I. CYNEWULF AND CYNEHEARD. [From the Saxon Chronicle.] THE following tragic narrative stands out conspicuously among the brief dry notices of which the Chronicle up to the time of Alfred is mainly composed: we do not meet with so vivid and tircumstantial a piece of history till more than a hundred years (ater. It is no doubt contemporary with, or, at any rate, only 1 few years later than the events it tells-it is, in short, by far the oldest historical prose. in any Teutonic language. The style is 6f the rudest character, contrasting remarkably with the poli.shed language of the later portions of the Chronicle,-abrupt, d.is~ connected, obscure and full of anacoluthons. The forms and orthography are, as throughout the earlier part of the Chronicle, . those of Alfred's reign, with a few occasional archaisms, which ¢icaped the eye of the ninth century reviser. The present text is taken from the Parker MS.-the only (lne of independent authority for the earlier periods.
Table of Contents
CON TEN 1~ S; PACE; G_ram matical Introduction xi ---; 1 Cynewulf and Cyneheard 1; II On the State of learning in England 4-; III Translation of the Cura Pastoralis 8; IV The Voyages of Ohthere and Wulfslan 17; V Alfred's Translation of Orosius 24; VI The Battle of Ashdown 31; VII Alfred and Godrum 33; VIII Alfred's Vars with the Danes 35; IX From Alfred's Translation of Boethius 43; X Account of the Poet" Credmon 46; XI From the Laws 51; XII Charters ~4; XIII lElfric on the Old Testament 60; XIV lElfric's Homilies 79; XV lElfric's Life of King Oswald 98; XVI Wulfstan's Address to the English 106; XVII The M3;rtyrdom of iElfeah IJ6; XVIII Eustace· at Dover, and the Outlawry of Godwine 1I9; XIX Charms I22; ~X Beowulf and Grendel's Mother 124-; XXI The Battle of Maldon • 138; XXII The Fall of the Angels I~9; XXIII Judith 157; XXIV Th
Table of Contents
CON TEN 1~ S; PACE; G_ram matical Introduction xi ---; 1 Cynewulf and Cyneheard 1; II On the State of learning in England 4-; III Translation of the Cura Pastoralis 8; IV The Voyages of Ohthere and Wulfslan 17; V Alfred's Translation of Orosius 24; VI The Battle of Ashdown 31; VII Alfred and Godrum 33; VIII Alfred's Vars with the Danes 35; IX From Alfred's Translation of Boethius 43; X Account of the Poet" Credmon 46; XI From the Laws 51; XII Charters ~4; XIII lElfric on the Old Testament 60; XIV lElfric's Homilies 79; XV lElfric's Life of King Oswald 98; XVI Wulfstan's Address to the English 106; XVII The M3;rtyrdom of iElfeah IJ6; XVIII Eustace· at Dover, and the Outlawry of Godwine 1I9; XIX Charms I22; ~X Beowulf and Grendel's Mother 124-; XXI The Battle of Maldon • 138; XXII The Fall of the Angels I~9; XXIII Judith 157; XXIV Th
