GIBBON. In the second century of the Christian æra the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valour. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence. JOHNSON. Of genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates; the superiority must, with some hesitation, be allowed to Dryden. It is not to be inferred that of this poetical vigour Pope had only a little, because Dryden had more; for every other writer since Milton must give place to Pope: and even of Dryden it must be said, that if he has brighter paragraphs, he has not better poems. From the preceding instances we may form an idea of the power of the Saxon language; but by no means a just idea; for we must not conclude that the words which are not Saxon could not be supplied by Saxon words. On the contrary, Saxon terms might be substituted for almost all the words not marked as Saxon. To impress this sufficiently on the mind of the reader, it will be necessary to shew how much of our ancient language we have laid aside, and have suffered to become obsolete; because all our writers, from Chaucer to our own times, have used words of foreign origin rather than our own. In three pages of Alfred's Orosius I found 78 words which have become obsolete, out of 548, or about. In three pages of his Boethius I found 143 obsolete, out of 666, or aboutį. In three pages of his Bede I found 250 obsolete, out of 969, or about. The difference in the proportion between these and the Orosius proceeds from the latter containing many historical names. Perhaps we shall be near the truth if we say, as a general principle, that one-fifth of the Anglo-Saxon language has ceased to be used in modern English. This loss CHAP. BOOK must be of course taken into account when we estimate the copiousness of our ancient language, by considering how much of it our English authors exhibit. I cannot agree with Hickes in classing the works of Alfred under that division of the Saxon language which he calls Danish Saxon. The Danes had no footing in England till after the period of Alfred's manhood, and when they obtained a settlement, it was in East Anglia and Northumbria. We cannot therefore suppose that Alfred borrowed any part of his language from the Danes. None of their language could have become naturalized in Wessex before he wrote, nor have been adopted by him without either reason or necessity. We may therefore refer to the Anglo-Saxon laws before the reign of Athelstan, and to the works of Alfred, as containing the Anglo-Saxon language in its genuine and uncorrupted state. I should have been desirous to have stated some opinions on the affinities of the Anglo-Saxon tongue, but that I found it a subject which could not be accurately handled without a deep consideration of almost every other language; and which, therefore, could not with any propriety have been made a part of this history. Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons, THE EN D. INDE X. A ABBO, his account of St. Edmund, 235. Ethelheard in Wessex, 162.. Alaric, his rise, 66.-And Progress, 67.- Aleimus Avitus, his narrative poem, ii. 318. Aldhelm's native poetry, ii. 287.-His latin ALFRED, his first studies, 285.-He seeks. his care in the education of his chil-- his public conduct, 311.-His embassy his poetry, ii. 32 1.-His translations, ib. Danes, 229. 128. Alfred of Northumbria, 153.-Encourages VOL. II.. Anlaf, invades Athelstan, 344.-Visits his camp, 345. Apollonius Petrus, his poem, ii. 319. 3. P. ARTS of the Anglo-Saxons, ii. 406. his connections with Bretagne, 352.- his books, 363.-He kills his brother, C. Cadwallon, his successes, 143.-His death, Cadwaladyr goes to Bretagne, 151. Augustin introduces Christianity into Eng- Carausius, his usurpation, 53.—He teaches Bagauda, 82. B the Saxons the naval art, 54. Carthaginians, acquainted with Britain, 15. Baldwin, surnamed the Arm of Iron, 189. Cealwin's conquests, 131.-His death, 132. Ballads, or songs, ii. 287. Benedict of Weremouth, ii. 362. Beornwulf, accedes in Mercia, 179.-Wars Beowulf, a narrative poem, ii. 294-303. Boniface, his latin poetry, ii. 350.-His life, ib. 372. Borh, or sureties, ii. 258. Cena, his verses, ii. 352. Llongborth, 99.-At the Llawen, 100.- Character of the most ancient Saxons, ii. 2. Cimmerians. See Kimmerians. Cimbri, same as the Kimmerians, 4.-Their Clubs of the Anglo-Saxons, ii. 103. Boundaries of the Anglo-Saxon lands, ii. 184. Commerce of the Anglo-Saxons, ii. 113. Bretagne, emigrations to, 109. BRITAIN, its names in the Welsh Triads, 5. Conveyances, Anglo-Saxon, ii. 182. men, 233. Cuthred, in Wessex, 163.-Attacks the Cynegils conquers the Britons, 136. D. Danes. See Northmen. Danes, first land in England, 174.-Invade | Egbert, archbishop, his love of literature, ii. invade Ethelred, 410.-Their massacre, 201. Ditmarsia described, 44. Diversions of the Anglo-Saxons, ii. 73. DUNSTAN, his birth, 377.-His studies, 379. E. Eadburga, her vices, 174.-Escapes to Ealdorman, his rank, ii. 232. 362. Egbert, king, his ancestors, 176.-Comes Egfrid, in Northumbria, invades Ireland, Ethelbald, of Mercia, 162.—Wars with the Ethelbald accedes in Wessex, 189. East Anglia occupied, 123.-Expedition to Ethelbert accedes in Wessex, 190. the continent, 137. Eddius, his life, ii. 373. Edgar, his reign, 394-403. Edmund, king of East Anglia, attacked by Ingwar, 235.-His address to the Danish Education of the Anglo-Saxons, ii. 39. Edwin, takes refuge in East Anglia, 138. |