VII THE AGE OF CRITICISM 166

CONCLUSION 174

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF AUTHORS AND
THEIR PRINCIPAL WORKS 177

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 183

INDEX 185




TO

J.M.S.




CHAPTER I

ORIGINS--THE MIDDLE AGES


When the French nation gradually came into existence among the ruins of
the Roman civilization in Gaul, a new language was at the same time
slowly evolved. This language, in spite of the complex influences which
went to the making of the nationality of France, was of a simple origin.