lder work of Snellaert [_Histoire de la Litterature Flamande_.
Bruxelles. 1654.], in the latter half of the volume, page for page, he
has not even mentioned by name the authors of the last quarter of a
century.

Let us glance at that portion of literature more particularly
belonging to Flanders and Brabant.

The first expressions of the Germanic mind, the song of "Hildebrand,"
"Gudrun," the "Nibelungen," have been handed down to us in a form
which shows their origin to have been Netherlandish. The first part of
"Gudrun" is evidently so; and we find, as well in many of the older
poems of chivalry, as "Charles and Elegast," "Floris and
Blanchefloer," as in the national epos, intrinsic proofs that the
unknown authors were from the regions of the Lower Rhine. These elder
remnants, however, can scarcely be claimed by any one of the Teutonic
races, as they are the common property of all; for we find the hero
Siegfried in the Scandinavian Saga, as well as in the more southern
tradition. Mr. Delepierre has translated the following song, almost
Homeric in its form, which belongs to this early period, when
Christianity had not obliterated the memories of barbarous days:--

"The Lord Halewyn knew a song: all those
who heard it were attracted towards him.

"It was once heard by the daughter of the
King, who was so beloved by her parents.

"She stood before her father: 'O father,
may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'

"'Oh, no, my child, no! They who go to
him never come back again.'

"She stood before her mother: 'O mother,
may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'

"'Oh, no, my child, no! They who go to
him never come back again.'

"She stood before her sister: 'O sister, may
I go to the Lord Halewyn?'

"'Oh, no, sister, no! They who go to him
never come back again.'

"She stood before her brother: 'O brother,
may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'

"'Little care I where thou goest, provided
thou preservest thine honor and thy crown.

"She goes up into her chamber; she clothes
herself in her best garments.

"What does she put on first? A shift finer
than silk.

"What does she gird round her lovely
waist? Strong bands of gold.

"What does she put upon her scarlet petticoat?
On every seam a golden button.

"What does she set on her beautiful fair
hair? A massive golden crown.

"What does she put upon her kirtle? On
every seam a pearl.

"She goes into her father