a quiet life is irksome to the Germans and they gain renown more readily in the midst of perils, while a large following is not to be provided for except by violence and war. For they look to the liberality of their chief for their war horse and their deadly and victorious spear; the feasts and entertainments, however, furnished them on a homely but liberal scale, fall to their lot as mere pay. The means for this bounty are acquired through war and plunder. Nor could you persuade them to till the soil and await the yearly produce so easily as you could induce them to stir up an enemy and earn glorious wounds. Nay, they even think it tame and stupid to acquire by their sweat what they can purchase by their blood. XV. In the intervals of peace they spend little time in hunt- Customs in ing but much in idleness, given over to sleep and eating; all peace the bravest and most warlike doing nothing, while the hearth and home and the care of the fields is given over to the women, the old men, and the various infirm members of the family. The masters lie buried in sloth by that strange contradiction of nature that causes the same men to love indolence and hate peace. It is customary for the several tribesmen to present voluntary offerings of cattle and grain to the chiefs, which, though accepted as gifts of honor, also supply their wants. They are particularly delighted in the gifts of neighboring tribes, not only those sent by individuals, but those presented by states as such, choice horses, massive arms, embossed plates and armlets. We have now taught them to accept money also. XVI. It is well known that none of the German tribes live in cities, nor even permit their dwellings to be closely joined to each other. They live separated and in various places, as a spring or a meadow or a grove strikes their fancy. They lay out their villages not as with us in connected or closely joined houses, but each one surrounds his dwelling with an open space, either as a protection against conflagration or because of their ignorance of the art of building. They do not even make use of rough stones or tiles. They use for all purposes undressed timber, giving no beauty or comfort. Some parts they plaster carefully with earth of such purity and brilliancy as to form a substitute for painting and designs in color. 29. Extracts from Beowulf The queen gives the cup first to her husband, the king The poem of Beowulf is probably the oldest piece of English literature and may even have been composed before the settlers left their home, as all the places mentioned in it are on the Continent. In the form in which it exists now, however, it was undoubtedly written in England, and many late changes have been introduced. The following passage is a description of a scene in the hall of Hrothgar, king of the East Danes, whom Beowulf has come to visit. There was laughter of men, Joyous were their words. And then the free born wife To the noble guardian, The feast and the hall cup. Went around then The lady of the Helmings, To old and to young In every part Gave the gemmed beaker, Till the time came, That she to Beowulf, The proud-thoughted queen, Decked with her crown, Brought the mead-cup; Greeted the lord of the Geats, Speech of the queen Gave thanks to God, With wisely chosen words, That her wish was fulfilled, One of earls should trust For help in her troubles. He of the cup partook, Then eager for the fight, The speech of Beowulf; the story of how the Danish king handed over his hall to his keeping; of how "from the moor, under the misty hills, Grendel came stalking"; of Beowulf's fight with the monster, and with the monster's mother; and the many other incidents of his life and death are told too much in detail in the poem to be quoted here, but the whole story is accessible in numerous translations,1 and is well worth the reading for its own sake and for the spirit of old English life that speaks from it. Among the few remnants of early Anglo-Saxon literature that have come down to us a number of pieces are incantations or charms, to be recited in order to find lost cattle, to fertilize land, to collect a swarm of bees, or to cure snake bite. The following is a charm for bees. Take some earth, throw it with thy right hand under thy 30. A charm right foot and say, "I take under foot, I am trying what earth for bees 1 One of the best and most accessible is the prose translation by Professor C. G. Child, in a little volume in the Riverside Literature Series, published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 31. The ory and the slave boys avails for everything in the world and against spirits and against malice, and against the mickle tongue of man, and against displeasure." Throw over them some gravel where they swarm, and say, "Sit ye, my ladies, sit, Sink ye to earth down; As to the woods to fly. Be ye as mindful of my good as III. THE CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY The most important event in the history of England at this time is undoubtedly the reconversion of the inhabitants of England to Christianity. This religious faith and organization had disappeared with the decay of Roman Britain, or at least lived on only in the more distant parts of the island, Wales and Scotland, so the whole work had to be taken up anew from the Continent or from these older Christian districts. Fortunately we have a clear and full account of the process from Bede, who lived not more than a hundred years later than the beginning of the missionary efforts. He tells the familiar story of Gregory, while still a monk at Rome, some years before he became pope, becoming interested in the heathen English. It is reported that some merchants, having just arrived at monk Greg- Rome, on a certain day exposed many things for sale in the market place, and abundance of people resorted thither to from England buy. Gregory himself went with the rest, and among other things some boys were set to sale, their bodies white, their countenances beautiful, and their hair very fine. Having viewed them he asked, as is said, from what country or nation they were brought, and was told, from the island of Britain, He whose inhabitants were of such personal appearance. again inquired whether these islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of paganism, and was informed that they were pagans. Then, fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, he said, "Alas, what a pity that the author of darkness is possessed of men of such fair countenances; and that being remarkable for such graceful outward appearance, their minds should be void of inward grace." He therefore again asked what the name of that nation was, and was answered that they were called Angles. "Right," said he, "for they In Latin have angelic faces, and it becomes such to be coheirs with the Angles are angels in heaven." Then he proceeded, "What is the name angels angeli of the province from which they are brought?" It was replied that the natives of that province were called Deiri. "Truly are they De ira," said he, "withdrawn from wrath and called to the mercy of Christ." "How is the king of that province called?" They told him his name was Alla, and he, alluding to the name, said, "Ellaluia, the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts." Then repairing to the bishop of the Roman apostolical see (for he was not himself then made pope), he entreated him to send some ministers of the word into Britain to the nation of the English, by whom it might be converted to Christ. Although no mission was sent out at this time, after Gregory became pope he retained his interest in the conversion of the heathen inhabitants of England, and eventually it became practicable to send out the wellknown expedition under Augustine, whose reception in England is described in the next extract. Angli and Augustine, thus strengthened by the confirmation of the 32. Bede's blessed father Gregory, returned to the work of the word of account of Augustine's God, with the servants of Christ, and arrived in Britain. The mission (597) powerful Ethelbert was at that time king of Kent. He had extended his dominions as far as the great river Humber, by which the Southern Saxons are divided from the Northern. On the east of Kent is the large Isle of Thanet, containing, |