In most cases Ælfric presents simple one-to-one translations of religious terms, animal names, names of herbs and trees, occupations, illnesses, crimes, and much more. The bilingual glossary is a so-called ‘class glossary’, which lists words by subjects rather than alphabetically. In short, Ælfric’s Grammar pretty much does what a modern grammar of Latin does, albeit less clearly structured than today’s learners would expect it and without the convenient table format for the all-important declensions and conjugations. He introduces each of these with its respective Latin term and English equivalent followed by further explanations and copious examples (which include comprehensive lists of noun declensions and verb conjugations). Ælfric then devotes the remainder of the work to the eight parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, participles, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections. Although an excellent Latinist, Ælfric mainly wrote in English to fulfil his life-long ambition of improving the Christian learning among monks, secular clerics, and even laity.Īfter prefaces in Latin and English, the Grammar begins with brief discussions of the sounds of speech, letters, syllables, and diphthongs. Largely forgotten today, Ælfric was one of the most learned Anglo-Saxon scholars and the most prolific Old English author known to us.
The author of both works is Ælfric of Eynesham (c. The Latin grammar is the first ever written in any vernacular language. It contains the earliest and most complete copy of Ælfric’s Grammar and Glossary (fols 1r-160r). It is over 1,000 years old!ĭespite its humble appearance, this little volume is an extraordinary survivor from early medieval England. There are skulls, and ash, and stumble stones.MS 154 is a “textbook” to learn Latin, complete with grammar, glossary, and conversational exercises (called colloquies). If you need to sit, there are pillows and chairs. There’s oil, there’s fruit that falls from the pit. If you’re hungry, there’s bread for the taking, Lambs’ wool lush as grapes around your waist.īrass bells, pearled slippers, ebony bowls,Ĭandles that weep with the spice of cloves. I bring purple cloth and silk, precious stones and gold, various sorts of clothes and dyes, wine and oil.Ĭome with me to his shop, come with your empty bags.īind amber-beaded silver round your arms, I bring these things to you over the sea enduring great danger and shipwreck. Merchant: I embark on board ship with my wares and I sail over remote seas, sell my wares and buy precious objects that are unknown in this country. Master: What have you to tell us, merchant? Them free, for their own, pitiless, sake. In winter’s wastes, they no longer wander.
Aelfric colloquy free#
Who sow the tears of the sorrowful and harvestīlessed are those who preserve the earth,īirdcatcher: In winter, they feed both themselves and me, but in the spring, I set them free to fly away to the woods, and in the autumn, I catch young birds and tame them.įrom thousands of nests, they are chosen. Order and radiance will follow your footsteps. You will season all of God’s creation with joy. Will be precious to you, and the trees and vines. You will brine the harvest for winter’s broth.Īnd in spring, you will sprinkle salt and herbs Indeed, all the butter and cheese would go bad unless I looked after it.Īnd in autumn, the garden’s bitter greens. No one enjoys his breakfast or dinner unless my skill is present in it. Salter: Everyone benefits a great deal from my skill. Master: Salter, how does your craft benefit us? 1010)įisherman: Because it is a dangerous thing to catch a whale.Īnd fling yourself on its breaching back.
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