THE FOREIGN DEBT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS PORTUGAL ST. LINCOLN’S INN, W.C. CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL & CO. NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN CO. BOMBAY: A. H. WHEELER & CO. THE FOREIGN DEBT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE BY T. G. TUCKER, LITT.D. PROFESSOR OF CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE [Illustration] LONDON GEORGE BELL AND SONS 1907 CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. PREFACE The following unpretentious chapters are intended to offer to the ordinary student, who has not yet given the matter any particular thought, a first assistance in realizing the interdependence of literatures. They aim at clearness, and at as great a measure of accuracy as is permitted by the compass within which the matter is necessarily compressed. No pretence whatever is made to completeness. The summaries of various literatures do not profess to be more than epitomes with a special object. If, while helping to that end, they are also readable in themselves, their purpose is served. It is, perhaps, advisable to state that, while the professional studies of the writer have been for the most part concerned with the literatures of Greece and Rome, it has more than once fallen to his lot to promote academic teaching in the literature of England. It was this experience which suggested the present attempt at a more general survey. French, Italian, and German literatures have been approached at first hand, although the standard works have been duly consulted. With the literature of Spain contact has been less intimate, but care has been taken to check impressions formed under these conditions. For the rest the best authorities have been used and trusted. Inasmuch as guiding hints and clues are often more helpful than elaborate treatises, a special acknowledgment is due to various writings of Professor Churton Collins and Professor W. P. Ker. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTORY 1 I. GREEK LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 5 II. LATIN LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 70 III. LITERARY CURRENTS OF THE DARK AGES 116 IV. FRENCH LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 136 V. ITALIAN LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 178 VI. OTHER INFLUENCES SUMMARIZED 216 (_a_) SPANISH LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 216 (_b_) GERMAN LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 231 (_c_) CELTIC LITERATURE AND ENGLISH 247 (_d_) HEBREW INFLUENCE 253