s. 131. No exception against the existence of Batavian, Frisian, Frank, and other elements not strictly Anglo-Saxon, is to be taken from the absence of traces of such in the present language, and that for the following reason. _Languages which differ in an older form may so far change according to a common principle, as to become identical in a newer one._ _E.g._, the Frisian infinitive in verbs ends in _-a_, (as _baerna_=_to burn_), the Saxon in _-an_ (as _baernan_=_to burn_). Here is a difference. Let, however, the same change affect both languages; that change being the abandonment, on both sides, of the infinitive termination altogether. What follows? even that the two originally different forms _baern-a_, and _baern-an_, both come out _baern_ (_burn_); so that the result is the same, though the original forms were different. * * * * * {74} CHAPTER VI. THE CELTIC STOCK OF LANGUAGES, AND THEIR RELATIONS TO THE ENGLISH. s. 132. The languages of Great Britain at the invasion of Julius Caesar were of the Celtic stock. Of the Celtic stock there are two branches. 1. The British or Cambrian branch, represented by the present Welsh, and containing, besides, the Cornish of Cornwall (lately extinct) and the Armorican of the French province of Brittany. It is almost certain that the old British, the ancient language of Gaul, and the Pictish were of this branch. 2. The Gaelic or Erse Branch, represented by the present Irish Gaelic, and containing, besides, the Gaelic of the Highlands of Scotland and the Manks of the Isle of Man. SPECIMENS. BRITISH. _The Lord's Prayer in Cornish._ _Old Cornish._ An Taz, ny es yn n[^e]f, bethens thy hannow ughelles, gwr[^e]nz doz thy gulas ker: bethens thy voth gwr[^a]z yn oar kepare hag yn n[^e]f: ro thyn ny hithow agan peb dyth bara; gava thyn ny ny agan cam, kepare ha gava ny neb es cam ma erbyn ny; nyn homfrek ny en antel, mez gwyth ny the worth drok: rag gans te yn an mighterneth, and creveder, hag an' worryans, byz a venitha. _Modern Cornish._ Agan Taz, leb ez en n[^e]v, benigas beth de hanno, gurra de gulasketh deaz, de voth beth gwr[^e]z en' oar pokar en n[^e]v; ro dony hithow agan pyb dyth bara; ha gava do ny agan cabmow, pokara ny gava an gy leb es cam mo war bidn ny; ha na dege ny en antail, brez gwitha ny dort droge; rag an mychteyrneth ew chee do honnen, ha an cr[^e]vder, ha an 'worryans, rag bisqueth ha bisqueth. {75} _Welsh_ (Cambrian). _Luke_ XV. 11. 19. _The Prodigal Son._ 11. Yr oedd gan ryw wr ddau fab: 12. A 'r jeuangaf o honynt a ddwedoddwrth _ei_ d[^a]dd, Fy nh[^a]d, dyro i mi y rhan a ddigwydd o 'r da. Ac efe a ranodd iddynt _ei_ fywyd. 13. Ac yn [^o]l ychydig ddyddiau y m[^a]b jeuangaf a gasglodd y cwbl ynghyd, ac a gymmerth ei daith i wl[^a]d bell; ac yno efe a wasgarodd ei dda, gan fyw yn affrallon.