An Old English miscellany containing a bestiary, Kentish sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, religious poems of the thirteenth century,

XV. The Proverbs of Alfred. TEXT II. [From Wright's print in 'Reliquiæ Antiquæ,' and Kemble's in his 'Dialogue of Salomon and Saturnus.']

1.

At Siforde setin kinhis monie, fele biscopis, and fele booc-lerede, Line 4 herles prude and cnites egleche. Þer was erl Alfred, of þe lawe suiþe wis, Line 8 and heke Alfred, Englene herde, Englene derling; in Enkelonde he was king. Line 12 Hem he gon lerin, so we mugen i-herin, whu we gure lif lede sulin. Line 16 Alfred he was in Enkelonde a king, wel swiþe strong and lufsum [K. lussum.] þing. He was king and cleric, ful wel he louede Godes [K. Godes, W. Godis.] were; Line 20 he was wis on his word, and war on his werke; he was þe wisiste mon þad was in Engelonde on. Line 24

Line 24

2.

¶ Þus quad Alfred, Englene frowere: Wolde we, mi leden, lustin gure louird, Line 28 and he gu wolde wissin [K. wissen.] of wi[s]liche þinges, gu we migtin [W. & K. mistin.] in werelde wrsipe weldin, Line 32 and heke gure sa[u]lle [W. & K. salle.] samne [K. samne, W. same.] to Criste. Þis weren þe sawen of kinc Alfred: Line 36 Arme [K. Arme, W. Armo.] and edie ledin. of livis dom, [K. lifis dom.] . . . . . . . . . . Line 40 þad we alle dredin gure drigtin [W. & K. dristin.] Crist, lovin him and likin, for he is louird ouir lif. Line 44 He is one god ouer alle godnesse, and he is gleu [K. gleu, W. gleues.] ouer alle glade þinhes; Line 48 he is one blisse ouer alle blitnesse; he is one mones [K. mon.] mildist maister; Line 52 he is one folkes fadir and frowere; he is one rigtewis, [W. & K. riste|wis.] and suo riche king, Line 56 nat him sal ben wone no þing of is wille,

wo him her on worolde wrþin þenket. Line 60

3.

¶ Þus quad Alfred, Englene frouere: May no riche king ben onder Crist selues, Line 64 bote þif [Read yif.] he be booc-lerid, . . . . . and he writes wel kenne; . . . . . Line 68 and bote he cunne letteris, lokin him seluen wu he sule his lond laweliche holden. Line 72

4.

¶ Þus quad Helfred: Þe herl and þe heþeling, þo ben vnder þe king, þe lond to leden Line 76 mid lauelichi dedin; [W. lavelich i-dedin.] boþe þe clerc and þe cni[c]t [K. & W. cnit.] demen euenliche rict. . . . . . Line 80 . . . . . For after [K. aftir.] þat mon [K. man.] souit, als suyich [K. al suiyich.] sal he mouin, and eueriches monnes dom Line 84 to his oge dure cherried. [W. cherried.]

5.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Þe cnith biouit kenliche [W. kerliche.] to cnouen, Line 88 for to weriin þe lond of here

and of heregong, þat þe riche habbe gryt, and þe cherril be in frit Line 92 his sedis to souin, his medis to mowen, his plouis to driuin, to ure alre bi-lif; Line 96 þis is þe cnich[t]s [K. & W. cnichs.] lage, loke þat hit wel fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6.

¶ Þus quad Helfred: Wid widutin wisdom is wele ful unwrd, Line 120

Line 120 for þau o mon [K. man.] h[aue]de hunt seuinti acreis, and he al heged [? read heuede.] [hit] sagin mid rede golde, Line 124 and þe golde greu [K. grue.] so gres deit on þe reiþe, [? ÞerÞe.] ne were hi[s] [W. i. . .] wele nout þe vurþere, [K. wrþere.] Line 128 bote he him fremede frend y-werche. For wad is g[old] bute ston, bute it [W. id.] habbe wis mon? Line 132

7.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Sulde nefere gu[n]ge [K. gise, W. guge.] mon giuen him to huuele, þoch he is [K. his.] gise [W. gile.] Line 136 wel ne like . . , ne þech he ne welde al þad he wolde; sor God may giuen wanne he wele Line 140 goed after yuil wele after wrake; ge wel him þet mot scapen.

8.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Line 144 [Stron]ge [K. [Sor]ge.] it his to rogen agen þe se flod, so it is [K. his.] to swinkin [K. sginkin.] again hineselþe, [K. heni selþe.] Line 148 [a]ch wel [W. omits.] is him agueþe [W. aguepe.] þe suinch [K. sunich. Read swinkere.] was, wanen [Read wanne.] her on werlde welþe to winnen, Line 152

Line 152 [þat] he muge on helde hednesse holdin; migt [K. . . . mist, W. ne mist.] his welþe werchin Godis wille, Line 156 [þ]enne his his gueþe [W. & K. guewe.] swiþe wel bitogen.

10.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Monimon wenit Line 160 þat he wenen ne þarf, longer [K. longere.] liuis, ac him scal legen þat wrench; for wanne he is lif alre beste trowen, Line 164 þenne sal he letin lif his ogene. Nis no wurt woxen on woode ne [K. ne, W. no.] on felde, þet [K. þer.] euure muge þe lif up helde. [K. uphelden.] Line 168 Wot no mon þe time wanne he sal henne rimen, ne no mon þen hende, wen he sal henne wenden; Line 172 Drittin [? Drictin.] hit one wot, domis louird, wenne we ure lif letin scullen. Line 176 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Line 180 Gif þu hauest welþe a wold [K. awold.] i þis [W. i-wis.] gerlde ne þin wil neure for-þi al to wlone wurþen, [ac]te [K. acte, W. [Ah]te.] nis non eldere stren, Line 184

Line 184 ac it is Godis loue, wanne hit is his wille, þer-fro [W. wer fro.] we sullen wenden, and ure ogene lif Line 188 mid sorw letin, þanne scullen ure fon to ure fe gripen, welden ure madmes Line 192 and lutil us bimenen. . . . . .

11.

¶ Þus quad Alfret: Leue þu þe nout to swiþe Line 196 up þe se-flod; gif þu hawest madmes monie and moch gold and siluir, it sollen wurþen to nout, Line 200 to duste it sullin [K. sullen.] driuen; Drigtin [K. & W. Dristin.] sal liuin eure. Monimon for is gold hauid Godis eire, Line 204 and þuruch is siluer is saulle he for-lesed. Betere him were i-borin þat he nere. Line 208 . . . . . . . . . .

12.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Lustlike lustine [K. lustnie.] Line 212 . . lef dere, and ich her gu wille leren wenes mine, wit and wisdome, Line 216

Line 216 þe alle welþe on ure god, siker he may [sitten], and hwo hem nu [K. mite.] senden. For þoch his weleþe him at-go, Line 220 is wid ne wen[t] him newere fro. Ne may he newir for-farin, hwo him to fere haueþ, hwilis þat is lif Line 224 lesten may.

13.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Gif þu hauist sorwe, ne say þu hit þin arege; Line 228 seit þin sadilbowe, and rid þe singende. Þanne sait þe mon þat ti wise ne can, Line 232 þad þe þine wise wel þe likit. Sorege gif þu hauist, and ten arege hit sed, Line 236 bi-foren he þe bimened, [K. bimenid.] bi-hindin he þe scarned. Þu hit migt [W. & K. mist.] seien swich mon, þad it þe ful wel on, Line 240 swich mon [K. men.] þu maist seien þi sor, he wolde þad þu heuedest mor. For-þi hit in þin herte . . . one, [K. hirte one.] for-hele hit wid þin arege, Line 244 let þu neuere þin arege witin al þer þin herte þenket.

16.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Ne sal þu þi wif Line 248

Line 248 bi hire wlite chesen, ne for non athte [Read achte.] to þine bury bringen, her þu hire costes cuþe; for moni mon for [W. fer.] athte [Read achte.] Line 252 iuele i-hasted, and ofte mon on faire sokel chesed. Wo is him þat iuel wif Line 256 brinhit to is cot-lif; so his oliue þat [W. þai.] iuele wiued, for he sal him often Line 260 dreri maken. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 264 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Line 268 Wurþu neuere swo wod, ne so drunken, þat euere sai þu þi wif al þat þi wille be. Line 272 For hif hue sege [W. segen.] þe biforen þine fomen alle, and þu hire mit worde wraged [?wra[n]ged.] hauedest, Line 276 he ne sold it leten [K. letin.] for þinke liuihinde, þat he ne solde þe up-breidin of þine bale-siþes. Line 280 Wimon is word-wod, and hauit tunke to swist, [Read swift.]

þauc [W. þane.] he hire selue wel wolde, ne mai he it nowit welden. Line 284

21.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Idilscipe and orgul-prude, þat lerit gung wif leþere þewes, Line 288 and often to þenchen don þat he ne scolde. Gif he for-swu[n]ken [K. for swuken, W. for-swuken.] swoti wuere [W. þuere.] swo hie ne þochte, Line 292 ac þoch hit is iuel to bewen [K. beuen.] þat tertre [K. ter tre.] ben ne wille; [K. ville.] for ofte mused þe catt after þe moder. Line 296 Wose lat is wif his maister wurþen, sal he neuer ben his wordes louerd; ac [K. al.] he sal him rere dreige, and moni tene selliche hawen: Line 300 selden sal he ben on sele.

20.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Moni appel is wid-uten grene, bri[c]t [W. & K. brit.] one [K. on.] leme, and bittere wid-innen. So his moni wimmon Line 308 in hire faire bure, schene under schete, and þocke hie is [schendful] in an stondes wile. Line 312 Swo is moni gadeling godelike on horse, wlanc on werge, and unwurþ on wike. Line 316

Line 316

25.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Uretu noth [? nocht.] to swiþe þe word of þine wiue; for þanne hue bed i-warþed [W. i-wuarþ|ed (?).] Line 320 mid wordes oþer mid dedes, wimmon weped for mod ofter þanne fro eni god, and ofte lude and stille Line 324 for to wurchen hire wille. Hue weped oþer wile, þen hue þe wille biwilen Salamon hid hawit i-sait, Line 328 hue can moni yuel reid. Hue ne mai hit non oþir don, for wel herliche hue hit bi-gan. Þe mon þad hire red folewiþ, Line 332 he bringeþ him to soruge; [W. seruge.] for hit is said in lede, cold red is quene red. Hi ne sawe it [K. hit.] nocht bi þan, Line 336 þat god þing is god wimmon; þe mon þad michte hire cnoswen, [Read cnowen.] and chesen hire from oþere. . . . . . Line 340 . . . . . . . . . .

19.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Mani mon [K. man.] wenit Line 344 þat he wenin ne þarf, frend þad he habbe, þer mon him faire bi-hait, seiet him faire bi-foren, Line 348 fokel at-henden.

So mon mai welþe lengest helden, giu þu neuere leuen alle monnis spechen, Line 352 ne alle þe þinke þat þu herest sinken; for moni mon hauit fikil mod, and he is monne cuð. Line 356 Ne saltu neuere knewen wanne he þe wole bipechen. . . . . .

23.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Line 360 Þurch [K. Þurh.] sage mon is wis, and þurrh selþe mon is gleu, þurch [K. þurh.] lesin mon is loð, and [K. omits.] þuruh luþere wrenches unwurþ. Line 364 And hokede honden make þen mon is hewit to lesen. Ler þu þe neuer ouer mukil to leþen; Line 368 ac loke þine [K. þinne.] nexte, he is ate nede god; and frendchipe [K. frendschipe.] o werlde fairest to wurchen, Line 372 wid pouere and wid riche, wid alle men i-liche, þanne maist þu sikerliche seli sittin, Line 376 and faren ouer londe, hwar so bet þi wille. . . . . . . . . . . Line 380

29.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Werldes welþe

to wurmes scal wurþien, and alle cunne madmes Line 384 to nocht sulen melten, and þure [Read ure.] lif sal lutel lasten. For þu mon weldest al þis middelert, [W. middelle.] Line 388 and alle þe welþe þad þe inne wonit, ne migt [W. nust, K. mist.] þu þi lif lengen none wile, Line 392 bote al þu it salt leten one lutele stunde, and al þi blisse to bale sal i-wurþen, Line 396 bote þif [Read yif.] þu wurche wille to Criste. For biþeng þe we mus [? muge.] us selwen to leden ure lif, Line 400 so God us ginnid leten, þenne muge we wenen þad he us wile wurþen. For swo saide Salomon, Line 404 þe wise Salomon: wis is þad wel doþ hwile he is in þis werld boþ, euere at þen ende Line 408 he comid þer he hit findit.

26.

¶ Þus quod [K. quad.] Alfred: Be þu neuere to bold, to chiden agen oni scold, Line 412 ne mid mani tales to chiden agen alle dwales. Ne neuere þu biginne to tellin newe tidinges Line 416

Line 416 at neuere nones monnis bord; ne hawe þu to fele word. Þe wise mon mid fewe word can fele biluken; Line 420 and sottis bold is sone i-scoten. For-þi ich telle him for a dote, þad [K. þat.] sait al is y-wille, þanne he sulde ben stille: Line 424 for ofte tunke brekit bon, and nauid hire selwe non.

14.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Wis child is fadiris blisse. Line 428 Gif it so bitidit þat þu chil[d] weldest, þe wile þat hit is litil þu lere him monnis þewis; Line 432 þanne hit is woxin, he sal wenne þerto; þanne sal þe child þas þe bet worþen. [K. wurþen.] Line 436 Ac gif þu les him welden al his owene wille, þanne he comit to helde, sore it sal him rewen; Line 440 and he sal banne þat wigt [K. & W. widt.] þat him first tagte. Þanne sal þi child þi forbod ouer-gangin. Line 444 Beter þe were [W. þere.] child þat þu ne hauedest; for betere is child vnboren þenne vnbeten. Line 448 . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . Line 452 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 456 . . . . .

15.

¶ Þus quad Alfred: Drunken and vndrunkin eþer is wisdome wel god, Line 460 þarf no mon drinkin þe lasse, þan he be wid-ale wis; ac [gif] [K. [ef].] he drinkit and desiet þere a morge, Line 464 so þat he for drunken desiende werchet, he sal ligen long anicht, litil sal he sclepen; Line 468 him sugh sorege to, so deð þe salit on fles, suket [K. sukit.] þuru is liche, so dot liche blod; Line 472 and his morge sclep sal ben muchil estin, [K. muchil lestin, W. umchilestin.] werse þe swo on euen yuele haued y-dronken. Line 476

18.

¶ Þus quad Alvered: [K. Alured.] Wurþu neuere so wod, ne so desi of þi mod, þad euere sige þi frend Line 480 al þat þe likit, ne alle þe þonkes [K. þonches.]

þat þu þoch hauist; for ofte sibbie men Line 484 foken hem bituenen, and ef it so bilimpit lo[þ]e [K. lo[oþ]e.] þat ge wurþen, þanne wot þi fend Line 488 þad her wiste þi frend. Betere þe bicome þi word were helden, for þanne [W. þam ue.] mud mamelit Line 492 more þanne hit solde, þanne sculen his heren ef it i-herin. [K. iheren.]

22.

¶ Þus quad Alfreuerd: Line 496 Gif þu frend bi-gete mid þi fre bigete, loke þat þu him þeine mid alle þeuues [W. þe uues.] þines, Line 500 loke þat he þe be mide bi-foren and bi-hinden, þe bett [K. bet.] he sal þe reden at alle þine neden. Line 504 And on him þu maist þe tresten, þif [Read yif.] is troyþe [K. trogþe.] degh. Ac gif þu hauist a frend to day, and to moreuin driuist him auei, Line 508 þenne bes þu one, al so þu her were; and þanne is þi fe for-loren, and þi frend boþen. Line 512 Betere þe bicome frend þat þu newedest.

24.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Gif þu hauist duge, Line 516 and drich[t]en þe senden, ne þeng þu neuere þi lif to narruliche leden, ne þine faires Line 520 to faste holden. For wer hachte is hid, þer is armþe i-noch; and siker ich it te saige, Line 524 letet gif þe liket, [K. licket.] swich mon mai after þe þi god welden, ofte [K. oft.] binnen þine burie bliþe wenden, Line 528 þad he ne wele heren mid muþe [W. ennþe.] monegen; ac euere [W. evvere.] him of-þinket, þen he þe þenked. [K. þenced.] Line 532

27.

¶ Þus quad Alvred: [K. Alfred.] Elde cumid to tune, mid fele unkeþe costes; and doþ [W. doþe.] þe man to helden, Line 536 þat him selwe ne mai he him noch welden. Hit makit him wel vnmeke, and binimit him is migte. [W. & K. miste.] Gif [W. ȝif.] it swo bitided, [K. betided.] Line 540 þat þu her so longe abidist, and þu in þine held [K. helde.] werldes welþe weldest, þi dugeþe gin [W. duȝeþe giv.] þu delen Line 544 þine dere frend, hwile þine dages dugen, and þu þe selwen liue mowe.

Haue þu none leue Line 548 to þe þad after þe bileued, to sone ne to douter, ne to none of þine foster. For fewe frend we sculen finden, Line 552 þanne we henne funden: for he þat is ute bi-loken, he is inne sone for-geten.

28.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Line 556 Gif þu i þin helde best welþes bi-delid, and þu ne cunne þe leden mid none cunnes listis, Line 560 ne þu ne moge mid strenghe þe selwen steren, þanne þanke þi louerd of alle is loue, Line 564 and of alle þine owene liue, and of þe dagis licht, and of alle murþe þad he for mon makede. Line 568 And hweder so þu hwendes, sei þu aten [K. at en.] ende, wrþe þad i-wurþe, i-wurþe Godes wille. Line 572

30.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Sone min swo leue, site me nu bisides, and hich þe wile sagen Line 576 soþe þewes. Sone min, ich fele [K. fele, W. fala.] þad min hew [W. & K. hert.] falewidþ,

and min wlite is wan, Line 580 and min herte woc, mine dagis arren nei done, and we sulen unc to-delen; wenden ich me sal Line 584 to þis oþir werlde, and þu salt bileuen, in alle mine welþe. Sone min, [K. mine.] ich þe bidde, Line 588 þu ard mi barin dere, þad þu þi folck be fader, and for louerd; fader be þu wid child, Line 592 and be þu wudewis [K. wuidewis.] frend, þe arme gume þu froueren, and þe woke gume þu coueren, þe wronke gume [W. givve.] þu rigtin [W. & K. ristin.] Line 596 mid alle þine migtin; [W. & K. mistin.] and let þe sune mid lawe, and lowien þe sulen Drigtin [W. Driȝten.] and ower alle oþir þinke Line 600 God be þe ful minde, and bide þad he þe rede at alle þine dedis, þe bet sal he [W. omits.] þe filsten Line 604 to don al þine wille

31.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Sone min so dere, do so ich þe lere; Line 608 be þu wis on þi word, and war o þine speche, þenne sulen [K. sullen.] þe lowien leden alle. Line 612 Þe gunge mon [K. men.] do þu lawe,

þad helde lat is lond hawen. Drunken mon þif [Read yif.] þu mestes, [Read metes.] in weis oþer in stretes, Line 616 þu gef him þe weie reme and let him ford gliden. Þenne migt [W. & K. mist.] þu þi lond mit [K. mid.] frendchipe helden. Line 620 Sone, þu best bus [? buge.] þe sot [W. fot, K. sot.] of bismare word, and bet him siwen þer-mide, þad him ginne [W. givve.] to smerten. Line 624 And baren, ich þe bidde, þif [Read yif.] þu on benche sitthest, and þu þen beuir hore sixst þe bi-foren stonden, Line 628 buch þe from þi sete, [K. sette.] and bide him sone þer-to, þanne welle he sawin sone one his worde, Line 632 wel worþe þe wid, þad þe first taite. Sete þanne seiþin besiden him [K. bisiden hem.] seluen, Line 636 for of him þu migt [W. & K. mist.] leren listes [K. listis.] and fele þeues, þe baldure þu migt [W. & K. mist.] ben; [ne] for-lere þu his reides, Line 640 for þe helder mon [K. man.] me mai of-riden, betere þenne of-reden.

32.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Sone min so dere, Line 644 ches þu neuere to fere þen luþere lusninde mon, for [K. fore.] he þe wile [W. will.] wrake don.

From þe wode þu micht [K. mitht.] te faren Line 648 wid wilis and wid armes; ac þanne þu hid lest wenest, þe [W. þu.] luþere þe biswiket. Þe bicche bitit ille, Line 652 þan he berke stille; so deit þe lusninde luþere mon, ofte þen he darit [K. dar it.] don, þan he be wiþuten stille, Line 656 he bit wiþinin [K. wiþinen.] hille, and al he bi-fulit his frend, þen he him vnfoldit.

33.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Line 660 Lewe sone dere, ne ches þu [K. þe.] neuere to fere þen hokerfule lese mon, for he þe wole gile don; Line 664 he wole stelin þin haite [? aihte.] and keren, and listeliche on-suerren; so longe [W. longer.] he uole [W. nole.] be bi, he uole [W. nole.] brinhin on and tuenti Line 668 to nout, for soþe [K. sothe.] ich tellit þe: and oþer he wole liþen and hokerful ben, þuru hoker and lesing þe aloþed alle men þat hen y-cnowed. Line 672 Ac nim [W. min.] þe to þe a stable mon, þat word and dede bi-sette con, and multeplien [K. multiplien.] heure god, a sug fere þe his help in mod. [? niod.] Line 676

34.

¶ Þus quad Alured: Leue sone dere, ne ches þu neuere to fere

littele mon, ne long, ne red, Line 680 þif [Read yif.] þu wld don after mi red. ¶ Þe luttele mon he his so rei, ne mai non him wonin nei; so word he wole him seluen bere, [K. & W. teir.] Line 684 þat his [K. is.] louird maister he wolde tere; [K. & W. beir.] bute he mote himseluen pruden, he wole maken fule luden; he wole grennen, cocken, and chiden, [K. chide.] Line 688 and hewere faren mid vnluden. Þif [Read yif.] þu me wld i-leuen, ne mai me neuer him quemen. ¶ Þe lonke mon is leþe bei, Line 692 selde comid is herte rei; he hauit stoni herte, no þing him ne smerteþ; bi ford [K. biford.] dages he is aferd, Line 696 of sticke and ston in huge werd. Þif [Read yif.] he fallit in þe fen, he þewit ut after men; þif [Read yif.] he slit [K. slite.] in-to a dige, Line 700 he is ded witerliche. ¶ Þe rede mon he is a quede, [W. & K. quet.] for he wole þe þin iwil [W. uvil.] rede; [W. & K. red.] he is cocker, þef, and horeling, Line 704 scolde, of wrechedome he is king. Hic ne sige nout bi þan, þat moni ne ben gentile man; þuru þis lore [K. lere.] and genteleri, Line 708 he amendit huge companie.