There are five periods of the English language: First, from 450 to 1100 A. D.; second, from 1100 to 1250 A. D.; third, from 1250 to 1350 A. D.; fourth, from 1350 to 1460 A. D.; fifth, from 1460 to the present. From 450 to 1066 the language spoken in England was a dialect of Low German. Before the Norman Conquest there were two dialects in England, a southern and a northern, the former being a literary language. After the Conquest dialects became much more marked, so that there were three varieties, the northern, the midland and the southern, distinguished from each other by various grammatical differences. The midland dialect was the more widely spread, and ultimately became the standard language, a result principally due to Chaucer's influences. At this period, about the middle of the fourteenth century, the English of the present began to be used, but has since undergone many changes and there is need for many more.
COMPENSATION.
Fair Phyllis, wandering on a day
Through meadows sweet with blossoming May
Her finger pricked upon a spray
Where hid a thorn.
"Alas!" the maid quoth, tearfully,
"How Nature's way displeaseth me!
Why, then, must sweets and sorrows be
Fore'er twin-born?"
But Corydon was lingering near,
And swift he came and wiped the tear,
And on the tender finger dear
A kiss he pressed.
"Heigh ho!" quoth Phyllis cheerfully,
"How Nature's wisdom pleaseth me!
In all a fair design I see—
She knoweth best!"
