Grimm's Teutonic Mythology

[Ulf]

This might be a little unwieldy to read on a computer but it is good if you just want to search for something specific. I had to compress it to allow it to fit under the forums file size limit, so you will need a program to unzip it.
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Chapter 1: Introduction
(Page 1)
From the westernmost shore of Asia, Christianity had turned at once to the opposite
one of Europe. The wide soil of the continent which had given it birth could not
supply it long with nourishment; neither did it strike deep root in the north of
Africa. Europe soon became, and remained, its proper dwelling-place and home.
It is worthy of notice, that the direction in which the new faith worked its way,
from South to North, is contrary to the current of migration which was then driving
the nations from the East and North to the West and South. As spiritual light
penetrated from the one quarter, life itself was to be reinvigorated from the other.
The worn out empire of the Romans saw both its interior convulsed, and its frontier
overstept. Yet, by the same mighty doctrine which had just overthrown her ancient
gods, subjugated Rome was able to subdue her conquerors anew. By this means the
flood-tide of invasion was gradually checked, the newly converted lands began to
gather strength and to turn their arms against the heathen left in their rear.
Slowly, step by step, Heathendom gave way to Christendom. Five hundred years after
Christ, but few nations of Europe believed in him; after a thousand years the
majority did, and those the most important, yet not all (see Suppl.).