/ = # % f X ...^ ^ c / F CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA •^^c^Z^*"^.. 'A\ 'S^XJ?t-^. F CUIFORNU % f QJJ ^-TtV_0> ViQ LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA V 0>^s l\\ :^I^ /^ ^^^c^^^^ '^>fyy^ \ ^3vO^^S = AR1[ OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNI a,^^Gv5P^^ I tR^ OF THE UNIVERSITV OF CALIFORNIA ■^•s-rs... ff%^ /t'----.. = LIBRARY OF THE UN 'Oe^-f.'- ^m s>C ^^^ ^ / F CALIFORNIA ^^ F CALIFORNIA — J cs M en THE ANGLO-SAXON VERSION OF THE LIFE OF ST. GUTHLAC, ficrmtt of CrotulantJ. ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN LATIN, BY FELIX (CO^DIONLY CALLED) OF CROWLAND. Now first printed from a MS. in the Cotbonian Library. WITH A TRANSLATION AND NOTES, BY CHAKLES WYCLIFFE GOODWIN, M.A. FELLOW OF CATHARINE HALL, CAMBRIDGE. LONDON : JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 4, OLD COMPTON STREET, SOIIO SQUARE. MDCCCXLVIII- ^^02.? C. AND J. ADLABD, PniNTKMS, BAKTHOLOM KW-CLOSK. PREFACE. The Life of St. Guthlac, Hermit of Crowland, was originally written in Latin by one Felix, of whom nothing is with certainty known, further than what appears upon the face of his work.* From its being dedicated to Alfwold, king of the East- Angles, it may be conjectured that the author was an inmate of some monastery within the realm of East-Anglia ; and he cannot have written later than A. D. 749, — the year of Alfwold's death. Though not personally acquainted with Guthlac, Felix drew his materials from persons who had known and conversed with the saint, and notwithstanding the » The Latin Life is printed both in the Bollandine and Benedictine Acta Sanctorum, under the 11th of April. Fehx is usually called a monk of Crowland. In one MS. he is tenned in the prologue, CathoUca: Congregationis Sancti Bedan vernaculus, from which the Benedictine editor infers that he was a monk of Jarrow. But this reading is unsupported by other MSS., and no dependence can be placed upon it. IV PREFACE. marvellous colouring given to the incidents related^ the memoir may be regarded as, upon the whole, authentic, and as a curious picture of the belief and habits of the age. Upon the work of Felix is founded the poetica^ Legend of St. Guthlac, contained in that singular col- lection of Anglo-Saxon poetry the Codex Exoniensis. Less important, but not without its value to the student of our ancient literature, is the prose version in the same language, now for the first time given to the public. When and by whom this translation was made is unknown; the style is not that of iElfric, to whom it has been groundlessly ascribed. The florid rhetoric of Felix is much pruned and cropped, but without the omission of any material incidents ; the writer often paraphrases rather than translates, and in truth sometimes quite mistake? sense of the original. Only one MS. of this version is known to exist, preserved in the Cottonian collection, in the volume / marked Vespasian D. xxi. But amongst the con- tents of the MS. known as the Codex Yercellensis is an extract comprising two chapters of the Life of Guthlac. For a transcript of this most interestin If PROLOGUE. ^O the truly-believing in our Lord^ for ever and ever^ to my dearest lord above all otlier men^ earthly kings : — Alfwold, king of the East- Angles, rightly and worthily holding the kingdom: — I, Felix, have set forth the true belief, and the blessing of eternal salvation for all God^s faithful people, and send greetildg. Thy words and commands I have obeyed ; the book which thou bespakest I have composed, concerning the life of Guthlac, of venerable memory, with clear words and testimonies. I therefore beg and beseect the learned and the faithful, if he here 'i any ridiculous phrase, that he blame us not 'fifore. But let each of these censorious and derisive persons reflect and consider that God^s kingdom standeth not in [eloquence] but in stead- fastness of the holy faith ; and reflect and consider that the salvation of "earth was not dcAdsed with light thoughts, but was preached and declared by fishermen. And if any man censure our attempt 4 PROLOGUE. man ure angin and weorc teele (swa ic menige Avat on Angel-cynne mid )?am faegerum stafum ge- gylde, fiegere ^ and glaewlice gesette, j^aet hig ]?as hoc sylfe~ settan militon), ne wite he )?onne us swa [wc]^ neode and h^esc gehyrsumodon^ and word gefyldon. ForJ^an la ])u leornere gif )>u mid ])an ]>cawe tjelendra me lilealitrige, warna ])e sylfne )wr ]m ];c hleahtres wene, J^cct ]>u ]>xr semninga ne wurSe mid dymnysse )7ystro ablend. pajt bi^ blindra j^eaw )7onnc hi " on leohte beoS^ )?aet hig sylfe nyton buton hi on ]?eostrum dwclion. On halgum gewrihtum bi^ oft unwisdom [blindnes] ^ geciged^ for]?on se fruma ealles yfeles arrest ]?onan cym^. For ]?isum Jnngum J?onne )m leornere ic J^e manige J^aet ]>\i J>a fremdan ne tsele^ J^elaes )?u fram o])ram eft' swa fremde getaded sig. Ac ])yla?s ic leuge )7one J^anc hefige ]>ara leornendra mid ge- segenum )?ara fremdrataeluysse, swa swa ic ' strange sae and mycele oferlic^e, and nu become to J^a^re smyltcstan hySe, Gublaces lifes. For])on ])u abiiede vet me ]rjit ic ]>e write and sade be )?are drohtnunge Gublaces and his lifes bysene, ic )>e forj^on hyrsu- mode and ic for)7on write swa me )>a dihteras sadon |>e his lif geornost cubon ; arost hwylc ware se fruina o]']>e on hwylcum cnde he hit eft geladde. For )>isuni Jnngum ic ))as boc ^ sette ; ]nvt J'a )>e his lif |>as cadigan weres cucion, )>a't him J)onne |)ig ' MS. f:i«ger. ^MS. sylf. ^ [wr] not in MS. " MS. gchvrsuni. ^ MS. he. ^ [l)lin(lnes] not in MS. ' MS. sec. « MS. bcc. PROLOGUE. 5 and work (as I know many in England wlio might have written this book tliemselves, gilded with fair letters, fairly and cleverly composed) , let him not blame us who have but obeyed compulsion and com- mand, and fulfilled an order. Therefore, O ! learner, if thou deridest me after the manner of censurers, take heed to thyself, lest whilst thou thinkest of laughter, thou become suddenly blinded by the ob- scurity of darkness. It is the manner of blind men when they are in the light, that they know not but that they wander in the dark. In the holy Scriptures folly is often called [blindness], because from thence comes the beginning of all evil. For this cause I admonish thee, O ! learner, that thou censure not strangers, lest thou be afterwards as a stranger censured by others. But lest I longer weary the mind of learners by talking of the censure of strangers, I sail as it were over a strong and mighty sea, and now come to that most quiet haven, y the life of Guthlac. As thou didst require of me that I should write and relate concerning the con- versation of Guthlac and the example of his life, I have accordingly obeyed thee, and I write as those informants told me who knew his life most accu- rately; in the first place what was its beginning, and then to what end he brought it. For this cause I have composed this book, that as for those who knew the life of the blessed man they may be 6 PROLOGUE. geneahhor his lifes to gemyndum come ; and )>am o^rura J7C hit aer ne cu);on swji swji ic him riimne weg and geradne taehte. pas Jnngc ))e ic her on- writc, ic gclcornode fram gcsegenum ];aes arwyrSan abhodes Wilfrides. Swilc eac manige oSre me J?aet ssedon, J^e mid ]>am eadigan were waeron and his lif hira eagum ofersawon. « Ne tweoge ic aht J>a mine dihtcras J)a?t hi mihton gemunan and call asecgan )m wundru )nscs eadigan wcres ; Tvseron hi swi^e wide cu^e and msere geond Angel-cynnes land. Ic for))on )?inum bebodum hyrsumede and )nn word and willan haebbe gefylled and )?aet gewrit )?isse andweardan hyrde swa ic mihte mid wisdome minra^ foregengena and J^sera" yldrena gcsette ; )7one fruman on )7am fruman ic gesctte^ and ]7one ende in Jmm ende. ' MS. minre. = MS. Jjrcie. PROLOGUE. 7 the more abimclantly reminded of his life; and that to others who knew it not before, I might as it were point out a wide and straight way. The things which I here write, I learned from the relation of the ve- nerable abbot Wilfrid. Also many others have related it to me who were with the blessed man, and saw his life with their own eyes. Nor doubt I aught that my informants were able to re- member and relate all the wonders of this blessed man; they were very widely known and famous through England. I accordiDgly have obeyed thy commands, and have fulfilled thy word and will, and I have composed the text of this present book as I best might, with the wisdom of my predecessors and their elders ; the beginning I have put in the beginning, and the end at the end. THE LIl-E OF I. r\N ]mm dagum JEj^elredes ];aes maeran kyninges Myrcua, was sum aej7el^ man on t>agre lieh-)?eode Myrcna-rice; se wa^s liaten Penwald.- He waes Jjaes yldestan and ]?ajs cej7elstan cynnes J;e Iclingas waeron genemnede. He waes for woriilde welig and myccle gcstreon lucfde, andj^aj^a lie welegost waes and mccst gestreon hasfde,-" Sa gyrnde he him his ge- maeccan to nymanne. He him ]?a ana geceas on ]?cera ~ maedena heape f>e J7aer faegorost \yaes and aej^elestan kynnes; seo waes gehaten Tette: -and hi pa samod waeron o^ ]7one fyrst J7aet God foresceawode )?aet ]?aet wif mid bearne geeacnod waes. Da se tima com J>aet lieo ]m't beam cennan scolde^ }?a StTmninga com tacn of hcofenum,^and )7aet bearn'^ swytelice mid inseglum beclysde :->^ue, men - gesawon ane hand on J^am fiiegerestan readan hiwe of heofonum cumende ; and seo hiefde ane gyklene rode^ and waes aeteowod manegum mannum, and helde toweard toforan ]^9ps buses duru |)[er ]?a^t cild inne acenned waes. -^i)a men )7a ealle );e ))aet gesawon j^iderweard efeston Jniet ]iig ]?aet taccn swutelicor gescon woldon and ongitan^--^Seo hand J>a gewcnde mid Jwrc rude up to heofonum. Da men ))a ealle ))e ]>a^t tacen gesawon, lii hi ]>a ealle on cor^an astrehton, and God ba'dou ]>a^t he hcom gcswutclian scolde hwjpt }>cut tacn and J^a^t forcbeacn boon scolde ]>e him ]yn'v ' MS. JKl^ela. = MS. \jxYe. ^ MS. tacn. ST. GUTIILAC. y I. J^TN the days of ^Ethelred, the famous king of the Mercians, there was a noble man of the province of Mercia, who was called Penwald. He was of the oldest and noblest family, ayIio were named Iclings. He was in worldly things wealthy and had great riches, and when he was wealthiest and had the most riches, he desired to take to himself a wife. He chose from the multitude of maidens the one who was fairest, and of the noblest kin ; she was called Tette. And they were together until the time that God ordained that the Avoman became with child. When the time came that she should give birth to the child, suddenly there came a sign from heaven, and clearly as with a seal marked out the child. Lo ! men saw a hand of the fairest red hue coming from heaven ; and it held a golden rood, and was manifested to many men, and it leaned forward before the door of the house wherein the child was born. Thereupon all the men who saw it hastened thitherward, that they might more clearly see and understand the sign. The hand then returned with. the rood up to heaven. Then all the men who saw the sign, stretched themselves on the earth, and prayed God that he would show them what that sign and portent should be, which was there so un- i§ 10 THE LIFE OF swa faerlice aeteowod waes. ^ Da lii )?a );set gebcd gefylled heafdoD^ J^a com paer sum wif mid miccle raedlicnysse yrnan of ]mm. liuse J;e ]>cet cild inne acenned waes, and cleopode, and cwae^ )?us to j^am mannum : Beo^ ge staj^olfaeste and geliyrte^ for)?an )7aes toweardan wuldres man on J^isum middanearde her ys acenned. Da hi )7a men J^aet word gehyrdon, )7a spraecon liig heom betwynan pdst J^aet waere god- cundlic tacn j^e J^aer aetywed v,'ijes, forj^on ]je )?aet beam ]7aer acenned waes. Sume hig ]7onne cwaedon j^aet ]>urh godcunde stihtunge J^aere ^ ecan eadignysse him waere seo gifu forestihtod, )?aes haliges tacnes J^e him aet his acennednysse aetywad waes. /Waeron men swij^e wundriende be J^aere wisan and be )7am tacne ]?e )7aer aetywed waes : and efne aer ]?on ])e sunne~ on setl code hit waes ofer call middel Engla-land cu^ and maere. I Da ]7aes ymbc cahta niht ]>aes ]?e raon J>a*t cild orohte to J?am lialgan ])weale fulwihte-baej^es, -Sa waes him nama sceapen of J?aes cynnes gereorde and of )73ere ]7eode Gu];lac, swa hit waere of godcundhcre stihtunge gedon, ])jet he swa gcnemned waere : for]>on sw.i ]>a wisan leorneras sccgalS on Angcl-cynne ]nvt se nama standeS on twam^ gewritum: GuJSlac se nama ys on romanisc, BeUi munus : for]>on ])cah lie mid woruld- lice* geswince menige carfocSnysse adreah, and ])eah mid gccyrrcdnyssc J>a gife jrjirc ecan eadignysse mid ' MS. ill ]pscre ccc. - MS. simna. ^ MS. fcawum. * MS. \Yoruldlicrc. ST. GUTHLAC. 11 expectedly displayed to tliem. When they had ended this prayer, a woman came in great haste running out of the house wherein the child was born, and said thus to the men : Be firm and of good heart, for a man of future glory is born here on this earth. When the men heard this word, they said among themselves, that it was a divine sign that was there showed to them, inasmuch as the child was born there. Some of them then said, that by divine providence the gift of eternal bliss was fore-ordained to him, in virtue of the holy sign that was shown to them at his birth. Men were much amazed at the matter and at the sign which was there displayed; and behold, ere the sun set it was known and famous over all the middle of England. II. About eight nights afterwards, when they brought the child to the holy laver of baptism, a name was given him from the appellation of the family and from the clan, Guthlac, as though it were done by divine providence, that he should be thus named. For thus the wise teachers in England say, that the name consists of two terms ; the name Guthlac is in Latin, Belli munus ; for that he not only endured many troubles with worldly labour, but also by con- version received the gift of eternal bliss with the 12 THE LIFE OF sige eces lifes onfengc, and swci mid |?am apostolum cwej^ende: Beatus vir qui suffert teraptationem; quia cum probatus fuerit accipiet coronam vite quam re- promisit dominus diligentibus se. paet ys ou englisc: Eadig man biS, cwaeS he, se J^c her on worulde manig- fealdhce gcswincnysse and earfoSnvsse dreogeS, for- ]?on mid J?am f>e he gecostod biS and geswenced, J70nne onfehS he ecum bea^; and |7aet God gehet Galium J^am ];e hine lufiaS-i^-'After ))on )>e he waes a)7wegen mid ];am J?weale J^aes halgan fulluhtes, ^a waes he eft^ju> haere faederlican healle gelaedd and J^aer gefedd.->Mid ];am J7e seo yld com ]7aet hit sprecan mihte aefter cniht-wisan, J>onne waes he nawiht hefig, ne unhyrsum his yldrum on wordum, ne ]>am ]?e hine feddon^ naenigum oJ^J^c yldran o]))?e gingran. Ne he cnihtlice galnysse uses begangende, ne idele spel- lunge folcricra manna, ne ungeliclice olaecunge, ne leaslicetunge : ne he mistlice fugela^-sangas ne wur- yode, swa oft swa cnilitlicu yldo bega^S.^ji^Ac on his scearpnysse ]>xt he weox, and wearS glaed on his ansyne, and hluttor and clttue on his mode, and bil- wite on ms pca\Mnn.^ -Kc on hmi wxs se scima gastlicre beorhtnysse swa swyJSe scinende, )>jet ealle ]7a men J^e hine gesawon on hjiii geseon mihton J>a J^ing ))c him towcarde wiuron.'^^)a wivs a'fter siS- fate ])vet maegen on him -weox and gesti])ode on his geogoSe, jm gemunde he ]m strangau dii'da ])ara un- manna and ];a?ra woruld-frumcna ; he ]>a, swa he of ' MS. fu-elas. ST. GUTHLAC. 13 victory of eternal life, saying thus witli the apostle : Beatus vir qui suffert temptationem, quia cum pro- batus fucrit accipiet coronam vite, quam repromisit Domiuus diligentibus se. That is in English : Blessed is the man, saith he, who here in the world endureth manifold labours and troubles, for whereas he is tempted and tried, then receiveth he the ever- lasting ^war e i ; and this hath God promised to all who love him. After he was washed in the laver of holy baptism, he was led to his father's hall and there nourished. When the age came that the child should speak in child-fashion, he was no whit dull, nor disobedient to his parents in their commands, nor to those who niu'tured him, either elder or younger. Nor was he addicted to boyish le^dties, nor the vain talk of vulgar men, nor unseemly fawning, nor lying flattery. Nor did he study the various cries of birds, as childish age is often wont. But he grew up in sharpness, and was bhthe in countenance, and pure and clean in his disposition^ and innocent in his ways. And in him was the lustre of divine brightness so shining, that all men who saw him could perceive in him the promise of what should hereafter happen to him. After a time, when his strength waxed and he grew up to man- hood, then thought he on the strong deeds of the heroes, and of the men of yore. Then, as though he 14 THE LIFE OF slsepe onwoce, wearS his mod oncvrred, and he gesoranode miccle scole and wered his gej^oftena and hj> efen-haefdlingas, and him sylf to waepnum feng.>^pa wraec he his aefj^ancas on his feondum, and heora burh bc^rnde and heora tiinas ofer- hergode ; and he wide geond eorj^an menigfeald wael felde and sloh and of m annum heora aehta nam. pa waes he semninga innan manod godcundlice and laered ]??et he )?a word hete^ ealle ]?a he swa [genam] ^ he het }>riddan^^j]iel agifan ]?am mannum ]>e he hit 3er ongona?mde.>^±)a waes ymbe nigon winter }7aes ]>e he ]7a ehtnysse begangende waes se eadiga Guthlac, and he hine sylfne betweox ]?ises and- weardan middaneardes wealcan dwelode." pa gelamp snme nihte^ mid J^am ])e he com of farendum wege, and he hys J^a werigan lima reste, and he menig J?ing mid his mode )7ohte ; Sa waes he faeringa mid Godes ege onbryrd, and mid gasthcre lufan his heorte innan gcfylled : and mid ]?y he awoc he ge]>ohte ]?a ealdan kyningas J^e iu waeron,* ]>urh earmlicne dea^ and Jnirh sarhcne utgang ]?aes miiufuUan lifes, )?e ]?as woruld forleton ; and ]m micclan welan ))e hig aer-hwilon aliton he geseh on hraedlicnysse ealle gewitan ; and he gescah his agen lif dii^ghwamlice to ]?am ende efstan and scyndan. J)a WcPS he saemninga mid J^am godcundan cgcsan innan swa swy]7e onbryrded, ]nvt he andcttc Gode gif he liim ))aes mergcn-da^gcs geunnan Avolde, ])a^t he his ];eow ' [C.enam] not in MS. = MS. wcolc ^ \vclodc. ^ MS. niht. * MS. and mid Jjy he gefiolite ^a caldau kyuingas Jsa iii waron he awoc burh, etc. ST. GUTHLAC. 15 had woke from sleep, his disposition was changed, and he collected a great troop and host of his com- panions and equals, and himself took weapons. Then wreaked he his grudges on his enemies, and burned their city, and ravaged their towns, and widely through the land he^ made much slaughter^ and slew and took from men their goods. Then was he on a sudden inwardly admonished of God, and taught that he should thus give command ; of all thiugs which he had so taken he bade give back the third part to those from whom he had taken it. It was about nine years that he was thus engaged in hostile raids, the blessed Guthlac, and he thus wandered amidst the t-umuft' of this present world. It happened on one night when he had come from an expedition, and he rested his weary limbs, and thought over many things in his mind, that he w^as suddenly inspired with divine awe, and his heart within was filled with spiritual love ; and when he awoke, he thought on the old kings who were of yore, who thinking -en miserable death, and the wretched end of sinful life, forsook this world; and the great wealth which they once possessed, he saw all on a sudden vanish ; and he saw his own life daily hasten and hurry to an end. Then was he suddenly so exeitted: inwardly with godly fear, that he vowed to God, if he would spare him till the morrow, that he would be his servant. AVhen the darkness of 16 THE LIFE OF beon wolde. -^lid ])j J^aere nilite j^ystro gewiton and hit daeg waes, J?a aras he and hine sylfne getaciiode insegle Cristes rode. Da bead he his geferum j^aet hi fundon him oSerne ealdorman and latteow hira geferscipc ; and he him andctte and saede J>cet he wolde beon Cristes ]?eow. ^lid )7am ]?e his geferan J>as word gehvrdon^ ])a wii^ron hi swij^e wundriende, and swyj>e forhte for ]?am wordum )?e hi J?cer ge- hyrdon : )?a hi ealle to him aluton and hine bsedon J>aet he niefre ];a ]?ing swa gelaeste swa he mid wordum gecwaeS. He )7a hwaejjere heora worda ne gimde, ac ]?a^t ilce }?aet he aer ge]7ohte j^aet he J^aet forSloestan wokle ; barn him swa sv.yj^e innan ]?aere Godes lufan ]?aet na laes ];aet an J^aet he )?as woruld forseah, ac swilce hys yldrena gestreon and his eard, and )?a sylfan his heafod-gemacan ])[et he );a?t eall forlet. Da he waes feower and twentig wintra eald, );a forlet he ealle ]7as wiizuld-glenga, and eallne his hiht on Crist gesctte AttCd ]?a a^fter ]>on ]?a?t he ferde to mynstre ];e ys gecweden Hrypadiin, and )7aer )m gerynelican sceare onfeng, See Petres J7aes apostoles under iElf Srybe abbodyssan : and syj7j?an he to sceare and to j^am munuc-life feng, hwaet he naenigre w;)?tan onbitan nolde ])c drun- cennys ^ )nirh come. J<^iid ]'a for ]nin ))ingum hine J>a brocSra liatedon, ]?y he swyld, and l^olemod- nvsse, and forhcefednvsse his lichaman ;. and ealra )7ara godra maegen he waes begangende. Da ymbe twa winter j^aes J>e he his lif swa leofode nnder munuc- hade }>aet he J?a ongan wilnian westenes and sunder- setle. Mid ]>j he gehyrde secgan and he leornode be )mm ancernm, ])e gcara on westene and on sundor- settlum for Godes naman wilnodon and heora lif leofodon, Sa waes his heorte innan ]>urh Godes gifu onbryrdod, Jjaet he westenes gewilnode. Da w sona ymbe unmanige dagas ]nvt he him Icafe ba?d a?t ]>fxm ])cowum ])e ]n^r yldcst wauron ])a't he feran moste. ' Perliaps a mistake for cadmodnysse. ST. GUTIILAC. 19 figure tall, aud pure in body, cheerful in mood, and in countenance handsome ; lie was mild and modest in his discourse, and he was patient and humble ; and ever in his heart was divine love hot and buraing. When he devoted himself to letters and learning, he was desirous of learning his psalms. Then was the fruitful breast of the blessed man filled with God^s grace, and with the teaching of God the great master he became instructed and learned in divine discipline. When he had been two years on this study, he had learned his psalms, and canticles, and hymns, and prayers, after ecclesiastical order. Then began he to study the good observances of the virtuous in that life, gentleness and obedience, patience and long suft'ering, and abstinence of body ; and he cultivated the virtues of all good men. After he had passed about two years of his life thus in the monastic state, he began to long for the wilderness and a hermitage. When he heard tell and learned concerning anchorites who of yore longed for the wilderness and hermitages for God^s name, and passed their lives there, his heart was inwardly in- spired with the love of God to long for the wilder- ness. So then not majay days after, he begged leave from the servants [of God] who were the eldest there, that he might depart. 20 THE LIFE OF III. Ys on Bretone-lande sum fenn unmaetre mvccl- nysse ];oet onginneS fram Grante ea nalit feor frara pxre cestre, 5y ylcan naraa ys nemned Grante- ceaster. peer synd unmaetei moras, hwilon sweart waeter-steal, and liwiloa fdle ea-ri]?as yrnendc, and swylce eac manige ealand and hrcod and beorhgas and treow-gewrido, and liit mid menigfealdan big- nyssum widgille and lang J?urliwiina^" on norS-sse. Mid J7an se foresprecena wer and ]wre eadigan gemynde Gublac^ ]7aes widgillan westenes )7aungear- awan stowe ])?er_RQmette, )7a ^vaes he mid godcunde* fultume gefylst^-OTuTj^a sona ]mn rihtestan wege jn'der togeferde. pa wa^s mid J^am )>e he J7yder com J>aet he fryegn J7a bigengcan J7a?s landes, hwa^r he on ]?am westene him eardung-stowe findan mihte. Mid ]?y hi him menigfeald J^ing sa3don be f>aire widgilnysse )7aes westenes. pa waes Tiitwine gehateu sum man, saedc ];a j?at he wiste sum ealand synderhce digle, ]7aet oft menige men eardian ongunnon, ac for menig- fealdum brogum and egsura, and for annysse )?ces widgillan westenes ])at hit na^nig man adreogan ne mihte, ac hit ale for])an .befluge. ]\Iid ])am yc se halga wer Gu^lac ))a word gehyrde, he ba^d sona )7aet he him ]7a stowe getahtc, and he ])a sona swa dyde ; eode ]?a on scip, and ))a ferdon begcn ]mrh pa rugan fennas o]y Jwt hi comon to J^aere stowe J^e man hateS ' MS. unmaetre. « MS ]>c}\c^ wuna«. ^ MS. G unlaces. ■• MS. godcundrc. ST. GUTHLAC. 21 III. There is in Britain a fen of immense size, which begins from the river Granta not far from the city, which is named Grantchester. There are immense marshes, now a black pool of water_, now foul run- ning streams, and also many islands, and reeds, and hillocks, and thickets, and with manifold windings wide and long it continues up to the north sea. AVhen the aforesaid man, Guthlac of blessed memory, found out this uncultivated spot of the wide wilder- ness, he was comforted with divine support, and journeyed forthwith by the straightest way thither. And when he came there he inquired of the inhabit- ants of the land where he might find himself a dwelling-place in the wilderness. Whereupon thev told him many things about the vastness of the wdl- derness. There was a man named Tatwine, who said that he knew an island especially obscure, which ofttimes many men had attempted to inhabit, but no man could do it on account of manifold horrors and fears, and the loneliness of the wide wilderness ; so that no man could endure it, but every one on this account had fled from it. When the holy man Guthlac heard these words, he bid him straightway show him the' place, and he did so ; he embarked in a vessel, and they went both through the wild fens till they came to the spot which is called Crowland ; 2^ THE LIFE OF Cruwland ; wies ])set land on middan j^ara ^vestene swa gcrad geseted J>oes foresccdan fennes/ swj^e digie, and hit swy)7e feaAva^ men wiston buton j^am anum }>e liyt liim ttehte ; swylc )?3?r nsefre ncenig man ser cardian ne mihte aer se cadiga wer GuSlac to- com for )73ere eardunga )7ara awerigedra gasta. And he pa sc cadiga wer GuSlac forhogode sona J^a costunge J7?era awerigdra gasta, and mid heofonUcum fultume gestrangod wear^, betwyx pa fenlican gewrido pses widgillan westenes, ]78et he ana ongan eardian. Da gelamp mid J^aere godcundan stihtunge, )78et he on J7a tid See Bartholomei ]7aes apostoles )7aet he com to J^am ealande, for]7an he on eallum ]nngum '^his fnltum sohte. And he J^a gelufode J^ciere' stowe digelnysse, and he pa gehet J?aet he wolde ealle dagas his lifes J^aer on j^am ealande Gode ]7eowian^^-Mid py he pa unmanige dagas J^aer wais, J?a geondsceawode he pa l^ing ];e to Jnere stowe bclurapon. Da J^ohte he ];aet he eft wokle to ))am mynstre feran and his ge- broSra gretan, forj^an he a^r fram heom ungegret gewat. Da pxs on mergen mid ])an hit difg waes J7a ferde he eft to )?am mynstre ; ])a wa^s he )>£er hundnigantig nihta mid ];am brobrum : and )>a sy]>]?an he hig grette, he J^a eft hwierf to )7a?r£^towe )^aes leofan westenes mid twam cnihtura?-^Da waes se eahto(Sa dceg pves kalcudes Septcmbres, )>e man on J»a tid wur(Sa(S See Bartholomei ))a's apostoles, ])a se eadiga wcr GuMac com to JnL^re foresprecenan stowe, ' MS. fcnnas. = MS. fcawe. ^ ^js. ^^ ST. GUTIILAC. 23 this land was in such wise (as he said) situated in the midst of the waste of the aforesaid fen, very ob- scure, and very few men knew of it except the one who showed it to him ; as no man ever could inhabit it before the holy man Guthlac came thither, on ac- count of the dwelling of the accursed spirits there. And the blessed man Guthlac disregarded the tempta- tion of the accursed spirits, and was strengthened with heavenly support, so that he began to dwell alone among the fenny thickets of the wide wilder- ness. It fell out, by divine providenq.e, that he came to the island on the day of St. Bartholomew the apostle ; for he sought in all things liis support. And he was enamoured of the obscurity of the place, and vowed that he would serve God on that island all the days of his life. When he had been there not many days, he looked about at the things which ap- pertained to the place. Then he thought that he would return again to the monastery, and salute his brethren, for he had before gone away from them without taking leave. So in the morning, when it was day, he went back to the monastery ; there he remained with the brethren ninety nights. And after he had taken leave of them, he returned back again to the place of his beloved wilderness with two servants. It was the eighth day before the kalends of September, which is observed as the day of St. Bartholomew the apostle, when the holy man Guthlac 24 THE LIFE OF to Cruwlande, forj^on lie liis fultum on eallum J^ingum aerest to ]?am sundor-sctlc solite. Htcfde he J^a on ylde six and twentig wintra Jm lie aerest se Godes cempa on )7am westene mid heofenlicre gife gewcoraet he hine mid gastlicum wajpnum gescylde, he nam )7one scyld J^aes Halgan Gastes geleafan ; and hync on )?iere byrnan gcgearo^vode J7aes heofonlican hihtesj and he him dyde heolm on lieafod claenera~ gej7anca ; and mid )?am straelum J^a^s halgan sealm- sanges^ a singallice "wiS J7am awerigedum gastum sceotode and campode. And nu hwaet ys swa swij^e to wundrianne J7a diglan mihte nres Drihtnes, and his mildheortnysse domas ; liwa maeg J^a ealle asecgan ! Swa se te];ela lareow calra J?eoda Scs Paulus se apostol, J>one ure Drihten admilitig God fore- stihtode to godspellianne his folce ; he waes aer-J>on ehtere his J>9ere halgan cyrcan, and mid J^an ])e he to Damascum ferde J^a^re byrig, )>a?t he was of ]mm )?ystrum gedwolum abroden ludea ungeleafulnysse mid )7am swege heofonlicre stefne ; swa Jwniie J^a^re arwurSan gemynde GutSlac of J^are gcdrefednysse J^issere worulde waes gelseded to camphtide ]>as ecan lifes. ' MS. gcweoriSod. Gcsait }?a. ' MS. cla?uere. ^ MS. sealm-sangas. ST. GUTHLAC. 25 came to tlie aforesaid place Crowland, for that he sought his support first in all things in regard to his solitary life. He was six and twenty years of age when, endowed with heavenly grace^ God's soldier first settled in the wilderness. Then straightway, that he might arm himself against the attacks of the wicked spirits with spiritual weapons, he took the shield of the Holy Spirit, faith ; and clothed himself in the armour of heavenly hope ; and put on his head the helmet of chaste thoughts; and with the arrows of holy psalmody he ever continually shot and fought against the accursed spirits. And now how greatly must we admire the secret might of our Lord^ and the judgments of his mercy ; who can tell them all? As the noble teacher of all nations, St. Paul the apostle, whom our Lord Almighty God fore-ap- pointed to preach the gospel to his people; he was before a persecutor of his holy church, and whilst he journeyed to the city Damascus he was delivered from the dark errors of the Jews^ unbelief by the sound of a heavenly voice ; so Guthlac of venerated memory was led from the tribulation of this world to the victory of eternal life. 26 THE LIFE OF P^o IV. Be j^am halgan were hu he eardode on j^aere stowe. nginne ic nu be Sam life "Saes eadigan weres GuSlaces, swa swa ic gehyrde secgan )7a J^e liis lif cu^on^ Wilfrid and Cissa ; J^onne secge ic swa aefter )?aere endebyrdnysse. Waes )7aer on )7am ealande sum hlaw mycel ofcr eorSan geworht^ J;one ylcau men iu geara for feos wilnunga gedulfon and braecon. pa woes ]?aer on o]7re sidan )nes Idawes^ gedolfen swylce mycel waeter-sea$ waere. On J^am seaSe ufan se eadiga wer Guthlac him 1ms getimbrode, sona fram fruman ];aes J>c he ]>ddi ancer-setl" gesaet. pa ge]7ohte he J^get he naSor ne wyllenes hraegles ne linenes brucan nolde, ac on fellenum gegyrelan )7aet lie wolde ealle his dagas his lifes alifian ; and he hit swa for^-gelaestende waes. ^Ice dsege waes his bigleofan swylc gemetegung^ of ]?aere tide J?e he )?aet westen cardigan ongan, J7a3t he nawiht ne onbyrigde buton berenne"* hlaf and waeter; and J;onne sunne waes on setk^4>onne J>igede he J^a" andlyfene \q, he bigleofode.A^ona J^aes ]?e he Westen cardigan ongan, ))a gelamp hit sumc da^ge mid [];y he]^ ])an gcwnne- lican }?eawe his scalm sang and his gebedum befeal^ ]?a se ealda feond man-cynnes (efne swa grymetigende leo, ])aet he his costunga attor wide todadcS,) mid );y he j^a his yfclnyssc ma'gen and grymnysse attor ' MS. hlawas. ^ MS. ancer-setle. ^ MS. to gcreorde. * MS. berene. * MS. )jaes. ^ [>y he] uot iu MS. ST. GUTHLAC. 27 IV. Conceiiung the holy mau, how he dwelt in the place. I begin now to speak of the life of the blessed man Guthlac^ as I have heard those relate who knew his life, Wilfrid and Cissa ; and according thereto I tell it in order. There was on the island a great mound raised upon the earth, which same of yore men had dug and broken up in hopes of treasure. On the other side of the mound a place was dug, as it were a great water-cistern. Over this cistern the blessed man Guthlac built himself a house at the beginning, as soon as he settled in the hermit-station. Then he resolved that he would use neither woollen nor linen garment, but that he would live all the days of his life in clothing of skins ; and so he continued to do. Each day, from the time that he began to dwell in the wilderness, the ab- stemiousness of his diet was such, that he never tasted aught but barley-bread and water ; and when the sun was set, then took he his food on which he lived. Soon after he began to dwell in the wilder- ness, it happened one day, when he had, after his wonted custom, sung a psalm and fell to his prayers, that the old enemy of mankind (who, even as a roar- ing lion, scatters wide the venom of his temptations), whilst he [was scattering abroad] the might of his 28 THE LIFE OF [todaelde]^ )?aet he mid ]7aii )?a menniscan heortan wundode, J^a semninga swa be of gebendum bogan bis costungc streale on );am mode gefaestnode j^aes Cristes cempan. Da he ]?a se eadiga ^\er mid J>CEre geaettredan streale gewundod waes )7aes awerigedan gastes, "Sa waes his mod f>aes eadigan weres swi^e gedrefed on him, be ]7am onginne J?e he ongan Jjaet westen swa ana eardigan. Mid J^am he J^a bine liider and ];yder gelomlice on bis mode cyrde, and gemunde ]?a aerran synna and leahtras ]?e be gefre- mede and geworbt baefde, and J>a maran and un- maettran^ him sylfa dyde J?onne he wende j^aet he hi aefre gebetan mibte. Da hsefde bine seo deofoUice strsel mid ormodnysse gewundodne : waes se eadiga wer GuSlac mid j^aere ormodnysse J^ri dagas ge- wundod, )7aet he sylfa nyste hwider be wolde mid his mode gecyrran. Da waes J^y }7ryddan daege J^aere aefter-fylgendan nihte ]7aet he J7am tweogendum ge}7ohtum faestlice wiSstod ; and efne swa "witedom- lice mu]?e ]7aet be sang and clypode to Gode, and cwae^ : In tribulatione mea invoca\4 Dominum, et reliqua. paet ys on englisc : Min Drihten on minre geswincnysse ic J?c to clypigc, ac gchyr ]m me and gefultuma me on minum carfccium. Da -wa^s sona cefter )?on J^aet bis se getreowa fultum him to com, Scs Bartholomeus ; and na laes J>aet be him on slaepe aetywde, ac be waecccnde ]>one apostol on cngellicre faegernysse gcscab and sccawodc. And he ]m sona ' [todrclde] not in MS. ' MS. unnijcttra. ST. GUTHLAC. 29 wickedness and the venom of his cruelty, that he might wound the hearts of men therewith, suddenly, as from a bended bow, he fixed the dart of his temptation in the soul of Christ^s soldier. When, therefore, the blessed man was wounded with the poisoned arrow^ of the accursed spirit, his som (the blessed man^s) was greatly troubled within him, about the undertaking he had begun, namely, to dwell thus alone in the wilderness. Then he turned himself hither and thither continually in his mind, and thought of his former sins and wickednesses which he had committed and wrought, and how that he himself had done greater and more enormous sins than he thought he could ever compensate for. Thus had the devilish arrow wounded him wdth des^ei^ion : the blessed man Guthlac was three days wounded with this despair, so that he himself knew not whither he would turn with his thoughts. It was upon the night following the third day that he firmly withstood these doubting thoughts; and thereupon with prophetic mouth he sang and cried to God, and said : In tribulatione mea invocavi Dominum, et reHqua. That is, in English : My Lord, in my trouble I cry unto thee, and hear thou me, and support me in my tribulations. It was ^SeaSter this that his faithful support, St. Bartholomew, came to him, and did not appear to him in sleep, but w- aking he saw and beheld the apostle in angelic beauty. 30 THE LIFE OF se eadiga wer GuSlac swyj^e bli]?e waes )?aes heofon- licaii cuman ; and him sona his heorte and his ge)?anc eall waes onlihtod ; and he ]7a hraedlice J>a yfelan and )?a twyfcaldan gej^ohtas forlet, and hine se heofonlica cuma frefrode^ Scs Bartholomeus, and hine mid wordum tiymcde and strangode, and hine het ]7aet he ne tweode, ac J78et he waere anrsed ; and )7aet he him on fultume beon ^yolde on eallum his earfeSum. Da se halga GuShic J^as word gehyrde his J;aes getreowan freondes, ]?a waes he mid gasthcre blisse gefylled, and his geleafan faeste on God sylfne getrymede and faestnode. V. € Swylce cac gelamp on sumne sael, mid J^y he be j^aere drohtnunge smeade his lifcs^ hu he Gode gecwemlicost mihte lybban, \Sa comon semninga twegen deoflu to him of ];aere lyfte slidan and Jm to him cuSKce spraecon and cwttdon : We syndon gewisse Jnnes hfes, and Jnnes geleafan trumnesse we witon, and eac ];in ge)?yld we cunnon linofer- swy])ed ; and J?aer we )?in fandedon, and costodon, )7aet we mid manigfcaldc cnuftc lirc^ wai'pna wiJS ];e sendon. We nu heonon-forb nellaJS ]?c leng swencan ne ]yc bysmrian; ua ki3s Jnvt an ])a?t we J^e ];aes nu nellatS Icttan ]?a?s ]>u a?r gcj^oht hitfdest, ac we J^e cac wyllaS secgan be ])am eallum |7C iu geara westen^ ' MS. lira. ^ MS. westene. ST. GUTHLAC. 31 And fortliwith the blessed man Guthlac was right glad of the heavenly visitor ; and his heart and mind was soon all enlightened, and he quickly let go the bad and desperate thoughts; and the heavenly visitor, St. Bartholomew, comforted him, and confirmed and strengthened him with his words, and bid him not despair, but be constant ; and said that he would be his support in all his tribulations. When the holy Guthlac heard these words of his faithful friend, he was filled with spuitual joy, and strengthened and fixed his faith firmly upon God himself. V. It happened, also, on one occasion, when he was reflecting upon the conduct of his life, how he might live most acceptably to God, there came suddenly two devils to him, sliding down from the air, and they spoke plainly to him, and said : We are ac- quainted with thy life, and the firmness of thy faith we know, and also we know thy patience to be un- conquered; and therein we tried and proved thee, whilst with manifold craft we directed our weapons at thee. We now henceforth will no longer trouble nor injure thee ; not only will we now cease to hinder thee from that which thou didst first intend, but we will even tell thee respecting all those who of yore inhabited the wilderness, how they lived 32 THE LIFE OF eardedon, hu hi heora lif leofodon. Moyses serest and Helias hi faestoiij and swylce eac se Haelend ealles middaneardes on westene he faeste, and eac swylce ]7a maeran munecas )?a mid ^giptum waeron and J^ier on westenum wunedon : J^a J^urh heora for- haefdnysse on heom ealle uncyste ofaslogon and acwealdon. ponne gif )7U ]>dst wilnast J7aet ]?u of ])e ])2i aer gefremedan synna a]?wean wylt^ ]>onne scealt )7U )?inne lichaman Jmrh forhaefdnysse waeccan; forj^on swa myccle swa ]?u ]?e her on worulde swy];or swincst, swa J;u eft byst on ecnysse faestlicor getrymed ; and swa myccle swa ]?u on J>isum andweardan life mil earfo^a drigast, swa myccle )7U eft on toweardnysse gefehst ; and J?onne ];u on fassten her on worulde gestihst, )?onne hist ]m ahafen for Godes eagum. Forjjon J?in faesten ne sceal boon J^aet an twegra daga fyrst o)?]?e ))reora oJ^J^e aelce daegc, )?aet ])\i )7e swa on^ tela myccle forha?fdnysse ahebbe, ac on seofon nihta fyrstes faestene hi); to claensienne )7one man. Swa on six dagum aerest God ealles middan- eardes faegernysse gehiwode and gefraetwode, and on J7am seofoj^an he hine reste, swa )>onne gedafenaS J7am f>e gelice ];urh six daga faesten ]>one gast gefraetwian, and J?onne ])y seofotSan difge- mete J^icgan and j^one'^ lichaman restan. Da se eadiga wer GuSlac J^as word gchyrde, ]>a aras he sona and to Gode clypode, and liyne gcba^d and ]>us cwa?^ : Syn mine fynd, min Drihten God, it on-hinder ge- ' MS. on s^^a. ' MS. dcCg. ^ j^jg^ i^jg ST. GUTHLAC. 33 tlieir lives. Moses first, and Elijah, they fasted, and also the Sa^dour of all the earth, he fasted in the wilderness ; and also the famous monks who were in Egypt and dwelt there in deserts ; they, througli their abstinence, slew and quelled in themselves all corruption. Therefore, if thou desirest to wash from thee the sins thou didst once commit, thou shouldst afflict thy body with abstinence ; because by how much the more severely thou afflictest thyself in this world, by so much the more firmly shalt thou be strengthened to eternity ; and by how much thou suff'erest more troubles in this present life, so much the more shalt thou receive in future ; and when thou advancest here in the world in fasting, thou shalt then be exalted in God^s eyes. Therefore thy fasting must not be a space of two or three days, nor on each day, that thou shouldst exalt thyself thereupon as a very great abstinence, but it is necessary by a fast of seven nights' duration to cleanse the man. As on six days God first formed and adorned the beauty of the whole earth, and on the seventh rested himself; so, also, beseems it thee in like manner by six days'* fast to adorn the spirit, and then on the seventh day to take meat and to rest the body. When the blessed man Guthlac heard these words, he arose and cried to God, and prayed, and thus said : Let my foes, my Lord God, 2§ 34 THE LIFE OF cyrde, forJ?on ic f»e ongite and oncnawe, forj^on ];e ]>u eart min scyppend. pa sona aefter ]7am wordum se awyrigeda gast efne swa smic beforan his ansyne aidlode. He )?a forseali ]?a deofoUican lare, for Jmm ])G he ealle J^a ydele ongeat; ac p'a feng [to]^ med- mycclan bigleofan, J^aet waes to j^am berenan hlafe, and ]7one j^igedc and his lif bileofode. Da J>a awyrigedan gastas J^aet ongcaton )7a?t he hig ealle forhogode and heora lara, hig ]?a ])ara awyrigedra gasta, and hi call J^a^t hus mid heora cyme fyldon ; and hi on ealce hcalfe inguton ufan and neot)an and eghwonen. Hi wseron on ansyne egslice and hig haefdon mycele heafda, and langne sweoran^ and ma?gere" ansyne : hi waeron fiilice and orfyrme on heora beardum; and hi hti^fdon'' ruge earan, and woh nebb and reSelice eagan, and fiile mu'Sas; and heora toj^as wseron gelice horses twuxan; and him waeron )?a J>rotan mid lege gefyldc, and hi wa^ron ongristhce on stefne : hi haifdon woge sceancan, and mycele cneowu and hindan greate, ' [to] not in MS. * ^^ig_ niauigre. ^ MS. and ruge earan and hi lia;fdon woh nebb. ST. GUTHLAC. 35 be for ever turned backwards, for I know and under- stand thee, that thou art my Maker. Immediately after these words the accursed spirit vanished from before his face like smoke. Then despised he the devihsh doctrine, for he understood that it was all vain ; and he took a moderate meal, that is, the barley loaf, and ate it, and supported his life. When the cursed spirits understood that he despised them all, and their doctrines, they bewailed with lament-, able voice that they were overcome ; and the blessed man was so victorious that he despised the blas- phemies of their doctrines and of their temptations. Also it happened, om a time not many days after, • that he was passing the night waking in holy prayers. Then in the stillness of the night it happened suddenly that there came great hosts of the accursed spirits, and they filled all the house with their coming ; and they poured in on every side, from above and from beneath, and everywhere. They ) were in countenance horrible, and they had great heads, and a long neck, and lean visage ; they were \ filthy and squalid in their beards ; and they had rough ears, and distorted face, and fierce eyes, and '>^ foul mouths ; and their teeth were like horses^ tusks ; and their throats were filled with flame, and they were grating in their voice ; they had crooked ' shanks, and knees big and great behind, and dis- e \^ 36 THE LIFE OF and misscrcncc tan/ and Ms hrymedon on~ stefniim ; and hi J>a swa ungeuietlicum'^ gestundum foron and swa unmetlice* ege, J>aet him )7uhte )?aet liit call betweox heofone and eorSan hleoprode )7am eges- licum stefnura. Naes }>a naenig yldend to f'am j^aet syj7}?an hi on J^aet hus comon hi ]7a sona]70ne halgan wer eallum limum gebundon, and hi hine tugon and laeddon ut of );aere cytan, and hine )?a la?ddon on j7one sweartan fenn and hine ]?a on j^a horwihtan^ waeter bewnrpon and besencton. iEfter ]7on hi hine loeddon on J^am return stowum J^aes westenes, betwux. )?a j^iccan gewrido ]?ara bremela J^aet him waes call se liehama gewundod. Mid ]?y hi );a lange on ]?aere j^ystrunge hine swa swencton, ]m leton hi hine ane hwile abidan and gestandan ; heton hine j^a )7aet he of ]7am westene gewite, o)>)7e gif he ]}set nolde^ )70nne woldon hi hine mid maran bysmerum swencan and costian. He Jm se eadiga wcr GuMac heora worda ne gimde, ac he mid witegiende mu^e ]?us cwae^ : Drihten me ys on ]m swyj^ran healfe, for- j7on ic nc beo oncyrred fram )7e. Da a^fter ]mn )>a avverigedan gastas hine genamon and hine swungon mid isenum swipum, and ])a a'fter )?on hi hine laeddon on )7am ongryrhcan fi(Serum betwux ]m cealdan faca ]wre lyfte. ]''a he ]'a wa^s on ]>o?re hcannysse J^iere lyfte, ]m gcseah he ealne uorcS-dael heofones, swylce he wsere )>am sweartcstan wolcnum ymbseald swi\Slicra ]?eostra. Da gcseah he fivringa ' MS. miscrocetton. - has runigenduiu stcfnum. ^ MS. ungemetlicre. ' MS. unmctlicrc. '^ MS. orwehtan. ST. GUTIILAC. 37 torted toes, and shrieked hoarsely with their voices ; \ 1| and they came with such immoderate noises and i immense horror, that it seemed to him that all between heaven and earth resounded with their dreadful cries. Without delay, when they were ^ come into the house, they soon bound the holy man in all his limbs, and they pulled and led him out of the cottage, and brought him to the black fen, and j, threw and sunk him in the muddy waters^ After that they brought him to the wild places of the , wilderness, among the dense thickets of brambles, s that all his body was torn. After they had a long time thus tormented him in darkness, they let him abide and stand a while ; then commanded him to depart from the wilderness, or if he would not do so, then they would torment and try him with greater plagues. He, the blessed man Guthlac, cared not for their words, but with prophetic mouth he thus spake : The Lord is on my right hand, that I be not turned back from thee. After that the cursed spirits took him and beat him with iron whips, and after that they brought him on their creaking wings amidst the cold regions of the air. When he was at this height in the air he saw all the north part of heaven as it were surrounded by the blackest clouds of intense darkness. Then he saw suddenly 38 THE LIFE OP unmsetc^ werod J^aera awerigedra gasta him ongean cuman; and hi ]>a sona )>3er tosomne gcgaderodon, and hi );a sona eallc ))one halgan wer gelaeddon to f>am sweartum tintreh-stowum, helle dura" hi hine gebrohton. Da he ]?a J^aer geseah )?a fulnvsse )?aes smyces and ]7a byrnendan^ lega and )7one ege J^aere sweartan dcopnysse, he )?a sona waes forgitende ealra )?ara tintrega and )?aera wita ];e he fram )?am awyr- gedum gastum ser dreah and a|7olode. Hi J^a sona J>a awyrgedan gastas betwux )?a grimlican lega^ inhruron and feollon, and )?9er j^ara arleasra manna sawla mid manigfealdum witum getintregodon. Da se eadiga Gkithlac J^a micelnysse geseah ]?ara wita/' ]m waes he for ]7aera egsan swy^e afyrht. Da cleopodon sona )?a a^vyrgedan gastas mid mycelre cleopunge and )7us cwaedon : Us ys miht geseald ^e to sceofanne on ])as witii J7isse deopnysse, and hor [is]^ )?aet fyr )?aet )?u sylfa on ye onbserndest ; and for )?inum synnum and gyltum helle dnru ])C ongeau openaS. ^lid ]?y ]m awyrgedan gastas ]>isum wordum beotodon, ^a andswerode he heom ]ms, and cwaeS : Wa eow J?eostra beam and forwyrde tudder/ ge syndon dust and acsan and yscla : Inva scalde eow earman J^a^t ge min ahton gcweald on ]>as witu to sendanne ? hwa^t ic her eom andweard and gearu^ and bidige nimes Drihtnes willan ; for liwon sc^ilon ge mid eowrum leasum beotingum me cgsian ? Tlig ' MS. unma?ta. 2 ^g. durii. ^ MS. byrnenda. ^ MS. lege. * MS. witu. « [is] not in MS. "^ MS. tuddre. ST. GUTHLAC. 39 an immense host of cursed spirits come towards liim ; and they soon gathered together, and forthwith all led the holy man to the black places of torment, and brought him to helFs door. When he saw the foulness of the smoke and the burning flames, and the horror of the black abyss, he quickly forgot all the torments and the punishments which he had before suffered and endured from the accursed spirits. Then the cursed spirits rushed in and tumbled among the horrible flames, and there they tormented with manifold punishments the souls of unrighteous men. When the blessed Guthlac saw the greatness of the punishments, he was much terrified for dread of them. Then cried the cursed spirits with a great voice and thus spake : Power is given us to thrust thee into the torments of this abyss ; and here is the fire which thou thyself didst kindle within thee, and for thy sins and crimes hell^s door openeth be- fore thee. When the accursed spirits had threatened him with these words, then answered he them thus, and said : Woe to you ! children of darkness, and seed of destruction; ye are dust and cinders and ashes ; who granted you, wretches, that ye should have power over me, to send me to these punish- ments ! Lo ! I am here present and ready, and await my Lord^s will; wherefore should ye frighten me with vour false threats ? They then, the accursed 40 THE LIFE OF '^i J?a sona )7a awyrgedan gastas^ to )?am eadigan woldon swjdcc hi Line j^ccr insceofan woldon. Da semninga com se heofones bigengca se halga apostol Scs Bartholomeus^ mid heofonlicre byrhtnysse and wuldre scinende, betwuhx ]?a dimnysse J^eostru )78ere sweartan helle. Hi ]?a awyrgedan gastas ne mihton for ]7aere faegernysse )?aes halgan cuman |?9er awunian, ac hi sylfe on )7eostre gehyddon. Da se eadiga wer Guthlac his ]?one getreowan freond geseah, )7a waes he mid gastlicre blisse and mid heofonlice^ gefean swi^e bli];e. Da aefter j^am het se halga apostol Scs Bartholomeus and heom bebead J^aet hi him wseron under]7eodde, ]?aet hi hine eft gebrohton mid smyltnysse on ]78ere ylcan stowe ]>e hi hine a?r a?t- genamon : and hig |;a swa dydon, and hine mid ealre smyltnysse swa gelaeddon, and on heora fiberum baeron and feredon, j^aet he ne mihte ne on scipe faegeror gefered beon. Mid )?y hi )7a comon on middan J^aerc lyfte heannysse^ ^a comon him togeanes haligra gasta heap^ and hi ealle sungon and )7us cwaedon : Ibunt de virtute in virtutem, et reliqua. Daet ys on englisc : Halige men gangeS of maegene on ma?gen. Da hit ]m on mergen dagian Avoldc ]m asetton hi hine eft ]nvY hi hine ser gcnamon.-^ Da he ]?a his morgen-gebed-tida wolde Gode gefyllan, )>a geseah he ]>xr standan twegen J^ara awerigdra gasta wepan* swyj^e and gcomcrian. INIid )>y he hi ahsode for Invan hi wcopon, ])a andswarodon hi him ' MS. gastes. - MS. hoofonlicre. ^ MS. genaman. ^ MS. weupou. ST. GUTHLAC. 41 spirits, motioned towards the blessed man as though they would push him in. There suddenly came the inhabitant of heaven, the holy apostle St. Bar- tholomew, shining with heavenly brightness and glory, amidst the dim darkness of the black hell. The accursed spii'its were not able to abide there for the splendour of the holy visitor, but they hid themselves in the dai'kness. When the blessed man Guthlac saw his faithful friend he was greatly re- joiced with spiritual gladness and heavenly joy. After this the holy apostle St. Bartholomew bade and commanded them that they should be subject to him, and that they should bring him again with gentleness to the same place which they had before taken him from. And they did so, and brought him with all gentleness and care, and carried him on their wings, that he could not have been carried more pleasantly in a boat. AVhen they came in the midst of the height of the air, there came towards him a troop of holy spirits, and they all sung and spake thus : Ibunt de virtute in virtutem, et reliqua. That is in English : Holy men shall go from \'3Tf^ to v glue: When it began to dawn in the morning they set him again in the place whence they had taken him. When he then was about to perform his morning prayers to God, he saw two of the cursed spirits standing there weeping and wailing greatly. When he asked them why they wept, they answ^ered 42 THE LIFE OF and )7us cwsedon : Wit wepa^ forj^on ]>e uncer ma?gn eall )7urh 'pe ys gebrocen, and we ye nu ne moton to cuman, ne to J^e nane spraece habban ; ac on eallum j?ingum ]m unc lia?fst gebysmrod^ and ure miht eall ofers\yy);ed. Da aefter J^am wordum lii gewiton 5a awyrgedan gastas^ efne swa smic fram his ansyne. ^ VI. Hu J?a deofla on brjtisc spraecon. Daet gelamp on )7am dagum Cenredes Mercna kyninges, ]?net Brytta-J^eod Angol-cynnes feond )78et hi mid manigum gewinnum and mid misscnlicum gefeolitum ])set hi Angol-cynne geswencton. Da gelamp hit sumre nihte J>a hit waes hancred, and se eadiga wer GuSlac his uht-gebedum bcfeal, ]m waes he sasmninga mid leohte slsepe swefed. pa onbrsed he GuSlac of J>am slaepe, and eode J?a sona ut and hawode and hercnode ; ]7a gehjTde he my eel werod J?ara awyrgedra gasta on bryttisc sprecende; and he oncneow and ongeat lieora gereorda for ]>am he ser hwilon mid him waes on wrace. Da sona lefter )?on he geseah eall his hus mid fyre afylled, and hi hine aefter |;on ealne mid spera ordum afyldon, and hi hine on ]7am sperum up on j^a lyft alien gon. pa ongeat sona se stranga Cristes compa ]?aet |)a com he to f>am halgan were, and hine bsed ]7aet he hine to him gename, and ]7aet gehet ]?aet he eadmodlice wolde on Godes )?eowdome be his larum lyfian. He |7a se awyrgeda gast )7aes ylcan preostes heortan and ge)7anc mid his searwes attre geond sprengde^ and mengde ; Iserde hine se awyrgeda gast )wt he GuSlac ofsloge and acwealde, and )?us on his heortan ge- sende : Gif ic hine ofslea and acwelle, j^onne ma^g ic eft agan ]?a ylcan stowe aefter him ; and me J^onne woruld-men arwurSiaS swa swa hi hine nu doS. Da gelamp hit some daege yxt se ylca preost com to )7am eadigan were J^aet he hine wolde scyran, swa his gewuna waes ymbe twentig nihta, ]7aet he hine wolde j^wean, ]m waes he swyJSe oflysted )7a^t he l^aes eadigan weres blod agute. He ]m sona GuMac geseah )7a lare j^aes awyrgedan gastes, (swa him eallc )?a towcardan ])ing )?urh Godes gifu wseron gecydde, * MS. spregde. ST. GUTHLAC. 45 him the weapon of the accursed spirits, and sang the psalm : Exurgat Deus et dissipentur, et reliqua. As soon as he had sung the first verse of the psalm, they departed like smoke from his presence. When the blessed man Guthlac thus frequently fought and contended against the cursed spiiits, they perceived that theii' power and work was overcome. YII. Concerning Beccel the priest. There was a priest whose name was Beccel; he came to the holy man and begged him that he w ould take him to him, and he promised that he would humbly live in God^s service by his instructions. Then the accursed spirit sprinkled and watered over with the poison of his deceit the heart and mind of this same priest ; the cursed spirit advised him that he should smite and kill Guthlac ; and thus suggested to his heart : If I slay and kill him, then may I afterwards possess this same place after him; and men of the world will then honour me as they now do him. It happened one day that the same priest came to the holy man to shave him (as his custom was eveiy twenty days to wash himself) ; then was he vehemently tempted to shed the blood of the blessed man. Guthlac soon perceived the persuasion of the cursed spirit (as all future things were through 46 THE LIFE OF and cac swylce J^a andweardan, and he mihte )?one man innan geseon and gcondsceaAvian swa litan,) and he cwse^ )7us to him : Eala )m min Beccel to hwan hafast fu. bedigled under J)am dysigan breoste )7one awyrgcdan feond ? for hwon nelt )?u J^aes biteran attres J^a deaj^-berendan waeter of 'pe aspiwan ? ic faet geseo |?aet ]?u eart fram )?am awyrgedan gaste beswicen, and )7a manfullan smeaunge ]?inre heortan ; manna- kynnes costere and middaneardes feond hafa^ acenned on ])e ]?a unablinnu J^aes yfelan ge]>ohtes ; ac ahwyrf 'pe fram J^aere yfelan lare J>aes awyrgedan gastes. Da ongeat he sona ])aet he waes fram )?an awyrgedan gaste beswicen ; feol sona to J?aes halgan weres fotum, and J^a sona mid tearum him his synne andette. He ];a sona se halga wer Guc)lac, na la^s )7aet an )7aet he him J7a synne forgcaf, ac eac swylce he him gehet J73et he him wolde beon on fultume on eallum his earfe];um. VIII. Hu t^a deofla ferclon. Dset gelamp sumere nihte ])a se halga wer GuSlac his gebedum befeal, jm gehyrde he gry- metunga^ hry)?era and mislicra wildeora. Naes )7a nan liwil to J^am pxt he gcseah calra wihta and wildeora and wiirma hiw in cuman to him. ^rest he geseah leon ansyne, and he mid his 'MS. grymetigenda. ST. GUTHLAC. 47 God^s grace known to him, and also present things, and he could see and look through the man within as well as without) ; and he said thus to him : Oh ! my Beccel, wherefore hast thou concealed under thv foolish breast the accursed fiend ? why wilt thou not spit out from thee the death-bearing waters of that bitter poison ? I perceive that thou art deceived by the accursed spirit, and I see the wicked device of thy heart. The tempter of mankind and the enemy of earth hath begotten in thee the unrest of this evil intent ; but turn thyself away from the evil teaching of the accursed spirit. Then perceived he that he had been deceived by the accursed spirit, fell at the holy man^s feet, and with tears confessed to him his sin. Thereupon the holy man Guthlac not only forgave him the sin, but also promised him that he would be his helper in all his trials. VIII. How the devils departed. It happened one night, when the holy man Guthlac fell to his prayers, he heard the bowlings of cattle and various wild beasts. Not long after he saw the appearances of animals and wild beasts and creeping things coming in to him. First he saw the visage of a lion, that threatened him with his bloody tusks ; 48 THE LIFE OF blodigum tuxum to him beotode ; swylce eac fearres gelicnysse, and beran ansyne, J^onne hi gebolgene beoS. Sw}^lce eac nseddrena hiw, and swynes gry- metunge, and wulfa ge]?eot^ and hrsefena crsecetunge/ and mislice fugela hwistlunge ; ]>tet hi woldon mid heora hiwunge J^aes halgan weres mod awendan. He ]m se halga wer GuJ^lac hine gewaepnode mid }7an waepne Jjsere Cristes rode, and mid )7am scylde J7aes halgan geleafan, and forseah j^a costunge ]?ara awyrgedra gasta, and ]?us c^yae^ : Eala ]>\i earma wi^erwearda gast, ]>m maegn ys gesyne, and ]nn miht ys gecyj^ed : J^u nu earma, wildeora and fugela and wyrma hiw aetywest/ ]m iu ];e ahofe J>aet fu woldest beon gelic ]7am ecan Gode. Nu )?onne ic bebeode ]7e on }>am naman );aes ecan Godes, se ]>e worhte and ]>e of heofones heannysse awearp, )7aet ]m fram J7isse^ ungej7W3ernysse gestille. pa sona aefter ]?on ealle j^a aetywnysse }>ara awerigdra gasta onweg ge- waton.* IX. / IIu )3Pet gewrit begsen waes. Daet gelamp on sumcrc nihte, ))a't |>npr com sum man to J7:bs halgan wcres spra'ce. ^[id ])y he J^aer dagas wunode, |)a gelamp hit J^Tt he sum gewrit awrat on cartan. pa he ])a luTfde \^i gewrit ' MS. craicetimg. = MS. atywes. ^ j^js. j,isum. " MS. gew^t. ST. GUTHLAC. 49 also the likeness of a bull, and the visage of a bear, as when they are enraged. Also he perceived the appearance of vipers, and a hog^s grunting, and the howling of wolves, and croaking of ravens, and the various whistling of birds; that they might, with their fantastic appearance, divert the mind of the holy man. Then the holy man Guthlac armed himself with the weapon of Christ^s cross, and with the shield of holy faith, and despised the temptation of the accursed spirits, and spake thus : O ! thou wretched rebellious spirit, thy power is seen and thy might is made known : thou, wretched one, now displayest the forms of wdld beasts and birds and creeping things, thou who once exaltedst thyself that thou mightest be equal to the eternal God. Now then I command thee, in the name of the eternal God, who made thee, and cast thee down from the height of heaven, that thou cease from this troubling. Immediately thereafter all the ap- pearances of the accursed spirits went away. IX. How the writing was recovered. It happened one night that there came one to speak with the holy man. When he had remained some days there, it fell out that he wrote some writing on a sheet of paper. When he had written 50 THE LIFE OF awriten, J>a code he ut. Da com J^aer sum hrefen inn ; sona swa lie J?a cartan geseali }>a genam he hig sona and gewat mid on J>aene fenn. Sona swa se foresaeda cuma ongean com, J?a geseah he ]?one hrefen J?a cartan beran : )?a wees he sona swy^e unbhj?e. Da wa?s on )7am ylcan timan ]?cet se halga war GutSlac ut of his cyrcan eode ; ]m geseah he J>one bro];or sarig. pa frefrodc he hine and him to Gwae^ : Ne beo Jni bro]?or sarig j ac swa se hrefen )?urh }>a fennas upp aflige5_, swa J^u him sfter row ; )70nne metest ])U j^aet gewrit. Naes ];a naenig hwil to J)an ])cet he to scipe eode se ylca J>e )?aet gewrit wrat. Mid J>y he )?urh J?a fenland reow, j^a com he to sumum mere ]>e wel neah J^aet egland waes : )?a waes ]73er on middan J^am mere sum hreod-bed ; ]?a hangode seo carte on ]7am hreode efne swa hig njannes hand ]7aer ahengce : and he sona ]?a bHj?e feng to J^aere cartan, and he wundriende to )7am Godes were brohte : and he ]>a se eadiga wer Guthlac saede J>aet J7j£t naere his geearnung ac Godes mikl- heortnys.^ "^^/Waeron on Jmm ylcan yglande twegen hrefnas gewunode, to J;ais gifre, ]7a?t swa hwset swa hi mihton gegripan J^set hi j^aet woldon onweg alaedan; and he )>cah hwa-Jjcre heora gifernysse ealle aebier and gc)?olodc, yaet he eft sealde mannum bysene his gej^yldes ; and na la?s ))a?t an J?aet him J;a fugclas underj^eodde Wttron, ac eac swa )>a fixas, and wilde dcor ];aes westenes callc hi him liyrdon, and • MS. mildheortnysse. ST. GUTHLAC. 51 the writing he went out. There came a raven in ; as soon as he saw the paper he took it and went with it to the fen. As soon as the aforesaid guest came back again, he saw the raven carrying the paper ; thereat was he very vexed. It happened at that time that the holy man Guthlac came out of his church ; there saw he the brother grieving. He consoled him, and said : Be not grieved, brother ; but when the raven flies up through the fens row thou after him ; so shalt thou recover the writing. Not long after he went into a boat, the same man namely who had written the writing. Having rowed through the fenlands, he came to a mere, which was very near the island; there was in the midst of the mere a bed of reeds ; there hung the paper on the reeds, even as though man^s hand had hanged it there; and he forthwith joyfully seized the paper, and brought it wondering to the man of God. And the blessed man Guthlac said that it was not the effect of his merit, but of God's mercy. There were settled on the same island two ravens, so greedy that whatsoever they could seize they would I carry away; and notwithstanding he bore and en- Idttred aU their greediness, that he might give men the example of his patience. And not only were the birds subject to him, but also the fishes and wild beasts of the wilderness all obeyed him, and he daily 52 THE LIFE OF he hym daeghwamlice andlyfene sealde of his agenre^ handa^ swa heora gecjTide waes. X. Hu |ja swalawan on him siton and sungon. paet gelamp sume si]>e )7aet )7aer com sum arwiir]?e bro^or to him^ )7aes nama waes Wilfrid, se him waes geara on gasthcum^ J?oftscipe gej^eoded. Mid )?an ]7e hig )?a on manegum gespraecum heora gasthe lif smeadon, J?a comon faer saemninga in twa swalewan fleogan, and hi efne blissiende heora sang upahofon, and )7a aefter J>on hi setton unforhtlice on |?a sculdra )78es halgan weres Gu^laces, and hi ]?aer heora sang upahofon ; and hi eft setton on his breost and on his earmas and on his eneown. Da hi J>a WilfriS lange )7a fugelas wundriende beheold, J>a fraegn hine WilfriJ? forhwon J^a wildan fugelas ]?aes widgillan westenes swa eadmodlice him on saeton. He j^a se halga wer Gu^lac him andswarode and him to cwae^ : Ne leornodest J?u bro^or WilfriS on halgum gcwritum, haet se ye on Godes willan his lif leofode, |)aet hine wilde deor and wilde fugelas ]>e near waeron ; and so man J^e hine wolde fram woruld-mannum his lif libban, )?aet hine englas }>e near comon : for]?on se be woruldlicra manna spra?ce gelomlice wilnaS, J^onnc ne maeg he )ni cngcllican spra?ce befeolan. ' MS, agenra. ^ MS. gastlicre. ST. GUTHLAC. 53 gave them food from his own hand, as suited their kind. X. How the swallows sat upon him and sung. It happened on a time that there came a venerable brother to him whose name was Wilfrith, who had of old been united with him in spiritual fellowship. Whilst they discussed in many discourses their spiritual life, there came suddenly two swallows flying in, and behold they raised up their song re- joicing; and after that they sat fearlessly on the shoulders of the holy man Guthlac, and then lifted up their song ; and afterwards they sat on his bosom and on his arms and his knees. When Wilfrith had long wondering beheld the birds, he asked him wherefore the wild birds of the wide waste so sub- missively sat upon him. The holy man Guthlac answered him and said : Hast thou never learnt brother Wilfrith, in holy writ, that he who hath led his life after God's will, the wild beasts and wild birds have become the more intimate with him. And the man who would pass his life apart from worldly men, to him the angels approach nearer. But he who frequently longeth for the converse of worldly men cannot meet with angelic discourse. 54 THE LIFE OF XI. Ymb ]}& glofan j^e \}a. hrefnas bajron. Swylce eac gelamp sume si]7e witedomlic^ wundor be ]7isum lialgaii were. Waes sum fore-maera man aej^elan kyne-kynnes on MjTcna-rice, ]7aes namawaes ^J;elbald. pa wolde lie to J?aes lialgan weres spraece cuman : beget }>a aet Wilfri^e J^aet he liine to )?am Godes were gelaedde ; and hi ]m sona on scipe eodon, and ferdon to J?am yglande J^asr se halga wer Guthlac on waes. Da hi ];a to J>am halgan were comon, )?a haefde Wilfrid forlseten his glofan on ]?am scipe : and hi ]7a wi^ j7one halgan wer sprascon, he J^a se eadiga wer Guthlac acsode hi hwaeSer hi aenig ]nngc" aefter heom on )7am scipe forleton^ (swa him God ealle J?a diglan }>ingc cu^ gedyde) : ]7a andswarode him Wilfrid and cwae'S J?3et he forlete his twa glofan on )7am scipe. Nses )?a naenig hwil to )mn sona swa hi ut of ];am inne^ eodon, ]7a gesegon hi ]7one hraefn mid J?an sweartan nebbe J>a glofe teran uppe on anes buses )?aece. He j^a sona se halga wer Gu^lac )7one hrefn mid his worde j^reade for his re]?nysse, and he ]?a his worde* hyrsumodc, swa fleali se fugel west ofer j^aefc westen ; he ])a AVilfritS mid gyrde of )?3es^ buses hrofe )?a glofe gersehte. Swylce naes eac naenig hwil to Jmm sona comon J7aer ])ry men to )?aere hy^e, and J^^er tacn slogon. pa sona ' MS. witedomlice. - MS. )?inc. 3 MS. in. ■* MS. worda. ^ MS. Jjaui. ST. GUTHLAC. 55 XI. Concerning the gloves which the ravens carried off. . Also there happened on a time a prophetic miracle to^this holy man. There was a distinguished man of noble king^s-kindred in Mercia^ whose name was Athelbald. He wished to come to converse with the hoh^ man. He prevailed upon Wilfrith that he should bring him to the man of God; and they went into a boat, and journeyed to the island whereon the holy man Guthlac was. When they had come to the holy man, behold Wilfrith had left his glove in the boat. And while they conversed with the holy man_, he, the blessed man Guthlac, asked them whether they had left anything behind them in the boat {for God made known to him all secret things) ; then answered Wilfrith, and said that he had left his two gloves in the boat. Not long after, as soon as they had gone out of the house, there they saw the raven with his black beak tearing the glove upon the roof of a house. Then the holy man Guthlac rebuked with his word the raven for his mischief, and it obeyed his word, and the bird flew westward over the wilderness ; whereupon Wilfrith reached the glove from the roof of the house with a stick. Also not long after there came three men to the landing-place, and there sounded the signal. 56 THE LIFE OF code se halga wer Gu^lac ut to J7am mannum mid bli^um andwlite and gode mode ; he )?a spaec wy6 J7am mannum. Mid )?an J^e hi faran woldon, )?a brohton hi for^ ane glofe, ssedon )?aet heo of anes hrefnes mu]7e feolle. He se halga wer Guj7lac sona to-smerciende feng, and heom his bletsunge sealde, and hi eft ferdon ; and he eft ageaf )7a glofe )?am J^e hi aer ahte. XII. Hu Hwsetred his haelo' onfeng. Waes on East-Engla-lande sum man aefeles cynnes J^aes nama wses Hwaetred. Mid pj he )7a daeghwam- lice mid arfaestnysse his ealderum underj^eoded wfes, hit gelamp sume si^e ]>&, he aet his faeder hame waes, J7aet hine se awyrgeda gast him oneode j^aet he of his gewitte wearS, and hine se awyrgeda feond swa swy)?e swencte mid j^sere wodnysse ]?aet he hys agenne lichaman^ mid irene ge eac mid his t6)?um blodgode and wundode ; and na laes j^aet an )?aet he hine sylfne swa mid J^am waelhreowum toj^um wundode ac eac swa hwylcnc swa he mihte ))aet lie swa gelice tser. Da gelamp sume sij^e J^a^t J>aer waes mycel menigo manna gegaderod his maga and eac o)?ra his neh-freonda, ]>tet hi hine woldon gebindan and don hine gcwyldne : he ])a genam sum twibil, and mid )>an );ry men to dcatie ofsloli, and o)?re ' MS. hrela. - MS. ageiie lichama. ST. GUTHLAC. o7 Then weut the holy man Guthlac out to the men with cheerful countenance and good humour, and there spoke with them. When they wished to de- part they brought forth a glove, and said that it had fallen from a raven^s mouth. The holy man Guthlac received it smiling, and gave them his blessing, and they then departed ; and afterwards he gave the glove to him who before owned it. XII. How Hwaetred received his health. There was in the land of the East- Angles a man of noble kin, whose name was Hwaetred. AYhereas he was daily reverently subject to his elders, it happened on a time, while he was at his father^ s house, that the accursed spirit entered into him, so that he went out of his wits, and the accursed spirit afflicted him so severely with this madness, that he bloodied and wounded his own body as well with iron as with his teeth ; and not himself only did he wound with his ferocious teeth, but also whomsoever he could he in Hke manner tore. It happened on a time that there was a great multitude of men gathered together of his kinsmen, and also of other his near friends, that they might bind him and bring him into subjection. Thereupon he took an axe, and with it smote three men to death, and wounded 3§ 58 THE LIFE OF manige mid gcsarode. pa3S )7a feowor gear j^aet he swa wa?s mid ]?3ere wodnysse swi^e geswcnced. pa waes he aet nextan genumen fram his magum, and to halgum mynstre gelaed, to )7on )78et hine maesse- preostas and bisceopas wi^ J^a wodnysse )?wean and claensian sceoldon. And hi hwaej^ere on menigum }>ingum ne mihton )?a yfelan maegn ]?ces awyrgdan gastes ofadrifan. Da aet nextan hi eft ham unrote mid ]?am maege ferdon^ and hi him deaj^es swy^or u)7on ]7onne he lengc |?a men drehte, 5a waes aet nextan gemaersod se hlisa on )7one^ j^eodscipe J^aet on )?am fenne-middum on anum eglande f>e Cruwland hatte waere sum ancra ]>e" missenlicum maegnum for Gode weohse. Hi ]7a sona, ]m hi J^aer )?one halgan wer acsodon, ]?ohton J^aet hi woldon J^aer ]7one man gebringan^ gif j^aet Godes stihtung waere )?aet hi J^aer are findan mihton. And hi hit swa gefremedon, ferdon ]?yder J?aet hi comon to sumum yglande )?e wel neah waes ]7am eglande j^e se Godes man on waes ; and ]?aer waeron on niht mid )>an seocan men. pa hit )7a on mergen da?g wres, J^a comon hi to ]?am^ foresprecenan eglande, and ])a mid )?an gewunelican )?eawc tacen slogon. He )>a sona se halga wer GuSlac to heom code mid healice maegne Godes lufan : )?a hi ]m hcora intingan him wepende saedon, J^a wa3S he sona mid mildheortnysse gefylled. Genam )7a sona ]>onc uutruman man and liine laedde into his cyrican, and )ni?r J)ry dagas ' MS. ^. 2 MS. f. 3 ^^js. jjjcre. ST. GUTIILAC. 59 mau}^ others witli tliem. It was four years that he was sorely afflicted with this madness. Then was he at last taken by his relations and brought to the holy monastery, to the end that mass-priests and bishops miglit wash and cleanse him from his madness. And they, however^ with many expedients^ could not drive out the evil powers of the accursed spirit. When at last they went home sorrowful with their relative, and they rather wished him dead than that he should longer annoy men, then at length the report was spread in the province that in the midst of the fen, on an island which was called Crowland, was an anchorite, who flourished before Grod with various virtues. Then they forthwith, when they heard of the holy man, thought that they would take the man thither, if it were God^s providence that they might there find help. And they performed this, journeyed thither till they came to an island, which was very near that on which the man of God was, and they were there during the night with the sick man. When it was day on the morrow, they came to the aforesaid island ; then in the usual manner sounded a signal. Then forthwith the holy man Guthlac went to them in the fervent power of God^s love. When they weeping had told him their affair, he was filled with pity. He took the sick man and led him into his church, and there remained three 60 THE LIFE OF singallice on his gebedum awunode. pa on f>am friddan daege )7a sunne upeode, )7a ba)7ode he hine on gehalgedum waetre, and bleow on his ansyne and mid ]7an eall ]>%t maegn ]>aes awyrgedan gastes on him gebriec : and he J^a se ylca man swa he of hefegum slaepe raxende awoce, and he eft to his haelo feng, and ham ferde ; and him naefre sy|?)7an fa hwile )?e he leofode seo adl^ ne eglode. if^ XIII. Be AJjelbaldes gefere. Swilce eac gelamp on sumne sael )7aet J7aes fore- sprecenan wraeccan A)?elbaldes gefere ]?aes nama wses Ecga J>aet he waes fram )7am awyrgedan gaste unstille ; and swa swyj^e he hine drehte J7aet he his sylfes naenig gemynd ne haefde. Hi ))a his magas hine to )7am Godes men gelaeddon. Da sona )?a?s )7e he to him com, J^a begyrde he hine mid his gyrSele. Naes )?a naenig hwil to J^an sona swa he waes mid )7am gyrdele begjTd, eal seo unclaennys" fram him .gewat, and him sy)?)7an nasfre seo adl^ ne eglode. fjj Eac se* eadiga wer Gublac witedomhce gaste weox and fremede, and he ]m toweardan mannum cydde swa cuSHce swa )>a and wear dan. ' MS. adle. = MS. uncla2nnysse. ^ MS. adle. ' MS. >one. ST. GUTHLAC. 61 days incessantly at his prayers. When the sun rose on the third day, he bathed him in holy water and blew in his face, and with that all the power of the accursed spirit upon him was shattered : and this same man was as though he had awoke from a deep slumber, and he received his health again, and went home ; and the illness never ailed him after- wards so long as he lived. XIII. Concerning Athelbald's follower. Also it happened on a time that a follower of the aforesaid exile Athelbald, whose name was Ecga, was disquieted by the accursed spirit. And he plagued him so severely that he had no recollection of himself. Then his relations brought him to the man of God. As soon as he came to him he girded him with his girdle. No sooiier was he girded with the girdle than all the uncleanness departed from him, and the illness never after ailed him. Also the blessed man Guthlac flourished and prospered in the prophetic spirit, and he made known future things to men, as clearly as the present things. 62 THE LIFE OP XIV. Be |jam abbode. paet gelamp sume si)7e )7aet J^aer com sum abbod to him }>e him waesgeara on gasthcum^ )?oftscipe gej7eo- ded. pa he J^a J^yder ferde J^a waeron his hand-J^egnas twegen, baidon hyne J^urh leofe-bene J>aet hi moston on oSerne weg faran^ and saedon )?aet him )?aes neod wsere and eac J^earf. pa geuj^e him ];aes se abbod )?aes )?e hi hine bsedon. Da he ]?a se abbod )?cer com to ]>dtire spraece )?8es eadigan weres Gu^laces^ mid )?an hi ]7a sylfe betwconum drencton" of ]?am willan haligra gewrita^ ]m betwyx );a halgan gewritu ]?e hi spraecon ^a cwaeS GuSlac to him : Ac hwyder gewiton ]7a twegen ]?e sev fram ]7e cyrdon ? pa and- swarode he him and cwae^ : Hi baedon laefe^ set me : waes heom oj^er intinga* j^aet hi hider cuman ne mihton. He J^a GuSlac him andswarode (swa him God ealle ]?a toweardan |7ing onwreah, J?aet him waeron swa cu^c swa ]m andwcardan), ongan him }m secgan J^one siS j^ara bro);ra and him cwaeS to : Hi ferdon ]7aer to sumre wydewan ham and j^aer waeron ondrencte mid oferdrynce. And na laes fxt an ^set he him ]7one heora si]> saede, ao eac swilce be hcora andleofone, ge eac swilce ]>a sylfan word )>c lii j^aer spraecon, call he be cndebyrdnyssc him gcrehte. Mid ]7an J?e se abbod his bletsunge haefde onfangen, he ]>a eft fcrdc. ^lid ))y ]'e )?a foresprecenan broj^ra ' MS. gastlicre. ^ MS. dremdou. ^ MS. liufa. * MS. intingan. ST. GUTHLAC. 63 XIV. Concerning the abbot. It happened on a time that there came an abbot to him, who was formerly united with him in spiritual communion. While he journeyed thither his two attendants were with him ; they supplicated him with a request for leave that they might go another way, and said that there was need and necessity for them to do this. Then the abbot granted them that which they begged of him. When the abbot came there to conversation with the blessed man Guthlac, whilst they mutually gave each other to drink from the well of the sacred scriptures, then amidst their talk of the sacred scriptures Guthlac said to him : But whither went the two that ere- while turned back from thee ? Then answered he him, and said : They begged leave of me ; they had another affair, so that they could not come hither. Then Guthlac aiiswered him, (as God revealed to him all future things, which were as well known to him as the present,) and began to tell him the way of these brothers, and said to him : They went to the house of a widow, and were there intoxicated with too much drinking. And not only did he tell him of their road, but also concerning their fare, as also the very words which they there spake ; he re- lated it all to him in order. When the abbot had received his blessing he departed. When the afore- 64 THE LIFE OF eft to )7am abbode comon, ]?a fregn he hi hwaer hi waeron. pa andswarodon hi him and cwaedon )?aet hi waeron on heora nyd-J^earfum swy^e geswencte. pa axode he hi hw3e)?er hit swa waere ; )7a sworon hi swi^e )7aet hit swa waere. pa cwae^ he to him : Ac to hwon sweria^ git man ; ac waeron aet )7isse wydewan hame and j^aer )?us yncer lif leofodon and ]7isum wordum )?us ]>xt spraecon ? pa ongeaton hi heora misdaeda, feollon )7a to his fotum and him forgifenysse baedon, and him andetton ]?aet hit waere swa he aer saede. XV. Be Jjam brojjrum ^e him to comon, Comon eac swylce twegen broSra to him on sumne sael of sumum myiistre. pa hi ))a f>Yder- weard ferdon^ )?a haefdon hi mid heom twa flaxan mid aela^ gefylde ; )7a gewearS him betweonan )7aet hi )?a gehyddon under anre tyrf, )?aet hi, ]?onne hi ham ferdon, haefdon eft mid him. Da hi po. to him comon, ]7a trymede he hi mid his lare and mid his manunge heora heortan intimbrede. i\Iid j^an J^e hi manig J^ing heom betweonum spraecon, Sa se eadiga wer GuSlac mid bli);um andwHtan and hlihhendre^ gespraece he cwaej? to heom : For hwon behydde git )7a flaxan under ane tyrf, and for hwon ne laiddon ge hi mid inc? Hi J^a swySe wiuidrodon ' MS. hlihhende. ST. GUTHLAC. 65 said brothers again came to the abbot, he asked them where they had been. They answered him, and said that they had toiled much in their needful affairs. Then he asked them whether it were so. Then they swore stoutly that it was so. Then said he to them : Nay, but wherefore swear ye to a wicked lie ; for ye were at the house of such a widow, and there passed your time in such wise, and spake there such words ! Then they were conscious of their misdeeds, fell at his feet, and begged forgiveness of him, and confessed that it was as he said. XV. Concerning the brothers who came to liira. Then came also to him two brothers on a time from a certain monastery. Whilst they journeyed thitherward they had with them two bottles filled with ale; then it was agreed between them that they should hide them under a turf, that, when they went home, they might have them with them. When they were come to him, he strengthened them with his counsel, and edified their hearts with his admonition. When they had spoken on many subjects amongst them, the blessed man Guthlac, with merry countenance and laughing words, said to them : Wherefore hid ye the bottles under a turf, and why brought ye them not with you ? 66 THE LIFE OF )?ara worda J>8es halgan weres, and to him Inton and hine blctsunge baedon. And lie hi gcbletsode, and hi ]m eft ham ferdon. Waes on )7a sylfan tid j?aet )7one foresprecenan wcr missenlices hades men sohton, aegSer ]7ara ge ealdormen ge bisceopas, and abbodas, and aelces hades heane and rice. And na laes )7aet an J^aet hine men sohton of J^ccre heh-)?ef)de Mercna-rice, ac eac swjdce ealle )7a J^e on Bretone W3eron J^e )?isne eadigan wer hyrdon, J?aet hi aeghwonon to him efston and scyndon ; and )7a )?e waeron aj^er o]?]?e on lichaman untrumnysse, oS^e fram J^am awyrgdan gaste geswencte and numene, o]?)7e o]7rum yfelum, ]?e manna- cynn^ mid missenlicum sorgum and sarum utan ymbseald ys ; and on heora naenigum^ se hiht awticode ]?e hi to him genamon ; for)7an naes naenig untrum ]7aet he ungelacnod fram him ferde; naenig deofol-seoc |>8et he eft wel ge- witfaest ne Wcere ; ne on noenigre untrumnysse )?8et he eft gehseled him fram ne ferde. XVI. Be A)?elbal{les gefere. Da3t gelamp mid J^an ]>det manige men for mis- senlicum ]7ingum him to comon, ]>a betweox oj^re com ))ftr ]7a?s foresprecenan wraeccan jE]7elbaldes gefera J?aes nama waes Ova, ];3et he woldc )7one halgan geneosian and wi])gesprecan. Da gelamp hit );an ' MS. manna-cynnes. '^ MS. menigum. ST. GUTHLAC. Q7 They were greatly amazed at these words of the holy man, and bowed to him, and begged his blessing. And he blessed them, and they returned home. \ It came to pass at that same time, that men of divers conditions sought the holy man, as well nobles as bishops and abbots, and men of every condition, poor and rich. And not only men sought him from the province of Mercia, but also all who in Britain heard of this holy man, hied and hastened to him from all quarters : and those who were either in sickness of body, or plagued and possessed by the cursed spirit, or other evils, as mankind is compassed about with various griefs and pains : and of none of those whom they brought to him were the hopes thwarted ; for there^ was no sick person that went from him unhealed ; no pos- sessed person that did not come to his right wits again ; none afflicted with any disease that did not leave him curbed. XVI. Concerning Athelbald's companion. It came to pass when many men came to him for divers matters, among others came thither a companion of the before -mentioned exile Athelbald, whose name was Ova, that he might visit and con- verse with the saint. It happened on the second 68 THE LIFE OF aefteran daege j^aes "pe he j^yder on )7aere fore w«s, )7a code he ofer sumne ]>6ru. on niht ; )7a besloh se f>oni on J?one fot, and svva Strang waes se sting ]?aes ]7ornes )7aet he code J>urh )7one fot, and he )?a unease )7one si^ geferde, and ]?urh mycel gewinn he to J?am fore- sprecenan eglande becom, J^aer se eadiga wer Gu^lac on eardode. And mid J>an )?e he J^aer on niht waes, ]7a asweoU him se lichama ofer healf fram f>am lendenum o);j7a fet, and swa sarlice he waes mid j^am sare geswenced, j^aet he na^er J^ara ne gesittan ne standan mihte. Mid J?y man^ J?aet j^am Godes were saede Gu^lace, j^a behead he )7aet hine man to him gelaedde. pa he ]?a waes broht to him, f>a saede he to him )7one intingan ];urh hwaet he aerest swa gej^raest wsere, and hu him aerest )7aet earfo^ on become. He ]7a sona Gu^lac hine sylfne ungyrede, and )7aet reaf ])e he genehlice on him haefde he hine slefde on )7one foresprecenan man. Naes J^a naenig hwil to ]70n sona swa he mid ]7an hraegle swa miccles weres gegjTed waes, J?a ne mihte )?aet )?aet sar aberan. He )7a sona se ylca ]>6rUj efne swa swa strael of bogan astelle];, swa he of ]mm man afleah, and on ]>a fyrle gewat ; and )7a sona on Jm sylfan tid eall se swyle and eall j^aet sar gewat fram him ; and he sona to )7a sylfan tid mid bli);um mode to ]?am halgan were spraec and he eft ]>anon ferde butan sceSnysse aeniges sares. Swylce eac gelamp )?aet eallc ))a men wnndrodon ))e )>as )>ing gehyrdon, and hi on |;an wuldredon and heredon heofones God. ' MS. he. ST. GUTHLAC. 69 day tliat he was on the journey thither, that he walked over a thorn in the night : the thorn stuck into his foot, and so strong was the prickle of the thorn that it went through the foot, and he with difficulty proceeded on his way, and with much effort he arrived at the fore-mentioned island, whereon the blessed man Guthlac dwelt. And when he was there at night, his body swelled, above half of it from the loins to the feet, and he was so grievously afflicted with the pain, that he could neither sit nor stand. As soon as they told this to Guthlac, the man of God, he ordered that he should be brought to him : when he was brought to him, he told him the cause through which he was first so tormented, and how that pain first came upon him. Thereupon Guthlac immediately stripped himself, and the garment which he wore next his skin he put upon the foresaid man. No sooner was he attired in the garment of so great a man, but the wound could not abide it : and lo ! this same thorn, as an arrow speeds from the bow, so did it fly from the man, and go to a distance ; and immediately at the same time all the swelling and all the wound departed from him, and he presently conversed with the holy man with blithe mood, and he afterwards went from thence without harm of any wound. And it came to pass that all men who heard these things wondered, and glorified and praised the God of heaven for them. 70 THE LIFE OF XVII. Be pam halgan biscope See Haedde. Swylce nys eac mid idcle to forlaetenne ]7aet wundor ]?aet |?urli witedomes craeft [lie]^ wiste and cydde : forj^on him waes ]7urh Godes gife seald, f>8et he J?a word j^ara aefwearda swa geara wiste swa j^ara andwearda ]7e him foran gesaede weeron. Gelamp sume si]?e ]>?et sum bisceop to him ferde j^aes iiama waes Haedda, efne swa swa he waere mid heofonlicre )7eahte gelaered ]?aet he to )?aere spraece ferde ]7aes Godes mannes. pa haefde se bisceop mid hine on his geferscipe sumne man gelaeredne, )7aes nama waes Wigfri^. Mid )?an he )?a betweox J?a o^re J^aes biseeopes ]?egnas f>yder ferde/ ]m ongimnon hi fela J7inga be J^am halgan were sprecan and fela )>inga be his wundrum saedon. Sume hi J?onne seedon J7a heardlicnysse his lifes, )?a wundor ]?e he worhte; sume hi ];onne twiendlice be his life spreecon, and l^aet cwaedon J^aet hi nyston hwaeSer he on Godes mihte )?a J^ing worhte, ]>e Jnu'h deofies craeft. pa )7a hi ]7as J^ing ]7us heom betweonon spraecon, fa cwaej? sc witega to heom : Ic maeg, cwaeS he, cnnnian and gewitan hwaej^er he bi]> bigcngca )>a?re godcundan aefaestnysse ; for)7on ic waes lange betwux Sceotta- folc eardiende ; and ic geseah )?aer manige gode, and on Godes ];eodscipe wcl heora lif la^ddon ; and hi manigum wundrum and tacnum )7urli Godes mihte ' MS. craeft wiste and bim cydde. - MS. ferdon. ST. GUTHLAC. 71 XVII. Concerning the holy bishop St. Haedde. Also we must not pass over with neglect that wondrous thing, how that with prophetic power he knew and made things known. For through God^s grace it was given him_, that he should know the words of the absent as easily as those of the present which were uttered before him. It happened on a time that a bishop came to him, whose name was Haedda, as though he were counselled by a heavenly thought, that he should go to speak with the man of God. The bishop had with him in his company a learned man, whose name was Wigfrith. Whilst he journeyed thither among the other attendants of the bishop, they began to say many things about the holy man, and spoke much of his miracles. Some of them then spake of the severity of his life, the mu'acles which he wrought ; some then spake doubtingly of his life, and said that they knew not whether he wrought these things in the strength of God, or throuEfh craft of the de\^l. While thev spake these things among themselves, the philosopher said to them : I am able, said he, to try and find out whether he be a cultivator of divine piety ; for I was long dwelling among the Se8«^ people, and I saw there many good men, who led their life well in God's service; and they shone through God's power before the eyes of men, with many miracles 72 THE LIFE OF beforan manna eagum scinon. Of J^ara manna life ]>e ic J?aer geseali ic maeg ongitan liu gerad );ises mannes lif ys, hwaej^er he ))urh Godes miht )7a wundor wyrceS, )?e he Jmrh deofles miht deS. Mid pj )?a se^ foresprecena bisceop to J^cBre sprsece becom )7aes Godes^ mannes GuSlaces, hi }>a sylfe betweonum indrencton mid ]?ara cerenum J^aere godspellican swetnysse. Waes on J^am eadigan were Gu^lace seo beorhtnys )?9ere Drihtnes gife swa swy];e scinende, ]>dst swa hwaet swa he bodode and laerde^ swa he of engcellicre spraece J^a word bodode and raede. Waes eac swi^e mycel wisdom on him^ heofonlice snyttro, J7aet swa hwaet swa he gelaerde J>aet he J^aet trymede mid )7a godcundan [bysena]^ haligra gewrita. And he ]?a semninga se bisceop^ on midre J^aere spraece )?e hi heom betwux smeadon, eadmodlice to )>am Godes were geleat and hine geornUce baed and halsode ]?aet he J^urh hine sucerdlice J^enunge onfengce, ]7aet he hine moste gehadigan to maesse-preoste and to Jjenunge Drihtnes weofodes. He J^a sona Gu^lac his benum"* gej^afode, and he hine sylfne to eorSan astrehte, and J^aet cwaeS )7aet he wolde J^tes ])e Godes willa wsere and Jjaes biscopes. pa hi J>a haefdon )>a )?enunge gefylled and he waes gehalgod^ swii ic xr saede, he J^a se biscop bsed ]?one halgan wer ))a^t he scolde to gercorde fon mid him : and he ]>a swa dyde fjeah hit liis life ungc]>eawc wiiere. pa hi ])a to gcreorde saeton, swa ic aer saede, ])a locode Guthlac ' MS. I^e. 2 jvis. g,5des. ^ [bysena] not in MS. * MS. benun. ST. GUTHLAC. 75 tlie bishop's attendants; then he saw the aforesaid brother Wigfrith, and spake thus to him : And now, brother Wigfrith, what sort of man seemeth thee now the priest is of whom thou saidst yester- day that thou wouldst try whether he were good or bad ? Then "Wigfrith arose, and bowed to the earth, and confessed his fault to him. Then the holy man was forthwith reconciled to him, and gave and granted him his pardon. The hallowing of the island of Crowland, and also of the blessed man Guthlac, took place at harvest-time, five days before St. Bartholomew's mass. XVIII. Concerning abbess Ecgburh. It happened also on a time that the venerable maid Ecgburh, abbess, the daughter of Aldwulf the king, sent to the venerable man Guthlac a leaden coffin, and winding-sheet thereto, and besought him by the holy name of the celestial King, that after his departure they should place his body therein. She sent the message by a brother of worthy life, and bid him ask him, who should be the keeper of the place after him. When he had kindly received the message of the venerable maid, then concerning that which he was asked — who should be the 76 THE LIFE OF stowe hyrde aefter him heon scolde, J?a andswarode he and cwae^, j^aet se mnn wsere on h8ej>enum folce, and J?a git noere gefullod ; ac )?eah hwae]7ere j^aet he )?a sona come^ and ]?a gennu sceolde onfon fulluht- bae]?es. And hit eac swa gelamp : for)7on se ylca Cissa, se ]>e eft ]7a stowe heold, he com ]7aes ymb litel faec on Bretone and liine man )?3er gefullode, swa se Godes wer foresccde. XIX. Be A^elbalde J?am kyninge. Swylce nys eac mid idelnysse to forelaetenne J^aet wundor ])e )?es halga wer Guthlac foressede and mannum cydde. Waes on sumre tide j^aet com se foresprccena wraecca to him Aj'elbald ; and hine Ceoh'ed se kyning hider and jnder wide aflymde, and he his ehtnysse and his hatunge fleah and scunode. Da com he to ]73ere spaece J^aes halgan weres Gu^laces ; ]m]m se mennisca" fultum him beswac, hine )7eah hwa'Jjere se godcunda fultum gefrefrode. Mid ])y he )?a to J^am Godes were com, and he him his earfo^a rehte^ ]m cwaeS GuSlac ]>us to him : Eala min cniht ]nnra gewinna and earfoSa ic eom linforgitende ; ic forjjon J^e geniiltsode, and for )nnum carfoSum ic ba.'d God ])iX3t he ]>e gcmilt- sodc and ])C gefultomodc ; and he ]>a mine bene gchyrde, and he })e sylc)^ rice and anweald ])inre ' MS. com. - MS. raenuisce. ST. GUTHLAC. 11 keeper of tlie place after him, — lie answered and said, thai the man was of heathen race, and was not yet baptised; but notwithstanding, that he should soon come, and should receive the rites of baptism. And so it came to pass; for the same Cissa, who afterwards held the place, came to Britain a little time afterwards, and they baptised him there, as the man of God foretold. XIX. Concerning Athelbald the king. Also we must not pass over with neglect the w^onder which this holy man Guthlac foretold and made known to men. It happened on a time that the before-mentioned exile Athelbald came to him; and Ceolred the king hunted him hither and thither, far and wide, and he fled from and shunned his persecutions and his malice. He had recourse then to the conversation of the holy man Guthlac ; for when human help had failed him, notwithstanding divine support comforted him. When he came to the man of God, and related to him his troubles, Guthlac spake thus to him : O ! my son, I am not forgetful of thy conflicts and thy troubles ; for this cause I took pity on thee, and for thy troubles I prayed God that he would have pity on thee, and support thee ; and he has heard my prayer, and he wiU give thee kingdom and rule over thy people. 78 THE LIFE OF l^eode, and J^a calle fleo^ beforan f>e J?a ]7e hatia^, and )?in sweord fornyme(S ealle ]>ine ba wi]?erweardan, for);on Drihten ^e hrS on fultume. Ac be ]m ge];yldig, forJ;on ne begitest ]m na J^aet rice on gerisne woruldlicra j^inga, ac mid Drihtnes ful- tume ]}u J>in rice begytest; for];on Drihten ];a geny)7eraS "pe ])e nu hatiaS, and Drihten afyrre^ )7aet rice fram him and haefS ]>e gemynt and geteohhod. pa he ]7as word gehyrde^ he )7a sona Aj?elbald his hiht and his geleafan on God sylfne trymede, and he getrywode A^d gclyfde ealle J^a J^ing J^e se halga wer foressede_,lfpS ricu^ beo^ onwende and ofanumene and hit a to }>am ende efesteS ; and se rica and se heana, se gelaereda and se ungelterda^ and geong and eald_, ealle hi gelice se stranga deaS forgripeS and nym^. XX. Be ]pFcs halgan weres lifes lenge and be his forSfore. Da gelamp hit on fyrste a?fter Jnssum ])aet se leofa Godes j^eow Guthlac aefter J^on fiftyne gear ];e he Gode willigende laedde his lif, J^a wolde God his J>one leofan J^eow of ]>am gewinne j^isse worulde yrm]7a gelsedan to ];aere ecan reste J78es heofoncundan rices. Da gelamp on sumne ssel mid J7y he on his cyrcan aet his gebedum wa^s, Jni wa^s he semninga mid adle gcstandcn. And lie sona ougeat J^a^t him ' MS. rice. ST. GUTHLAC. 79 and tliey shall flee before thee who hate thee ; and thy sAYord shall destroy all thy adversaries, for the Lord is thy support. But he thou patient, for thou shalt not get the kingdom by means of worldly things, but with the Lord^s help thou shalt get thy kingdom. For the Lord shall bring down those who now hate thee, and the Lord shall remove the kingdom from them, and hath remembered and appointed thee. When he heard these words, Athelbald soon fixed his hope and faith on God himself, and he trusted and believed all the things which the holy man foretold, — how that kingdoms are overturned and taken away, and are evermore hastening to an end; and the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlearned, and young and old, — all these alike, strong death clutcheth and taketh. XX. Concerning the length of the holy man's life, and his departure. It happened, some while after this, that God^s beloved servant Guthlac, after that he had led a life serving God for fifteen years, — then God pleased to lead his dear servant from the conflict of this world^s miseries to the eternal rest of the heavenly kingdom. It happened on a time, when he was in his church at his prayers, he was suddenly attacked with illness. And he soon perceived that God^s hand was sent 80 THE LIFE OF wses Goclcs hand to sencled, and he swyj^e gebhj7e hine het gynvan to ]?am ingangc J^aes hcofonlican rices. Wies he scofon do gas mid ]?8ere adle ge- swenced, and J^aes eahtoJ>an da3ges^ he waes to J>am ytemcstan gelaeded. pa gestod hine seo'^ adl J^on wodnesdyege' nehst eastron and J>a eft ]?an ylcan daege on );tere eastor-wucan he ))aet lif of f>ani lichaman sonde. Waes sum broSor mid him ])3£s nama wa3s Beccel, J?urh j^one ic ]7a forSfore ongeat J7aes eadigan weres. Mid J;y he J7a com ])y daege );e hine seo adl* gestod, )7a acsode he hine be ge- hwilcum J^ingum. pa andswarode he him hnetlice, and mid langre sworetunge )?aet orS of J?am breostum teah. pa he )?a geseah J?one halgan wer swa un- rotes modes, ];a cwaeS he to him : Hwaet gelamp ]?e ny wes nu ^a ; ac J^e on J^ysse nihte sum untrum- nys^ gelamp ? pa andswarode he him and him cwaeS to : Adl^ me gelamp on ))isse nihte.y pa fraegn he eft hine : Wast J7u min faeder ];one intingan ]?inre adle o])]ye to hwylcum ende wenest ]m j^cet seo mettrumnys^ wylle gelimpan? pa andswarode he him eft se halga wer and him cwaeS to : peos^ ongi- tenys minre untrumnysse ys, ])aet of ]nsum lichaman sceal beon se gast aheded; forpon ]>an ealito])an daege"' biS ende )?aere minre mettrumnysse ; forj^on ]7aet gedafenaS ];aet se gast bco gegcarwod, ]>aet ic ' MS. (Ircge. ^ ^is. se. ' MS. wodncs dxg. * MS. adle. * MS. untrumnysse. ^ MS. adle. "^ MS. mettrumnysse- ^ MS. j^es ongitcnysse. ^ MS. dajg. ST. GUTHLAC. 81 upon liim, and he right gladly began to prepare himself for his entry into the heavenly kingdom. He was seven days afflicted with the malad}^, and on the eighth day he was brought to the utmost extremity. The malady attacked him on the Wednesday next before Easter, and on the same day of the Easter-week after he gave forth his life from his body. / There was a brother with him whose name was Beccel, through whom I have been in- formed concerning the departure of the blessed man. When he came to him on the day when the sickness seized him, he asked him concerning certain things. And he answered him slowty, and drew the breath from his chest with long sighing. When he saw the holy man in so distressful mood, he said to him : What new thing has now happened to thee ; has some sickness befallen thee on this night? Then he answered him and said to him : Sickness has befallen me this night.) Then again he asked him : Knowest thou, my father, the cause of thy sickness, or to what end thinkest thou that this ill- ness will cQ^me ? Then again the holy man answered and said to him : The meaning of my illness is this, that the spirit must be taken away from this body; for on the eighth day there will be an end of my illness ; therefore it behoves that the spirit be prepared, that 4§ 82 THE LIFE OF maeg Gode filian. pa he J>a J^as word gehyrde se foresprecena broSor Beccel^ he ]?a swy)7e weop and geomrian oiigan and mid mycelre uneSnysse his eago-spind mid tearum gelomUce leohte. pa frefrode hine se Godes wer Guthlac and him cwae^ to : Min beam, ne beo ]m na geuurotsod for]?on ne biS me naenig une];nys^ J?aet ic to Drihtne minum Gode fare. Waes swa mycel rumnes on him J>aes halgan geleafan and swa mycele he to J^aere Godes lufan haefde, J^ost se. cuj^a and se nncu);a ealle him wees gelice gesegen on godum dsedum. Da ]?aes jTnbe feower niht com se forma easter-daeg, he ]7a se eadiga wer GuSlac on J^aere his mettrumnysse Gode lac onsaegde and maessan sang, and syJ^J^an he J^a deor- wyr]7an hic oJBfrode Cristes blodes, J^a ongan he ]mm foresprecenan brcj^er godspellian; and he hine swa swy)7e deoplice mid his Mre ineode^ J>aet he naefre ser ne sy]>|7an swylc ne gehyrde. Mid ]7an ]7e [se]^ seofo^a da3g com f)aere his mettrumnysse, ]m com se foresprecena broSor on ]?aere sixtan tide J^aes da?ges, J79et he hine geneosian wokle : J7a gemette he hine hleonian on J^am hale his cyrcan wi^ J?ani weofode. pa hwa?)?ere he ne mihte wiS hine sprecan, forj^on he gescah J^aet his untrumnys^ hine swy]7e swencte : ];a )7cah hwne))ere he hine luftcr ]?on ba^d ])a't he his word to him forlete ser )7on )?c he swiiltc. He )>a se eadiga wer Gu])lac hwii't-lnvcgo fram )>am wage J7a werigan limii ahof, cwa^tS ])a j>us to him : ]\Iin ' MS. unc)?nysse. - [se] not in MS. ^ MS. untrumnysse. ST. GUTHLAC. 83 I may go to God. When the aforesaid brother Beccel heard these words, he wept much and began to lament, and in great grief incessantly moistened his cheeks with tears. Then the man of God Guthlac comforted him, and said to him : Mj son, be not thou grieved, for to me it is no sorrow that I am going to the Lord my God. There was in him such a depth of holy faith, and so great love of God had he thereto, that the known and the un- known was entirely alike in his sight in respect of good deeds. "When after four nights the first Easter-day arrived, the blessed man Guthlac in his sickness performed service to God, and sang mass, and after that he offered up the precious sacrifice of Christ^s blood, he began to preach the gospel to the aforesaid brother ; and he penetrated him so deeply with his counsel, that he never before nor after heard the like. When the seventh day of his illness came, then came the aforesaid brother at the sixth hour of the day to visit him. He found him leaning in the corner of his oratory, against the altar. Notwithstanding he might not speak to him, for he saw that his malady violently afflicted him ; however, afterwards he begged of him that he Avould leave his last words with him before he died. Then the blessed man Guthlac raised a little his weary limbs from the wall, and thus spake to him : My 84 THE LIFE OF beam, nu ys ]7?ere tide swij?e neah, ac behealt ]?u mill )7a ytcmcstan bebodu. iEfter J70n )?e min sawl of ]?am lichaman fere, J^onne far J^u to minre swustor and hyrc seege J^aet ic forj^on ber on middanearde hire ansyne flcab and bi geseon nolde, J78et wyt eft on beofonum beforan Godes ansyne unc eft gesawon ; and bi bidde ]?ivt beo minne bcbaman on ]7a J^rub gesette_, and mid )wre scytan bewinde ye me Ecgburb onsende. Nolde ic )7a bwile ]>e ic leofode mid linenum braegle gegyred beon, ac nu for lufan )?aere Cristes faemnan, ]7a gife ];e beo me sende ic wylle to |7on don 'pe ic beold ; ]?onne se bcbama and seo sawul bi todsele^, ]7oet man ]?one bcbaman mid ]mm braegle bewinde, and on J?a Jn'ub gelecge. Da sc foresprecena broSor )?as ]nng gebyrde, be )?a waes ]7us sprecende : Ic ]?e balsige, mm se leofa faeder, nu ic ]nne untrumnysse geseo and ongite, and ic gebyre J^aet ]>\x J^as woruld scealt forlsetan, ]net ]m me secge be ];a3re wisan })e ic naefre aer nss gcdyrstig J^e to axianne. Of ]7a?re tide J^e ic aerest mid ];e on J^isum Avestene eardode, ic ]>e gebyrde sprecan on aefenne and on a^rcn-mergen ic iiat mid bwaene. For])on ic )7e bidde and balsige ]7a?t ]7U me neefre bebydigne and sorbfulne be ]7isse wisan ne laete aefter J7inre forbfore. He )7a se Godes wer mid langre sworetunge J7aet ore wylle nu onwreon and gecyj^au. Dan a?fteran geare );e ic J^is westen eardode, J^aet on sefen and on asrne-mergen God sylfa pone engcel mmre frofre to me sende, se me );a heofonlican geiy'no openode^ ]7a nancgum men ne alyfa^ to secganne, and Jm heardnysse mines gewinnes mid heofonlican engellicum spraecum ealle gehihte ; J^e me aefweardan gecydde and geopenode swa ]m and- weardan.^ And nu min beam, J^aet leofe, geheald ]>n min word, and ]?u hi nsenigum o]?rum men ne secge buton Pege minre swustor and Ecgberhte )7am ancran, gif J^aet gelimpe )?aet ]7U wiS hine gesprece. pa he J>as word spra?c he ]>a his heafod to ];am wage onhylde, and mid langre sworetunge ]?a?t orS of J;am breostum teah. ^lid pj he eft gewyrpte, and J^am orSe2 onfeng, J7a com seo swetnys of J)am muvSe swa ];aera wynsumestra^ blostmena stenc. And ];a ]7oere sefter-fylgendan nihte mid ]?an J>e se foresprecena bro^or nihtlicum gebedum bcfcall, )>a geseah he call |7cet hus litan mid mycelre beorht- nesse ymbseald; and seo beorhtnys y^r awunode o^ daeg. pa hit on mergen dseg waes, he ])a se Godes wer eft styrede hwaet-hwego and ]>a weregan leomu upahof. pa cwffiS he to him ))us : ^lin bearn, gearwa J^e ]?aet^ ]ni on ]>one siS fere ]>e ic J^c gehet ; forjmn nu ys seo tid jnvt se g;tst sccal for- ' MS. andweardum. - MS. orS. ^ MS. wyusuraesta blostman. "' MS. -j ST. GUTHLAC. 87 no man of the Tvorld wliile I lived, I will now reveal and make known to tlice. The second year after I dwelt in this wilderness, at even and at daybreak God himself sent the angel of my comfort to me, who opened to me the heavenly mysteries, which it is lawful to no man to tell, and the hardness of my conflict he quite softened with heavenly angelic dis- courses ; who also made known and revealed to me absent as well as present things. And now, my son, beloved one, keep thou my word, and tell these things to no other person except to Pege my sister and to Ecgberht the hermit, if it chance that thou speak with him. When he had spoken these words, he leaned his head to the wall, and with a long sigh drew the breath from his breast. When he turned himself again and recovered his breath, there came fragrance from his mouth like the odour of the sweetest flowers. And on the following night, when the aforesaid brother fell to his nightly prayers, he beheld all the house encompassed about with a great brightness ; and this brightness remained there till day. When it dawned on the morrow, the man of God stirred again a little, and raised up his weary limbs. Then spake he thus to him : My son, prepare thyself to go on the journey which I bid thee ; for now is the time that the spirit must 88 THE LIFE OF laetan J^a weregan limo and to ]7am uiigeendodan gefean wyle gefcran^ to licofona rice. Da lie ]?a J7as J?ingc spra?c he ]?a his handa a]>enede to )?am weofode^ and hinc getrymede mid ]mm heofonlican mete, Cristes lichaman and his blode^ ; and J^a aefter )7on his eagan to heofonum ahof, and his earmas aj^enede, and ]m ]?one gast mid gefean and bhsse to J^am ecum gefean sende^ )?aes heofonlican rices. Betwux ))a J^ingc se foresprecena bro^or geseah eall J^aet hus mid heofonlicre brj^hto geond goten, and he ]79er geseah fyrenne torr^ up of J>aere eor]?an to heofones heannysse, )7£es beorhtnys wDes eallum o)7rum lingelic, and for his faegernysse ]7aet seo sunne sylf set middum dsege, eall hire* scima waes on blaeco gecyrred. And eng- cellice sangas geond J^ajre lyfte faco he gehyrde ; and eall )?aet igland mid mycelre swetnysse wnnder- lices stences ormsedum wees gefylled. He )m se foresprecena bro]?or sona mid mycelre fyrhte wa?s geslegen, eode )>a on scip and |?a ferde to |>aere stowe ]>e se Godes wer aer behead ; and J^a com to Pege and hire f>a eall J^a J^iug saede aefter endebyrdnesse swa se broSor hine liet. pa heo ]>a gclnTde ])one bro]?or foriSferedne, heo )?a sona on eor^ian feoU and mid mycelre hefignyssc gefjdled weartS J^a't heo word gecwcjmn nc mihte. Mid ]mi\ heo ]>a eft hig gehyrte, heo ]m of ]>am breostum inneweardum lange swore- tunge teah, and ]>a ))am Wealdende J^anc saedc )7aes ]}C he sw;i wolde. Ili ])a )mn refteran daege aefter ' MS. hlocl. - MS. ferde. ^ MS. fyrene topp. •• MS. Lira. ST. GUTHLAC. 89 leave tlie weary limbs^ and will go to the endless joy, the kingdom of heaven. When he had said these things,, he stretched out his hands to the altar, and strengthened himself with the heavenly food, Christ^s body and blood. And after that he raised his eyes to heaven, and stretched out his arms, and then sent forth his spirit with joy and bliss to the eternal happiness of the heavenly kingdom. Amidst these things the aforesaid brother saw all the house perfused with heavenly brightness, and he beheld there a fiery tower, from the earth up to the height of heaven, whose brightness was unlike all other, and by its brilliance the sun itself at midday, — all its lustre was turned to paleness. And he heard angelic songs through the regions of the air ; and all the island was profusely filled with the exceeding sweetness of a wondi'ous odour. There- upon the aforesaid brother was smitten with great fear, went on board a boat, and travelled to the place which the man of God had before bidden him seek ; and there he came to Pege, and told her all these things in order as her brother had bidden him. When she heard that her brother was departed, she forthwith fell on the earth, and was filled with great sorrow, so that she could not speak a word. When she presently recovered herself, she drew from her breast within a long sigh, and gave thanks to the Lord for that he would have it so to be. Then 90 ^ THE LIFE OF ];am behode ]>aes eadigau weres hi becomon to J>am eglande, and hi ealle ]m stowe and J7a hus J^aer ge- metton mid ambrosie J?aere wyrte swetnysse gefylde. Heo^ ]^a )7one halgan wer on J^reora daga faece mid halgum lof-sangum Gode behead, and on ]mm. ];nddan dsege swa se Godes wer behead hig )?Qne hchaman on cyrcan mid arwui^nysse behyrgdon:-^ Awolde seo godcunde" arfaestnys mannum openhce aetywan on hu mycclum -vruldre he waes se eadiga wer sy]?)7an he be- byrged wass ; for]7on J^e he ser beforan manna eagum swa manigum wundrum scean and berhte. Mid ]?y he )7a waes twelf mona^ bebyrged sefter his for^fore, ^a onsende God on J^aet mod J^sere Drihtnes J^eowan, )7ast heo wolde eft j7one bro^orlican lichaman on oSre byrgene gesettan. Heo J?a ]?yder togcsomnode Godes ];eowa and ma^sse-preosta and circHcre^ ende- byrdnysse, )7aet ]?y ylcan daege J7ses y mbe twelf mona"5 J7e seo forSfore J^aes eadigan weres waes, hi ]7a J^a byrgene untjudon ; ]>r gemetton hi ]?one lichaman ealne ansitndne swa he aer waes and jm gyt Ufigende waere, and on li]?a* bignyssum and on eallum )>ingum )?aet he waes slaependum men gelicra myccle J^onne forSferedum. Swylce eac ]7a hraegl ]>aere ylcan niwnysse J^e hig on fruman ymbe )?one lichaman gedon waeron. pa hi J^as J^ing gesawon )>e Jpser samod aet wseron, ]?a wivron hi switic forhtc for )ng )7C hi y?ev gesawon ; and lii swa swy^Se mid J)a?re ' MS. Hi. 2 MS. godcundnysse arfo'stlicc manna. ^ MS. eynlice. ■* MS. lij?o. ST. GUTHLAC. 91 they on the next day, according to the command of the blessed man, came to the island, and they there found all the place and the buildings filled with the sweetness of the herb ambrosia. She then for three days^ space, with holy hymns of praise commended the holy man to God, and on the thu'd day, as the man of God had bidden, they buried the corpse in the church with solemnity. The divine goodness would openly display to men in how great glory the blessed man was after he was buried ; as he erewhile, before the eyes of men, shone and was resplendent with so many miracles. After his death, when he had been buried twelve months, Ga seo Cristes ]?eowe Pege J^aet geseah, )7a waes heo sona mid gastlicere blisse ge- fylled and ]?a ]7one halgan lichaman mid )7aere arwurSnj^sse Cristes lof-sangum on oJ?re scytan be- wand, ]7a Ecgbriht se ancra 3er him lifigende to J^aere^ ylcan )?enunge sende. Swylce eac J;a )?ruli na laes )7aet hi eft J^a on eorSan dydon^ ac on gemyndelicre stowe and on arwyrj^re hi )?agesetton. Seo stow nu eft fram A^elbalde )7am kyninge mid manig- fealdum getimbrum ys arwurSlice gewur]>od, ]?£er se sigefaesta lichama j^aes balgan weres gastlice restej? ; and se man se ];e f'a stowe mid ealle bis msegne gesec^, ]?onne ];urb J7a J^ingunge j^aes halgan wei'es he gefremeS and ];urhtyhj; ];aet he wihiaS. Se eadiga wer GuSlac he waes gecoren man on god- cundum dsedum and ealra gesnyttra gold-hord ; and he waes gestae J^J^ig on his ]>eawum^ swylce he waes on Cristes ];eowd6me swa geornfulHce abysgod J)aet him nsefre elles on his muSe naes buton Cristes lof, ne on his heortan butan arfa?stnys, ne on his mode butan syb and lufu and mildheortnes ; ne hyne nan man yrre gcseah ne ungcornfuhie to Cristes ]>cowdomc, ac ii man militc on his andwhtan lufe and sibbe ongytan, and a waes swetnys on his mode and snyttro on his brcostiim and swa mycel glaednys" on him wix?s, yxt he a ])am cuc^um and ]mm uncu])um waes gchce gescgen. ' MS. jjam. '^ MS. glicdnysse. ST. GUTHLAC. 93 the fear thereof that they could say nothing. But when Pege^ the servant of Christ, beheld it, she was forthwith filled with spiritual joy; and she wound the holy corpse, with praises of Christ^s honour, in the other sheet which Ecgbriht the anchorite formerly sent him, when alive, for that same service. Also the coffin they did not put into the earth again, but they set it in a memorable place and an honourable. The place has now since then been honourably distinguished by king Athelbald with manifold buildings, where the vic- torious body of the holy man spiritually rests : and the man who with all his heart seeks that place, through the intercession of the holy man he shall accomplish and bring about what he desires. The blessed man Guthlac was a chosen man in divine deeds, and a treasure of all wisdom ; and he was steadfast in his duties, as also he was earnestly intent on Christ^s service, so that never was aught else in his mouth but Christ^s praise, nor in his heart but \'irtue, nor in his mind but peace and love and pity ; nor did any man ever see him angry nor slothful to Christ's service ; but one might ever perceive in his countenance love and peace; and evermore sweetness was in his temper, and wisdom in his breast, _ and there was so much cheerfulness in him, that he always appeared alike to acquaint- ances and to strangers. 94 THE LIFE OF XXI. Be Ajjelbalde kyningce. JEfter j^yssum geacsode A];elbal(l se foresprecena wraecca on feor-landum ]?a3S halgtin weres forSfore, See GuJ?laces ; for]70ii he ana ser fon wjks hys gebeorh and frofor. pa waes Le semninga mid unrotnysse gestyred, ferde )7a )?ider to ysere stowe )?3er J>aes Godes weres lichama on waes, forj'on he gehyhte ]7urh ]7one halgan wer ]?aet him God sealde his ge\^'innes frofre. pa he )7a to J?8ere bp'gene com ]?cTes halgan weres^ he pa wepende mid tearum ]7us cwae^ : Mm fseder h\Yaet ]7U canst mine yrmf^a, ]m me waere symble on fultume on minnm nny^- nyssum : hwider wylle ic me nu cyrran, hwa frefre^ me gif ]?u me forlaatst ? Mid J)y he ]?a ]7as J?ing and manig o)7er oet J^aere byrgene wepende sprsec, pa seo nihtlice tid com, pa wses he ]7aer on sumum huse inne pe he ser be Guthlace hfigendum hwilum on gaesthpnesse wunode. Da he pa on pam huse inne waes, pa waes he on pam unrotan mode hider and pyder pencende, him pa iet nyxtan waeron pa eagan mid pam slaepe betyned. He pa fa?ringa forhthce abranl, ]m geseah he calle pa cytan innan mid hcofonhcc Icohte gefykle. ]\Iid ])an lie ]>a waes forhtlice gewordcn for poere ungcwunclican gesihpe, ■aes foresprecenanSwraeccan A|?elbaldes on J^aere maegSjji Wissa, }>aes eagan wseron mid fleo and mid dimnesse twelf monb ofergan. Mid py bis laecas'^ bine mid sealfum lange teolodon, and bit bim nawibt to baelo ne fremede ; cia waes he innan godcundUce manod ])aet gif bine man to J^aere stowe gelaedde Gutblaces, j^aet he )7onne bis haelo and gesibj^e onfengce. Naes J^a naenig bwil to )>on |;aet him bis frynd on ])aere stowe brobton to Cruwlande, and hi )?a gespraecon to J^aere Cristes )?eowan Pegan ; and beo ]yivs mannes geleafau trumne and faestne gehyrde. pa laedde beo bine on )7a cyrcan )7a?r se arwyrcSa licbama inne wa3S ' MS. rice. ^ MS. forcsprcccua. ^ MS. lacces. ST. GUTHLAC. 97 not be afraid, but be thou steadfast, for God is thy support ; and I am therefore come to thee, for that through my intercession God hath heard thy prayer. But be tliou not sorrowful, for the days are past of thy afflictions ; for ere the sun shall have gone a twelve months' circuit round about, thou shalt wield this kingdom, which thou erewhile didst con- tend for. And not only did he prophesy to him his future kingdom, but he also related to him completely the length of his life. These signs God wrought through the holy man's merit after he was dead and buried. XXII. There was a boatman of the aforesaid exile Athelbald whose eyes had been for twelve months overspread with the white speck and dimness. When his physicians had long treated him with salves, and this no whit effected his healing, he was divinely admonished within, that if they brought him to Guthlac's resting-place he should recover his health and sight. Not long after his friends brought him to the place Crowland, and they spoke to Christ's servant Pege ; and she was informed of the firm and fast faith of the man. Then she led him to the church wherein the venerable body of 98 THE LIFE OF Guthlaces; genam )?a ];ces gehalgodan sealtes ]>e Guthlac aer sylf gehalgode, aud waette and drvpte in ]7a eagan ; and ):>a isv lieo o]7erne dropan on f>cet o]?er eage dyde, J^a mihte he mid )?an o5ron geseon, and on )7am ylcan inne lie gearlice oncneow hwaet )?aer inne waes, and lie lial and gesund ham ferde. Sy urum Drihtne lof and wuldor and wurSmynt, and )?am eadigan -were See Guthlace on ealra Avorulda^ woruld aa buton ende on ecnvsse. Amen. MS. woruld aworuld. ST. GUTHLAC. 99 Giitlilac was ; she took some of the hallowed salt which Giithlac himself had formerly hallow^ed, aud wetted it, and dropped it on his eyes ; and ere she put a second drop on the second eye he was able to see with, that eye, and he readily perceived what there was in the room, and he went home whole and sound. Be praise and glory and honour to our Lord, and to the blessed man St. Guthlac, world of all worlds, for ever and ever, without end to eternity. Amen. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Page 2. Prologue. As a specimen of the style of Felix, and to enable the reader to form some judgment of the Hberties taken by the Saxon translator, I transcribe the Latin prologue entire.* 4- Incipit Prologus de vita Sci Guthlaci, In Domino dominorum domino meo. Mihi prae ceteris regalium primatum gradibus dilectissimo, zElfwaldo regi orientalium Anglorum rite regimina regenti, Felix catholicae congregationis vernaculus per- petucB prosperitatis in Christo salutem, Jussionibus tuis obtemperans libellum, quern de vita patris beatae memoria^ Guthlaci componi prjecepisti, simpUci verborum ^^mine textum, non absque procacitatis imprudentia, institui : ea tamen fiducia coram obtuli, obsecrans ut si ullatenus, ut fore arbitror. illic \-itiosus sermo aures eruditi lectoris perculserit, Htteram in fronte paginal veniam poscentem intendat. Reminiscatur quoque, efflagito, quia regnum Dei non in verborum facundia, sed in fidei constantia persistit. Salutem quidem saeculo non ab oratoribus sed a piscatoribus praedicatam fuisse sciat. Sancti quoque Hieronimi dicta meminerit, qui rem ridiculam esse arbitratus est, ut sub reguiis Donati gram- matici verba ccelestis oracidi redigeret. Sed si forsitan alius aninio- sitatis nostras fastibus hoc opus nos arripere imputat, dum alii plurimi Anglorum librarii, quorum ingeniositatis fluenta inter floras rethorica per wecta litteraturse pure liquide lucideque rivant, qui melius lucu- lentiusque componere valuerint, — sciat nos hoc opusculum non tarn * From the Cotton MS. Nero E. 1, with some corrections from the Benedictine and Bollandine texts. 102 NOTES AND volentiae quam obedientiae gratia incepisse. Propterea laboris mei votis, Lector, quisquis es faveas ; sin etiam ut adsolet more obtrec- tatoris succensueris, cave ut ubi lucem pntaveris ne a tenebris obcae- ceris; — id est, ne cum recta reprehenderis ignorantiai tenebris fusceris. Mos enim caecorum est, cum in luce perambulant tunc in tenebris errare putant. Lucem enim nesciunt sed in tenebris semper oberrant. Caecitas autem in Scripturis ignorantia est, ut apostolus dixit : Caecitas ex parte contigit in Israel donee plenitudo gentium subintraret. Origo quidem totius raali ab ignorantia venit, Quapropter te admoneo, Lector, ut aliena non reprehendas, ne ab aliis quasi alienus reprehen- daris. Sed ne sensus legentium prolixae sententiae molesta defensio obnubilet, pestiferis obtrectantium incantationibus aures obturantes, velut transvadato vasti gurgitis aequore,advitam Sancti Guthlaci stilum flectendo quasi ad portum vitae pergemus. Quoniam igitur exegisti a me ut de vita Sancti Guthlaci vel conversatione tibi scriberem,quem- admodum coeperit quidve ante propositum fuerit vel qualem vitae terminum habuerit, prout a dictantibus idoneis testibus quos scitis audivi, addendi minuendique modum \itans, eadem ortbothemio de- pinxi; ad hujus utilitatis commodum hunc codicellum fieri ratus, ut illis qui sciunt ad memoriam tanti viri nota revocandi fiat, his vero qui ignorant velut late pansae viae indicium notescat. Non enim sine certissimu inquisitione rerum gestarum aliquid de tanto viro scribebam, nee tandem ea quae scripsi sine subtilissima indubiorum testium sanc- tione libratim scribenda quil)usdam dare praesumpsi ; quin potius dili- gentissime inquirens quantacunque scripsi investigavi a reverendissimo quodam abbate AVilfrido et a presbitero purac conscientia?, ut ar])itror, Cissan, vel etiam ab aliis qui diutius cum viro Dei convcrsati vitam ipsius ex parte noverant. Ergo quantacunque de vitae ipsius ortho- nomia stilo perstrinxero, minima de magnis pauca de plurimis audisse aestimate. Non enim ambigo illos dictatores non omnia facta illius potuisse cognoscere, nee ab illis tola dictata me descripsisse glorifico. Sed ut tanti \-iri tanti nominis relatio compleatur, prout ul)ique mi- racula illius fulserunt, percunctamini, ut singulis qua; novere referen- tibus sequentis libelli materia adgregetur. Igitur eximia^ dilectionis tuffi imperils obtemperans, textum praesentis cai-tulaj prout potui di- gessi, majoris scientiac auctoribus majorem partem linquens; prin- cipium in principiura, finem in fine compono._ ILLUSTRATIONS. 103 Page 2, line 3. Alfwold. Grammatical correctness requires the dative, Alfwolde. The Saxon scribe is often guilty of cutting off an e, and as frequently of adding one when not required. To avoid swelling the number of alterations, I suffer Alfwold to stand here, and the reader, if he pleases, may take the word for a vocative. bid. line 9. Ahtest. Literally, Thou didst own. This can hardly be the true reading : Qu. ? iTehie^X, prcecepisti. Ibid. I^sere arwurSan gemynde. The MS. has, j^a^s arwur& anan, or ane. In the sense ef alone, ana is used as an accusative ; e. g. Horn, i, p. 184, Me ana forlajt, leave me alone ; and p. 350, Min latteow me ^asr ana forlet, my guide left me there alone. Ibid, line 15. mid inseglum. Did the termination um originally characterize the dative or ablative sinyular of substantives as well as of adjectives ? There is no sense of plurality in such expressions as : on swefnum (see Matt, ii, 22), in a dream; to gemyndum, to remembrance; on hys gewealdum, in his power; be lyfum, alive; and many like phrases. It is usual to term um, in these instances, an adverbial termination ; but I see nothing to distinguish it in the examples adduced from a regular case-ending. ILLUSTRATIONS. 107 Page 10, line 3. J^a com sum wif . . . vTiian. In Anglo-Saxon, after verbs expressing motion, or the absence of it, the infinitive is required, where in modern English a present, in German a past, participle is used. Thus, A.-S. he com yrnan ; Germ. er kam geraunt ; Eng. he came running. For instances, see p. 30, 1. 16, j^a comon twegen deoflu of j^ajre Ix'fte slidan ; p. 40, 1. 26, j^a geseah he |?aer standan twegen (jara awerigdra gasta wepan (MS. weopon) swyj?e and geomerian. In the poetical Legend of St. Guthlac, Cod. Ex. 179, 4 ff. ^a cwom leohta maest. halig of heofouum. hsedre scinan. In the poem of the Phcenix, Cod. Ex. p. 204, 5 ff. hwonne up cyme. fCjjelast tungla. ofer ycS-mere. estan ILxan. Ibid, line 9. forjjon }pe Jjaet beam )?ger acenued wjes. There is some defect in the Anglo-Saxon version here. The Latin is as follows : Alii vero hsec audientes, ex divino prsesagio ad mani- festandam nascentis gloriam illud fuisse perhibebant. Alii autem sagacioris sententiae conjecturis promere cceperunt hunc ex divina dis- pensatione in perpetuae beatitudinis praemia destinatum esse. Ibid, line 20. of J^aere |?eode Gujjlac. Latin : Ex appellatione illius tribus quam dicunt Guthlacingas, proprietatis vocabidum ex coelesti consilio, Guthlacus, percepit, quod ex qualitatis compositione consequentibus meritis conveniebat. Nam ut illius geutis gnari perhibent Anglorum hngua hoc nomen ex duo})us integris constare videtur, hoc est Guth et lac. This passage seems to indicate that the author, Fehx, was not an Englishman. The MS. has, feawum gewi-itura ; a mistake, it is to be hoped, of the copyist. 1 have merely substituted twam for feawum, but suspect that error still lurks in gewritum. Gewrit signifies rather a sentence, or inscription, than a single term. 108 NOTES AND Page 10, line 24. forjjon jjeah. Perhaps l^eah is merely an error of the scribe for j^e. I have trans- lated the passage as if )?eah .... }jeah, were equivalent to cum cum, for which, Jje . . . . Jje is commonly used in Anglo-Saxon. The Latin runs thus : Quia ille cum vitiis bellando scterna) beatitudinis prajmia cum triumjihali infula perennis vitaj percepisset. The Saxon trans- lator has apparently taken cum for a conjunction. There is a passage in Caedmon where J^eah appears to be used like \it\ p. 34, 1. 2 (Thorpe's edition) : nat |?eah jju mid hgenum fare. |je )3U drihtnes eart. boda of heofonum. " I know not whether thou comest with lies, or whether," etc. Page 12, line 20. Ac on his scearpnysse )?8et he weox. An ellipsis of the words ^a waes or 5a gelamp, must be supposed to take place here, to account for the use of the particle of dependence, |78et. Instances of tliis are frequent in the Life of Guthlac, e. g. p. 24, 1. 17, ff.. He w.Ts a?r->on ehtere his Jjsere halgan cyrcan, and mid Jjan |je he to Damascum ferde ^aere byrig, j^aet he wa?s of l^am l^ystrum gedwolum abroden, etc.; p. 18, 1. 18, Da ymbe twa winter ^a^s ]pt he his lif swa leofode under munuchade, |ja;t he ^a ongan, etc. Ibid. ult. he {^a, swa he of slsepe onwoce, wearcS his mot oncyrred. An instance of anacoluthon, or change of construction ; mod is the jiominative to wearS, and he, the priuciiial nominative in the sentence, is left -without a verb. So p. 88, 1. 13, And for his faegernyssc Jpffit seo sunne sylf at middum da:ge, eall hire scima wa^s on blaeco gecyrred. Page 14, line 14. wealcan dwclode. The passage corresponding to this in the original is as follows Inter dubios volvcntis temporis eventus et atras caliginosje vitac ne- bulas, fluctuantisque satculi gurgites jactaretur. The words in italics arc those of which only a translation is attempted in the Anglo-Saxon The MS. reads weolc *} welode. Weolc. perf. from wealcan is explained ILLUSTRATIONS. 109 by Bosworth (who refers to this passage), revolvit, effervesceljat ; and welode (which he identifies with wellode fr. wellian), acstuavit. That the passage is corrupt appeal's, I think, from this, that betweox re- quires an accusative or a dative (Vernon, p. 89), and such word must immediately follow middan-eardes. By the alteration of one letter, and a distribution of those contained in -j (and), a reading is obtained which at least presents less difficulty than that of the MS., and is nearer to the Latin. Wealcan may be either the dative pi. from wealc, for wealcum, or possibly the infinitive of the verb, wealcan, used as a substantive, according to the German usage. I am not, however, pre- pared to adduce instances of this use of the infinitive. Ibid, line 19. ff. The original runs thus : Nam cum antiquorum regum stirpis suae per transacta saecula raiserabiles exitus et flagitiosum \ita3 terminum con- templaretur, necnon et caducas mundi di^^tias contemptibilemque temporalis vitas gloriam pervigili mente consideraret, tunc sibi proprii obitus siii imaginatam formam osteudit, etc. I have translated the passage, under the impression that allusion was made to the numerous nstances of Saxon kings who forsook their thi'ones to become monks ir anchorites ; a practice which came into fashion in Guthlac's time. The sense of the Latin is however diiferent ; and it may be perhaps better to translate : " who departed this world, by a miserable death and a wretched ending of their sinful life." Page 16, line 20. Hrypadun. Repton, in Derbyshire, once famous for its monastery, and as the capital city and burial-place of the kings of Mercia. Page 18, line 20. wilnian westenes and sundor-setle. Qu. ? whether we should read sundor-setles. Perhaps, however, the habitual dislike of uniformity which displays itself in the Anglo-Saxon spelling, may be traced in this junction of two different cases with the same verb. (Wilnian generally requires a genitive, or a dative pre- ceded by the preposition, on or to.) As instances of a similar usage, compare -Elf. Hom. vol. ii. p. 604, gelyfan on f^a Halgan Drynnysse and so^re Annysse ; Luke viii. 34, on |ja ceastre and on tunum. 110 NOTES AND Page 20, line 9. Se foresprecena wcr and J^sere eadigan gemynde Gu«lac. The use of two articles coupled by a conjunction, to indicate one and the same object, is worthy of notice. For a similar instance, see Beda, lib. iv, cap. xxvii (p. 603, 1. 26), Mon >one halgan wer and J?one arwurj^an CuJ^byrht to biscope gehalgode. Ibid, line 14, j^aere stowe digelnysse. The MS. reads j^a stowe digelnysse. But as this expression must be considered as equivalent to {^a digelnysse f^ajre stowe, I have no hesitation in altering )?a to )?8ere, in conformity with the principle alluded to in the note on p. 2, 1, 9. Ibid, line 26. eahto^a da;g. In the original, die nono Kalendarum Septembrium ; i. e. the 24th of August. Page 24, line 12. sceotode. Sceotian, to shoot, a transitive verb, from sceotan, sceat, scutou, scoten, intransitive ; a distinction which has been lost in modern English. So hangian, to hang, transitive, from hon (hangan), heng, hangen, intransitive. See p. 50, 1. 16, 17. Page 26, line 4. Was l^a^r on j^am ealande, etc. The Vercelli Fragment begins here abruptly. Was }pKY in Jjam sjjrecenan iglande sum mycel IiKtw of eorf^an geworht, f?one ylcan hlaew iu geara men bracon and dulfon for feoc [r. feos] jjingum, etc. Ibid, line 11. Verc. Fr. pa fjohte he ^ifct he nawXer {^ara, etc. Ibid, line l.'i. Verc. Fr. ealle dagas his lifcs. Page 26, line 14. Verc. Fr. he hit swa for^-gela^ste. ILLUSTRATIONS. HI Ibid, line 15. Verc. Fr. wa3S his ondleofones swylc gemetegung. This last word I have adopted in the text, instead of the Cottonian reading, to gereorde, which does not agree with the original, and is tautologous. Ibid, line 20. Verc. Fr. mid \>\ he )?y gewunelican {?eowdome his sealmas sang and his gebedum aetfealh, fja se ealda feond mancynnes gengde geond |j3et grajs-wang, swa grymetende leo, \)2&t he his costunga attor wide geond stregde. Page 28, line 1. The remainder of this sentence is very carelessly written in the VercelU Fragment ; the reader may find some exercise for his ingenuity in correcting it. Mid ]py he fja j^elnes mgegen and his grimnesse attor teldaiS [r. todaeletS], j^aet he mid )jy atre j^a menniscan heortan wundatS, l^a semninga swa he of bendum and of brogan waes his cos- tunga cSa he ^a j^am earh winnendan straele on j?am mode gefaestnode fjses Cristes cempan. The words earh winnendan are apparently a gloss carelessly in- serted in the wrong place ; perhaps we should read {^am earh-winnendan mode, the faintly striving soul. Earh, substantive, means an arrow ; but I do not see how that sense can be given to it here. The Latin runs thus : Dum enim omnis nequitia; suae vires versuta mente ten- taret, tum veluti ab extenso arcu venenifluam desperationis sagittam totis \iribus jaculavit, quousque in Christi militis mente umbone defixa l)ependit. Ibid, line 5. Verc. Fr. werigan for awerigedan. The same sul)stitution takes place wherever the word occurs. Ibid, line 10, Verc. Fr. fvrena for svuna. 112 NOTES AND Page 28, line 18. Verc. Fr. wol-berendan for tweogendum. Po^eSO. line 1. Verc. Fr. feonde for bli)?e. Ibid, line 7. Verc. Fr. hine het j^ait him ne tweode no, etc. I did. line 9. Verc. Fr. ^a he se haliga GuSlac ]?2es word geliyrde his )jass ge- trywan freondes, pa. waes he on gsestlicre blisse and heofoncnndre gife switSe gfeode [r. gefeonde] and his geleafan faeste in God sylfne getrymede and faestnode. SytS^an seo tid waes \>xt naefre Jjaet deoful eft wi^ hine |?aere ormodnesse waepuum on hine sceotode. Ibid, line 16. Verc. Fr, tu for twegen. Ibid, line 20. Verc. Fr. cunedon for fandedon. Ibid, line 21. Verc. Fr. ussa for ure. fbid. line 22. Verc. Fr. Wene ic [r. is] pset we pe fur^or ne wyllan leng bwencau ne ^e mid l)rogan hysmrian, !kc. Page 32, line 3. Verc. Fr. middangeardes for middaneardes. Ibid, line S, ft. Verc. Fr. ponne gif pu ]pxs wihiast \>xt pu of ie i5a acrran fre- mcdnesse vfeh-a leahtra of-a^wea, fjonne scealt Jju |jinne lichauian ILLUSTRATIONS. 113 fjurh forlifcfednesse weccean, forj^an swi^Sor swa a dca)?-bereudan waiter. Several neuters of the third declension in el, en, er, or, which should regularly form their nominative and accusative plural in u, are found occasionally (as if belonging to the second declension), making no altera- tion in these cases. See p. 36, 1. 9, )?a horw ibtan wieter. Beda, p. 690, 1. 10 '^Suiitb), \}A wundor. Oro<;ius, lil>. iv, cap. 2, )pd. yfclan wundor. ILLUSTRATIONS. 119 Life of Gutlilac, p. 72, 1. 3, )7a wundor. Cod. Ex., p. Ill, 1. 15, |jurh gastlicu wundor. Beda, p. 608, 1. 39, eall }ja hraigel . . . ungeweinmed wffii-on ; and p. 609, 1. 10, Jja sylfan hrjegel. Life of Gutlilac, p. 90, 1. 23, }?a hra^gl. Cod. Ex., p. 204, 1. 12, tungol beo3£. VALUABLE AND INTERESTING BOOKS. 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