Count Cominges, Tudor novelists, were in a large measure
left-off subjects. No books had been dedicated to them; the attempt,
therefore, could not be considered as an undue intrusion. But in the
present case, what can be said, what excuse can be found, when so many
have written, and so well too?

The author of this book once had a drive in London; when it was
finished, he offered the cabman his fare. Cabman glanced at it; it did
not look much in his large, hollow hand; he said: "I want sixpence
more." Author said: "Why? It is the proper fare; I know the distance
very well; give me a reason." Cabman mused for a second, and said: "I
should like it so!"

I might perhaps allege a variety of reasons, but the true one is the
same as the cabman's. I did this because I could not help it; I loved it
so.

J.

_All Souls Day, 1894._

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Preface 1

BOOK I.

_THE ORIGINS._

CHAPTER I.

BRITANNIA.

I. Fusion of Races in France and in England.--First
inhabitants--Celtic realms--The Celts in Britain--Similitude with
the Celts of Gaul--Their religion--Their quick minds--Their gift
of speech 3

II. Celtic Literature.--Irish stories--Wealth of that
literature--Its characteristics--The dramatic
gift--Inventiveness--Heroic deeds--Familiar dialogues--Love
and woman--Welsh tales 9

III. Roman Conquest.--Duration and results--First coming
of the Germanic invader 18

CHAPTER II.

THE GERMANIC INVASION.

The mother country of the Germanic invader--Tacitus--Germans
and Scandinavians--The great invasions--Character of the Teutonic
nations--Germanic kingdoms established in formerly Roman provinces.
Jutes, Frisians, Angles, and Saxons--British resistance and
defeat--Problem of the Celtic survival--Results of the Germanic
invasions in England and France 21

CHAPTER III.

THE NATIONAL POETRY OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS.

I. The Poetry of the North.--The Germanic period of
English literature--Its characteristics--Anglo-Saxon poetry
stands apart and does not submit to Celtic influence--Comparison
with Scandinavian literature--The Eddas and Sagas; the "Corpus
Poeticum Boreale"--The heroes; their tragical adventures