_a._ The Saxon of Holstein may be expected to approach the Jute and
Frisian.
_b._ That of South Oldenburg and East Friesland, the Frisian and Batavian.
_c._ That of Westphalia, the Batavian and Frank.
_d_, e. That of the Hessian and Thuringian frontiers, the Hessian and
Thuringian.
Finally, the Saxon of the centre of the area is expected to be the Saxon of
the most typical character.
s. 54. Such is what we expect. How far it was the fact is not known for
want of _data_. What is known, however, is as follows.--There were at least
_two_ divisions of the Saxon; (1st) the Saxon of which the extant specimens
are of English origin, and (2nd), the Saxon of which the extant specimens
are of continental origin. We will call these at present the Saxon of
England, and the Saxon of the Continent. {24}
s. 55. Respecting the Saxon of England and the Saxon of the Continent,
there is good reason for believing that the first was spoken in the
northern, the second in the southern portion of the Saxon area, _i.e._, the
one in Hanover and the other in Westphalia, the probable boundaries between
them being the line of highlands between Osnaburg and Paderborn.
s. 56. Respecting the Saxon of England and the Saxon of the Continent,
there is good reason for believing that, whilst the former was the
mother-tongue of the Angles and the conquerors of England, the latter was
that of the Cherusci of Arminius, the conquerors and the annihilators of
the legions of Varus.
s. 57. Respecting the Saxon of England and the Saxon of the Continent, it
is a fact that whilst we have a full literature in the former, we have but
fragmentary specimens of the latter--these being chiefly the following: (1)
the Heliand, (2) Hildubrand and Hathubrant, (3) the Carolinian Psalms.
s. 58. The preceding points have been predicated respecting the difference
between the two ascertained Saxon dialects, for the sake of preparing the
reader for the names by which they are known. Supposing the nomenclature to
be based upon any of the preceding facts, we might have the following
nomenclature:--
FOR THE SAXON OF THE CONTINENT. FOR THE SAXON OF ENGLAND.
1. Continental Saxon. Insular Saxon.
2. German Saxon. English Saxon.
3. Westphalian Saxon. Hanoverian Saxon.
4. South-Saxon. North Saxon.
5. Cheruscan Saxon. Angle Saxon.
6. Saxon of the Heliand.[4] Saxon of Beowulf.[4]
Of these names the last would be the best for strictly scientific purposes,
or for the purposes of investigation; since the fact upon which it is based
is the most undeniable.
Such is what the nomenclature might be, or, perhaps, ought to be. What it
is _is_ another question.
{25}
s. 59. The Saxon of England is called Anglo-Saxon; a term against which no
exception can be raised.
s. 60. The Saxon of the Continental _used to_ be called _Dano_-Saxon, and
_is_ called _Old_ Saxon.
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