1 8 The Winning of the West 



the south the Latin nations as they are sometimes 

 called strengthened by the infusion of northern 

 blood, sprang anew into vigorous life, and became 

 for the time being the leaders of the European 

 world- 

 There was but one land whereof the winning 

 made a lasting addition to Germanic soil; but this 

 land was destined to be of more importance in the 

 future of the Germanic peoples than all their con- 

 tinental possessions, original and acquired, put to- 

 gether. The day when the keels of the low-Dutch 

 sea-thieves first grated on the British coast was big 

 with the doom of many nations. There sprang up 

 in conquered southern Britain, when its name had 

 been significantly changed to England, that branch 

 of the Germanic stock which was in the end to grasp 

 almost literally world-wide power, and by its over- 

 shadowing growth to dwarf into comparative in- 

 significance all its kindred folk. At the time, in 

 the general wreck of the civilized world, the making 

 of England attracted but little attention. Men's 

 eyes were riveted on the empires conquered by the 

 hosts of Alaric, Theodoric, and Clovis, not on the 

 swarm of little kingdoms and earldoms founded by 

 the nameless chiefs who led each his band of hard- 

 rowing, hard-fighting henchmen across the stormy 

 waters of the German Ocean. Yet the rule and the 

 race of Goth, Frank, and Burgund have vanished 

 from off the earth; while the sons of the unknown 

 Saxon, Anglian, and Friesic warriors now hold in 

 their hands the fate of the coming years. 



