Emily Hickey

Our Catholic Heritage in English Literature of Pre-Conquest Days Emily Hickey

Both of these poets wrote in the language spoken in England before the period of French influence. That influence upon English at first seemed to be disastrous; the language became broken up and spoilt: but this was only for a time; and by and by, out of roughness and chaotic grammar there grew up a beautiful and stately speech meet for great poets to sing in, and great men and women to use. So it is that what for a time seems to be disastrous may one day be realised as benign and beautiful. This pre-Conquest language has to be learned as we learn a foreign tongue.