Anglo-Saxon.

Old Frisian.

Old Saxon.
| English.
Without attempting an analysis of English to find the exact proportion of Saxon words, it must be observed that Saxon is the root-language of English; it might with propriety be called the oldest English; it has been manipulated, modified, and developed in its contact with other languages--remaining, however, _radically_ the same--to become our present spoken language.
At this period of our inquiry, we have to do with the Saxon itself, premising, however, that it has many elements from the Dutch, and that its Scandinavian relations are found in many Danish words.

The progress and modifications of the language in that formative process which made it the English, will be mentioned as we proceed in our inquiries.
In speaking of the Anglo-Saxon literature, we include a consideration also of those works written in Latin which are products of the times, and bear a part in the progress of the people and their literature.

They are exponents of the Saxon mind, frequently of more value than the vernacular writings.
EARLIEST SAXON POEM .-- The earliest literary monument in the Saxon language is the poem called Beowulf, the author and antiquity of which are alike unknown.