* * * * * {86} CHAPTER VII. THE ANGLO-NORMAN, AND THE LANGUAGES OF THE CLASSICAL STOCK. s. 140. The languages of Greece and Rome belong to one and the same stock. The Greek and its dialects, both ancient and modern, constitute the Greek or Hellenic branch of the Classical stock. The Latin in all its dialects, the old Italian languages allied to it, and the modern tongues derived from the Roman, constitute the Latin or Ausonian branch of the Classical stock. Now, although the Greek or Hellenic dialects are of secondary importance in the illustration of the history of the English language, the Latin or Ausonian elements require a special consideration. The French element appeared in our language as a result of the battle of Hastings (A.D. 1066), _perhaps, in a slight degree, at a somewhat earlier period_. s. 141. Previous to the notice of the immediate relations of the Norman-French, or, as it was called after its introduction into England, Anglo-Norman, its position in respect to the other languages derived from the Latin may be exhibited. The Latin language overspread the greater part of the Roman empire. It supplanted a multiplicity of aboriginal languages; just as the English of North America _has_ supplanted the aboriginal tongues of the native Indians, and just as the Russian _is_ supplanting those of Siberia and Kamskatcha. Sometimes the war that the Romans carried on against the old inhabitants was a war of extermination. In this case the original language was superseded _at once_. In other cases their influence was introduced gradually. In this case the influence of the original language was greater and more permanent. {87} Just as in the United States the English came in contact with an American, whilst in New Holland it comes in contact with an Australian language, so was the Latin language of Rome engrafted, sometimes on a Celtic, sometimes on a Gothic, and sometimes on some other stock. The nature of the original language must always be borne in mind. From Italy, its original seat, the Latin was extended in the following chronological order:-- 1. To the Spanish Peninsula; where it overlaid or was engrafted on languages allied to the present Biscayan (_i.e._, languages of the Iberic stock), mixed in a degree (scarcely determinable) with Celtic elements=Celtiberic. 2. To Gaul, or France, where it overlaid or was engrafted on languages of the Celtic stock. This took place, at least for the more extreme parts of Gaul, in the time of Julius Caesar; for the more contiguous parts, in the earlier ages of the Republic. 3. To Dacia and Pannonia; where it overlaid or was engrafted on a language the stock whereof is undetermined. The introduction of the Latin into Dacia and Pannonia took place in the time of Trajan.