THROUGH GOLDEN DOORS TO ENGLISH LITERATURE THROUGH GOLDEN DOORS TO ENGLISH LITERATURE A NEW SERIES BY JEANNETTE MARKS _Lecturer at Mt. Holyoke College_ The master-stories of English literature told for young readers. The author, who has been professor of English Literature at Mt. Holyoke and the author of several successful books for both younger and older readers, has been occupied for a long time in making a selection of the best stories from the greatest English writers beginning with "Beowulf" and the dawn of English letters. The present volume offers masterpieces chosen from the earliest English literature from the seventh to the fourteenth century, stories which are not readily accessible. The second volume will offer hero tales of the Middle English period, from Chaucer and others. In later volumes selections will be made from the masters of modern English literature. EARLY ENGLISH HERO TALES From 600 to 1340 Other books in preparation _Each illustrated, 12mo, Cloth, 50 cents net_ HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS [Illustration: MEDIEVAL LONDON _From Manuscript 16 F. ii in the British Museum_] [Illustration] EARLY ENGLISH HERO TALES TOLD BY JEANNETTE MARKS WELLESLEY M.A. LECTURER AT MT. HOLYOKE COLLEGE ILLUSTRATED [Illustration] HARPER & BROTHERS NEW YORK & LONDON COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY HARPER & BROTHERS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PUBLISHED APRIL, 1915 TO H. M. C. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE INTRODUCTION vii I. THE FIRST ENGLISH HERO 1 II. WELSH MAGIC 9 III. THE BATTLE AT THE FORD 18 IV. CÆDMON THE COWHERD 30 V. THE SHEPHERD OF LAUDERDALE 41 VI. THE BOY WHO WON A PRIZE 48 VII. A FISHERMAN'S BOY 57 VIII. THE WEREWOLF 68