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older work of Snellaert [_Histoire de la Littérature Flamande_. Bruxelles. 1654.], in the latter half of the volume, page for page, he has not even mentioned by name the authors of the last quarter of a century.
Let us glance at that portion of literature more particularly belonging to Flanders and Brabant.
The first expressions of the Germanic mind, the song of "Hildebrand," "Gudrun," the "Nibelungen," have been handed down to us in a form which shows their origin to have been Netherlandish. The first part of "Gudrun" is evidently so; and we find, as well in many of the older poems of chivalry, as "Charles and Elegast," "Floris and Blanchefloer," as in the national epos, intrinsic proofs that the unknown authors were from the regions of the Lower Rhine. These elder remnants, however, can scarcely be claimed by any one of the Teutonic races, as they are the common property of all; for we find the hero Siegfried in the Scandinavian Saga, as well as in the more southern tradition. Mr. Delepierre has translated the following song, almost Homeric in its form, which belongs to this early period, when Christianity had not obliterated the memories of barbarous days:--
"The Lord Halewyn knew a song: all those who heard it were attracted towards him.
"It was once heard by the daughter of the King, who was so beloved by her parents.
"She stood before her father: 'O father, may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'
"'Oh, no, my child, no! They who go to him never come back again.'
"She stood before her mother: 'O mother, may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'
"'Oh, no, my child, no! They who go to him never come back again.'
"She stood before her sister: 'O sister, may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'
"'Oh, no, sister, no! They who go to him never come back again.'
"She stood before her brother: 'O brother, may I go to the Lord Halewyn?'
"'Little care I where thou goest, provided thou preservest thine honor and thy crown.
"She goes up into her chamber;