Outline of the history of the English language and literature

W. & R. CHAMBERS LONDON AND EDINBURGH 1882 Edinburgh: Printed by W. & R. Chambers.
The object of this book, as indicated in the title, is to give an outline of the History of the English Language and Literature.
It aims, however, at being something more than a mere statement of facts. It is intended to excite an interest in English philology, and in the leading authors that from the time of Cædmon have used the English tongue.
It is therefore to be regarded as an introduction to English philology and literature; and is adapted for use in the advanced classes of elementary schools, in secondary schools, and for pupil teachers, as well as for private students.
Good butter and good cheese Is good English and good Fries.
The following are the chief subdivisions of
But it must not be forgotten that there is no hard and fast line between one period and another. A living language, like a living body, is always changing. It takes on new additions of new matter; it loses the old. With these new additions, its form also changes. We are rarely sensible of these changes; but they are going on all the time for all that.
Apt alliteration’s artful aid.
To this period belong the writings of the poet Cædmon and of King Alfred.
The following is a list of a few more percentages of purely English words in the writings of well-known authors:
Now every word in the above verse is modern English; but every word has been changed—with the exception of God , his , and and . All the other words have changed enormously in the course of the eight centuries since the verse was written. The words have changed; and the grammar has changed. The word bletsian has become bless . The grammar of the verbs has changed enormously. For example, the imperative ending ath in Veahxath and âfyllath has quite fallen away. It existed, in the form of eth , down to the time of Chaucer, who writes Standeth up! in addressing several persons.—Next, we ought to notice that all the words are pure English. The modern version which we still use, and which was published in 1611, has been obliged to use Latin and French words. It says—and the words in italics are all foreign words: ‘Be fruitful , and multiply and replenish the earth’! That is, it employs three Latin words in the most important parts of the sentence.