The English Reading Book, in Prose |
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Author:
| Hort, William Jillard |
ISBN: | 978-0-217-07843-6 |
Publication Date: | Aug 2009 |
Publisher: | General Books LLC
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Book Format: | Paperback |
List Price: | USD $19.99 |
Book Description:
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: rude and open temples they raised mounds of earth, and placed stone tables, on which the offerings were prepared. The remains of many such places of sacrifices are still to be seen in different parts of Britain, and of this nature are supposed to be the immense stones on Salisbury Plain, called Stone...
More DescriptionPurchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: rude and open temples they raised mounds of earth, and placed stone tables, on which the offerings were prepared. The remains of many such places of sacrifices are still to be seen in different parts of Britain, and of this nature are supposed to be the immense stones on Salisbury Plain, called Stone Henge. The Misletoe, a parasitical plant which grows chiefly on the oak, was highly venerated by the Druids, and at particular seasons was gathered by the Arch-Druid with great pomp and solemnity. ALFRED. Upon the death of Ethelred, the dangers which threatened the country on every side induced the Earls and Thanes, with the unanimous consent of the gentry and the people, to-raise Alfred to the throne of Wessex. It is said that he hesitated to accept this perilous honour; and well 'might he hesitate; for he could not but see that a crown taken up from the field of defeat, and drop- ing with a brother's blood, slain in disastrous battle, must inevitably bring with it anxiety and the deepest gloom of misfortune. But the sublime mind of Alfred taught him that he lived not for himself alone, and that personal ease and individual feeling should be sacrificed on the altar of patriotism and benevolence. Under the influence of such just principles and generous feelings, he complied with the wishes of his countrymen. The fiercest and most destructive succession of conflicts that ever saddened a year of human existence, distinguished that of Alfred's accession. It was obscured by a dark thick cloud of misery. Eight pitched battles were fought by the unaided West Saxons, against the invading Northmen; besides innumerable skirmishes by day and by night; glorious though vain efforts of the prince, his nobles and his people to repel their savage, devastating enemies. Thousands of the in...