OF ENGLISH LITERATURE BY H. A. TAINE, D.C.L. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY H. VAN LAUN, COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. NEW YORK: HURST AND COMPANY, 122 NASSAU STREET. 10446.23.3 I I PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. THIS edition of TAINE'S HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURF has bee: carefully revised and compared with the original. All the quotations have been collated and verified anew, and no trouble has been spared to make it as accurate as possible For the favorable reception this translation has met with from the presi and the public, I feel much indebted. THE ACADEMY EDINBURGH, May 31, 1873 SAR ARYA B UNIVERSITY 1262 TROW'S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY, NEW YORK. H. VAN LAUN CONTENTS. Historical documents serve only as a clue to reconstruct the visible individual... The outer man is only a clue to study the inner, invisible man.......... The state and the actions of the inner and invisible man have their causes in certain Chief causes of thoughts and feelings. Their historical effects.. History is a mechanical and psychological problem. ..... Production of the results of a primordial cause. Common elements. Composition of eneral problem and future of history. Psychological method. Value of literature. Their original country-Soil, sea, sky, climate-Their new country--A moist land and a thankless soil-Influence of climate on character... Their bodily structure-Food-Manners-Uncultivated instincts, German and Eng- 3.5 III Noble instincts in Germany-The individual-The family-The state-Religion --The Edda-Tragi-heroic conception of the world and of mankind... Noble instincts in England-Warrior and chieftain-Husband and wife-The poem of Beowulf-Barbarian society and the barbarian hero.... Pagan poems--Kind and force of sentiments-Bent of mind and speech-Force of Christian poems-Wherein the Saxons are predisposed to Christianity-How converted-Their view of Christianity-Hymns of Cadmon-Funeral hymn -Poem of Judith-Paraphrase of the Bible....... VII Why Latin culture took no hold on the Saxons-Reasons drawn from the Saxon VIII. Contrast of German and Latin races-Character of the Saxon race-Its endurance |
