CHAPTER I.

ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE. A.D. 449-1100

THE works produced in these six hundred years were very numerous; and seem to have treated of most of the common subjects of literature. The only secular romance that has reached us is Beowulf. Christian poetry is represented by Cadmon's Paraphrase: and by many fragments preserved in MSS. now kept at Exeter, Vercelli in Piedmont, etc. Translators are represented by King Alfred: Divines by Ælfric: Historians by the AngloSaxon Chronicle. Science had several representatives. In the department of Riddles are found many specimens made with considerable skill. The Laws of Ina, Edgar, Ethelbert, etc., are remarkable for the humane spirit that pervades them.

The principal events in the history of England during this period are:

1. Romance of Beowulf, (written) about 500. (Handbook,

hilde-bordu

beorhtū byrnű

swá he bena wæs
&-legdon á tó-middes
mærne þeóden
hæle hiófende
hláf-ord leófne
on-gunnon đá on beorge
bæl-fýra mæst
wigend weccan
wu (du-r) êc á-sth
sweart of swicoole

swógende let
(wópe) be-wunden
wind-blond ğ -læg
of that he tha bàn-hus
ge-brocen hæfd(e)
hat on hreōre
higū un-róte

mód-ceare mændon
mod-dryhtnes (cwealm)

Swá be -gnornodon

Geáta leóde

hláford (sin)ne
heorð-g-neátas
Cwadon that he wære
wyrold-cyning(a)
manna mildust

and m (on-thwæ) rust
leódů líthost

and leóf-georuost.

2. Cædmon, fl. A.D. 650. (Handbook, par. 7.)

The division of the verses of Cadmon is a question of some difficulty. Bede calls his verse most harmonious.' Turner calls it poetry rather by complaisance than truth.'b

English writers have generally read his metre as dimeters with hypermetric syllables. Dr. Bouterwek, the German editor, reads

Shields and cuirasses.

bist of A. S., ill., book ix.

it as pentameter, and Mr. Bosanquet as heroic measure of five feet. A specimen of each of these modes of division is given :—

From CEDMON's Paraphrase.

Most meet it is th' Almighty Being above,
The Lord of Hosts, our hearts adore and love;
He, head of every high created thing,

Is scurce of might, heav'n's guardian glorious King.

The Lord was, ere the beginning first of days;
His end comes not, eternal are his ways,
He evermore above the heaven remains,
Over heav'n's thrones he everlasting reigns;
Just, with high majesty, in truth and right,

He ruled heav'n's mansions, strong in wondrous might
These, through God's power, spread ample wide and far,
Of his bright ministers the blissful care,
Children of glory, angel hosts on high,
Great was their splendour, great their dignity;
God they adored, the guardian-legions raised
Their songs of joy, as their life Lord they praised:
They deem'd his goodness set them in that sphere,
Majestic ministers, most bless'd they were.
Evil was yet undone, nor sin they knew,

In peace, with their good Lord, the ages flew, etc.

The Fall of Man. A Paradise Lost of Cadinon. By
W. H. F. BOSANQUET, Lond., 1860.

3. Laws of Ina, reigned 712-728. (Handbook, par.

INES E.

Ic Ine mid godes gife
west seaxna cyning mid
getheaht and mid lære Cen-
redes mines fæder, and
Heddes mines bisceopes
and Eorcenwoldes mines bisceopes
and mid eallum minum ealdor-
mannum and tham yldestan witan
minre theode and eac micelre
somnunge godes theowena
was smeagende be thære
hæle urra sawla and be tham
stathole ures rices, thæt
ryht æw and ryhte cynedomas
thurh ure fole gefæstenode
and getrymmed wæron, thæt
nænig ealdormanna ne ur
undergetheodendra æfter
tham wære awendende
thas ure domas.

LAWS OF INA.

I Ina, by God's favour

8.)

King of the West Saxons, by and with
the consent and the instruction of
Cenred my father and of
Hedda my bishop

and Erkenwald my bishop
and of all my senate

and the elder wise men of my
people and also of a large
gathering of God's servants,
have been closely considering both
for the health of our soul and for
the security of our kingdom that
right marriage-laws, and just royal
judgments may be laid down and
established throughout our
people; that none of our senators
or of our people that come after
them may change
these our judgments.