The period between the death of Alfred (901) and the end of the tenth century was deficient in works of literary value, except an entry here and there in the ‘Chronicle.’  “Alfric’s is the last great name in the story of our literature before the Conquest,” says Henry Morley.  He began writing about the end of the tenth century, and we do not know when his work and his life ended.  This gentle priest, as he appears to us through his writings, following Alfred’s example, wrote not from personal ambition, but for the betterment of his fellow-men.  His style is eminently lucid, fluent, forcible, and of graceful finish.  Earle observes of it:—­“The English of these Homilies is splendid; indeed, we may confidently say that here English appears fully qualified to be the medium of the highest learning.”  This is high praise, and should be well considered by those disposed to consider the Anglo-Saxon as a rude tongue, incapable of great development in itself, and only enabled by the Norman infusion to give expression to a deep and broad culture.

Alfric’s works in Anglo-Saxon—­for he wrote also in Latin—­were very numerous, embracing two series of homilies, theological writings of many kinds, translations of portions of the Bible, an English (Anglo-Saxon) grammar, adapted from a Latin work, a Latin dictionary, and many other things of great use in their day and of great interest in ours.

The names of other writers and of other single works might well be added here.  But enough has been said, perhaps, to show that a great and hopeful development of prose took place among the West Saxons.  It must be admitted that the last years of the Anglo-Saxon nationality before the coming of the Normans show a decline in literary productiveness of a high order.  The causes of this are to be found chiefly in the political and ecclesiastical history of the time.  Wars with the Northmen, internal dissensions, religious controversies, the greater cultivation of Latin by the priesthood, all contributed to it.  But hopeful signs of a new revival were not wanting.  The language had steadily developed with the enlightenment of the people, and was fast becoming fit to meet any demands that might be made upon it, when the great catastrophe of the Norman Conquest came, and with it practically the end of the historical and distinctive Anglo-Saxon literature.

[Illustration:  Signature:  “Robert Sharp”]

FROM ‘BEOWULF’

[The Spear-Danes intrust the dead body of King Scyld to the sea, in a splendidly adorned ship.  He had come to them mysteriously, alone in a ship, when an infant.]

     At the hour that was fated
     Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s keeping
     War-like to wend him; away then they bare him
     To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades. 
     As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings
     Word-sway wielded, and