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--Continental possessions of English kings--French
ideal--Unification of origins--Help from chroniclers and
poets--The Trojan ancestor 104