--Their
temper and sorrows 36
II. Anglo-Saxon Poems.--War-songs--Epic tales--Waldhere,
Beowulf--Analysis of "Beowulf"--The ideal of happiness in
"Beowulf"--Landscapes--Sad meditations--The idea of
death--Northern snows 45
CHAPTER IV.
CHRISTIAN LITERATURE AND PROSE LITERATURE OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS.
I. Conversion.--Arrival of Augustine--The new
teaching--The imperial idea and the Christian idea--Beginnings
of the new faith--Heathen survivals--Convents and
schools--Religious kings and princes--Proselytism, St. Boniface 60
II. Latin Culture.--Manuscripts--Alcuin, St. Boniface,
Aldhelm, AEddi, Bede--Life and writings of Bede--His
"Ecclesiastical History"--His sympathy for the national
literature 65
III. Christian Poems.--The genius of the race remains
nearly unchanged--Heroical adventures of the saints--Paraphrase
of the Bible--Caedmon--Cynewulf--His sorrows and despair--"Dream
of the Rood"--"Andreas"--Lugubrious sights--The idea of
death--Dialogues--Various poems--The "Physiologus"--"Phoenix" 68
IV. Prose--Alfred the Great.--Laws and charters--Alfred
and the Danish invasions--The fight for civilisation--Translation
of works by St. Gregory, Orosius (travels of Ohthere), Boethius
(story of Orpheus)--Impulsion given to
prose--Werferth--Anglo-Saxon Chronicles--Character of Alfred. 78
V. St. Dunstan--Sermons.--St. Dunstan (tenth century)
resumes the work of Alfred--Translation of pious
works--Collections of sermons--AElfric, Wulfstan, "Blickling"
homilies--Attempt to reach literary dignity.
End of the Anglo-Saxon period 88
BOOK II.
_THE FRENCH INVASION._
CHAPTER I.
BATTLE.
I. The Invaders of the Year 1066.--England between
two civilisations--The North and South--The Scandinavians at
Stamford-bridge.
The Normans of France--The army of William is a French
army--Character of William--The battle--Occupation of
the country 97
II. England bound to Southern Civilisations.--Policy
of William--Survey of his new domains--Unification--The
successors of William--Their practical mind and their taste
for adventures--Taste for art--French families settled in
England--C
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