LITERARY INFLUENCE IN

BRITISH HISTORY

CHAPTER I

LITERARY INFLUENCES OF JUDEA, GREECE, AND ROME

IN

N examining literary history, Judea, Greece, and Rome seem pre-eminent for almost exclusive influence on modern European civilisation. Greek and Roman literature are historically connected, and Greece, the first in intellectual achievement, fell under the dominion of Rome. The religions of both were almost the same, while Roman conquest, comprising all western Europe, bore with it the treasures of Greek learning, combined with its own civilising, enlightened influence. France, Spain, England, and Germany, destined to become the greatest nations in the world, alike submitted to Roman arms, and with their submission disappeared their ancient religions, and most of their historic traditions. Roman or Latin literature, history, legislation, language, and

ideas, comprising much that was borrowed from Greece, gradually prevailed throughout Europe. I

The most celebrated countries whose ancient histories were long comparatively unknown, were Assyria, Persia, and Egypt. Except from occasional allusions to them in the Jewish Scriptures, their histories were long concealed, though to some extent preserved in the literature of ancient Greece. The poets and historians of that intellectual country are still among modern Europeans, not only the studies of the young, but attract statesmen, travellers, theologians, and even novelists, in their translation or examination.

The Jews, amid the general idolatry, polytheism, and mystical worship of the ancient world, transmitted through generations their ancient Deism utterly unchanged by the progress of time. Absorbed in their own thoughts, interests, privileges, and local history, this isolated race stood apart from the rest of the world, showing little interest in other races of men. This indifference was equalled by the indifference of other nations towards them. Modern

I "Victorious Rome was herself subdued by the arts of Greece. Those immortal writers who still command the admiration of modern Europe soon became the favourite object of study and imitation in Italy. The love of letters was fashionable among the subjects of Hadrian and the Antonines. It was diffused over the whole extent of their empire, the most northern tribes of Britons had acquired a taste for rhetoric. Homer as well as Virgil were transcribed and studied on the banks of the Rhine and Danube."Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," Chapter II. 2 Milman's "Histories of the Jews and of Christianity."

historians express wonder at the ignorance of both Greeks and Romans about the literature of the Jews.1

The Romans inherited not only the religion and territory, but the literature, and to some extent the arts, of Greece. Athens was the admiration of her Roman conquerors, while Judea remained apparently excluded from the curiosity, learning, and enterprise of the ancient world, which it was yet destined to overcome in religious interest, importance, and conversion. The Romans by their rule over Assyria, Greece, Egypt, and Judea acquired all the revealed knowledge and learning of the ancient world, while their conquests, travels, and inquiries extended their influence throughout countries previously unknown.

Their vast empire thus included the most fertile parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, in addition to the dominion of their Greek predecessors. Throughout this grand empire the brilliant Roman intellect reigned supreme. It appeared alike in legal enactment, geographical examination, historical inquiry, and practical improvement in almost everything connected with human welfare.2

The rise of Christianity and its complete conquest of Roman Paganism, mingled the three nations of Greeks, Romans, and Jews in complete intellectual supremacy over the educated world, while the Christians, extinguishing Paganism throughout its former

2 "The firm edifice of Roman power was raised and preserved by the wisdom of ages. The general principle of government was wise, simple, and beneficent."-" Decline and Fall," Ch. II.

political dominion, yet cultivated and studied its splendid literature with increasing admiration. From this combination of Christian knowledge with the classic elegance, learning, and genius of Greece and Rome, arose the medieval and modern literature of Europe.

European Christians, when triumphant over the Roman Empire, had thus the literature of Greece and Rome with that of Judea at their command for study, comparison, and instruction. So vast an amount of history, poetry, tradition, and philosophy gave immense and unequalled information to Christian minds. The learning and wisdom of both Greeks and Romans and the religious history of the Jews were for the first time combined throughout Europe for Christian instruction.

English literature is called by an eminent contributor to it "the most splendid and the most durable of the many glories of England." Its excellence is due partly indeed to cultivation of classic literary models, and also to vast information derived through foreign conquest, travel, and communication. When the results of persevering, uninterrupted study at home are added to those of research and exploration abroad, English literary acquisitions appear unrivalled.

England for many centuries never 'lay "at the proud foot of a conqueror." 2 While her domestic peace has been for many years less disturbed than I Macaulay's "History of England," Vol. 1st.