o ,
“
Thes e
an , ,
The earl wh o heaped it there had spoken h is fare wel l t o

the helmets that had f llen from t he fated the sword s t h at a ,
should moulder a fter t h e warrior T here was n o joy t o .
him in music no h wk in the hall or steed in the ci t y , a .
De th h d b rought desol tion let earth hold t h e t reas u res

a a a
o f t h e d ead The b urier o f the treasure died

. .
The b urning sc at h e o f the t w ilight w h o seeks out t h e r ,
mounds the n ked envio u s dr gon wh o flies by night g ir t

, a a
w ith fi e found the ho rd

r , For three hundred years he a .
held the b o d i the e rth u til o e m enraged him

ar n a , n n an ,
w h o took a cup from the b oa d to his liege lord as a pe a c e r
offering Then the b o d w a plunde ed t h e b o d o f

. ar s r ,
ar
rings borne o ff the prayer o f the poor man was g ranted , .
The lord aw fo t h first time the a ncient work o f men

s r e .
When the dr gon woke t h e deed h d been rene wed a a , a .
Then he smelt alo g the rock the strong he rted found n ,

-
a
t he foot trace o f the fo e

-
He h d stepped forth by secret . a
cra ft ne r to the dr gon s head Thus m y an u ndoomed

,
a a
’
. a
m n escape fro m w o e whe n the Almighty favours him

a .
The dr gon so ght d found no m in the surrou ndi g

a u ,
an an n
desert He returned sometimes to his ho rd and found

. a ,
it pl ndered It w as h rd fo him to wait till evening

u . a r
c me then he would requite the wrong w ith fire When

a ,
.
the day w s e ded to his w ish he would a bide no longer

a n ,
in his mo nd but carried fire over t h e l nd He vomited

u ,
a .
fire over the bright d wel l ings the s t h e of the Goths w o u ld ,

ca r
le ve nothing l ive He h ad w r pped t he l nd in fl me

a a . a a a
w ith fire d burning H e trusted in his moun t his war

an .
,
an d his w ll Th t hope deceived him

a . a .
It was m de kno wn to Beo w ul f th t his o wn home the

a a ,
best o f houses w s burnt w ith the g ift stool o f the Goth s,

a ,
-
.
The w ise chie f weened th t he had angered the Almighty a .
The fi e dr gon h ad w asted w ith fire an isl nd without t he

r -
a a ,
cou try s s feguard Then the warlike king bade fashion

n
’
a .
fo hi m sel f a w ond ous S hield

r l l iron fo he kne w that r ,
a ,
r
B E G WU L E .
3 5
0
w ood of t h e forest would not help hi m against fi re L i fe s .

’
miseries must end for t h e prince and fo the worm with him , r ,
th ough h e long had held th e hoard w ealth -

.
T h e giver o f rings disdai ned to S eek the h i ghfli e w ith r
a host of men he dreaded not the battle fo hi m sel f Rashly

, r .
daring he had escap ed fro m man y stri fes si nce h e had

,
cleans ed H rothgar s hall and taken Grendel in his grasp

’
.
That was not the least o f conflicts when H yg el ac was slain ,
lordly friend of the peoples in the F i es l and s Thence , r .
Beo wul f escaped by his o wn po wer H e had need to s w im . .
H e had on his arm thirty war c oats spoils o f the sl in -

, a ,
whe n h e w ent do wn to the s ea The H et waras who b ore .
spears against him in that battle had no need of b oast ; few

wh o met h i m saw the ir homes agai n .
[ Here follo w s in the poem the re ference to the events

follo wing Beo wu l f s return to the de ath o f H eard red and
’
,
his own coming to t he throne ]

Thus E cg theow s son had outlived all conflicts till the
’
d ay came w he n he must go forth against the dr gon A a .
m an wh o had v i sited the b o d and stolen from it a cup ar
must Sho w t h e path t o the m ound under the rock by t he

n ear stir an d s t ri fe o f w ves a .
Th en on th e h ead l and Sat t h e w arri o r k i ng -

,
G o l d fri en d o f G o t h s and t h e re h e ba d e fa re w el l
-
,
T o h i s h eart h co m p an i on s H e w a s s ad o f m i n d
.
,
W av eri ng ready t o d e part t h e fa t e

, ,
M os t n ea r w h i ch n ow m u s t m e e t hi m i n h i s ag e ,
S eek h i s sou l t reas u re p a rt hi s l i m bs fro m l i fe

,
N o t l o ng w as fl es h t o e n w rap t h e p ri n ce s so u l
’
.
T he so n of Ecg t h e o w Be o wu l f sp ak e , I n you t h ,
I ha v e o u t ba t t l e d m any a ru s h o f w a r
-
.
S e v e n yea rs I h ad se e n w h e n H re t he l p eop l e s fri end

’
, ,
T h e k i ng re c ei v e d m e fro m m y fa t h er k ep t m e
, , ,
G av e m e good g i ft s and feas t s m i n d fu l o f k i n , .
I w as n o t i n h i s cou rt s a w h i t l ess l o v e d
Than any o f h i s ch i l d ren H e re beal d , ,
O r H ea t h cyn , or m y H yg e l a c . F o r on e
U
T he el d es t b y h i s brot h er s d eed the b i er

,
’
s t re w n H e m isse d hi s m ark a nd s hot

.
,
H is k i ns man bro t he r no t t o b e av e ng ed
, , ,
W hen H ea t hcyn w i t h an arro w from hi s b ow

Lai d l o w h i s l o rd and fri end S o sad i t i s .
F or an o l d fat h e r t o a wa i t t h e d ea t h
O f hi s yo u ng c h il d u po n t h e g al l o w s Then .
R i s e s hi s s ong of sorro w w h en h i s so n ,
H angs t o d e l ig h t t h e ra v e n and he Ol d , ,
A nd fee bl e has no h e l p t ha t h e can b ri ng

,
W i t h e v e ry m o rni ng w i l l co m e m e m ory
O f h i s bo y s d e a t h h e ca res n o t t o aw ai t
’
A no t h e r he i r w i t h i n hi s g a t es w h en one ,
H as d i ed fo r h i s l i fe s d e ed s I n h i s s o n s hall
’ ’
.
W i nd w h i s t l es a nd h e s ees t h e w i ne be nch e m pt y
,
-
,
R e ft o f i t s ch ee r s l e e p s h an g i n g i n t h e d ark
T h e w a rri o r t h e re i s no s ou n d o f h arp ,
M i rt h i n hi s h o m es t ead as t h e re w as o f ol d , .
Th e n p ass es h e t o s o ngs l ay aft er l ay ,
O f s o rro w al l a rou n d hi m d eso l at e

,
T h e h o m e t h e w orl d i s e m p t y Thu s t h en m ou rne d ”

.
,
T h e p ri nc e fo r H e re b e al d a nd b o re h eart s pai n
’
.
,
And he told more o f the pas t to his s urrounding f l o
l wers s adly recalling li fe w ith the foreshadowing of death

o , ,
upon him H e told o f the invas ion b y Onget heow t h e

.
,
de th o f H e t hel the succession o f H eat hcyn the eturn

a r , ,
r
a ttack upon Onget h e w in which O nget heow was sl in of

o ,
a ,
his sl ying of D aegh efn the H ga s champion not w ith

a r ,
a
’
,
s word but b y a h and grasp in the fight

,
-
.
N ow S h al l t he fal ch i on
d g e h and and h ard s w o rd
’
s e ,
D o b at t l e fo r t h e h o ar Th en Be owu l f s pak e
A nd u t t ere d for t h e l a s t t i m e w o rd s o f t h rea t
Y e t w il l I a w i s e g u ard i a n o f m y l and
, ,
S ee k con fl i c t d o g re a t d e e d s i f t h e v i l e scat h e r
, ,
W i l l from hi s ca v ern s ee k m e H el me t e d .
”
A n d b o l d fo r t h e l as t t i m e h e g ree t e d d ear com pan i ons

,
I w ou l d no t b ear a w eap o n i f I k new

H o w I m i g h t g rappl e w i t h t h i s ev i l on e ,
A s on ce w i t h G ren d el B u t n ow I expect :.
3 0 8 E N GL I SH PVR I T ERS .
Then ca me ag in the an gry d ragon ; t h e waves o f h i s

a
fire b urnt the youth s shield but he defe nde d hi ms el f b ol dl y

’
beh ind the iron shield of his kinsman Agai n B eo wu lf e . t
c lled his past pro wess n d struck w ith h is mai n fo ce u p o

a ,
a r n
th e drag s he d H is good s word Naegl i ng s p pe d

on
’
a .
, ,
na
as nder with the stroke It was n ot gran ted to B eo wu l f to

u .
prevail with edge o f the s w ord His han d s trok e was t o o .

-
strong It broke every blade

. .
A third ti m e the dr gon r u shed on t he gre t ch i e f a a .
Then Beo wul f fiercely grasped his n eck w ith i t s h orrid

bones Blood bubbled forth in w aves staining hi m w i t h
.
,
t h e li fe gor e -
Then Wigl f sought to i d his kinsm h eeded not t h e

a a an ,
he d struck lo w r The s w ord w ent deep ; the fire beg n

a , e . a
then to abate The pr tect r of the Goths dre w then t h e

. o o
de dly k ni fe th t he b ore on his corslet nd st b bed t h e

a a , a a
dr g a in the midst Then the kindred chiefs had d e

on .
str yed the f e There was to the pr i nce p u s e of vi cto ry

o o . a a .
But the w o d given t first b y the dragon then began to

un a
b urn d s w ell the poison w orked w ithin him The pri nc e

an .
s t on a seat by the m u d looked on t h e giant s w ork

’
a o n , ,
s w h o w the stone
a rches firm on their pillars held for ever
a , ,
the c ve w ithin Then t he thane l ved w ith w ater t h e

a . a
w ound o f his prince Beo wul f spake o f the deadly l i vi d

.
w ound kne w th t his j oy o f e r t h was ended

, a a .
“
I h r led he s id fi fty w inters and had I a
av e
“ u ,
”
a , ,
son o f m y o w would o w bequeath to him my rms I

n n a .
h ve he ld my o wn w ell sought no tre chery s worn n o

a ,
a ,
.
f lse o th ; tho g h w ounded to de th I h ve j oy for I

a a u a ,
a ,
h ve done no wrong to my kinsmen N w go dear

a . o ,
Wig l f to see the ho rd under the rock ; let me behold the

a ,
a
tre s re o f the p st be f re I resign li fe and kingdom

a u a o .
”
The poem then tells o f the tre sures seen by Wigl af in a
the cavern With treasure fo his prince to see he hurri ed

. r
out lest when he returned he S hould find li fe t end T h e

,
a .
B E G WOL F .
3 9
0
aged man looked at the g ld w ith sorrow and thanked the o ,
glory ki ng that he h d been able be fore de th to acquire

a a
this riches fo his people

r .
M y l i fe i s w e l l p ai d fo r t h i s b o ard an d no w
C are fo r t h e pe o pl e s ne ed s , I m ay n o m o re
’
Be w i t h t h em B i d t h e w a rri o rs rai se a ba rro w

.
A ft e r th e bu rn i n g , on t h e n es s by t h e s ea ,
O n H rones n es s , w h i ch s hal l ri s e h ig h an d be
F o r a re m e m bran ce t o m y p e o pl e S e a fa rers .
\Vh o fro m a fa r o v e r t h e m i s t s o f w a t e rs
D ri ve fo a m y k ee l s m ay cal l i t Be o w u l f s M o u n t ’
H e rea ft e r Th e n t h e h ero fro m hi s neck

.
”
Pu t o ff a g o l d e n co l l ar t o h i s t h a n e ,
T o t h e yo u ng w arri o r g a v e i t w i t h h i s h el m
, ,
A rml et and co rs l e t ba d e h i m u s e t h e m w e l l
, , .
T ho u art t he l as t Waeg m u nd i ng of o u r race

. ,
F o r fa t e h as s w e p t m y k i n s m e n a l l a way .
E a rl s i n t h e i r s t re ng t h a re t o t h ei r Ma k e r g o n e ,
A n d I m u s t fo l l o w t h e m T he ag e d ch i e f
”
.
S p ak e n o t ag a i n Th i s was h i s l at e s t w o rd
. .
The ten who h d fled to the wood came now with

a
s hields and arms to w here the dying champion lay w ith h i s
f ce t u rned to Wi gl af
a He sat w e ried by the shoulders
.
,
a ,
of his lord l ving him w ith w ter

,
a B t there w as no po w er a . u
on earth to revive the C hie ftain Then e sily ca m e a fierce . a
ans wer fro m the youth to those who h d lost co r ge F a u a . or
every ca ] he tol d the m de th is b etter than li fe of

r , ,
a a
rep roach.
T hen a messenger w s sent to t h e d wellings w here the

a ,
return of Beo w l f was in v in expected w ith new s that

u a ,
Wi gl af sat over Beo w l f the living o er the li feless The

u ,
v .
poem fol lo w ing the ne ws of the de th o f Beo wul f to sur a
rounding n ations g in f lls into episode o f retrospect

a a a an .
T hen is told the coming out o f the p eople to bring Beo w l f s

’
u
b ody w ith all ho nour to the b urning on the funeral pile .
They went s d and tearf l to the rocks under the e gle s

a u a
’
ness and fo u n d the good ch ie f soulless on the s nds

,
T he a .
3 I 0 E NG L I SH WR I T E R S .
fi re -
d agon l ay n ear fi fty feet o f m eas ure ; b y hi m were
r ,
rich cups an d b o wl s d i sh es an d costl y s word s wi t h st as

, ,
r u
of athou sand years upon them Wi gl af t ol d wi th l ame t . n
t h e p rince s wi s h th t a lo ft y mou n d shou ld be rai s e d ov e r

’
a
his as h es T he b ier was made ready Woo d was bro u gh t

. .
from afar fo the funeral pil e S even m en en tere d t h e

r .
c vern wi th Wigla f one ca ryi ng a t orch to bri ng out t h e

a ,
r ,
treasures The dragon s b ody w as rolled o ver t he cli ff i nt o

.
’
the s e T wisted gold was dr wn he ped in a w i n t o

a . a ,
a a ,
H ron es nes s .
The n t he G o t h s peo pl e rea red a m i gh t y pi l e

’
W i t h s h i e l d s a n d a rmou r h u n g a s he h ad as ked , ,
A n d i n t h e m i d s t t h e w a rri ors l a i d t h e i r l o rd ,
La m en t i n g Then t h e w arri o rs on t h e m ou nt
.
K i nd l ed a m ig h t y ba l e fi re ; t h e s m o k e ro s e
B l ack fro m t h e S w ed i s h p i n e t h e s o u n d o f fl am e ,
M i ng l ed w i t h s ou n d o f w eep i ng ; t h e w i n d fe l l ;
U n t il h o t on t h e b re as t t h e bo n e cas e b u rs t -
.
S ad l y t h e y w ai t e d t h ei r l o rd s d eat h w h il e s m o k e
’
,
S p read o v e r h eav e n Th e n u p o n t h e h il l .
T h e pe o p l e o f t h e Wed ers w ro u g h t a m o u n d ,
H i g h b road and t o b e s ee n far ou t at s ea

, , .
I n t e n d a y s t h e y h a d b u i l t an d w a l l e d i t i n
A s t h e w i se t h ou g h t m os t w o rt hy p l ace d i n i t ,
R i n g s j e w e l s o t h e r t rea s u res fro m t h e h oa rd

, , .
Th e y l e ft t h e ri ch e s g ol d en jo y o f earl s , ,
I n d u s t fo r e art h t o h ol d
, w h e re ye t i t l i e s ,
U se l e ss as e v e r Th en a bo u t t h e mou nd
.
T h e w arri o rs rod e a n d rai s ed a m ou rn fu l s o n g ,
F o r t h e i r d e ad k i n g e x al t ed h i s b ra v e d e e d s , ,
H ol d i ng i t fi t m e n h onou r t h ei r l i eg e l o rd ,
P ra i se h i m a nd l o v e h i m w h e n h i s s ou l i s fl e d .
Th u s th e G o t h s p eo p l e sh arers o f h i s h ea rt h
’
, ,
M o u rn ed t h e i r ch i e f s fal l p ra i s ed h i m o f k i ng s o f
’
, , , m e n,
T he m i l d e s t an d t h e k i nd es t an d t o al l ,
I l i s p e o p l e g e n t l e s t y earn i ng fo r t h e i r p rai s e
, .
ends the m ost ancient heroic song not on ly in E nglis h

So ,
literature but in t he l i ter ture of any Teutonic language

,
a .
3 i 2 E N GL I SH WR I T E R S .
aft erward s as Mr C on ybeare observ es } i d enti fi es hi m wi th

, .
the se co d sylla bl e i n H rot h w u l f bei ng eq ual l y gl ad t o

n -
,
tak e the wolf wi th ou t a bo Mr Conybeare h ims elf giv es . .
in his Illustration s o f Anglo Saxon Poe try th e fi rs t com -
p l e t e E nglis h ac c o u nt o f t h e p o em wi th num e ro u s s p ec i ,
m ens of the origin al t o wh ich he s uppli es t ranslation s i n to ,
E nglish b l an k v e rs e an d l ite ral L atin add i ng to h i s acc ou n t ,
a list of T h o k el i n s mis readi n gs from coll ti on o f t h e

r
’
, a
Copenhagen edition o f Beow ul f wi th the origi nal M S at .
the British Muse m T h o k el i n h o wever is perhap s l es s

u . r , ,
to b lame than Admir l Nelson H e had made his t ran a .
script in the year 786 and h d it ready fo pres s wi t h a 1 ,

a r ,
tr nsl tio n w hen his literary w ork of th irty years was

a a ,
destroyed by the b ombardment o f Copenh agen H e was .
urged by the li b er lity of the Danish Pri vy Cou ncillor a ,
Johan Bii l ow of Sand eru m g d to begin a fresh ; an d h is

,
aar ,
edition of Beow ulf pu b lished in 8 5 was t h e resul t ,

1 1 , .
It w s t t h e cost of t h e s me noblem an th t the Dan i sh

a a a a
scholar N i k Fred Sev G u d t i g published in 8 h i s

. . . r n v 1 20
free Danish translation of Beo wul f T h e sa m e .
G d i tv g
schol r dedicated to the same pat ron an edition of
ru n .
the tex t w hich he h d studied in the ori gin al M S when in

,
a .
E ngland b etw een 8 9 1 2
I n t h e year 8 3 3 n w edition o f the text o f Beo w ul f

1 ,
a e
av a ri c i ou s Bok u s , w h o w as co ns u med
B ui are a Bii g i (b og ie ) , an d an by
R ol v o .
(S a x o G ra m m . Hi s t . D an . Ed . M ii l l er et V e l s ch o w (H a vn l z
e ,
Not p
’
V ol . II P ro l eg . ct . . T he b es t su gg e s t i o n i s G re i n s,
w hi c h w e w i l l fo l l o w w hen w e t ak e h i s rea d i n g of t h e h i s t o ri cal e l e men t i n

”
Beo wu l f .
I ll u s t ra t i o n s of Ang l o S a x on Poe t ry
-
. by J o hn J o si as C on yb ea re ,
M A . &c s u c ce s s i v e l y P ro fe s s o r of A ng l o -S a x o n an d of Poe t r y in
t h e U n i ve rs i t y o f O x fo rd . E d i t e d b y h i s b rot her W i lli am
, D a n i el C on y
b ea re , M A . &c . Lo nd o n , 1 82 6 .
1 Be o wu lfe s Be o rh ae l l er Bj o v u l fs -D rap e n , d et O l d Ang el s k e H el t e

-
h
d i g t , p aa G ru n d s - p rog e t , v ed N ik . F re d . S ev . G ru n d t vi g Kjob e nh avn ,
.
1 86 1 ,
E E G WU L F .
3 3 1
w as published b y Mr John M Kemble A prose tr ns . . .

”
a
l tion w ith gl ossary was pu b lished four ye rs J h

a ,
a ,
a
o n
afterwards in a co mpanion volume ; d this con MK i mhb’l l an tc e
t ai n ed in a postscript to the origin l pre face and

e e'
,
a
in the appendix Mr Kemb l e s l test n d fullest opinion o f

,
.
’
a a
the me ning of the poem He considere d Beo w l f to b elong

a . u
essentially to the poetical cycle o f the A gles and to b e n ,
founded on leg ends wh ich existed previous to t h e Angle

c onquest Beo wulf h i m sel f he pres med to be origin lly
. u a
the name not o f a man but o f a god one o f Woden s ,

’
an
c e s t o s represented throughout in this poem d e fender

r
“ as a
, ,
a protecting and redeeming being The rel tionships ”

. a
gi ven to h i m e accounted fo b y the necessity of bring

ar r
ing him into the legend B o wul f belo gs to the Ge ats .

”
e n
or Goths b ut Geat or Gaut was the parent o f a tribe c lled

,
a
b y Procopius I A G othic verb gives the pr aet gaut

’ ’
a v r or . .
the Anglo Saxon ged t gi es ged t b th w ords with the

-
an v o
s e n se o f pouring Was not Ge at then the god o f b d

.
, , a nu
ance O din ? For the E dd s ys th t G t w s Odin s

,
a a a au r a
’
name m ong the gods Hrothg r d H l g Mr Ke mble

a . a an a a .
identifies with H o r a d H el gi D nish kings ctu lly r a n , a a a
reigning in the fi fth century B t in his second pre face . u
t h e s me scholar says Although I w ill not r ise Hrothg r

“
a ,
a a
and h i s brother to t h e rank of gods yet I must observe

that any attemp t to assign historic l d tes to thes or lmo t a a e, a s
any other princes b e fore the introd cti n o f C hr isti nity

,
u o a
lead s to n othing but con fusion All th t p rt of my . a a
pre face which assigns d tes to one prince or to nother or a a ,
T h e Ang l o S axo n Po e m s o f Be o wu l f— t h e rave l l er s S o n g a nd t h e

-
T '
Ba t t el o f F i n n e s -b u r — h
e d i t ed t og e t h er w i t h a g l o s s a r
, o f t h e m o re d i ffi y
c u l t w o rd s , an d a n h i s t o ri ca l p re fa ce b y Jo h n M K e m b l e E s q ,
M A , .
, , . .
of Tri n i ty Co l l eg e Ca mb ri d g e , . Lo n d o n , 1 833 . T he vo l u m e is a d el ig h t
fu l l i t t l e ra m o , p ri n t e d by W h i t t i ng h a m and p u b l i s h e d b y t he l at e M r .
Pi c k e ri n g , of w h i ch , ac c ord i ng t o a b ad fa s h i o n a m o ng a n t i q u a ri ans fo r
t h e c rea t i o n of an art i c i al ra ri t y, fi h
t ere w e re o nl y o n e hu nd red co pi es
i n te d .
pr
w hich attempts to draw any conclusions from dates so

assigned I declare to be null and void upon wh t s oever
, , a
authority thos e dates may pretend to rest Mr R emble s .

”
.
’
arguments w ould in f ct go far to transport Beo wul f

,
a ,
altogether to the l and of dre ms a .
Next there appeared i n 8 3 9 and of the same sch ool o f ,

1 ,
criticism w ithout text a mythological historical Germ n

, , , a
an a l ysis of Beowul f by H L eo The first German . .
translator of Beo wul f L udwig E t t mii ll e w ho ”

, r,
ascri bes the work on his title page to the eighth centu ry -
,
proposes lso to Show that the legend of Beowul f was

a
E m ll
tt
originally
il er
a m yth d says o f himsel f In ge n era l , an ,
I follo w Kemble He pl ces the Geats in Sweden

.
”
. a ,
an d consi d ers the term Weder Goths w hich occurs o ften i n ,
Beowul f to b e equivalent to Weather Goths m eaning

, ,
Northern Goths b ecause out of the n orth came the bad

,
w e ther a This critic is I think the first who obser es

.
, , v ,
w h t is w orth o b se rvi n g that neither the name Angle nor

a ,
the name Saxon occurs once in t h e whole poem In 84 9 . 1
W k
a trans
ac ep
l ation o f Beo wul f into E nglish verse by A .
b h D iedrich Wackerbarth t was pre faced by an other

a rt
argument upon the meaning of the poem in which after , ,
describing the first Beo wulf as a son of O din i f not O di ,

n
himsel f the writer says I believe w ith Ke m b le that he i s

, ,
re lly the s ame mythical person

a .
”
In 8 5 5 appeared Benj min Thorpe s edition of

1 a
’
Beow ul f text and translation with a sh ort introduction and

, ,
T h
a glossary an d this is the very serviceable edition
w hich was u sed fo m ny years by E nglish students

orp e .
r a .
Thorpe s opinion h ere expressed is th t the poem is not

’
a
an original production o f the Anglo Saxon m use b ut a ,
Be o w u l f H el d eng e d i c ht d e s Ac t e n h J h
a h r u n d ert s . Z u ri c h , 1 84 0 .
f Be owu l f : an E p i c Po e m . fro m t h e A ng l o Sa xon i n t o

t ra n sl a t e d -
E ng l i s h v ers e, by A . D i e d ri c h W ack e rb art h

Pro fess o r o f An g l o
.
S a x on at th e Col l ege o f O u r L ad ye of O s co t t .
"
L on don , 1 849 .
study o f literature in the Romance l n gu ages and E nglish a ,

’
there was in the year 8 6 n rticle by Dr Grein on t he 1 2 a a .
historical element in the poem o f Beo wul f w hich he ag eed ,

r
w ith others in consideri n g to have b een writte n in t h e

beginning of the eighth century at latest Dr Grein thought . .
th t t h e mythical dventures were ascri b ed to n h istorical

a a a
person The t wo popul ations mentioned in the poem are

.
the D nes over whom Hrothg r ruled nd th e Ge ats or

a , a ,
a
G ths wh o were r led b y H ygel ac d from among whom

o ,
u , an
Beo w l f came to Hrothgar s hel p The D nes e c lle d

u
’
. a ar a
in the poem w i t ho t pp rent distinction Se Da es East

,
u a a ,
a n , ,
West South , d North D nes ; also fro m their rmour

,
an a ,
a ,
they are previo sly c lled R i ng D nes fr m their ring m il u a a o -

a ,
G arD nes from their spe rs or Bright Danes from their

a a ,
s h ining panoply .
The Danes l so are cal led S yl d i gs from the founder a c n ,
Bu g g e , in 1 86 8 — 6 9 — 73 . G re i n
’
s ed i t i on w as p u b l i s e d i n 1 8 67 In h .
1 876 h
t e re w a s p u b l i s h e d Lo n d o n
in a n e d i t i on o f Be o w u lf w i t h a t ra n s
l a t i o n, N o t e s , and A p p e n d i x b y Th o m a s . A rn ol d . In 1 88 3 t h e re was
p u b l i s h e d a t Bo s t on a n ed i t i on of Be o wu l f a nd t he F i g h t a t F i n n e s -b u r , h
w i t h te xt and a y
g l o s s a r b a s e d u p o n H ey n e s
’
ed i t i o n I n t h e s a m e e ar,
. y
al so, t h e re w as a c a re fu ll y re - e d i t e d t e x t o f Be o w u lf i n Pro fes s o r R i cha rd
W i i l c k er s
’ '
ne w e d i t i o n o f k d e r Ang el sac h s is c h e n Po es i e
G re i n
’
s Bi b l i o t h e .
"
I n t h e n e xt ye ar 1 8 8 4 Beo wu l f w as e d i t ed w i t h t h e t e x t a nd a g l os sary b y
, ,
A H old e r as N o 1 2 o f t h e G e rm a n i sc h e B ii c h ersc h at z
.
, . An Au t o t y p e .
F acs i m i l e o f t h e U n i q u e M S o f Be o w u l f i n t h e C o t t o n Co l l ec t i o n (V i t el l i u s
. ,
A xv w as p u b l i s h e d b y t he E arl y E ng l i s h T e x t s o ci e t y i n 18 8 2 w i t h a
.
,
T ran sl a t i o n and No t e s b y an e xcel l e nt E ng l i s h s ch ol ar D r Ju li u s Z u p i t za , . ,
P ro fe ss o r o f t h e E ng l i s h La ng u ag e a nd L i t e ra t u re i n t he U n i vers i t y o f
Be rl i n . T h e re w as p u b l i s h e d i n L ond o n , in 1 88 1 , an E ng l i s h m e t ri ca l
t ra n s l a t i o n b y i e u t -C o l H W L . . . . Lu m s d e n ; an d at Bo s t o n , i n 1 88 2 , a n
E n g l i s h p ro s e t ra n s l a t i o n b y J am e s M G arn ett
. .
"
J a h rb u c h fl i r R o m a n i s c h e
‘
u nd E ng li s c he L i t t era t u r u nt er b eso nd erer

M i t w i rk u n g von F e rd i na n d W ol f , h erau s g eg eb e n von D r Ad o l f Eb ert , P ro
.
fe ss or a n d e r U n i v e rs i t at Lei p zig .
(L e i p zi g ) V i e rt e r Band D ri t t es H e ft , .
A p ri l t o J u ne , 1 86 2 . T hi s v al u a b l e j ou rnal w a s b ro u g t t o h a n e nd wi t h a
tu e l ft h v ol u m e in 1 87 1 . A n e w s e ri e s , e d i ted b y Dr . Lu d wi g Lem ck e ,
Pro fe s s o r at t h e U n i v e rs i t y of G i ess en , w a s b eg u n i n 18
74 , b u t en d ed wi t h
t h e t hi rd vo l u me i n 18 6
7 ,
B E OWU L F .
3 7
1
of their dynasty Scyld Sc e fi ng or Scyld the So o f the ,

n
Ski ff The old myth wa t hat on a b oat laden with rms

. s, a
a nd tre sure a child wa s fl

a ted to th e Danish coast d oa ,
an
the D nes being then in great tro u b le accepted the boy

a , ,
as sent them b y the gods made h i m their king and under , ,
his lead estab lished and exte ded their power Wh e n after n .
a long reign Scyld died his body placed again on a sh i p , ,
laden with rms and t re sure was set dri ft u pon the se
a a , a a
an d no man ever h e ar d r kne w whit h er th t vessel w ent o a .
Scyld may have b een re l w rrior wh o b ro ght help to a a a , u
the D nes ag inst their tyr nt H e em od e s t blish ed his

a a a r , a
o wn dyn asty mong them and le ft his son the elder

a , ,
—
Beow l f not him o f the poem to succeed h i m
u — .
Dr Grein considered th t the poem treats of ctions

. a a
d ne among the D nes in Denm rk Mr H i gh we s h ll

o a a . . a , a
find pl ces the scene wholly in E ngl nd E ch writer

,
a a . a
identifies H eo ot (which me ns a h rt ) w ith pl ace so

r a a a
c lled on spot tallying ex ctly w ith h i theory The tr e

a a a s . u
seat of the Danish kingdom s ys Dr Grein was the island of , a .

,
Sael nd on w hich in f ct t this d y Copenhagen st nds

a ,
a , a a , a .
Now on the east co st o f S ael nd ver g inst Sweden

a a , o a a ,
n ot far to the south o f Helsingor d opposite the I sland , an
o f Hveen there is t w n bout t wo miles from the sea

,
a o a
calle d H jort h olm or in Ger man Hirschholm H t h ol m ;

,
— ar
th t migh t be H e o ot
a d li t tle m re inl nd there is
r an a o a a
lake the Size ] L ke th t migh t be G e d el s L ake ; from

,
a ,
a r n
’
which a stream flo ws by H j o t h o l m to the ea Here then r s .

, ,
Dr Grein fi xes t h e site o f H eo ot Where d es he find

.
r . o
the s hore of H ygel c King of the Geats or Goths whence

a , ,
Beo wul f came to H rothgar s aid This he agreed w ith ’
Thorp e in finding on the opposite coast of the m inland a ,
an d a l i ttle to t h e orth in Sw edish G o th l a d a d he

n , n , n
indicates as the pro b ble neighbourhood of Beo wul f s grave

a
’
the ruined castle o f BOh f s B o house b uilt in 3 8 upon i ,

-
, 1 0
a rock wh ere the m outh of the Gotha divides to enclose

, ,
the isl nd o f H i s i ge
a Thi s B Ohfi s gives to i ts townsh i p
n n .
the n me o f B oh u sl ae upon the isl nd lso is a B i O l and a ;

a n a a r
bu t Bi s ys Dr Grein is an old nort hern form on

a rr, a .
,
c
n ec e t d w ith the name of the Sc yl d i ng Beo w ul f T he .
identific tion f this continenta l G ot hl nd and the neigh

a o a
b o h oo d o f the River Goth w ith H ygel c s kingd o m i s

ur a a
’
p rtly supported by the f ct mentioned in the poem— th t

a a a
H yg el ac S predecess r an d b rothe r H eat h c yn w as engage d

’
o
in a des per te w w ith the K ing of the S é ons i n

a ar v
S eo i
v o w S ea i c e
r ce , n or S veal nd lying i mmediatel y t o
v r , a ,
the north of G oth l d We h ve lso app rently on e t an

an . a a ,
a ,
g i b l e corro b orated f ct to give us a date fo a the re i g n o f r
H yg el c In four pas sages of Beo wul f there is mentio n

a .
of an expedition o f plunder m de b y H ygel ac w ith Beo w l f a u
in his tr in g inst the Frisi ns when H ygel ac b eing op

a a a a , ,
p sed by the H et w e the H g s and the Frisian s fell i n

o ar ,
u a , ,
b ttle d the king s li fe dep arted into the gr sp of t h e

a ,
“
an
’
a
Fr nks Beowul f and the rest o f the Geats only savi ng

a ,
”
themselves b y s wimming to their Ships Can this b e any .
other th n the de cent recorded by Gregory o f T ours an d

a s
the Gest Regum F a coru m s h ving been m de in th e

a r n ,
a a a
ye r 5 by the D ne C ho i l ag s upon the coast of the

a 20 a c u
Fr nkish H t t u i i whose llies d neigh b o u rs w ere th e

a a ar , a an
West F i e l nd e r s f s asouth s the mouth o f the Maas ?

rs a ar a
Th ere is record lso from the tenth century of a traditi o n

a
then scribing immense bones on

a island at the mo u th o f an
the Rhi e to H u i gla u u King o f the Geti wh o was there

“
n c s, ,
”
s l in by the Fr nks This historical p rallel h d bee n

a a . a a
p inted out by L e o d E t t m ii l l e Conceding mythical

o an r
.
or igin t o the stories f Grendel of the s wimming match o ,
w ith Brec and o f Be wul f s b ttle with the dragon Dr ’

a, o a , .
Gre in rgues that such myths are att ched to persons wh o

a a
were really living in the early years o f the s i xth ce n tury ,
G re i n s
’
e d i t i on , l i n e s} 1 2 02 —1 2 1 4 , 2 354 — 372 2, 2 497— 2 5 0 8 , 2 9 10
that of Scyld which w e have to this day i n t he n ei gh b o u r

,
ing No rth and South Shields North of the Wal l aga i n .

,
in the same neighbourhood is Shilbottle Scyl d es botl t he

— — -
,
palace of Scyld n ear at b a d also is Bolton on t he Aln e n ,
the B ol el a i o of Ravenn s which seems to con tai n t h e

v un a ,
n ames o f Beo wul f and Ala nna Hrothgar s mead h l l H eoro t ’

.
-
a ,
Mr H igh fixes at H art in Durham I ts situ tion t wo

. a , . a ,
miles from the co st agrees (like that of t he Sae lan d Hj ort

a ,
holm ) w ith the distance of H eo ot from the shore as i nd i r ,
c t e d by the description o f t h e m rch to it a fter Beo w ul f s

’
a a
landing But th t is not l l G en d el s mere to b e found

. a a . r
’
,
b y the w y where the hi l l stre m goes un d er t he sha d e of

a -
a
the cli ffs w as said b y H rothgar speaking t H eorot t o

,
”
,
a ,
“
be a mile thence overshaded w ith b ushy groves
, there
liveth none so wi se wh o kno ws its b ottom Just a m ile .
from H rt there once was a l rge po l

a called t h e a o ,
Bottomless C r n ow turn e d like the fens into arable lan d

a r, ,
from w hich stream still calle d H o w (mountain ) Beck

a , ,
flo ws through the p rish o f Hart into the Sl ke of H artle

a a
pool In the f llo wing lines concerning the mere al though

. o
“
,
the he th st lker wearied b y hounds the hart firm of h orn s

a -
a , ,
seeking th t holt woo d driven from a far w il l ot dri n k

a -
, ,
n
o f it ere he dies there seems also to be a reference to t h e

”
,
story fr m which the n me of H artlepool arose as rept e

o a ,
sented on the common se l o f t h e b orough a h rt standin g a ,

a
in water att cked by a hound Then as w e read on of

, a .
the n ked igh nesses icker h ouses many we are re

ha — , n ,
”
minded of the coast of H rtlepo l and its wave worn c aves a o -

.
The scenery however of the poem is to be looke d for

, ,
south of Hart lepool b etween Bo wlby C li ff and Wh it b y

, .
S uch glen as that which ru n s up from the sea at Sta ithes

a
into the high moorland with the nicker—houses in th e lias

rocks by the sea shore reproduces more e actly than any
-
,
x
co st scenery in E ngland or Saeland t he as pects of natu re

a
descri b ed in the poem There is n othi ng at Hart nearer to .

B E OWU L F .
3 21
this th n smoot h d h llo w dip in cul t iv ted ground

a a an S a a ,
an d s nd hills
a e the c h ie f fe ture o f the sh re belo w
-
ar It a o .
m y be th t Beo w l f though
a a Danish t le w as m de u ,
a a ,
a
E nglish by poet w h o lived in the Whitby dis trict d

a ,
an
when he described or suggested scenery prod ced impres ,

u
sions from the only scenery he kne w Th t is my ow . a n
thought I return ow to t h e rgu m ent of Mr H igh

. n a . a .
At H rt there e t r ces of a ncient fort d ar a an a , an
n e r it is
a n enclosure c lled the P l ce G rths
a There a a a a .
is no record of y residence t H rt by the historic an a a
kings o f N rthumbri But the P l ce G rths ne r the

o a . a a a a
old fo t would ns w er to the ite of H eo ot b y Hrothg r s

r a S r a
’
fortress There is reference moreover in Beo w ul f and in

.
, ,
the Traveller s S ong fo w hich lso E ngl i sh origin

’
,
”
r a an
is argued to tt ck on H o o t by the Be rds under

, an a a e r a
Wyt h e g i l d Frode
r d I g el d his son
,
In the neighb r ,
an n ,
. ou
hood of H rt tr ces of such b ttle h ve b een fo nd

a a a a a u .
Near the north western end o f the Sl ke o f H rtlepool a-

a a
n um b er o f graves eight feet squ re h ave been foun d filled

,
a ,
w ith hum n bones In one grave w ere the bones of

a .
a hundred and fi fty men of t ll stature Ag in we m y a . a ,

a
h ve trace o f I ngel d s princip lity i the t h ree I gl e b ys the

’
a a n n ,
Ingleton and I gleborough of the neighbouring cou ty o f

, n n
York and o f the Wy i g n d Be rds in Wycli ffe B rtin d

, c n s a a , a , an
Barforth As fo the destroying chief wh o is represented

. r
by the monster Grendel he lso has le ft the m rk o f his , a a
n ame behind him It is cert inly the me o f m n . a na a a .
T here is a G e d l es m ere i n Wiltshire d

r n G i d l e pyt t in ,
an a r n e s
Worcestershire a Grindleton in Y rkshire an d Grind le

,
o ,
a
dykes on the Rom n wall ne r which e Grindon loch a ,

a ar
and G a d y s kno we Near H rt th ere is p rish n med

r n
’
. a a a a
Gran d on n d G d y s Close w ith close to G d y Close

a ran
’
, ,
ran
’
s ,
T b rum s Hill the Gi nt s Hill

’
, a
’
.
Beo wul f the S yl d i g is s id in the poem to h ve reigned

c n a a
i n the S ed el a d s t S e d e i g w hich Dr Grein identifies

c n ,
a c n ,
.
v
3 22 E NGL ISI I WR I T E R S .
w ith the Sc n d ina ia f old geogra phe s S chonen t h e

a v o r , ,
southernmost part o f t h S c ndin vi an peninsu l a B u t M e a a . r

.
H igh obse ves th t M

a K mble has igh tly t ran slat ed
r a r . e r
S e d el d m
c
“
the di ided l nds Sc d an d Su nd ri an
an u ,
”
v a , ea an
having the s me m eaning to divide or su nd er d t h es e

a , , an
Sce d e l n d appe r to be represented by the modern S under

a s a
l ands o f w hich one is on the coast o f No th u m berl an d

, r ,
north of Shilbottle .
The i f w e look fo the kingdom o f H yg elac t he s on o f

n r ,
H ret h l w h o r led over the Weder Goths w e fin d p er

e ,
u , ,
h ps traces of the Su ffolk Weders in t wo S u ff olk Wet h erd ens

a , ,
and W t h h t h W th u p e d Wether in gs ett wi th a

er ea , e er ,
an ,
Wethe by hundred in the dj oini ng cou n ty o f C m bridge

r a a .
W m y suspect H e t h l f mily n ame in t h e S uffolk Redl

e a r e
’
s a
ing fi l d d tr ces o f himself t R attlesde and R a t tl erow

-
e ,
an a a n
Hill (H d l h aew H e t h el s corpse) which m ay have

rae an r ,
r
’
b een his pl ce of b ri l A mile d i stant from one o f t h

a u a . e
W tl d
e i er is an ncient Anglo Saxon fortres s called
en s a -
Haughley in which e t least the H g l of H ygel c

, ar a , , ,
a .
There is lso a Ho m e which has been c lled Hoxton and

a , a ,
E gl d oes w hich is c lled by Leland quotin g a li fe o f St

n, a ,
.
E dm nd H egi l e d u e — q
a u i H yg el ace d
, e — and th i s
s n u as s un
place is o ly four miles fr m R ed l i g fi e l d d not far fro m

n o n an
Ugges h ll perhaps o ce H ygd esh ll H ygd being e ither

a , n a ,
another n me of H ygel or the me o f his qu een

a ac , na .
E v e n det ils o f the de dly w ar o f H yg l

a w ith O n gen a e ac
the w King o f the S weo fol k m y be f intly traced i n

o , ,
a a
loc l n mes on our o w soil The first battle w as fought t

a a n . a
R v n Wood There is Ravenh ill n e r Whitby on t h e

a e . a a ,
c oast of York hire d the djacent Robin Hood s Bay s , an a

’
m y be
a corruptio o f Raven Wood There re remains
a n . a
o f entrenchments to the south of this neighbourhood called
Wa Dyke r d to the e st calle d Green D yke ; six mi l e s

, an a
to th e north west is a vill ge o f Uggleb rnby which seem s

-
a a ,
to con t i the name o f H ygel ac nd m y m rk the sce n e

a n
,
a a a
3 4
the theory which places the scene of the poem i Den m a k n r
an d S weden it is nece s sa ry h e says th t this Ofi a s hou ld , ,

a
be carried o ff to the origi l ho m e o f the Angl es B u t t h e

na .
s tory o f O ff as told in the poem of Beowu l f and t h e

a,
Traveller s T le has lso i ts strong confirm ti on attach e d

’
a ,
a a
to our E nglish soil The f bled h is tory tells that Od a w as

. a
'
blind ti l l his seventh ye r d dea f and du m b t i l l h i s

a ,
an
th i rtieth when he recovered ll his f culties u nder t h e

, a a
press u re of d nger from the chie f Al ewi h wh o sou gh t t o

a ,
usurp his right of succession T h e forces o f O ffa nd . a
Al e wi h met on the opposite ba nks o f a river n med Ave e a n ,
and fought by missiles t ill O ffa cro ssed d t h e e nemy ,

an
su ffered a gre t defeat ccording to the Travel ler s

a , a
’
S ong b y the b order o f F i fi e l d There was honourabl e

”
, .
b urial given to the no b les and the est o f the sl in w ere ,

r a
buried under great he p o f stones which received there

a a , ,
fore the name o f Q u al m h u l (S laughter Hi l l )

, T h e b attle .
field w s called a fterw ds B l od ewal d N o w F i fi el d i n

a ar .
,
O x fordshire is separated from Glo u cestershire by t h e rive r

,
E venlode (Avene of the poem ) ; there is no Bl od e wal d ,
b ut t he parish n ext Fi fi el d on the other side of t h e river , ,
is Bledingto and three miles west o f Bledingto n there i s

n,
to thi s d ay Slaughter Hill givi g its name to t wo n eigh ,

n
b o u ri ng parishe s as well as t the hu dred The bodies o n .
of the no b les w ere buried apart I n the i m mediate n eig h .
b o u rhoo d are t wo parishes called Upper and Lo w er ,
S well .S well means burni g a funer l pile The n m e

a n , a . a
occ u rs only in o ne other p rt o f E nglan d in Somersetshire a ,
also near ancient b ttle fi l d In diggi ng foundations

an a -
e .
for enlarge ment o f the church o f L o wer S well a long deep ,
b e d o f ashes was discovered in the church yard and o f ,
eleven barr ws i n the parish the largest is called Picked

o
M orde n selected S lain T h e field i n which it stan ds is

— .
called Camp gro u nd History records no b ttle b u t that

-
. a
o f O ffa on thi s spot O vercome in this battle O ff s

’
.
, a
B E G WU L F .
5
O pponent fled nd was pursued and fter secon d fight

a , ,
a a ,
perished in t he R iga b u A stre m flo w i g into the n rn . a n
S to r ne r its ju n ction w ith the Avon w s fter w rds k o w n

u a a a a n
as R u gg b é d ne rly in direct line bet wee n F i fi e l d

an r c, an a
an d R u gg b é e r Chippi g Campden w e h ve
an r c, n a n ,
a a
pl ce c lled B ttle Bridges Al ewi h s n me is in the

a a a .
’
a
W r wickshire Al eston
a place directly north o f the
v ,
a
stream in which he perished which m y there fore h ve ,

a , ,
a
b een the fort o f his o w to w hich he w s flyi g ; there is n a n
a lso n Alveston in Gloucestershire d in O x fords h ire an

a , an
Al e o t t
v sc This i corr bor tion o f the w ritten record
.
, n o a ,
Mr H igh considers to be strong evidence g inst t aki g

. a a a n
the first hus b and of H yg el w i fe out o f E ngl nd ac s

’
a .
We return n o w to Beo wul f t the court o f H ygel a ,

a c .
Let s ssume th t the gre t s wimming m tch w ith Brec

u a a a -
a a,
Prince of the B o d i g w s ro wi g m tch in w hich r n n s, a a n -

a ,
Beo wul f w s victor Beo wul f is s id to h ve re ched the

a . a a a
shore of the l nd o f the Fins Brec to h ve l ded t

a , a a an a
H aet h o ae m i s w hence he sought his cl ear territo y the l nd

r ,
r ,
a
o f the B o d i g s Beo wul f and Brec then must h ve

r n n . a, , a
been neighbours A b o u t ten miles from H et hel s b ode

.
-
r
’
a ,
or R ttlesden we h ve B eckley b earing perh ps the n m e

a ,
a r , ,
a , a
o f Brec and in the s me county B s fi el d Bra deston

a, a ,
ra n , n ,
Branth m a d Brandon may indic te settlements o f the

a ,
n a
B o d i gs or cl ns o f Br nd or Brond
r n n , O f the Fins there
a a .
is no trace on the co st ; but t w o F i bo o gh not f from a n r u s, ar
Rattlesd e n ppe r to sho w t h at th ere w ere Fins here

,
a a ,
ei h b o s i f not subjects o f H e t h e l
c
n ur , ,
r .
From the descriptions gi en in the poe m o f B eo wul f s v

’
voy ge o t and ho m e to H eo ot Mr H igh suggests th t

a u r , . a a
Uggesh ll in Su ffolk bout five miles i nl nd w s H yg el a s

a ,
a a ,
a c
’
roy l residence and Covehithe o f w hich the name indi

a , ,
c tes n ancient harbour Beow lf s pl ce o f emb rk tio

a a ,
u
’
a a a n.
The ce to Hartlepool the dist nce is bout t w o hundred

n a a
an d t wenty mi l es distance th t might be accomplis h ed

,
a a
3 26 E NG L I S H I VR I T E RS .
in the specified time the dvent u ers reachi ng th e c ou t ,

a r r
o f Hrothg r o n t he second day a At s i x m iles a ho . n u r,
r ther b elow the speed o f the fishing co bles on t he York

a
shire coas t Beo wul f d his comp n ion s wo uld t s e en

, an a , a v
or eight o clock in t h e morni g of the secon d d ay b e

’
n ,
opp site Cromer and th en steering di rect for Hart w ithin

o ,
sight o f F l mboro gh He d th ey w o u ld make t h ei r way

a u a ,
to t h e cli ffs o f H rtlepool on which H ro t hgar s oas t

a ,
’
c
g u ard was statio ned disem b rk on th e sa nds an d m arch ,

a ,
t wo miles on the ro d to H rt or H e oro t O t heir

a a . n
ho m e voy ge they would desc y t he wel l k nown cliff s of

a r -
the Ge ts in the highl nds be t ween L o westo ft an d S ou t h

a a
w old .
A fter H yg el ac s fall w e a e t old in t h e p o e m t h at

’
r
Beow ul f s reig was dist rbed by w ar w ith t h e Mere

’
n u
W i o wi gs or S ea Wi wi g s people of Wi wa whose na m e
n , n , ,
o ccurs at Wiveton in Norfolk and who founded t h e ,
kingdom of the E as t A gles e rly in the sixth c entu ry n a .
Recently arri ed and settled t fi rst on the coas t they

v , a ,
w ere Beo w ul f s n eighbours and the contest w ith t he m

’
,
ended in their absorption o f his little s t ate He t hen .
w ent to the scene o f his old fight w ith Grendel and ru led ,
over the Scyl d i ngs dying in an encou n ter which w hat, ,
ever its n ature is s id to have taken place on Earna

, a
N aes E gle s Cli ff There is

,
a
’
promontory so n amed
. a
s outh o f Hartlepool about fi fty feet high nearly sur , ,
rou d ed b y the Tees Finally i f the b arro w raised over

n .
,
the de d hero on the se he dlan d called H ro es aas

a a a n n
w as to b e kno wn by se m en s Beo wul f s Mount it looks

’
a a ,
something like identific tio th t H on s name m ay be a n a r

’
preserved in Runs wick a vi l l ge n ear Whitby having four , a ,
miles to the north of it a lo fty sea headland th t m y wel l , a a
h ve been H ron es ae s fo on it is the vill ge f Bo wlby

a n ,
r a o ,
an e sy contraction fo B eo w l fe s beo h
a r u -
r .
The latest theory that assigns an English orig in to

3 2 8 E NGL I SH I VR I T ERS .
h t h might rely es pe cially o the d r gon s tory i n Bas ile s

t a e n a
’
P t me o
en a a bo ok o f ta les i the Neapolitan d i l ect
r n e,
”
n a ,
w hich w published in the middle o f the seventee nth

as
century fo evidence t h t folk l re tales included killing of

,
r a -
o
dr gons But in Beo w ul f tale o f goi g out on adventu re

a . a n ,
ac hieving d returning home h s been g afted on the

,
an , a r
dr g n st ry In furthe evidence o f origin in folk lore

a o o . r -
Pr fessor E rle cites the gibing t O dysseu s by Alci nous

o a a ,
wh o sees re so to ch nge his Opinion n d off e s in

a n a ,
a r te
turn v lu ble s word as H f t h does to Beo wu l f

a a a , u n er .
Th t the t le w rec st in the Merovingian age Pro fessor

a a as a
E rle in fers from t h e fact th t the kings in Beo wu l f are v ery

a a
like the ki gs of the Histori F n oru m in the promin a ran c
ence given to g ldsmiths work an d to precious j ew els an d

o
’
decor tions o f pp rel Ag in in Gregory of Tou s t he

a a a . a , r
w rriors immedi tely bout prince e ca lled leudes “ ”

a a a a ar ,
and the w ord le od f lord occurs repe tedly in Beo wul f , or , a .

*
Again Gregory of T urs tells of bishop who found his

,
o a
church at nights full o f fiends and the a h fi e d himsel f i n , rc n
the episcop l throne This forcibly recalls t o Pro fessor

a .
E rle the p ss ge i the Beo wu l f w here it is said th t though

a a a n a
Grendel h d H eo ot l l to himsel f yet divine power per

a r a ,
m i t t e d him not t t uch the roy l se t o o a a .
H vi g s tisfied himsel f w ith these argumen ts P o

a n a ,
r
fe s o E rle proce ds to
s r a y th t “
from G ul
e the dragon sa a a ,
t le in its e w Frankish dress passed into Scandi avia and

a n n ,
obt ined loc l settlement t here

a a a At the back o f the .
northern s g s s o f l l E ur pe n romance lies the grand

a a ,
a a o a ,
n rr tive
a a o f the sixth century
e ra The geogr phy of .
”
a
the poe m is cons istently Sc ndin vi n This lone a ffords a a a . a
str ng presumptio th t the Be wul f h s been b sed on a

o n a o a a
It o cc u rs al s o in C ae d m on L e6 d E b rea , G en es i s , l i n e l i ne
E x od u s , l i n e 2 77 . T he na m e l e u d es
"
fo r t h e eom i t es o f a c hi e f
i s k no w n to m os t rea d e rs o f e a rl y h i s t o ry . I t is e nou g h t o re fer t o M on t es
x x x . , ch D es L
'
q u ie n . D e l E s p ri t d e s L oi s. liv . . 16 , e u d e s ou Va s s a u x .
E E 0 WU L F .
3 9
2
S candinavi n s g This was the saga of Gretti G ett i

a a a . . r
’
rs
'
contest w ith Gl m is he s ys substantially the s m e as that

a ,
a ,
a
o f Beo wul f w ith Grendel Also there occurs in the poem .
o f Beo wul f n d in no other kno wn piece o f Anglo Sa on

,
a -
x
liter ture the word ae t mece and there occurs in the

a ,
“h f -
,
”
G et t i s saga the w ord h ep t i sax 1

r
“
: It w as Dr G d b and -
.
”
. u r
V i gf s s o
u wh o first pointed this out
n Then follow s the .
particular suggestion J hn Mitchell Kemble had in ferred . o
nearly forty years ago from a passage i n praise of the

mythic O ffa a reputed ncestor of Off King o f Mercia
,
a a, ,
th t the poem w s Angli n Pro fessor E rle ow sees in

a a a . a n
this f ct evidence that the poem was w ritten in the reign

a
o f O ff King of M erci a b etween the ye rs 75 5 a d 794

a, ,
a n .
The ai m of the poe m as a whol e is to set up an heroic

example as i f to kindle admiration in young prince and
,
a ,
every occasion is sei ed fo illustrating the relations of z r
king and subject and especially as regards those military

,
subj ects who immediately surround the person of a king .
The poem is in Short the institution of a prince ; and that

, ,
prince can b e no other than E cgfe t h the son of Offa r ,

.
"
The mythic Beowul f is in all things exemplary Beo wul f .
particularly resembles O ff King of Mercia i n that having a, ,
1 H aeft m eg e ,
-
hafted s wo rd , in c o m b i nat i on , h ap p ens t o o ccu r o n l y
o n ce in Be o wu l f, b u t h ae ft is u se d els e w here as e x p ress i o n o f t h e s w ay
an d p o we r o f t h e s w ord o r s p e ar . It o ccu rs in ot he r p oe m s , a nd hap t i is
co m m on i n S can d i na v i an fo r a h a ft or hil t . T he s ag a of G re t t i r t h e
S t ro n g wa s d e ve l o p e d fro m t h e hi s t ory o f an
hero who li ve d ab o u t I c e l a nd i c
t wo ce n t u ri e s a ft e r C ha rl e m ag ne i n t h e b eg i nn i ng o f t h e e l e ve n t h c e n t u ry
, .
T h e l eg e n d ary ta l e o f h i m i s a s c rib e d t o t he e n d o f t h e t h i rt e en t h ce n t u ry .
I n h i s t ori a G re t t eri Ro b u s t i q u i s aec u l o u n d e ci m o fl o ru i t i n I s l a n d i a

,
P ri m u s I sl an d u s fe rru m ca n d e n s g e s t a s s e p erhi b e t u r G re t t i r R ob u s t u s c u i i d
a re g e O l a v o i n N o rv e g i a u n c t u m , a n n o c i rc i t er
e s t i nj M ii ll e r a nd
T h ere m a y b e a n d i s , q u e s t i o n
'
V el s c ho w s n o t es t o S a xo G ra mm a t i cu s . ,
of the i n fl u en ce of Be o w u l f on t he G re t t i s s ag a , b u t a rg u m e n t o f i n fl u enc e
t he o t h e r way i s l ik e arg u i ng a b o u t t h e i n fl u e n ce o f T ha ck eray on F i e l d i ng .
G re t t i r w as a h ero of N ort h I ce l a n d a nd I ce l a n d w as n o t e ven co l o n i s e d ,
u n t i l m o re t ha n fi ft y yea rs af t e r t h e d ea t h o f Ch a rl e m ag n e .
been a youth o f no promise inc p b le h e suddenly ,

an a a , ,
wh e occ si n called f
n a hero broke out d b ec me
o or a ,
an a
gre t a
“
I f the poem was written fo the benefit o f the
. r
king s son w h t tre tment m re pl asing to the f ther or

’
, a a o e a
m re ttr ctive fo the youth than th t which identified

o a a r a
heroic irtues with incidents in h i f ther s c reer d

v s a
’
a an
w ith the heredit ry temperament o f his f mily 1 a E g fe t h a c r
w as con ecrated king nine ye rs be fore the death o f his

s a
f ther
a He wa s consecrated m nifestly by H igeb yh t
. a r ,
the n e w Arch b ishop o f Merci This s ys Pro fessor a .

,
a
E rle is the occasion w ith which I connect the pro

“
a ,
duction f our poem He fi nds H ygeb i ht under the

o .
”
r
n me of E o m ae w h o is s id to have been b orn in the

a r, a
mythic Off s house and the story o f T h y th o the

“
a
’
,
r
V ir g wh o w s t med by the mythic O ffa is in direct

a o, a a ,
pr ise o f the reigni g O ff with covert admonition of

a n a,
C y eb i h t the Queen Consort I feel confident says ”

n r ,
.
,
Pr fess r E rle th t the whole of H ygel s court n d

o
“
o a ,
a ac
’
a
n ti n w first introduced in the E nglish poem and was

a o as ,
never in the S g O ff w in corresponden ce w ith

a a .
”
a as
Ch rlem gne wh o w s no despiser o f old songs d t les

a a , a an a .
H e c sed them t be w ritten do w n

au
“
By this chan nel o .
,
”
Pro fessor E rle s ys I im gine the s g c me out o f

“
a a ,
a a a a
Fr nkl nd to the h nd o f the poet

a a d prob bly it was a ,
an a
w ritten in L tin It suggests L tin association has i t s ”

a . a a ,
scene in S c ndin vi a and h s o S c ndin vian words b ut

a a ,
a n a a ,
an occ sion l u translat b le w ord like haeft mece may

a a n a ,
-
,
”
h ve bee e m bodied in the context

a n As a Fr nkish scholar . a
m y b e supposed more likely t h n a poet in E ngl an d to

a a
be cqu inted w ith t h e Histori F

a a o um fro m w hich a ran c r ,
”
p rt o f the story of H yg l was borro wed it might seem

a e ac ,
e sier t l y this p rt of the w ork t the door o f the Fr nk

a o a a a a .
But there are stronger re sons fo crediting it to the E nglish a r
poet “
Wh t e they
. I f t h e bove re soni gs b e true
a ar a a n ,
t h p et m u t h ve been a person w h o c u l d S p
e o s a k w it h o ea
a ctive am b ss dor in the a ff i s o f Sige b e t s son C h il d eb t

a a a r r
’
,
er ,
wh o bec me in 5 9 3 King o f A ustrasia and o f Burgundy

a , ,
.
Not long bef re his death in 5 9 5 the great Archbish o p

o , ,
Grego y tr velled to Rome to visit the gre t Pope Gr go y

r a a e r ,
w h o expected to see in him cre ture o f heroic mould d a a , an
w s surprised to find that in body he w

a but a we k as a ,
me n looking little m
a -
This was t h e s me Pope Grego y an . a r
w h o in t h e ye r fter t h e death o f Grego y of Tours sent

, a a r ,
A gu sti e to pre ch Christianity in E ngl nd The ten

u n a a .
books of H is t ori F o m by Grego y of Tours are of

“
a ran c ru ,
”
r ,
the g e test value fo the i r free and fearless telling of the wild
r a r
history in which he himsel f b d part They give the fullest a .
a d the truest record o f events o f his o w

n time in G ul n a .
It w s Nikolas G d t i g wh o in the D n n ewi k e

a ru n v ,
a r ,
publish ed in 8 7 d in his Bjow l fs D ap e published

1 1 ,
an u r n,
”
a t Copenh ge in first directed ttention to t he

a n a
p ss ge in Gregory of Tours by w hich the h isto ical elemen t

a a r
in the legend was m de cl r Hei rich Leo in 8 3 8 a ea . n ,

1 ,
reg rded this identification as estab lished ; a d the reader

a n
w h o w ill w f llo w the rgu ment n h ve no reasonable

no o a ca a
doubt upon the point .
Gregory o f Tours wrote After this t h e D nes w ith

“
, a ,
their Ki g C ho il ic s s eek G ul w ith a fleet across the

n c a u ,
a
se nd
a, a having l nded de st te and t ke prisoners in a
,
a ,
va a a
p rt o f the kingdom o f Theodoric Havi g lo ded their

a . n a
Ships w ith Sl ves d spoil they desired to return to their

a an ,
co ntry But their k ing waited on Shore till al l his ships

u .
w ere on the high sea w hen he w ould follo w When it was ,

.
told to Theodoric th t a region o f his h d b een laid was te a a
b y foreigners he sent T h eo d ob e t his son to those part s

,
r , ,
with a strong army d great store o f arms T h e o d ob e t

an . r
A t ra n s l a t i o n i n t o D a n i s h fo l l ow e d i n 1 86 1 by a t ex t , Be o w u l fes
Be o rh ae l l e r Bj
o vu l fs D ra p e n , d e t O l d A n g e l s k e H e l t e d i h t ,
-
g p aa G ru n d s
-
p ro g e t , ved Ni k F red S e v G ru nd t v i g
.
”
. o b e n h a v n, 1 86 1
. . Kj .
B E G WU L F .
3 33
h av g killed
. the
n king s b dued the e emy in a s e a fight ,
u n ,
nd restored l l the plunder to the l nd

”
a a a .
The sa m e incident is thus recorded i n another chronicle ,
the Gest regum Franco m

“ a The Danes with their ru .
”
,
k ing nam ed C h oc i l g s seek G ul over the e w ith a fleet a u ,

a s a ,
devastating and taking prisoners in T he d o i c s dominion ,

u r
’
,
the At t ii or others ; h ving their ships full o f captives

u ar a ,
w hile they em b rked on the high sea their king remained a ,
ashore f Here there is mention of tri b e the A t t u i i

. a , ar ,
w h o are called H et wa e in the poe m r .
A tenth centu ry M S o f Ph aedru s at W l fenbuttel h s

-
. o a
appended m tter o f the same date which incl des note o f

a , u a
King H g la w h o w as an example o f the w o nderf l

un cu s , u
si e to which m e attained He ruled it is s id over the

z n .
, a ,
Goth s and was killed b y the Fr nks A fter he had reached

,
a .
his t wel fth ye r he was s big that n o horse could b e r

a o a
h i m an d his b ones found in an island at the mouth o f the

, ,
Rhine are sho wn as a m i racle to p eople comi g from af r I

,
n a .
0
H i s i t a g e s t i s Da ni c u m reg e s u o C hoci l a i co e v ec t u n a va l i pe r m a re
G all i as a p pe t u n t e g re s s i q ue a d t e rras p ag u m u n u m d e reg n o T h e o d o ri c i
,
d e vas t an t atq u e c a p t i va n t ; o nera t i s q u e na vi b u s t am d e ca p t i vi s q u am d e

re l i q u i s s p ol i i s re vert i ad p a t ri am c u p i u n t : s e d re x eo ru m ad l i tt u s
re s i d e ba t , d o nec n a ve s al t u m m a re c o m p re h e n d e ru n t , i p s e d e i nc e p s
s e c u t u ru s . Q u od cum T h e o d o ri co n u n t ia t u m fu i s s e t , q od
u s c i l i c et reg i o
j
e us fu e ri t a b e x t ra n e i s d e v as t ata , T heo d ob e rt u m fi l i u m , m , i n i l l a s p a rt e s
su u
c u m v al id o e xe rc i t u a c m ag no arm o ru m a p p a ra t u , d i re x i t q u i , i n t e rfe c t o
re g e , hos t e s na ali p roali o s u pe ra t os

v o p p ri m i t . o m ne m q u e ra p i na m t e rrze
re s t i t u i t — H i s t F ra nc i i i 3
.
”
. .
, . .
1
“
D a ni c u m re g e s u o , n o m i n e C h oc i l a g o , cu m na v a l e hos te pe r a l t u m
m a re G a l l i as a p pe t u n t , T he u d e ri c o p ag u m A t t u a ri o s vel al i os d evas t a n t e s
a t q u e ca p t i va n t e s , p l e n as na v e s d e ca p t i vi s h ab en t e s , al t o m a re i n t ran t e s ,
re x c oru m a d l i t t u s m a ri s res i d i t .
— G e s ta R eg a . o .
, c . xi x.
I De H u n g l a co M fi u nt m o n s t ag no . —E t
ra m i rae m a g n i t u d i n i s u t
re x H u n g l ac u s , q u i e n i m i mp e ra v i t g e n t e s (G e t i s) e t a F ra n c i s oc c i s u s
es t , q u e m e q u u s a d u o dec i m o ze t a t i s a n n o p o rt a re n o n p o t u i t , c u j u s o ss a
i n R en i fl u m i n i s i n s u l a , ubi in o c ea n o p ro ru m i
p t, re s e rv a t a s u nt et de
l o ng i n co v e ni e n t i b u s p ro m i racu l o o s t e nd u n t u r .
Q u o ted fro m M ii l l en h o ff
“
t h ro u g h Herm an n D ed e ri ch
'
s H i s t o ri sc he u nd G eog ra p h i s c he S t u d ie n
In the n me C ho il i u s the Ch o f co rse corre

a c a c ,
u ,
s p o d to
n thes old sound o f the lette H w h i c h w s r ,
a
equiv lent to the Hebrew letter e/ t/ and h d origi ally

a ze z, a n
a str ng gu ttur l s und This is represented by the g or e

o a o .
b e fore it in word l ike E nglish [ g / a d G erm n l / d u z, a n a ac zen
so a ls H m the son o f Noah w as c lled Chem This

o a , ,
a .
*
H yg l of
e acold chronicle w s then a D nis h king f a , ,
a o
Goths (the S wedish G ot hl a d ) wh o m de t tack upon n ,

a an a
the A t t i i (H et w ) in p rt o f north eas t G ul u nder

u ar are a a -
a ,
the rule o f The d ric L King f Met b etw ee the years o o , o z n
5 1 1 d 53 4 an d w h o s he w s bout
, to dep
an rt rich i n ,
a a a a ,
pl nder w tt cked by T he o d b ert the o of Theodoric

u ,
as a a e ,
s n ,
w ho w fter w rds King o f Austr si

as a in the ye rs from
a a a, a
5 34 t 54 8 oThe evidence that

. this w s the H yg e l o f a ac
the old heroic poem does not rest upo one p ss ge I n a a . n
Beo wul f 1 there is episode menti ni g a je welled neck

”
an o n
o rn ment equ lled only by th t which H m took from

a a a a a
the B o i gs d this ring or circlet it is s id

r s n an
“
had H ygel a ,
a ,
c
the Goth the ephe w o f Swe t i g w hen he w ent fo the

, n r n ,
r
l st ti m e u nder the b ner to lay hold on tre sure to

a an a ,
de fend poils of the sl in F te snatched him w y when

S a . a a a
through pride he ought sorr w in feud g inst the Frisi ns S o a a a .
The mighty king c rried the orn ment w it h him the precious a a ,
stones over the cup of the w aves He fell under his Shield . .
The life of the king then p ssed into the gr sp o f the Fra ks a a n ,
zu m ang e l -s a c hs i s c h en Be o w u l f-l i e d e . K o l n 1 8 7 7 T h i s e xc e l l e n t m o n o
, .
g ra p h ,
by a you ng s c h o l a r, pu t t og e t h e r ve ry cl e arl y s o m e o f t h e ch i e f re
su l ts o f rec e n t c ri t i c i s m .
R e l y i ng u pon co m m o n k n o wl e g e o f t h i s fa c t, M r G W K i t c i n
d . . . h ,
h as s p el t t h e n a m e s , u s u al l y w ri t t e n C l o t h a i re
”
i n h is H i s t o ry of F ra n ce ,
an d C h i l p e ri c , as H l o t ha i r an d H i l p e ri c . I n t he v o we l of H u g l e k r, or
H u g l ek , as the n a m e s t an d s i n t h re e ol d Da ni s h re c o rd s , t he u w eak e n s t o
i n H yg e la c b eco m i n g I , e b y t h e
' '
o, and , l a t e r, t o I ,
t h e s u c c es s i v e v o w e l s
u s u al a c t i o n o f t h e u ml au t . H u g l atu s i s t h e na m e i n S ax o G ra m m a t i c u s
of a v er y ri ch k i ng i n I rel a n d , w h o w as s o a v a ri c i o u s h h
t a t w e n h e g av e
a wa y b oo t s he k e p t t he i r l ac es.
4'
Be o w u l f 11 . .
the t ibe cal led by T cit s the G gu rni an d C u gur i w h o

r a u u n ,
w ere named als o b y Pliny as n e igh bo u rs to t h e Ba ta v ians ,
a d those w h o live d on is l ands o f the Rhi n e

n I f t h e s ec ond .
syl l able represent the old Gothic en d i ng in airn s w e ha e -

,
v
only to l lo w fo the g t tural soun d o f t h e l etter k to

a r u
identify H uga w ith Guga But the Q ed l inburg chronicl e . u
s ys that once al l Franks w ere called H ugos fro m thei r

a ,
chie f H ugo d W iduk i n d S peaks o f a H u g Ki ng o f t h e

an a,
Fr nks w h o was succeeded by h i s son Theodoric But

a ,
.
this was (the son o f C hl od ow i ) Theodoric Ki n g o f Met c ,

z,
upon whose shore H ygel m de his desce n t and in the ac a ,
Quedlinburg chronicle he is distinguished from Theodo ric

the O strogoth as the Fr nkish Hugo Theodoric H e i s a .
the Hug Dietrich o f old Germ n roman ce The historica l

-
a .
re ferences th en to t h e b ttle in w hich H ygel a fell e

, ,
a c ar
perfectly consistent They clearly identify the H yg el ac o f

.
the poe m w ith the C h o i l i c o f Gregory of Tours an d o f

c a us
the Gesta Regum F an oru m who fell in batt l e in the r c ,

”
year 5 20 .
Let us o w turn to the shrew whose character is con

n
t as t ed w ith the m i ldness o f H ygel a yo u ng Queen H ygd ’

r c s ,
A“ i d so
in
e
the account o f the feast w elcoming Beo w ul f
“ hm “ on his return to the court o f H el a Her name
3
c
yg .
,
M o d t h yt h o or rather T h yt h o has been misread into an

r ,
r ,
adjective joining passionate temper and all the vices o f the

bad w oman to the virtues of H yg d w ith w ho m She is c on ,
t r t ed
as d w h o is praised as one w h o loved the pe ople
an .
T h yt ho is described as so vi lent th t no one d red to

r o a a
look in her eyes except her husban d wh o looked on her ,
daily and to h i m she decreed fetters d de th The

,
an a .
k insm n o f Heming repro ched her over the l e drinkin g

a a a -
,
and s id that it wa not w omanly fo

a pe ce w eaver
s r a a -
,
though be uti ful beyond comp re to pr ctise the death o f

a a , a
Be o wu l f, 11 .
B E G WU L F .
337
a husb nd Others s id th t she w less w ick ed fter she

a . a a as a
h d by her f ther s counsel crossed the s e to be joined to

’
a ,
a ,
a
t h e young O ff that Sh e w s h ppy on t h e throne and h d

a, a a , a
h igh love fo her husb nd t h e be t o f men fo w a r d a , s r r an
w isdo m His son wa E omer kinsm n o f Heming nephe w

. s , a ,
o f G a m u d gre t in fight
r The p ssage o f which this is
n , a . a ,
t h e text w formerly re d in t o t h l i fe f B ygd w h o w a s

, as a e o ,
there f re supposed to have been m r ied to Offa after the

o a r
de th o f H ygel
a T ken n ow it h s been re d by
ac . a ,
as a a
G ei r and others fter him it is an episodic l remem

n l
’ ‘
a , a
br nce f a fierce w om n in contrast to the ge n tleness o f

a o a
H ygd The Off h ere re ferred to is n med in the Travel l er s

“ ’
. a a
S ng herea fter to be described s King o f the Angles

”
o , d ,
a ,
an
is the elder of the t wo Off s w hose lives w ere recorded in a
the thirteenth cent u ry by M tthe w P ris M tthe w P ris a a . a a
calls the elder Off son o f W r m und and in S xo Gr m a a , a a
m at i u s ; he is called U ffo the son o f V m n d wh o

c er u ,
was son to the King o f Den m rk by w hom Hamlet s ’

a
usurping uncle w s succeeded U ffo large and str g a .

, on ,
broke through all rmour o f other men that he might try a
Di e H i s t o ri s ch e n V e rh al t ni s s e d es Be o wu l fl i e d e s in E b e rt ’
s
“Ja h rb u ch fu r R o m a n i s c he u n d E ng l i s ch e Li t e ra t u r ,
u n te r b es on d ere r
M i t w i rk u n g v o n F erd i na n d W o l f v o l i v , p p
”
, . . . 2 60 — 2 85 .
S ax o L a ng e , La t i n i s e d Sa x o Lo n g u s ,
a nd fo r t h e g o o d
s tyl ed ,
La t i n h e w ro t e , G ra m m a t i c u s ,
”
w as a fri e nd a n d c o m p a n i o n o f S v en d
“ C om d i H i s t o ri a Reg u m D a n i aa wa s t he fi rs t
A a g e s ii n , w h o s e p e n osa
a t t em p t a t a cont i n u ou s hi s t or y of D e n m a rk . Aa g e s on sa i d h i m se l f t h at
hi s reco rd wa s t he s h o rt e r b e ca u s e h e k ne w t h a t h i s fri e n d S a x o w as en
g g
a e d o n a m o re d e t a i l e d h i s t o ry of hi s t im e . The y w e re b o t h e c cl e s i
a s t i cs , b u t Aa g e so n ce rt a i n l y , a n d S a x o p ro b a b l y , w e n t w i t A rc h b i s h o p h
Ab s o l o n t o wa r a g ai n s t t h e W e n d s
’
S a x o s fa t h e r a n d g ran d fa t h e r w e re
.
s o l d i ers u n d e r W a l d e m a r t h e G re a t S a x o w a s p ri va t e s e cre t a r t o A rc
. y h
b i s h o p Ab s o l o n , w h o m h e s u rv i v e d ,
i n s c ri b i ng t o Ab s o l o n ’
s s u cces s or hi s
” ”
fa m o u s c h ro n i c l e o f D e n m ark , G es t a Da n o ru m , or H i s t o ri a D a n i c a .
S a xo d i e d i n o r a ft e r t h e ye a r 1 2 08 . H is b oo k i s a g ra n d s t o re - h ou s e of
t h e l eg e n d an d h is to r y of D e n m a rk , as t h e y w e re c ol l ec t e d i n t h e M i d d le
Ag es b y a s k i l fu l w ri t e r wh o h a d t h e t o u c h o f an a rt i s t wi t h the g ra s p o f an
h i s t o ri a n .
W
33 8 E N GL ISH IV R I TERS
'
.
to w e r d co ld bre k s w rd by the for ce w ith which

a ,
an u a a o
he sl hed it thr gh the i He fought memorable du el

as ou a r . a
on anis nd o f t h E ider t h F i fel d o referred to in the

l a — e e r
“
T v ll r s Song up n wh ich o w st nds the citadel o f
ra e — e
’
o n a
Rends b urg The S xo Chronicle under the ye r 75 5

. a n , a ,
i
n tr cing the descent o f the Mercian O ff who ruled
a a
ov er the Angles f t h e cont i ent makes him t w el fth in

o n ,
descent scending fro m E m the son o f A g el th eow to

,
a o ae r n
A g l t h ow the son o f O ffa O ff the son o f Wae m

n e e d , a r un .
S quence here o f t h e
e mes o f We m d O ff E o m ae na r un , a, r
a grees w ith w h t we find s id o f the O ffa mentioned i

a a n
Beo wul f w ith ddi t ion t his other t riumphs that he t med
, a o , a
a s h re w T his myth ic l O ff so f s he
. be d ted a a, ar a c an a ,
m st h ve l iv d t h e m iddle o f t h e f urth century— i t has

u a e in o
been sugge ted t t he as born b ut the ye r 3 3 6

h w s a — d a o a an
H yg el wac killed in the ye r 5

as The reference there a 20 .
f re t King O ff and his i l l tempered w i fe was parenthetical

o o a -
use f a tr dition which dded crowning triumph to the

o a a a
f bles o f the pro w ess o f O ffa ; H ygd s kindness in her

’
a
husb nd s home n d kingdom suggesting contrast with the

a
’
a
shre w w ho m only O ff h d the po wer to t me M tthe w an a a a . a
P ris gives us t h very n me ow disentangled fro m mis

a e a n
re ding in the t ext o f Beo wul f He c l l s her Drid a d

a . a a, n
says sh e w s of w ondrous bea ty but w ith temper so i h

a u , a
t oler b le th t
a t l st a ft er s me
a t especi lly
a trocious
a ,
o ac a a ,
she w condemned to de th but so f r reprieved th t she

as a ,
a a
w as only c st dri ft up n the sea The w ves t ossed her

a a o . a
to King O ff s sh re By her be uty d her distress Offa

a
’
o . a an
w as dr wn to love and pity He pl ced h u der the care

a . a er n
o f his o w moth r d she soon rec o ered he lth w ith the

n e ,
an v a
f ll s w ay o f her b e uty b u t
u t the s me time she regained
a , , a a ,
lso the full s wing o f her temper Nevertheless Ofl was

'
a .
,
a
wo nby the beauty d m rried her M tthe w Paris ,

an a . a ,
living in t h e thirteenth cen tury con fuses here the t wo ,
O ffa s ,
d m kes the Mercian the man w ho ma ried
an a r
34 0 E N GL I SH IVR I T ER S .
of hen his strength diminished was b e

H ere m o d , w h o , w ,
t y ed i nto the po w er o f his enemies

ra d cast out o f t h e an
land There is some re son to think that the tyrant

. a
H e e m o d w as the l st sovereign of a dyn sty overthro w n

r a a
by his people with aid from leader w h o beca me t h e a
founder o f the next dyn sty th t o f the S yl d i gs a ,

a c n .
The dynasty o f the S yl d i ngs is said to h ave b een c
f unded b y
o S cyld w h o c me s a child on
a ship l den a a a a
S l d cy
w ith ar m s and tre sure to the coast o f Denmar k a
at a t ime w h en the country w s i great distress a n .
The D es received the child

an gift from heave and as a n, ,
in good time they m de Scyld king He reigned long

,
a .
and prosper usly subjecting m ny o f the surrounding

o ,
a
nations fou nded the dy nasty of the S yl d i g and w as after

,
c n s ,
death by his w direction put into a sh ip g in w ith

, o n ,
a a
tre sure n d rms

a a d c st dri ft
a No man ever heard
,
an a a .
whither th t s h i p w ent This s ys Grein may be a

“ “ ”
a .
,
a ,
legend fr med from the name o f the S eafa wh o is said in

a c , ,
the Traveller s S ong to have r led over the Lom b rds

’
,
’
u a .
Scyld son o S e a
, f c f — S cyld Sc e g m y h ve been an
fi — a n a a
a dventurous son of the Lom b ard chie f m y h ve gone out ,

a a
in the usu l w y in search o f profi table dventure and may

a a a ,
h ve fo u nded a dyn sty on the ruins o f that which had

a a
H e em o d fo its last represent tive The poem make s a ”

r r a .
Beowul f to be t h e son of S cyld and the father o f H eal fd en e .
In the t bles of descent of the S e i s ga the so n o f

a v rr s a ,
Sk i l d i w s B i
a In t h e S xon chr nicle S eal d va was
a arr . a o c
the f ther o f Be o H eal fd en e eldest son wa H eo oga

a a .
’
s s r r,
w h o s cceeded him b ut did not reign l o n g

u He h d a
,
. a
son , H eo o w e d w h o died prob bly b e fore his f ther

r ar , ,
a ,
a .
The succession passed there fore to H g next brother eo ro ar s

’
,
H roth g r t time w hen Hrothg r must h ve been a

a ,
a a a a
young m since he had reigned fi fty years t the time

an , a
w hen the poem O pe n s The next brother wa Hel and . s a,
then came El w h o marrie d a king of t h e Sw edish rac e

a,
B E G WU L F .
34 1
of the Scylfi g ; prob b ly n G n d t ig suggested O nge

s a ,
as ru v ,
theo w King o f Sweden w h o was contempo ary with

, ,
r
H yge l ac and with the sons o f H eal fd e n e .
The episode o f the fight t F i n es b u g requires also a n r
some separ te attention b ut th t will b e most conveniently

a , a
given when we discuss in the next ch pter distinct frag ,

a ,
a
ment of verse on the same subject .
In the t wenty ninth number o f the Journ l o f Philology

-
a
( t h at for July the C mbridge

, Pro f essor f Anglo a o
Saxon the Rev Walter W S ke t h s

, . p per PM . S k . a ,
a a a
ea t
on The M nster Grendel in B o w lf hich

o w G d l e u ,
”
on re n e
w as read be fore the Cambridge Philologic l S ociety on the a
3r d o f December 8 8 5 It ssu m es th t Be w l f w ,
1 . a a o u as a
re l ma one o f w hose expl its w s the sl ying f Grendel

a n, o a a o ,
w h o w s not a m t all b ut a b ear G e d e l name

’
a an a , . r n s ,
derived as E t t m ul l e derived it means th t he is the r ,

a
grinder ; that he is carnivorous a gri nder of bones H e ,

.
was fierce and fu rio u s he used to pro wl round the gre t

“
,
a
h ll every igh t jus t lik Horace s e p t i u s ursus ’ ‘ ’

a n e v s er n
( E p o d xvi . and caught

. d carried o ff so m an y m e an n
that at l st the gre t hall w deserted at night

a a as .
”
“
Grend l Pro fessor Skeat o b ser es never used
e ,
” “
v ,
w eapons b ut tr u sted solely to the strength o f his grip l

, , ze .
the w ell kno wn b ear s h g

-
Whe n he sei ed ’
sleeping u . z a
warrior tore hi m unresisting h i t h i s b one fr me dr nk

, ,
-
a ,
a
blood fr m his veins o d in gre t bites s w llo w ed h i m

, an ,
a ,
a ,
“
this says Pro fessor Ske t is obvio u sly the mode o f
,
“
a ,
procedure o f ca rnivorous beast a .

”
It is f rther argued th t Gren del was

u b e rs are a ,
as a ,
a
solitary ani m l and an excellent s wimmer The b ear like

a , .
,
Grendel seeks its food t night and never f ils to return to

, a ,
a
its ow district When Beo w lf had slain Grendel he had

n . u ,
a harder t sk with G d l mother

a
“
This ays Pro re n e
’
s .
,
”
s
fe s sor S keat might e sily h ppen in the case o f an old

, a a
she bear especially i f angered b y t h e loss of her whelp

-
, .
3 4 2 E N GL I SH l VR / T E R S .
L et abear r bbed o f her whelp meet m n rather than

o a a a
fool i his f l l y (Prov xvii We kno w o f t w o ’

n o . .
Asi tic she be rs th t t re forty d t wo children at o n e

a -
a a
‘
a an
’
time ( Kings ii 2 Beo wul f s dive to reach G e d el s

,
.
’
r n
’
mother w as his s w i m cr ss to the be r s c ve G e d el a o a

’
a . r n
’
s
moth r being she be r had no we pon b ut her g ip she

e , a -
a , a r ,
w as , like Grendel c rnivorous d she came also by night , a , an
w h en h e sei ed f E s h e
s Again it is suggested that
z c re .
,
Gr ndel and h i s mother were b oth dumb b east s There is

e .
no hint o f their use o f speech ; b t Grendel uttered a u
terrible cry or howl when he lost his arm The n me o f . a
Beo wul f b ee w lf me ns be r d the hero was so named

-
,
-
o ,
a a ,
an
fo his chievemen t s
r a n d fo th t lso he was credited w ith , a r a a
t h e s t rength o f thirty m e Of the b e r the Nor wegi ns n . a , a
h d
a proverb that he h the strength of ten men and the
a as
sense f t w elve Fin lly Pro fessor Ske t pays special

o . a ,
a
att ntion to the wordi g o f the p ss ges that spea k of

e n a a
G e d el s hand He finds the be r s cl w in its hard nails

’ ’
r n . a a ,
and the be r s furry p w in its glove or han d ceo The

a
’
a s .
lines 76 —
z,o Pr fessor Ske t tr nsl tes
z, 1 oo o a a a
“
There w s t h e glov i p aw re dy to descend i
a e, ze .
,
a n
conflict l i fe b l e [w s it] to the doomed m

,
a a he l y the a an a
neare st girded w rrior ; to him was Grendel ; i to

,
a a v z .
,
that gre t wa t h n e a sl yer w ith his mouth

a r a ,
a .
”
And at lines — 8 8 Pro fessor Skeat translates 2 ,o
But he strong in might m ade t rial of me groped

, , ,
(
a f ter m e ) w ith re dy p lm His glove or
( p )a w hung a a .
susp nded etc

e ,
.
Pr fessor Skeat points out that his readi gs f G e d l s

o n o r n e
’
hand into p w remain t h e same even i f Grendel b e not a

a a ,
be r a . All uncouth m onsters he says m st be treated

“
,
”
,
u
as havi g someth ing in the w y o f hands w hich a poet

n a ,
w uld m re n tur lly li k en to the pa w s o f

o o a be st than to
a a a
t h e w o der ful h nds o f m

n I m er ly thro w out the sug
a an . e
gestion th at Beo wul f s feats m y have been founded upon ’

a
344 E N GL I SH WRI T E R S .
close o f his li f w ith the dragon that laid waste his ow

e, n
dominions there is the same common poetic l device

,
a .
S ome enemy provoked b y petty p l u n d eri ngs u po n his o wn

dom in h rries G o thl n d
a a a
n e on w e a l l e l e ng
B i t l a n w ol d e, ac m i d b ze l e fd r
P y re g e fys e d .
He would st y no more in his o wn stro nghold but w ent

a ,
forth w ith fl m es prompt w ith his fire and presently a fter

a , ,
wards w e tol d that as he flew he poured out fire and

a re
burnt the d w llings of the l nd Ag in Beowul f battles

e a . a
wi t h d ngerous inv der d w hile the poet sings the glory

a a a ,
an
o f the chie f he denies fame to the strong antagonist and

, ,
fashions more welcome d wondrous tale by fabling hi m

a an
into a fi bre thing d r gon

re - a a .
Be fore y clue had b een found to t h e histor ical element

an
i the ccounts of H yg el
n a l l Beo wul f wa read into myth ac , a s ,
d harmo ised w ith the legends of n ture that

an n a
form part o f the old orthern myth l gy as set n o o ,
forth i the E dd s Jaco b G i m m ide tified n a . r l

’ ‘
n
Gre del with Lok i the m licious god of the

n , a
Scandin vi ns and found in the monster s home under the

’
a a ,
water a resemblance to (E g i d welling Be wul f said ’

rs . o ,
Jacob Grimm means Bee w ol f n me for the Woodpecker

,
-
,
a ,
a bird greedy f r b ees ; d this pie (Picumnus ) is placed

o an
by classic l mythology in the r ce o f Kr n os Zeus and

a a o , ,
Hermes d inter woven by the old Bohemian mythology

, an
w ith the r ce o f S i t ia t Kirt n d R ad i g o t s Beo w l f

v ra , , a s ,
a u
w ith Ge at d Woden an It may be asked ho wever wheth er .

, ,
(since b d is an
ea Anglo S oxon prefix me ning w a -
a ,
a r
W wol f is o t a simpler re din g than Bee w ol f for the

ar
-
n a -
hero s n me
’
a .
i t» u
Deu t sc he M y t hol og ie . 1 835
B E G WU L F .
345
Mr J M Kemble in a p per on West S xon gene

. . .
,
a -
a
alogie s suggested that the old S xon beo b e wo d a

,
“ “
a ,
”
,
”
kni fe w as in the first p rt o f the me making

, M a na ,
“ “
. .
Beo w ul f a god of the ha vest I the comments r . n

n e'
j oined to his tr nsl tion o f Beo wul f he identified Beo wul f

a a ,
w ith B e w or B e wa and he also s w in his fight w ith

a a ,
a
Grendel a reflection o f the struggle of Thor with the

Midg rd serpent
a .
Kemble did not believe that in E ngl nd the w oodpeck r a e
w asever c lled bee wol f and opp sed the woodpecker

“
a -
,
o
theory E t t m ul l er argued that the names o f L u

.
‘t
. p
mythical heroes o demigods are com pound those r

m ll
,
"
o f the greater god s i mple d th t the n me o f Beo w ul f , an a a ,
there fore ought not to be read as B eowa He adopted the

,
.
interpret ti n o f the n ame into Bee wol f the w oodpecker

a o -
, .
M ii l l e hoff pro n ounced it to be o n ly a guess th t the o l d

n a
Germ ns called the woodpecker B eewol f a d says it is

a ,
n
not cle r that they accounted the b ird s cred K l M m

a a .
ar ,
“ mm“
He grees with Kemble that the n am e is Beaw
a ,
w hich h e allies w ith b auen to bui l d ; nd he sees ,

a a
myth of the coming i o f c i vilis tion w hen peace ful -

n a
S eaf w h o first brings t h e culture o f the earth and

c ,
the ful l Sheaf o f corn h f h i s son Scyld Shield ,

as or , ,
the de fending w rrior w ho sh p ed the young community a ,

a
into a st te d g ve security to those w ho pl ughed

a ,
an a o
and s wed their descend nts were then c lled Be v nd

o : a a a a
T t w because t illage and b uilding on the settled soil h d

ae a, a
m ade li fe pleasant to the ncient Germans But M ii l l e h o ff a . n
held th t Sceaf Scyld B aw and T aet w w ere all to be

a , , e ,
a
t ken s Freyr god of the fields d o f the s e M ii l l e h ff

a a ,
an a . n o
finds Freyr not only i the Beo w l f wh o was Hrothg r s n u a

’
a ncestor but also in the hero o f the poem Beo w l f son o f

, , u
E g th eo w
c For the s wimming r ce w ith Breca he finds
. a ,
“
K em b l e
’
s S axo n s i n E ng l a n d .
par llel in F ey s contest g inst storm personi fi ed by the

a r
’
r a a ,
Gi n t Beli Beo wul f and Breca sw m tow rds the Pol r seas
a a a a ,
and the s words they carried sign i fied that they w ent to subdue
the ri gour o f the n rthern bl st Grendel is the god o f the o a .
w ild s e in storm t the t i me o f the S pring equinox Beo w l f s

’
a a . u
contest w ith Grendel typifies s ys M ii ll e h off the checking , a n ,
o f the f ry of the w aves that threaten to flood the fl ts o f

u a
the l o w Germ n shore As Grendel represen t s the s e under

a . a
the equinocti l g les o f spring the Dragon represents the gales

a a ,
o f the other equinox a d the w ild sea d the storms that ,

n an
bring w i ter Beo w ul f has become an old man (th t means

n . a ,
it is tumn ) ; he kno ws th t his de th is ne r (winter is

au a a a
coming) ; b t the w inter storms e not to over whelm all

u ar
li fe and Beo wulf dies victorious His heroic li fe o f action

, .
is the Summer b etw een the victory over the storms of early
spring beyon d w hich he lives i summer glory and over the
, n ,
a utu m n storms th t leave him de d w ith the l nd saved a a ,

a
from lasting ruin .
Uhland s w i Grendel a pesti ferous m rsh on a

a n a
l o w shore ; and L i s t e h c rried t this ide by a n r as a ou a
U h d seeing
la n ,
in the ss ults o f Grendel th t bring a a , a
L i m
a b‘
de th to the d well ers in H eo ot the entrance
’
a r ,
o f m l ri into t h e house d h ighly i n creased de t h

a a a , an a a
r te He tr ces t h Beo of Beo wul f to the M aesogo th i c

a . a e
b gj an to clean e w hence B e wa the cleanser

an , s ,
a , .
Wol f he expl ins int mist a d thus makes Beo wul fa o ,

n
the cle nser from m ist I f there fore Grendel be mist

a .
, , ,
Be wul f is the w ind th t blo w s the m i st aw y The

o a a .
Dr gon also is interpreted b y L i s t e into mist When

a a n r .
Beo w ulf s wam w ith Brec th ey w ere cc rd i g to L ai t n e a, ,

a o n s r,
wi d n d s n armed g inst ice o f the north ; fo Beo w ul f

an u ,
a a r
w s wi d
a d Breca the bre ker r l ed over the B o d i g
n ,
an ,
a ,
u r n n s
fi eb
r d s hot r ys of the summ r
ran ,
Here let us p us e
a e . a .
E nou g h o f w i nd and mist O e more o f these i ngenious . n
turns o f the mythologic scre w might convert Beo wul f int o

34 8 E N GL I SH W R I T E RS .
then the Dragon story (11) give this to another man whom ,
you ca ll I n terpolator B He revises everythi g th t has bee n

. n a
don e be fore is the monk who puts in th e Christian touche

,
s,
edits the whole vigoro u sly (sho w e actly w here and ho w ; x
never doubt that you kno w al l bout it) and he introduces a ,
the little historical episodes This describes exactly enough .

, ,
the theory of Karl M ii l l e ho fl one of the ablest of the modern

n
'
w orkers upon Beo w ul f d may s er e as a key to the l st ew

, an v a n
method of criticism in our early literat re The metho d is u .
not itsel f so exception b le as the delusive air of ex ctness a a
w ith w hich it is a p plied This gives to mere guesses an air

.
of positiveness u f vour ble to the gro wth o f that sound

n a a
critic l judgm ent w hich never forgets the b oun d ries b et w een
a a
kno wn pr b b le d possible As there are some evident

, o a ,
an .
touches from a Christian hand in a poem w hich i n other ,
respects is b ody and so u l pag n d s we have it in t h e

,
a , an a
language here formed by a fusion o f di lects a language a ,
spoken only in this country w kno w it to h ve been shaped , e a
by Christian in E ngl n d and reason bly accept it as his

a a , a
faith ful revisio n of a legend brought from over s e a .
M ii l l e h o fi vie w o f the poem s composed o f parts

n
"
s , a
once separ te h as been dopted and confirmed by Her

a , a
man n M eller in a book which seeks to procure

a strophic rrangement o f the poe m into fo u r
a
lined b all d stan as By thro wing out w hatever

a z .
interferes w ith arr ngement of the nar ative an a r
into four li n ed stan s each of them closed w ith a ful l

-
za ,
s top and w ith aid here and there only of a little reason
,
a ble ingenuity Hermann M ller s h o ws that he

, l eave o can
the t wo main stories cle rly told through in such b llad a a
form .But he fi nds only fragments o f this rrangement in a
the p rts believed to be interpol ted The theory o f strophic

a a .
arrangement w ill be discussed when w e come to a c nsidera o
tion of F irst E glish Metre ; only its use in suppo t o f t h e

n r
theory of M ul l e hoff concerns us ow n n .

C H APT E R VII .
T HE F I G HT AT F I NN E S B U R G .
A F R A G M E NT heroic Ang lo S xon poetry containing part

of -
a ,
o f a description o f the fight at F i n es b u g was found in the n r ,
seve teenth century by Dr George H i ck es on T h fi h

n .
e g t
the cover o f M S of H omilies in the library at m g“i
a .
at n
m
La m beth Pal ce The volume has been doubt
a .
,
less since rebound an d the old cover destroyed in i g o

, ,
n r
ance o f its great value The fragment was pu b lished b y .
H i ck es i n his “
Thesaurus o f old Northern Langu ages
( 7 3
1 0 and is part o f a poe m on the sam e
“
peril o f
F in s o ff spring which forms an episode o f the tale told at
’
the feast after Beo wul f s conquest of Grendel Fin was a ’

.
prince o f the Frisians and the rush and stir of the life o f
the past th t aroused a quiet antiquary by its cry from the
a
cover o f a so b er book o f early H omilies in an old li b rary ,
w as this
n ev e r bu rn . Th e n
d al ou d t he w arl i k e you ng k i ng
c ri e ,
Th i s da w ns not from t he E as t n or fl i es a d rag o n h e re n o r are t he

, ,
h o rns of t h i s hal l bu rn i ng ; b u t h e re i t bl azes fo rt h T h e bi rd s s i ng .

,
t h e c ri ck e t s ch i rp t h e w a rw ood res o u n d s s h i e l d ans w e rs t o s h a ft

, , No w .
s h i nes t h e m oo n w a nd e ri ng am on g cl o u d s N ow ari s e d eed s o f w oe .
t h a t t he h at re d o f t h i s peo p l e w i l l d o Bu t w a k e u p n ow m y w arri o rs
.
, ,
h ol d y ou r l a nd s rem em be r you r val ou r m arch i n rank b e o f one

, , ,
H i ck es
’
s The sau ru s L i ngu aru m Se p t e n t ri o nal i u m , i . 1 92 .
350 E NGL ISH I VR I T E RS .
h ea rt . Th e n a ros e m any a g o l d d eck ed t h ane g i rd e d hi m w i t h h is -

,
s w o rd N o b l e w arri o rs w e n t t o t h e d o o r ; S i g efe rt h a nd E ah a d re w
.
t h e i r s w o rd s a n d a t t h e o t h e r d oo rs O rd l a f a nd G u t h l a f an d H e n gi s t
,
h i m se l f t u rne d o n t h e i r t rack Th e n y e t G a ru l f re proach e d G ut h h e re

.
,
t h a t h e s o j oyo u a s ou l b o re n o t a rm s t o t h e h a l l s d oor a t t h e fi rs t
’
,
s ,
i n s t an t n o w t h a t a fi e rce e n e m y w o u l d t a k e i t
, B u t a b o v e al l t h e .
,
fi e rc e wa rri o r a k e d op e nl y Wh o h el d t h e d oo r
s S i g e fe rt h i s m y
,
na m e q u o t h h e I am t h e S ecg a s l o rd a w a rri o r w i d el y k n o w n I
,
’ ‘ ’
, .
h a v e s u ffe red m any w oes h ard b at t l e s \Vh i ch e v er t h ou w il t s e e k

, .
fro m m e i s h e re d e cre e d fo r t h ee
, Th e n w as t h e d in o f s l au g h t e r i n
t h e h al l T h e k e e l ed bo ard s h o u l d
.
(t h e s wo rd ) t h e y t o o k i n h a nd
t o b re ak t h e b one h e l m T h e b u rg fl o o r re s o u nd ed u n t i l G a ru l f
.
,
G u t h h e re s s o n fe l l fi rs t o f e art h d w el l e rs i n t h e fi g h t
’
,
T h e co rp ses -
.
o f m an y g o od foes w e re a bo u t h i m T he ra v en w an d e red s w ar t an d .
,
s al l o w b ro w n T h e s w o rd g l e am s t o od as i f al l Fi n s bu rg w e re o n
’
-
.
fi re . N e ve r h av e I h ea rd o f s i x t y con q u e ri n g h e roes w ho be t te r bo re
t h e m a t a c o n fli c t o f m e n n o r e v e r re q u i t e d s o n g o r b ri g h t m e ad b e t t e r
,
t h an hi s y o u ng w a rri o rs re q u i t e d H nae f Th e y fo u gh t fi v e d ays s o .

,
t h a t n o ne o f t h e m o f t h e n o b l e c o m rad es fe l l b u t t h e y h el d t h e d o o r
, , , .
Th en t h e w ou n d e d h e ro w e n t w al k i ng awa y H e sai d t h at hi s b yrni e .
w as b ro k en h i s w a r d res s w eak a n d al s o t h at hi s h e l m was p i e rce d

, , .
Th en th e g u ard i an o f h is p eo p l e qu i ck l y as k e d h i m h ow th e w arri o rs
h ad reco v e re d fro m t h e i r w ou nd s o r w h e t h e r o f t h e y ou ng m e n , P
The s me struggle is the s bject of an epi sode

a u
“
in B e w l ffi At the feast in H eo ot after the
o u r
victory over Grendel

Th e re w as s ong j o i n ed w i t h t he s ou n d o f m u s i c t h e g l e e wo od w a s ,
w el co m ed t h e s o n g fre q u e n t w h en H ro t h g ar s s c op t h e j oy o f t h e
’
, , ,
h a l l t o l d a ft e r t h e s i t t i ng a t m ea d o f F i n s o ffs p ri ng s e i z ed by s u dd e n
’
,
d ang er w h e n H eal fd en e s h e ro H n aef o f t h e S cyl d i ng s fe l l i n F ri e s

’
, ,
l a nd .
Not H i l d eb u rh , i nd ee d , co u l d p ra i se t he fa i t h of J u te s .
A t the s hi el d -
p l ay she, s i nl es s , w as d e p ri v e d of he r d ear o n es ,
ch i l d re n a n d b ro t h e rs t h e i r fa t e w as t o fal l p i e rced b y t h e s p e ar .
N o t w i t h o u t ca u s e H o ce s d au g h t er m o u rn e d h e r d o o m w h e n
’
, i n the
m o rn i n g s h e m i g h t s ee u n d e r t h e s k y t h e ba l e fu l m u rd e r
, of h er
k i nd red w h ere i n sh e befo re h ad m os t o f t h e wo rl d s jo y
,
’
.
Be o wu l f 11 , .
35 2 E NGL lSh
'
I VR I T E RS .
w h en G u thl a f a nd fi e rce a t t ack a ft e r s ea v o yag e w e re m i n d fu l

Os l a f i n , ,
o f so rro w a n d a v e ng e d t h e i r s h a re o f w o es ; t h e w a v e ri n
, g c o u ra g e
s t ay e d no t i n h is b reas t The n w a s t h e h al l be se t w i t h e n e m i es F i n
.
,
a l s o w as s l a i n t h e k i ng i n t h e t h ro ng a n d t h e q u e e n t ak e n
, T he .
w arri o rs o f t h e S cy l d i n g s c a rri e d t o t h e i r s h i p s a l l t h e g oo d s o f t h e
k i ng o f t h e l an d s u ch as t h e y m i g h t fi nd i n F i n 5 h o m e o f j e w e l s a n d
,
ra re g e m s Th ey ca rri e d a w ay w i t h t h e m t h e ro yal w o m an t oo k h e r
.
,
t o t h ei r pe o pl e .
T h e l a y w as s u ng , t h e s o ng of the gl e e m an ; u r i th e
p o se a a
g n
s o u n d o f s p o rt , an d n o i s e w a s l ou d u p o n t he b e n ch es .
”
The Fri si ns o f this song w h o h d Fin f their leader

a ,
a or ,
w ere the North Frisi ns on the w est co st o f S chles w ig d a a an
in the isl nds of the North S ea not the West a ,
Frisi ns by the R h i eba k wh o sh red the fight

a n n ,
a
in which H yg el c fell Fin w s the son o f F o l a . a c
w alda .F o l cw l d me ns ruler of the people and the

a a a ,
m e o f Fin has been deri ed fro m the Gothic fani old

.
”
na v ,
High German f nni or fenn i “

fen his people h vi n g
a
”
,
”
a , a
their homes mong bro d lakes d fensa a an .
From the lines which y th t fter the funeral o f sa a a
H aef the w rriors dep rted to visit the homes b ere ft o f

n a a
friends to see Friesl n d its homes and its hig h burg

, a , , ,
Grein in ferred that F i esb u g w s h ll of Fin s in Jutl nd nn r a a a

’
a ,
not his chief se t o f g overnment As Grein read these a .
fragments of an old heroic song H aef o f the race o f the , n ,
H o i gsc n thane of the D nish king H eal fd en e f ther o f

,
a a , a
Hrothg r w staying t F i esb u g

a , as guest w ith sixt y a nn r as a ,
me n one o f the sixty b eing Hengest w h o is no way to be ,
regarded as the He gest wh o cam e to E gl nd w ith h i s n n a
brother Hors Fi s men tre cherou ly tt cked these

a . n
’
a s a a
guests one night It is suggestion of E t t m ii l l s th t the

. a er
’
a
a tt ck c me o f fresh outbre k of l d trib l fe ds that h d

a a a a o a u a
been i m perfectly st yed by m rri ge bet ween Fin and a a a
H i l d eb h ur H erm nn M oller dds th t the giving o f

. a a a
H ae f s sister s w i fe to Fin w ould according to the ol d

’
n a ,
l aws fo t he s taying of b lood feu d be i n aton ement for t he

r -
,
T HE F I GH T AT F I NNESB U R G .
353
killing of Fin s f ther F ol c w l d a by H aef or b y H aef s

’
a , a ,
n n
’
f ther H c
a ,
The D nes de fended themselves fo five d y s
o a . a r a
w ithin F i es b g killing m ny
nn f their ssail
ur nts d , a o a a , an
with little loss mong themse l ves At the end of the fi fth
a .
day H aef w as killed Hengest then took his pl ce s

n . a a
le der of the de fence Fin seeing th t ne rly l l h i s men

a .
,
a a a
w ere killed st yed the att ck d o fl e e d terms o f pe ce

'
a a ,
an r a .
,
He promised Hengest d his men another h ll w ith equ l an a ,

a
sh re o f gi fts to D es d Frisi ns There foll wed the

a an an a . o
b rning d buri l of the body of H aef by H i l d eb u h

u an a n r ,
d ughter o f H oca wh o see m s to have been H aet s sister

a ,
n
’
an d the w i fe of Fin The n Fin w ent to his chie f roy l . a
se t his high burg in F riesl nd The winter seas del y ed

a ,
a . a
Hengest s return to Den m rk nd either before or fter his

’
a a a
return H u l fi ng killed hi m with the s word Another

,
n a .
re ding ho wever m kes H nl fi ng the n me of h i s ow

a , , a u a a n
sword which he simply f stened to his b oso m I f before

, a .
he could s il aw y he fell w hen ttempt in g a revenge upon

a a , a
the tre chery of Fin s the context m kes probable ( he

a
“
, a a
thought more o f vengeance th n o f the voyage the n the e a r
venge followed his death The D nes returned in force under . a
Guthlaf and Osl af nd made fierce att ck upon F i n n es b g , a a ur .
The hall w s filled w ith the slain Fin himself fell in the throng
a , ,
and his queen H i l d e b h w s carried back to her ow pe ple ur a n o .
Joseph Mone h s c lled attentio n to clear tr ces in the a a a
fight t F i n es bu g of correspondence w i th some points in

a n r
the story of Gudrun and the story of the Ni b elungen Mr . .
H igh wh o m k es E ngl nd itsel f the scene of all t hese heroic

a , a a
tales in the first E nglish speech argues ingeniou sly that the ,
site of F i nes b rg is to b e found at F i n sham in Nor folk

n u n .
There remain to us fragm ents o f W l d h ere a first a ,
E nglish poe m upon the t le o f W lter of Aquita i ne a a
W l t h ri s M u fo t i s T wo p rchment le ves of
a a u an r . a a
W ld h
W l d h e e e ch containing thirty one lines were
a r , a -
,
a e re .
discovered b y Pro fessor E C Werl a fl ch i e f librarian of . . u

'
,
the King s Library t Copenh gen among M SS th t h d

’
a a , . a a
belonged to T ho k el i d they w ere p u blished by Pro

r n, an
fe s s o George S tephens o f C penh gen in the ye r 8 6

r , o a ,
a 1 0 .
These fr g m ents prob bly represent a vers i on of that heroic

a a
tale ne rly t wo cent ries earlier th n t he L tin metric l

a u a a a
version m de b y E kk h t w ho died Abbot of St Gall in

a e ar ,
.
,
the ye r 9 73 E k k h t preser d in his L tin verse an old

a . e ar ve a
heroic t le then current mong the people But there is much

a a .
yet t be told of myths d s g s of the north d of the k i

o an a a an n
dred li fe cross the sea old t les th t touch ed

a d were , a a u s an
touched b y us E nglish Liter ture grew from in fancy to youth

as a .
There is Tr veller s Song also the tr veller S cop

a— a
’
a a
w h o c lls hi m sel f Wi d s i t h F r way and w hose w ndering is

a , a ,
a
wm i h t
through.
m ny l nds in the old d ys on w hich w
a e a a
D “
e
h ve b een d welling But he was a S cop great
a .
,
a
chief s poet d so ls w as Deor from whom w e have

’
,
an a o ,
l ment th t he h d been s u ppl nted by a rival W e

a a a a .
pass next with them i nto the old Teutonic song w orld d , an
learn something of the t by w hich rough w rriors w ere ar a
stirred through w hich also b y Christi n guides rough

, a
passions were set t rest a .
R ed h and e d
-
, p an t i ng , s l a yi ng t h ro ugh t h e ni g t , h
M an s c a t t ers d eat h an d g l u t s t h e m ort al ran ; b d
R ed fl am es t h e s k y d e ad face s a re al i g h t
,
W i t h fi re n o t k i n d l ed b y a fo e m a n s h an d ’
.
Daw n b ri ng s a bl u s h d face
u po n the d ead co l
A m o rn i ng b re eze m o v es i n t h e m a t t ed h a i r
H e re h o p e h e re h a t e m an s ru i n H ea v e n s g rac e
,
’
,
’
B at h i ng i n l i g h t t he w reck ag e o f d es p a i r .
H na f i s '
no m o re a new c hi ef i n his s t ea d
Ba t t l e s ag a i n s t th e s p i ri t s w h o b e t ra y .
T h e \Vo rd m ad e F l es h l i ft s fro m t he fi e l d o f d e a d
Ou r e yes t o w a rd s t h e p ri n g i ng o f t h e d ay
s .
35 6 E N GL ISH WR I T E R S .
t h at i t w as K i ng Al fred w h o
'
ca u s e d i t to be t ra n s l a t e d ou t of
D a n i s h i n t o A ng l o -S ax o n .
18 1 5 —16 — T h o rk e l i n s La t i n
’
T rans l a t i o n i v e n w i t h t h e t e xt ca u s e d
.
g
h fi rs t p ri nt e d e d i t i on o f t h e Poe m t o b e d i sc u ssed i n 18 1 5 i n
t is , ,
D en m a rk i n t h e Li t e ra t u r T id end i a nd t h e Nye s t e S k i l d e re i ”
-
, ,
a t Kj obe nh a v n w h e re G ru nd t v i g w as t h e c ri t i c i n G e rm a n y i n
”
, ,
J e na L i t Z ei t u ng and t he Ki el e r B l at t e r i n E ng l a nd
.
,
”
,
“
T h e M on t h l y R e v i e w V o l 8 1 a l so fo r 1 8 1 6 ; [i n 18 1 7 b y
”
in , .
, ,
G ru nd t v i g i n t h e D an n e V i rk e a n d by t h e S w e d es a t S t oc k
-
,
h o l m i n I d u na
, I n 1 8 1 8 t h e p o e m w as a l s o d i scu s s ed i n t h e
.
,
G e l e h rt e A nz ei g en
”
o f G ot t i n g e n ] I n 1 8 16 G ru n d t v i g p ro .
p o s e d t o E ras m u s R as k w h o t h e n re t u rn e d fro m a v i s i t t o I c e l a n d
, ,
t h a t t h e y s h ou l d j o i n fo rces i n a n e d i t i o n o f Beo w u l f w h i ch R as k ,
h ad b eg u n t o w o rk a t w h en h e s e t ou t on t h e l o ng j o u rn e y t o t h e
E a s t fro m w h i c h h e cam e h o m e t o d i e .
1 8 1 7 —R as k p ri n t e d a s p ec i m e n o f B e o w u l f i n t h e R ead i ng Bo o k
.
add e d t o h i s
”
A ng el s ak s i k S p rog l aere .
1 8 20 .
— N i k F re d S e v G ru n d t v i g
. .
“
Bj o w u l f s D ra p e
. E t G o th i s k .
’
.
H e l t e D i g t fra fo rri g e A ar T a s i nd e a f A ng el S ax is k paa Da ns k e -
A fre e rhy m e d t ra ns l a t i o n i n t o D an i s h
”
B ii m . .
18 2 6 — J o h n J os i a s C o ny b eare
. I ll u s t rat i o n s of A n g l o S a x o n Po e t ry
.
-
.
E d i t ed t o g e t h e r w i t h add i t i o n al N o t es I n t ro d u c t o ry N o t i ces &c

, , , .
,
by W D C o nyb ea re M A L o nd o n Pu bl i sh e d by t h e S oc i e t y
. .
, . .
, .
o f A n t i q u a ri es Th i s c on t ai ns a fu l l d e s c ri p t i on o f Beo w u l f w i t h
”
.
,
p as s a es
g i n m e t ri ca l t ra n s l a t i o n and s om e p i e c es of t he A ng l o
Saxon .
— “ T he A n l o Sax o n Po e m s T rav el l e r s S o ng of Be ow u l f, t he
’
g
-
,
E d i t ed t og e t h er w i t h a G l o s s ary
”
an d t h e B a t t l e o f F i n n e s b u rh .
,
o f t h e m o re d i ffi c u l t w o rd s a n d a n H i s t o ri ca l P re fac e by J o h n M , , .
Ke m b l e Lo nd on : W Pi ck eri ng E d i ti on of 100 c opi es al l

. . .
s o l d i n t h ree w e e k s .
1 8 3 5 — A s e co nd e d i t i o n o f K e m b l e s
’
. B eo w u l f .
18 3 7 . A T ran s l at i o n o f t h e A ng l o S a x o n Poe m of B e o w u l f wi t h a -
,
c o pi o u s G l os sary P re fac e and P h i l o l og i cal N o t es b y J oh n M

, , , .
Ke m bl e .
1 8 39 . I I ei n ri ch L eo
-
B e o w u l f d as z a l t es t e d e u t s ch e i n a ng e l
.
, ,
sach s i s c h e r M u n d a rt e rh a l t e n e H e l d eng ed i c h t n a c h s e i n e m I n h a l t e
'
, ,
u n d n a c h s e i n e n h i s t o ri s c h e n u n d m y t h o l og i s ch en Be z i eh u ng e n
b e t rac h t e t E i n Be i t rag zu r G es c h i ch t e a l t e r d e u t s ch en G ei s t e s
.
Z u s t ae n d e Pu b l i s h e d a t H a l l e
. .
1 8 40 —
. Lu d w i g E t t mul l e r B eow u l f H e l d e ng e d i ch t d e s ach t e n
. .
J a h rh u nd e rt s Z u m ers t en M a l e a u s d e m A ng e l sfi ch s i sc hen i n d as
.
B I BL I OG R A P H Y OF B E G WU L F .
35 7
N e u h o chd e u t sc h ebrei m e nd u b e rs e t zt u n d m i t E i nl ei t u ng u nd
s ta
A n m erk u n g e n v ers eh en
”
A t ran s l a t i on i n t o a l l i t era t i v e v e rse .
,
p u b l i s h e d a t Z u ri c h .
18 4 7 — F red e ri k S ch al d e m ose
. B e o W u l f o g S c o p e s W i d s i t h t o an g e l .
-
,
k e D i g t e , m ed O v ers ze t t e l s e og 0p l ys e nd e A n m aerk n i ng e r
s axi s .
Te x t , w i t h t ra n s l a t i o n i nt o D an i sh , o f w h i ch t h e re w as an o t h e r
d i t i on p u b l i sh e d a l so at C o pe n hag e n i n 1 8 5 1
e .
— “
1 8 49 A Di ed ri ch \Vack e rb art h
. . Beo w u l f a n E p i c Po e m t ra n s .
,
l a t e d fro m t h e A n g l o S ax on i n t o E ng l i s h V e rs e L ond on :
-
.
P i ck eri ng .
185 5 — Benj a m i n Th o rp e “
. T h e A n g l o Sax on Po em s o f Beo w u l f t h e
.
-
,
S c op o f G l ee m a n s Tal e an d t h e F i g h t at F i n n es b u rg wi th a
’ ”
, ,
L i t e ral T rans l at i o n Pu bl i s h ed at O x fo rd b y J A Park e r . . . .
1 85 7 — C W M
. . G re i n B e ow u l f i n t h e
. . B i b l i o t h e k d e r a ng e l s a c h
.
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H e n g es t o f F i n nes b u rg , 3 5 2 , 3 5 3 e mb le , o h n M i t che l l , 3 1 2 , 3 4 5
H e ng i st and H orn , 208 , 2 44 K e n t , 1 5 4 , 20 8
H e n g wrt . 2 38 K i an, 2 1 9
H en wg , t he Ba rd , K i n Art hu r , 2 09 , 2 1 9, 2 3 5
H eremod , 33 9 , 340 K i t c e i i -m i d d e n s , D a n i s h , 1 3 4
H e re ri c , 30 K i t s Co t y H ou s e , 1 3 8
'
h
H e rg e s t , T e R e d Book o f, 2 3 8 Kb l b i n E u ge n, 3 1 6
g
,
H e rod ot u s on t he H y pe rb o re a n s , 1 44 K y wry 2 19
I N DE XES .
6
3 5
L M il es ia n s , 1 72 , 1 73
L i L , 3 46
a s t ne r , .
M i t h ri d a t e s 2 6 5 ,
L a k e D w e ll i ng s of t h e S t one P e ri od , M od t hry t ho , 3 3 6 3 39
l 341 135 H e rma nn , 3 4 8 , 3 5 2 , 3 5 3
fi ll e r,
L a n d na ma b 6 k , T he , 2 7 1 M m s og o t h s , 1 30 - 2
55
—258
L a o d i ce , 1 44 M o n e , ose p h 3 5 1
’
L a t ha m , D r R G , 2 4 6. . . M ong o o i d s , 1 3 1 1 3 2
K
,
L a t he s o f e n t , 2 4 7 M or l a i s , t h e R i v e r 2 1 7 ,
L a t i n , Pe ri od s o f t h e I n t rod u ct i on o f, M orrig a u , t h e Ba t t l e F u r 1 9 1 2 00 ,
i n t o E ng l i s h , 1 6 2 M o y t u ra , Ba t t l e o n t h e l a i n o f, 1 7 2 ,
L ea b h a r B re a c, 2 0 2 . 73
n a -h U i d re , 1 8 2 , 2 0 1
-
’ '
K
M i i l l e n h o fl , a rl , 3 4 5 , 3 4 8
L e ca i n , T h e Y e ll o w Boo k o f, 2 0 2 M ul l e r, P e t e r E ras m u s , 3 1 1
L e i ns t e r , 1 68, 1 6 9 , 1 7 5 M u n s t e r, 1 69 , 1 70
T h e B oo k o f, 1 76, 1 79 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 3 , M y nyd d a w g , 2 2 1
2 0 1 , 2 02 M y rd d h i n 2 1 9
L e i t r i m , 1 72 M yt h s E a rl y
,
1 4 1 — 1 44
—
, ,
L e mck e , L u d w i g , 3 16 su g es t e d i n B e o w u l f, 3 43 3 4 7
g
L e o , H e i n ri c h , 3 1 4, 3 1 8 M y v y ri a n A rc ha mI Ogy o f Wa l e s 2 3 8 , ,
L h u y d , E d wa rd , 1 5 3 2 39
L i be r L a n d a v e ns i s , 2 3 8
L i ncol ns h i re , 1 5 5 N
L i nd i s fa rne , 2 1 5 N a d d o t hr, 2 69
L i s m o re , 1 8 1 1 82 N e m a n , M a c ha , a nd M o rri g a n , ol d
L i t e ra t u re o f P e Op l e 1 2 3 .
I ri s h Ba t t l e F u ri e s , 19 1
t he E n l is h P e o p l e 1 2 4 N e nn i u s , 2 4 2
,
7 O l d G a e i c D e g re e s i n, 1 70, 1 71 N orfo l k , 2 08
L i t t u s Sax o n i cu m , 20 5 N o rt h u mb ria , 1 5 5 , 2 09
L l a nd a fl , 2 3 8
'
L l oe g ri a ns , 2 1 8
L l y fr Coc h 2 3 8 O
L l y w a rc h He n , 2 1 0 , 2 1 4 — 2 1 8
O C u rry , E u g e ne , 1 73 , 1 8 1 , 1 87
’
L oca l N a m e s , C e l t i c , 1 5 7 1 5 9 -
L oc hl a n , 1 9 5 O d i n . 2 6 4 . 2 6 5 . 3 1 3 3 44 .
Od o —
L o n d o n , 1 5 1 , 2 06 a c e r , 2 5 7 259
O D o noya n
'
J
oh n , 1 97
L y c ia i i a n d Ol e n , 1 4 5
0 113 5 , l e h
"
T W —3 30 . 3 37 3 3 9
—
O 2
. 3 7
L y e l l , S i r C harl e s , 1 3 4 , 1 3 5
L y mp ne , 2 0 5 O g ha m L e t t e rs , 1 6 7 1 70
O i s i n ,
1 66 ,
1 80 -
1 86 :
M O le n , 1 45
O ll am h , 1 70
M a c G re or, J am e s , D ean of L is m ore , O n e la , 300
—
h i s 00 11 , 1 8 1, 1 82 O nge t h e o w , 3 00 306
M ac h e i s o n , a m e s , 1 80 , 1 8 1 O p i s a nd A rg e, 1 4 5
M ag R a t h , o f, O l T d i t i o n A cc u rac y i n 1 70 1 7 1
g e nd of t he Bat t l e r a ra , , , ,
1 97 —200 I 76 . I 77
M a h a b hara t a , 1 2 8 O sca r, s o n o f 0 15 m , 1 8 3 1 8 4
M ai l a nd , J a co b v a n d e r, 2 5 3 P oe m o n t h e d ea t h o f, 1 94 , 1 9 5
M an u sc ri p t M a t e ria l s fo r S t u d y of O s t ro g o t hs , 2 5 7 2 6 1 —
G a e l i c L a ng u a g e an d L i t e ra t u re , O t ad i n i , 20 9
2 00 —20 2 O t h ona , 20 5
C y m ri c L a ng ua g e O u d e n d orp (o r O l d e nd o rp ) , oha n n. J
an dL i t e ra t u re , 2 3 7 —2 3 9 15 1
M at t h e w P a ri s 3 3 3 3 8 O w en , Wi l l ia m 2 18
f
,
M ea v , Q u e e n, lie r a m e n t for C u c h orb ,

P
M e l a no c h ro i , 1 3 1 , 1 3 2
M e n d i p H i ll s , 1 5 4 Pa l g ra v e , S i r F ra nc i s , 2 09
M e ng a n t , 2 1 9 Pa t ri ck S a i n t , an d 0 15 m , 1 86 , 1 87
M e rl i n, 2 1 9 P e g w e l l Ba y , 2 4 5
M e ro v m g i an s , 2 6 1 , 3 3 5 Pel m i ss us 1 4 5
M e t ho d u s , 2 6 3 Pen t l a n d I I i ll s , 1 5 4
‘
M e t re s , C e l t i c , 2 3 6 2 3 7 , P e rc y , D r . J
oh n , 1 3 3
Sca n d i n a v i an , 2 73 , 2 74 P e v e nse y , 20 5
A ng l o-S ax on . 2 95 . 2 96 . 34 5 . 3 46 P h i l os t o rg i u s , 2 5 5
3 6 6 I N D E X ES .
P i n d a r, h i s re fe re nce to H yp e rbo rea n s , S p o i l s o f T a l i e s i n , T he , 2 1 2

I 43 S t e p ha n u s o f B y za n t i u m , 1 4 5
Poe t s S ta v e s , 1 70
’
S t e p h e ns , Pro f G eo rg e , 26 7, 2 6 8 ,
.
Po m pe y , 2 6 5 T hom a s , 2 1 9
Pot t , A u g u s t F ri ed ri c h , 1 2 9 S t o k es , W h i t l e y , 2 3 6
P ri me S t o ri e s , G a e l i c 1 7 1 S t o ne Pe ri od , T he , 1 3 2 — 1 3 8
P ri s c i a n , M S of, w i t hG a e l i c G l o s s e s ,
. S t ra bo , 2 0 5
2 00 S t y rm e r t h e L ea rn e d , 2 7 1
P roco p i u s , 2 5 3 S u ff olk , 20 8 3 2 5 ,
P t o l e m y , C la u d i u s , 2 4 9 S u i b hne , T h e C o w a rd i ce o f, 200
P u rs u i t o f D ia rma i d a nd G rai n né , S u rre y , 1 5 1
1 90 S u sse x 1 5 1 , 2 08
P y t heas , 264 S w a l e da l e , 2 2 1
Q
Q u o i t s , t he C o rn i s h , 1 38
R T i
ac t us, 1, 1 5 3 , 2 05 , 2 49
T ain B0 C h i i a i g n é 1 76 — 1 79 ,
R a m aya na , T he , 1 2 7 T a l e s C l ass i fi e d fo r R eci t a t i o n , 171

R a s k , E ra s m u s , 1 2 4 1 2 6 . T a l ha i a rn , 2 1 9
R a w l i n s o n P ro f G e o rg e , 1 46
T i
.
a l i es n , 2 1 0 , 2 1 4
S i r H e n ry 1 4 6 af ar I 1 75
T
31
R e c u l v e rs , 2 0 T e i l o, h e Bo ok o f, 2 3 8
R e d Boo k o f H
e rg es t , 2 3 8 T e v i o t d a l e , 2 20
g m’
iiii T he od or ic , t he O s t rog o t h , 2 5 7 - 2 6 1
'"I
ed — 2 09 I , K
i ng o f M e t z , 3 3 2 , 3 3 5
i
e 20 3
R i c h o ro u g h , 20 5 S on o f I d a ,
R o m a n Occ u pa t i o n of B ri t a i n , T he od os i u s , E m p e ror, 2 5 6
I h i n (i l l r, P l a i n o f, 2 72
'
2 43 1 ? 44
R o m a n s i n G e rm a n y , 2 54 T ho r e l i n , G ri m J
oh n s o n , 3 1 1 , 312,
R u n es , 2 66 — 2 6 8 352
T ho rp e B e nj am i n, 3 1 4 , 3 1 5
S T ho rt ha rs on , S t u rl a , 2 7 1
S a cae , 1 2 6 , 1 47, 2 5 4 T h u l e . 2 64 , 2 7 1
S aem u n d S i g fu s so n , 2 73 T i g h e rna c h , A n n a l s o f, 2 0 1
S a i n t I l t u t s H e rm i t ag e , 1 3 8
’
T i n fro m B ri t a i n , 1 49 , 1 5 0
S ak on t a l a , 1 2 8 T u i s co , 1 2 5
S an s k ri t , 1 2 7— 1 3 0
Sax o , A M y t h i ca l , 1 2 6
U
G ram ma t i cu s , 3 1 1 , 3 3 7
—
’
U fl c . 3 3 7. 3 8
S a x o n s , 1 2 6 , 2 0 8 , 2 49 2 5 4
S ca n d i n a v i a , 1 3 0 , 2 6 4 —2
U I
es h a l l n S u ffo l k , 3 2 5
S co t a , M o t h e r of t he L i es i ans , I 1 6 7,
gg
U and , L u d w i g , 3 46
U l fi l as , 2 5 5 — 2 5 8
S
17
U l s t e r, 1 75
Sc I d c e fi n
h i
3 1 7, 3 40, 3 4 1
S c l e g e l , F r ed ri c h , 1 2 9
A n n a l s o f, 20 2
U p sa l a , S i l v e r C o d e x a t , 2 5 7
S c y t hs , 1 2 6 , 1 47 1 6 7, 2 5 4
U ri e n 2 0 3 2 09— 2 1 7
Se mi t i c F a m i l i es o f M a n, 1 2 4
i —
,
T a l e s i n 5 So g
n s o f 2 1 3 2 14
S e nc han , G ae l i c c h i e f p o e t , 1 76
,
L l y w a rc h H e n o n t h e D e a t h o f,
Se t t l e m e n t s T he S i x T e u t o n i c , in
E ng l a n d 20 8 , 2 4 1 —2 5 3
,
2 15
,
S i ml L a k e , 3 1 7
S i m u nd , 3 3 9 V
S i u re s , 1 5 3
S i l v e r C o d e x a t U ps a l a , 2 5 7 V e d a s , T he , 1 2
S i m roc k , Ka rl , 3 1 5
S i n fi ot l i 3 3 9
V e l s c h ow , D r
V e n t ry H a rbo u r, 1 01
M 311 .
J
. .
S ki l d s k a pa rm al , 2 73 V e rs t e g a n , R i c ha rd , 1 2 5
S k ea t , Prof W W , 3 4 1 — 3 4 3
. . . V e s p as i a n , 2 4 3
S l a ng a p i g , 3 1 8 V i l l e ma rq u é , Vi co m t e H e rsa rt d e
Sla v o n i a n s , 1 30 , 2 6 3
S n o rri S t u rl u s o n , 2 73 V o l s u n g a -sa g a , 3 3 9
S o me rs e t s h i re , 1 5 1 Vu lfi l a s , 2 5 5 —2 5 8
E G L I S H W R I T E RS
N E XT S UMME R
oak II
F RO M CI E D M ON T O T H E C O NQU E ST

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EN G L I SH WR I T E R S

A HI ST ORY OF ENGL I SH LI T ERAT U RF

A F I R ST volume o f E NG L I S H WR I T E R S wa published in the

year 8 6 4 as an a ou n t o f the Writers b e fore Chaucer

w ith an in t roducto y sketch f the Four Peri ds f E g l i s h

Literatu re This was an oct vo of about 8 pages

presentl y divided into hal f volumes and follo wed in 8 6 7

by a third h l f volume w hich b rought the story do wn to

the invention of printing The design then partly complete d

had b een to descri b e the course f E nglish Liter ture w ith

detail enough to make its meaning clear and give it interest

the hands of students an d the b ook was credited w ith

havi ng hit a mark at w hich it did not ai m .

While th t generous estimate of the b ook m de i t

writer the more conscious o f deﬁciency it w as securi ng ,

him dmission to n ew ﬁelds o f labour in w hich study o f

Literature until then the chie f pleasure b ec me also the

ch ie f duty of his w orking li fe .

Under such condition s the book could not be reprinted

t h at time also the la b ours o f the E arly E glish Text S ociety

a n d o f m an y good scholars in E ngla n d and Germany were

A F I R ST volume o f E N G L I S H WR I T E R S was published in t h e

year 8 6 4 as an accou n t o f the Writers b e fore Chaucer

w ith an introductory sketch f the Four Periods f E nglis h

Literatu re This wa an oct vo of bout 8 pages

presentl y divided into hal f volumes and follo wed in 8 6 7, ,

by a third h l f volume w hich b rought t h e story do wn to

the inventi n of printing The design then partly completed

had b een to descri b e the course f E nglish Liter ture w ith

detail enough to make its meaning clear and give it interest

the h nds of students n d the b ook was credited w ith

having hit mark at w hich it did not i m

Wh ile th t generous estimate of the b ook made its

writer the more consci us o f deﬁciency it was securi n g

him admission to new ﬁelds o f labour in w hich stu dy of ,

Liter ture until then the chie f pleasure b ec me also t he

chie f duty o f his w ork ing li fe .

U n der such c ndition s the b ook could not be reprinted

or continued w ithout very con s iderable change o f pl n At a

a d o f m an y good schol rs in E ngla n d and Germany were

year 8 6 4 as n accou t o f the Writers be fore Ch ucer

w ith an in t roductory sk tc h f t h e Four Periods f E nglish

presentl y divided int h l f volumes and foll wed in 8 6 7

by a third h l f volume w hich brought the story do wn to

the invention of printing The design then partl y complete d

had b een to descri b e the course o f E nglish Lit r ture w ith e a

detail enough t m ke its me ning cl ar and gi e it interest

to readers general ly But t he volumes ch ieﬂy passed into

the hands o f students d the b ok w s credited w ith

having hit a mark t w hich it did not aim

W hile that generous estim t e o f the b ook m de i t a a s

w riter the more conscious o f deﬁciency it w as securing ,

him admission t w ﬁelds o f l b o r in w hich study o f

Literature until then the chie f ple sure b ecam l so t h e

ch ie f duty f his w ork ing li fe

Under such conditions t h e book could not be reprinted

that time also the l bours o f t he E rly E glish Text Society

an d of m an y good schol rs in E ngla d and Germany w ere

b eginning to m ke large annual ddition to the know ledge

o f our e rly literaturea In rese rch over the whole ﬁeld

there were new energies at w ork Their issues were w orth .

With a resolve there fore to rec st the origin l design

E NG L I S H WR I T E R S as ﬁrst publis h ed w as su ffered to p ss