Ælfric's Colloquy

illustrations by Maija Graham, inspired by various 11th c. Anglo-Saxon sources, including the Bayeux Tapestry

Click on a highlighted section number to hear the RealAudio sound.

1 [The teacher:] Hwæt hæfst þu weorkes?
2 [Pupil A:] Ic eom geanwyrde monuc, ond sincge ælce dæg seofon tida mid gebroþrum, ac þeahhwæþere ic wolde betwenan leornian sprecan on leden gereorde.
3 [The teacher:] Hwæt cunnon þas þine geferan?
4 [Pupil A:] Summe synt yrþlincgas, sume scephyrdas, sume oxanhyrdas, sume eac swylce huntan, sume fisceras, sume fugleras, sume cypmenn, sume scewyrhtan, sealteras, bæceras.
5 [The teacher:] Hwæt sægest þu, yrþlingc?
Hu begæst þu weorc þin?
6 [Pupil B:] Eala, leof hlaford, þearle ic deorfe. Ic ga ut on dægræd þywende oxan to felda, ond iugie hie to syl; nys hit swa stearc winter þæt ic durre lutian æt ham for ege hlafordes mines, ac geiukodan oxan, ond gefæstnodon sceare ond cultre mid þære syl, ælce dæg ic sceal erian fulne æcer oþþe mare.
7 [The teacher:] Hæfst þu ænigne geferan?
8 [Pupil B:] Ic hæbbe sumne cnapan þywende oxan mid gadisene,
þe eac swilce nu has is for cylde ond hreame
9 [The teacher:] Hwæt mare dest þu?
10 [Pupil B:] Gewyslice mare ic do. Ic sceal fyllan binne oxena
mid hig, ond wæterian hie, ond scearn hira beran ut. Hig! Hig! [Possibly the teacher's line:] Micel gedeorf ys hit!
11 [Pupil B:] Ge leof, micel gedeorf hit is, for þam ic neom freoh.
12 [The teacher:] Sceaphyrde, hæfst þu ænig gedeorf?
13 [Pupil C:] Gea, leof, ic hæbbe. On forewerdne morgen ic drife sceap mine to hira læse ond stande ofer hie on hæte ond on cyle mid hundum, þy læs wulfas forswelgen hie, ond ic agenlæde hie on hira loca, ond melke hie tweowa on dæg, ond hira loca ic hæbbe, ond þærto ge cyse ge buteran ic do, ond ic eom getrywe hlaforde minum.
14 [The teacher:] Eala, oxanhyrde, hwæt wyrcst þu?
15 [Pupil D:] Eala, hlaford min, micel ic gedeorfe. Þænne se yrthlingc unscenþ þa oxan, ic læde hie to læse, ond ealle niht ic stande ofer hie waciende for þeofum, ond eft on ærnemergen ic betæce hie þæm yrþlincge wel gefylde ond gewæterode
16 [The teacher:] Is þæs of þinum geferum?
17 [Pupil A:] Gea, he is.
18 [The teacher:] Canst þu ænig þing?
19 [Pupil E:] Ænne cræft ic cann.
20 [The teacher:] Hwylcne?
huntere
21 [Pupil E:] Hunta ic eom.
22 [The teacher:] Hwæs?
23 [Pupil E:] Cincges.
24 [The teacher:] Hu begæst þu cræft þinne?
25 [Pupil E:] Ic brede me max ond sette hie on stowe gehæppre, ond getihte hundas mine þæt wildeor hie ehton, oþþæt hie becuman to þæm nettum unforsceawodlice ond þæt hie swa beon begrynodo, ond ic ofslea hie on þæm maxum.
26 [The teacher:] Ne canst þu huntian buton mid nettum?
27 [Pupil E:] Gea, butan nettum huntian ic mæg.
28 [The teacher:] Hu?
29 [Pupil E:] Mid swiftum hundum ic betæce wildeor.
30 [The teacher:] Hwilce wildeor swyþost gefehst þu?
31 [Pupil E:] Ic gefeo heortas ond baras ond rann ond rægan ond hwilon haran.
32 [The teacher:] Wære þu todæg on huntnoþe?
33 [Pupil E:] Ic næs, forþam sunnandæg is, ac gyrstandæg ic wæs on huntunge.
34 [The teacher:] Hwæt gelæhtest þu?
35 [Pupil E:] Twegen heortas ond ænne bar.
36 [The teacher:] Hu gefencge þu hie?
37 [Pupil E:] Heortas ic gefencge on nettum ond bar ic ofsloh.
38 [The teacher:] Hu wære þu dyrstig ofstikian bar?
39 [Pupil E:] Hundas bedrifon hine to me, ond ic þær togeanes standende færlice ofstikode hine.
40 Ne sceal hunta forhtfull wesan, forþam mislice wildeor wuniaþ on wudum.
41 [The teacher:] Hwæt dest þu be þinre huntunge?
42 [Pupil E:] Ic sylle cyncge swa hwæt swa ic gefo, forþam ic eom hunta his.
43 [The teacher:] Hwæt sylþ he þe?
44 [Pupil E:] He scryt me wel ond fett ond hwilon sylþ me hors oþþe beah, þæt þe lustlicor cræft minne ic begancge.
45 [The teacher:] Hwylcne cræft canst þu?
46 [Pupil F:] Ic eom fiscere.
47 [The teacher:] Hwæt begyst þu of þinum cræfte?
48 [Pupil F:] Bigleofan ond scrud ond feoh.
49 [The teacher:] Hu gefehst þu fixas?
50 [Pupil :] Ic astigie min scyp ond wyrpe max mine on ea, ond, ancgil ic wyrpe ond spyrtan, ond, swa hwæt swa hig gehæftað ic genime.
51 [The teacher:] Hwæt gif hit unclæne beoþ fixas?
52 [Pupil F:] Ic utwyrpe þa unclænan ut, ond genime me clæne to mete.
53 [The teacher:] Hwær cypst þu fixas þine?
54 [Pupil F:] On ceastre.
55 [The teacher:] Hwa bigþ hi?
56 [Pupil F:] Ceasterwara. Ic ne mæg swa fela gefon swa ic mæg gesyllan.
57 [The teacher:] Hwilce fixas gefehst þu?
58 [Pupil F:] Ælas ond hacodas, mynas ond æleputan, sceotan ond lampredan, ond swa wylce swa on wætere swymmaþ.
59 [The teacher:] Forhwi ne fixast þu on sæ?
60 [Pupil F:] Hwilum ic do, ac seldon, forþam micel rewyt me ys to .
61 [The teacher:] Hwæt fehst þu on sæ?
62 [Pupil F:] Hærincgas ond leaxas, mereswyn ond stirian, ostran ond crabban, muslan, winewinclan, sæcoccas, fagc ond floc ond lopystran ond fela swylces.
63 [The teacher:] Wilt þu fon sumne hwæl?
64 [Pupil F:] Nic.
65 [The teacher:] Forhwi?
66 [Pupil F:] Forþam plyhtlic þingc hit ys gefon hwæl. Gebeorhlicre ys me faran to ea mid scype mynum, þænne faran mid manegum scypum on huntunge hranes.
67 [The teacher:] Forhwi swa?
68 [Pupil F:] Forþam leofre ys me gefon fisc þæne ic mæg ofslean, þonne fisc , þe na þæt an me ac eac swylce mine geferan mid anum slege he mæg besencean oþþe gecwylman.
69 [The teacher:] Ond þeah mænige gefoþ hwælas, ond ætberstaþ frecnysse, ond micelne sceat þanon begytaþ.
70 [Pupil F:] Soþ þu segst, ac ic ne geþristge for modes mines nytenyssæ.
71 [The teacher:] Hwæt sægst þu, fugelere? Hu beswicst þu fugelas?
72 [Pupil G:] On feala wisan ic beswice fugelas: hwilum mid netum, hwilum mid grinum, hwilum mid lime, hwilum mid hwistlunge, hwilum mid hafoce, hwilum mid treppum.
73 [The teacher:] Hæfst þu hafoc?
fulgere
74 [Pupil G:] Ic hæbbe.
75 [The teacher:] Canst þu temian hig?
76 [Pupil G:] Gea, ic cann. Hwæt sceoldon hig me buton ic cuþe temian hig?
77 [The teacher:] Sylle me ænne hafoc.
78 [Pupil G:] Ic sylle lustlice, gyf þu sylst me ænne swiftne hund. Hwilcne hafoc wilt þu habban, þone maran hwæþer þe þænne læssan?
79 [The teacher:] Syle me þæne maran.
80 [The teacher:] Hu afest þu hafocas þine?
81 [Pupil G:] Hig fedaþ hig sylfe ond me on wintra, ond on lencgten ic læte hig ætwindan to wuda, ond genyme me briddas on hærfæste, ond temige hig.
82 [The teacher:] Ond forhwi forlæst þu þa getemedon ætwindan fram þe?
83 [Pupil G:] Forþam ic nelle fedan hig on sumera, forþamþe hig þearle etaþ.
84 [The teacher:] Ond manige fedaþ þa getemodon ofer sumor, þæt eft hig hig habban gearuwe.
85 [Pupil G:] Gea, swa hig doþ, ac ic nelle swa deorfan ofer hig, forþam ic cann oþre, na þæt ænne, ac eac swilce manige gefon.
86 [The teacher:] Hwæt sægst þu mancgere?
87 [Pupil H:] Ic secge þæt behefe ic eom ge cyngce ond ealdormannum ond weligum ond eallum follce.
88 [The teacher:] Ond hu?
89 [Pupil H:] Ic astige min scyp mid hlæstum minum, ond rowe ofer sælice dælas, ond cype mine þingc, ond bicge dyrwyrþe þingc þa on þisum lande ne beoþ acennede ond ic hit togelæde eow hider mid micclan plihte ofer , ond hwilum forlidenesse ic þolie mid lyre ealra þinga minra, uneaþe cwic ætberstende.
90 [The teacher:] Hwilce þinc gelædst þu us?
91 [Pupil H:] Pællas ond sidan, deorwyrþe gymmas ond gold, selcuþe reaf ond wyrtgemangc, win ond ele, ylpesban ond mæstlingc, ær ond tin, swefel ond glæs, on þylces fela.
92 [The teacher:] Wilt þu syllan þingc þine her eal swa þu hi gebohtest þær?
93 [Pupil H:] Ic nelle. Hwæt þænne me fremode gedeorf min? Ac ic wille hira cypen her [deoror] þonne gebicge ic hig þær, þæt sum gestreon ic me begyte, þanon ic me afede ond min wif ond minne sunu.
94 [The teacher:] Þu, sceowyrhta, hwæt wyrcst þu us nytwyrþnessæ ?
95 [Pupil I:] Is, witodlice, cræft min behefe þearle eow ond neodþearf.
96 [The teacher:] Hu?
97 [Pupil I:] Ic bicge hyda ond fell, ond gearkie hig mid cræfte minon, ond wyrce of him gescy mistlices cynnes, swyftleras ond sceos, leþerhosa ond butericas, bridelþwancgas ond geræda, flaxan, pinnan ond higdifatu, spurleþera ond hælftra, pusan ond fætelsas; ond nan eower nele oferwintran buton minon cræfte.
98 [The teacher:] Sealtere, hwæt us fremaþ cræft þin?
99 [Pupil J:] Þearle fremaþ cræft min eow eallum. Nan eower blisse brycð on gereduncge oþþe mete, buton cræft min gistliþe him beo.
100 [The teacher:] Hu?
101 [Pupil J:] Hwylc manna þurhwerodum þurhbrycþ mettum buton swæcce sealtes? Hwa gefylþ cleafan his oþþe hedderna buton cræfte minon? Efne, butergeþweor ælc ond cysgerunn losaþ eow buton ic hyrde ætwese eow, þe ne furþon þæt an wyrtum eowrum butan me brucaþ.
102 [The teacher:] Bæcere, hwam fremaþ oþþe hwæþer we butan þe magon lif adreogan?
bacere
103 [Pupil K:] Ge magon þurh sum fæc butan na lancge ne to wel: soþlice butan cræfte minon ælc beod æmtig byþ gesewen, ond buton hlafe ælc mete to wlættan byþ gehwyrfed. Ic heortan mannes gestrangie, ic mægen wera ond furþon litlincgas nellaþ forbigean me.
104 [The teacher: Hwæt secge we be þæm cocce? (What do we say about the cook?)] Hwæþer we beþurfon on ænigon cræfte?
cook
105 [Pupil L:] Gif ge me ut adrifaþ fram eowrum geferscype, ge etaþ wyrta eowre grene, ond flæscmettas eowre hreawe, ond furþon fætt broþ ge [ne] magon.
106 [A pupil:] We ne reccaþ ne he us neodþearf ys, forþam we sylfe magon seoþan þa þingc þe to seoþenne synd, brædan þa þincg þe to brædenne synd.
107 [Pupil L:] Gif ge forþy me fram adryfaþ, þæt ge þus don, þonne beo ge ealle þrælas, ond nan eower ne biþ hlaford; þeahhwæþere buton [me] ge ne etaþ
108 [The teacher:] Eala, munuc, þe me tospycst, efne, ic hæbbe afandod þe habban gode geferan ond þearle neodþearfe; ond ic ahsie þa.
109 [Pupil A:] Ic hæbbe smiþas, isene smiþas, goldsmiþ, seoloforsmiþ, arsmiþ, treowwyrhtan ond manegra oþre mistlicra cræfta biggenceras.
110 [The teacher:] Hæfst ænigne wisne geþeahtan?
111 [Pupil A:] Gewislice ic hæbbe. [Hu meahte (how might)] ure gegaderungc buton geþeahtynde beon wissod?
112 [The teacher:] Wisa, hwilc cræft þe geþuht betwux þas furþra wesan ?
113 [Pupil M:] Me is geþuht Godes þeowdom betweoh þas cræftas ealdorscype healdan, swa swa hit geræd on godspelle: "Fyrmest seceað rice Godes ond rihtwisnesse hys, ond þas þingc ealle beoþ togehyhte eow."
114 [The teacher:] Hwilc þe geþuht betwux woruldcræftas heoldan ealdordom?
115 [Pupil M:] Eorþtilþ, forþam se yrþling us ealle fett.
116 Se smiþ secgð: Hwanon sylan scear oþþe culter, þe na gade hæfþ buton of cræfte minon? Hwanon fiscere ancgel, oþþe sceowyrhton æl, oþþe seamere nædl? Nis hit of minon geweorce?
117 Se geþeahtend ondsweraþ: Soþ witodlice sægst, ac eallum us leofre ys wikian mid þe yrþlincge, þonne mid þe, forþam se yrþling sylð us hlaf ond drenc; þu, hwæt sylst us on smiþþan þinre buton isenne fyrspearcan ond swegincga beatendra slecgea ond blawendra byliga?
treowyrh
118 Se treowwyrhta segð: Hwilc eower ne notaþ cræfte minon, þonne hus ond mistlice fata ond scypa eow eallum ic wyrce?
119 Se goldsmiþ ondwyrt: Eala, treowwyrhta, forhwi swa sprycst þu, þonne ne furþon an þyrl þu ne miht don [butan minum cræfte]?
120 Se geþeahtend sægþ: Eala, geferan and gode wyrhtan, uton towurpon hwætlicor þas geflitu, ond sy sibb ond geþwærnyss betweoh us, ond framige anra gehwylc oþron on cræfte hys, geðwærian symble mid þam yrþlinge, þær we bigleofan us ond foddor horsum urum habbaþ. Ond þis geþeaht ic sylle eallum wyrhtum, þæt anra gehwylc cræft his geornlice begange, forþam se þe cræft his forlæt, he byþ forlæten fram þam cræfte. Swa hwæðer þu sy, swa mæsseprest, swa munuc, swa ceorl, swa kempa, bega oþþe behwyrf þe sylfne on þisum, ond beo þæt þu eart; forþam micel hynð ond sceamu hyt is menn nellan wesan þæt þæt he ys ond þæt he wesan sceal.
121 [The teacher:] Eala, cild, hu eow licaþ þeos spæc?
122 [Pupils:] Wel heo licaþ us, ac þearle deoplice sprycst ond ofer mæþe ure þu forþtyhst spræce: ac sprec us æfter urum andgyte, þæt we magon understandan þa þingc þe þu specst.
123 [The teacher:] Ic ahsige eow, forhwi swa geornlice leorni ge?
124 [Pupils:] Forþam we nellaþ wesan swa stunte nytenu, þa nan þingc witaþ, buton gærs ond wæter.
125 [The teacher:] Ond hwæt wille ge?
126 [Pupils:] Wyllaþ wesan wise.
127 [The teacher:] On hwilcon wisdome? Wille ge beon prættige oþþe þusenthiwe on leasungum, lytige on spræcum, onglæwlice, hindergepe, wel sprecende ond yfele þencende, swæsum wordum underþeodde, facn wiðinnan tyddriende, swa swa bergyls metton ofergeweorke, wiþinnan full stence?
128 [Pupils:] We nellaþ swa wesan wise, forþam he nys wis, þe mid dydrunge hyne sylfne beswicð.
129 [The teacher:] Ac hu wille ge?
130 [Pupils:] We wyllaþ beon bylewite butan licetunge, ond wise þæt we bugon fram yfele ond don goda. Gyt þeahhwæþere deoplicor mid us þu smeagst, þonne yld ure onfon mæge; ac sprec us æfter uran gewunon, næs swa deoplice.
131 [The teacher:] Ond ic do æal swa ge biddaþ. Þu, cnapa, hwæt dydest todæg?
132 [Pupil N:] Manega þingc ic dyde. On þisse niht, þa þa cnyll ic gehyrde, ic aras on minon bedde ond eode to cyrcean, ond sang uhtsang mid gebroþrum; æfter þa we sungon be eallum halgum ond dægredlice lofsangas; æfter þysum prim ond seofon seolmas mid letanian ond capitolmæssan; syþþan undertide, ond dydon mæssan be dæge; æfter þisum we sungan middæg, ond æton ond druncon ond slepon, ond eft we arison ond sungan non; ond nu we synd her ætforan þe, gearuwe gehyran hwæt þu us secge.
133 [The teacher:] Hwænne wylle ge singan æfen oþþe nihtsangc?
134 [Pupil N:] Þonne hyt tima byþ.
135 [The teacher:] Wære þu todæg beswuncgen?
136 [Pupil N:] Ic næs, forþam wærlice ic me heold.
137 [The teacher:] Ond hu þine geferan?
138 [Pupil N:] Hwæt me ahsast be þam? Ic ne dear yppan þe digla ure. Anra gehwylc wat gif he beswuncgen wæs oþþe na.
139 [The teacher:] Hwæt ytst þu on dæg?
140 [Pupil N:] Gyt flæscmettum ic bruce, forðam cild ic eom under gyrda drohtniende.
141 [The teacher:] Hwæt mare ytst þu?
142 [Pupil N:] Wyrta ond æigra, fisc ond cyse, buteran ond beana ond ealle clæne þingc ic ete mid micelre þancunge.
143 [The teacher:] Swiþe waxgeorn eart þu þonne þu ealle þingc etst þe þe toforan.
144 [Pupil N:] Ic ne eom swa micel swelgere þæt ic ealle cynn metta on anre gereordinge etan mæge.
145 [The teacher:] Ac hu?
146 [Pupil N:] Ic bruce hwilon þisum mettum, oþrum mid syfernysse, swa swa dafnað munuce, næs mid oferhropse, forþam ic eom nan gluto.
147 [The teacher:] Ond hwæt drincst þu?
148 [Pupil N:] Ealu, gif ic hæbbe, oþþe wæter gif ic næbbe ealu.
149 [The teacher:] Ne drincst þu win?
150 [Pupil N:] Ic ne eom swa spedig þæt ic mæge bicgean me win; ond win nys drenc cilda ne dysgra, ac ealdra ond wisra.
151 [The teacher:] Hwær slæpst?
152 [Pupil N:] On slæpern mid gebroþrum.
153 [The teacher:] Hwa awecþ þe to uhtsancge?
154 [Pupil N:] Hwilon ic gehyre cnyll ond ic arise; hwilon lareow min awecþ me stiþlice mid gyrde.
155 [The teacher:] Eala, ge cildra ond wynsume leorneras, eow manaþ eower lareow þæt ge hyrsumian godcundum larum ond þæt ge healdan eow sylfe ænlice on ælcere stowe. Gaþ þeawlice þonne ge gehyran cyrcean bellan, ond gaþ into cyrcean, ond abugaþ eadmodlice to halgum wefodum, ond standaþ þeawlice, ond singað anmodlice, ond gebiddaþ for eowrum synnum, ond gaþ ut butan hygeleaste to claustre oþþe leorninga.

 

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