Aryan | +--------------------------+-----------------------------+ | | European Branch Asiatic Branch | +------------------------+-----------------------+ | | | | Slavonic Teutonic | | | | +-----+--------+ | | | | | | Russians Old Prussians | | | +------+-------+ +-------+--------+ | | | | | | Greek Latin Celtic English Germans Norse It is this important and surprising discovery, that we are a part of a vast Indo-European family spread to the east over a great part of Asia, and to the west over the most of Europe including Russia, that has given such impetus to Celtic studies within recent years. The Gaelic has been found to have roots which go far down towards the parent stock. And its literature, therefore, is of the utmost value to all who seek to read the riddle of the past and to push back the horizons of knowledge beyond the age even of Herodotus, “the father of history.” There is a fascination and refining influence in the study of the Greek and Roman classics, but for the man of large outlook and broad human sympathies there is much also to interest and attract in the literature of the Gael—so old, so weird, so fanciful. Wordsworth, as he listened to the song of the Highland maid in the harvest field, felt the pathos of the past in that moving Gaelic product, and would fain learn its story. Hence his reverie— Will no one tell me what she sings? Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old unhappy far-off things, And battles long ago. That is just what they do; dealing with much brighter things too. For the spirit of the race is enshrined in these old writings, and the fortunes of the race in their history.