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 swógende let mód-ceare mændon Swá be -gnornodon Geáta leóde hláford (sin)ne and m (on-thwæ) rust 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. Us is riht micel, that we rodera weard, wereda wuldor-cining, heofod ealra Næs him fruma æfie ór geworden ne nu ende cymth ac he bíth á ríce ofer heofen-stolas, sóthfæst and swith feorm, Gasta veardum. Hæfdon gleam and dream and heora ordfruman engla threátas beorhte blisse væs heora blæd micel. thegnas thrymfæste theoden heredon, sæægdon lustum lôf heora liffreán dêmdon drihtnes dugethum, væron vithe gesælige. Synna ne cûthon For us it is much right that we the Guardian of the skies, the glory-King of hosts, with our words praise, in our minds love. He is of power the essence, the head of all exalted creatures, the Lord Almighty. To him has beginning never origin been, nor now cometh end to the eternal Lord, but he is ever powerful over the heavenly thrones. With high majesty just and most vigorous, he ruled the heavenly concaves, which were placed wide and far through God's power THORPE'S Cadmon, Lond., 1832. firena tremman; ac hie on frithe lifdon êce mid heora aldor elles ne on gunnon ræran on roderum, nymthe rihte and sôth, ærthon engla veard for oferhygde dveal on gedvilde, etc. Most meet it is th' Almighty Being above, BOUTERWEK Is scurce of might, heav'n's guardian glorious King. The Lord was, ere the beginning first of days; He ruled heav'n's mansions, strong in wondrous might In peace, with their good Lord, the ages flew, etc. The Fall of Man. A Paradise Lost of Cadinon. By 3. Laws of Ina, reigned 712-728. (Handbook, par. INES E. Ic Ine mid godes gife LAWS OF INA. I Ina, by God's favour 8.) King of the West Saxons, by and with and Erkenwald my bishop and the elder wise men of my |