The following lines are from the description of the deluge: The Lord sent rain from heaven, and also Empty let the well-brooks through on the world; Dark-sounded; The sea rose o'er their shore-walls. Stern and strong was he who o'er the waters swayed, Covered and overwhelmed the sinful sons of middle earth With the dark waves. The extracts here given have been modernized, especially in their spelling; otherwise they would be hard to interpret. II. EARLIEST LITERATURE OF TEUTONIC ORIGIN. 11. Recreations among the Teutons.-The Teutonic settlers in England were fond of exercising their prowess in war; and when not engaged in bloody strife, they delighted to meet in their great mead-halls made of unhewn logs, indulge in jovial intercourse, and sing the praises of some valorous chief. Their singers were called gleemen, a name suggestive of the nature of their songs. The 12. Beowulf. The most noted chief of whom they sung was Beowulf. The recital of his brave deeds grew into a rugged epic of over six thousand lines. origin of this savage poem is unknown; but it is thought to have been composed before the Teutons invaded England, and to have been brought into the country by them. It was probably not put into writing earlier than the seventh century. A comparison of this poem with the writings of Cædmon will show what the refining influence of the Christian faith had done for the Keltic bard. The contrast is striking. In the one, we find coarse wassailing and deadly strife; in the other, the mild but beautiful light of the gospel of peace. An epitome of the theme of "Beowulf" is thus given. by a noted author: Its hero sails from a land of the Goths to a land of the Danes, and there frees a chief named Hrothgar from the attacks of a monster of the fens and moors, named Grendel. Afterward he is himself ruler, is wounded mortally in combat with a dragon, and is solemnly buried under a great barrow on a promontory rising high above the sea. "And round about the mound rode his hearth-sharers, who sang that he was of kings, of men, the mildest, kindest, to his people sweetest, and the readiest in search of praise." In this poem real events are transformed into legendary marvels; but the actual life of the old Danish and Scandinavian chiefs, as it was first transferred to this country, is vividly painted. It brings before us the feast in the mead-hall, with the chief and his hearth-sharers, the customs of the banquet, the rude beginnings of a courtly ceremony, the boastful talk, reliance upon strength of hand in grapple with the foe, and the practical spirit of adventure that seeks peril as a commercial speculation; for Beowulf is undisguisedly a tradesman in his sword. The poem includes also expression of the heathen fatalism, "What is to be goes ever as it must," tinged by the energetic sense of men who feel that even fate helps those who help themselves, or, as it stands in Beowulf, that "the Must Be often helps an undoomed man when he is brave." In directness, force, and brevity, the language of this strange production corresponds, in its homely strength, to the character of the people from whom it sprung. This vigor of expression, united with the ten derness of the Kelt and the flexibility of the Norman, has given us the heritage of a language unsurpassed and scarcely equaled in force, adaptability, or beauty. The following extract from "Morley's English Writers" will give a very good example of the style of "Beowulf" sufficiently modernized to be intelligible to ordinary readers: Then came from the moor under the misty hills, Grendel stalking the wicked spoiler meant in the lofty hall to snare one of mankind. He strode under the clouds until he saw the winehouse, golden hall of men. Came then faring to the house the joyless man; he rushed straight on the door, fast with fire-hardened bands, struck with his hands, dragged open the hall's mouth quickly then trod the fiend on the stained floor, went wroth of mood, and from his eyes stood forth a loathsome light, likest to flame. He saw in the house many war-men sleeping all together, then was his mood laughter. Hope of a sweet glut had arisen in him. But it was not for him after that night to eat more of mankind. The wretched wight seized quickly a sleeping warrior, slit him unawares, bit his bone-locker, drank his blood, in morsels swallowed him: soon had he all eaten, feet and fingers. Nearer forth he stepped, laid hands upon the doughtyminded warrior at his rest; but Beowulf reached forth a hand and hung upon his arm, Soon as the evil-doer felt that there was not in mid-earth a stronger hand-grip, he became fearful in heart. Not for that could he escape the sooner, though his mind was bent on flight. He would flee into his den, seek the pack of devils; his trial there was such as in his life-days he had never before found. The hall thundered, the ale of all the Danes and earls was spilt. Angry, fierce were the strong fighters; the hall was full of the din. It was great wonder that the winehall stood above the warlike beasts, that the fair earth-home fell not to the ground. But within and without it was fast with iron bands cunningly forged. Over the North Danes stood dire fear, on every one of those who heard the gruesome whoop. friend of earls held fast the deadly guest,- would not leave him The while living. Then drew a warrior of Beowulf an old sword of his father's for help of his lord. The sons of strife sought then to hew on every side, they knew not that no war-blade would cut into the wicked scather; but Beowulf had foresworn every edge. Hygelac's proud kinsman had the foe of God in hand. The fell wretch bore pain; a deadly wound gaped on his shoulder; the sinews sprang asunder; the bone-locker burst; to Beowulf was war-strength given. Grendel fled away death-sick, to seek a sad dwelling under the fen shelters; his life's end was come. E CHAPTER THREE. FROM CÆDMON TO CHAUCER. I. FIRST-ENGLISH PERIOD. 13. In the Monasteries. During this long period of four hundred years there were many good scholars in England; but learning was confined, for the most part, to the monasteries. Schools were established in some of them, and were not without earnest and devoted teachers; but it was expected that the pupils taught there would teach in other monasteries, and so learning, even of the most meager kind, was almost unknown among the people at large. 14. Latin. During these centuries, and for some time afterward, Latin was regarded as the language of the learned. For this reason the scholars of England wrote in Latin, instead of putting their thoughts into the language that has since won its way over every obstacle. Thus the means of intellectual culture were withheld from the great body of the people. 15. Bede. This good priest, known as "the venerable Bede," worked devotedly for fifty years in trying to enlighten all who came within reach of his influence. He gleaned knowledge from obscure and difficult sources, simplified it, and arranged it in convenient forms, so that it might be not only easy of access |