The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29
III.

English literature. however. Is not the ont
come OF the Anglo-Saxon and the Celtic spirit
only. Like those atomic compounds which
are formed by the addition to their two main
elements of Il number Of other elements in
much smaller proportion. English literature
incorporated with itself Danish. Morse. Nor
man. French. Italian. Spanish and Oriental
elements; and. owing to its incessant and adj.
venturous pushing forth into all parts OF the
world. took into itself a multitude of hetero-
geneous matters which were mixed with 10
from time to time. but the transient impulses
OF which soon ceased to be operative. The
Dane and FNorseman. both II Of whom had devel-
oped n well-organized literary class. brought
TO English literature their Sagas. both myth
cal and historical, and a passionate love for
recording in long stories the mighty deeds Of
warriors who grew into mythical heroes. They
not only told the tales Of their own folk. but
their energy revivifed. while absorbing. the
stories Of the countries they invaded. Where
the Viking came. life came and his intensity Of
life not only resuscitated the folk tales Of the
lands conquered by him. but mixed them with
his own and developed them into a varied host
OF adventurous narratives. No attempt is made
by Mr.. Brooke to trace. before the Norman con-
quest. the influence of the Norseman and the
Dane on English literature. He has no doubt.
however. that the vital strength added to tho
large portion OF England occupied by the Danes
must have exerted a potent effect on the growth
and work of English literature. 1t should.
however,. be borne in mind that. by the time
the Danes had settled in England. the Gle.
mcnts active in their literary productions had
been closely mingled with Celtic elements.
The Danish contribution. therefore. to the soil
of English literature was itself almost as much
q mixture OF Celtic and Teutonic matter as
English literature in it's entirety became.
Into this river OF varied constituents flowed
the Norman stream, which. itself. derived its
waters from three sources. to wit: The original
Morse, the French tpartly Gaulish and partly
Latinl and the Celt. All these, together with
an Eastern strain. coHperated to produce ro-
nance. which. vitalized through every vein by
the Norman energy and enchanted with the
Celtic legend and spirit OF Armorica and Wales,
poured in full volume into the Anglo-Saxon
and Celtic admixtures. and for a century and .
half dominated English literature. Along with
them came into England the new Latin learn
ing priced by the Norman. and added a great
body of historical and theological thought to
the soil in which English prose was afterward
to grow. Also entered the soil at this time. but
took no deep root therein, certain purely
French elements. the so-called esprit GdmlOis;
audacious and salacious gayety: the loose and
livelytale OF love; a gross wit a strange ming
A'hS ~ IVAN. eo'iN Wv NilO iDNS VI hA''
and the Virgin a logical persistence. especially
in theological argument; an increased afec-
ton for al!egory and a Latin love OF philos-
ophy.
1t is not the purpose OF this book to describe
what other influences afterward added them-
selves TO the river OF English literature; how
Italian contributions were poured into it how
new and varied streams came from France how
Spain. Italy. Germany and France. again and
again, brought fresh and animating impulses
into its ever-increasing flood. but were. in no
cases. reproduced in English literature until
they had been digested absorbed and changed.
Whatever changes took place, however, what
ever new elements were added to the river, the
main body Of it, out Of which English literature
drew both poetry and prose. was furnished by
the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic admiXture which
began to be formed in the sixth century. and
which has never ceased to swell in volume,
and more and more closely to mingle It's
waters up to the present day.