language nearly as hard for a modern Englishman to read as German is, or
Dutch. Cædmon and Cynewulf are no more a part of English literature than
Vergil and Horace are of Italian. I have also left out the vernacular
literature of the Scotch before the time of Burns. Up to the date of the
union Scotland was a separate kingdom, and its literature had a
development independent of the English, though parallel with it.

In dividing the history into periods, I have followed, with some
modifications, the divisions made by Mr. Stopford Brooke in his
excellent little _Primer of English Literature_. A short reading course
is appended to each chapter.

HENRY A. BEERS.

CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.
FROM THE CONQUEST TO CHAUCER, 1066-1400

CHAPTER II.
FROM CHAUCER TO SPENSER, 1400-1599

CHAPTER III.
THE AGE OF SHAKSPERE, 1564-1616

CHAPTER IV.
THE AGE OF MILTON, 1608-1674

CHAPTER V.