“HWILUM WORD BE WORDE,
HWILUM ANDGIT OF ANDGIETE”?
BEDE’S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
AND ITS OLD ENGLISH TRANSLATOR
Raymond C. St-Jacques
I n h e r 1 9 6 2 p a p e r o n t h e O l d E n g l i s h Bede D o r o t h y W h i t e l o c k e x a m i n e d
some of
t h e m a j o r d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n the O l d E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n o f B e d e ' s
E c c l e s i a s t i c a l H i s t o r y a n d its L a t i n o r i g i n a l in a n a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i n e
the connection,
reforms. 1
if a n y , b e t w e e n t h e t r a n s l a t i o n a n d A l f r e d ' s e d u c a t i o n a l
Her paper provides a useful list of omissions
in t h e O l d E n g l i s h
an d d i s c u s s e s some o f the p r i n c i p l e s g u i d i n g t h e t r a n s l a t o r
passages.
Whitelock,
however,
w o r k of p a s s a g e s d e l e t e d in the O l d English,
question of
in o m i t t i n g
d o e s n o t c o n s i d e r t h e f u n c t i o n in t he L a t i n
nor does
she a d d r e s s th e
larger
the d i f f e r i n g p e r c e p t i o n s of h i s t o r y a t w o r k in the o r i g i n a l a n d
the translation.
A n e x a m i n a t i o n a l ong t h e s e lines,
o r g a n i z e s m u c h of his m a t e r i a l
p a s t as a ser i e s of p a t terns;
seems to see
events more
I believe,
demonstrates that Bede
in s u c h a w a y t h a t h i s r e a d e r p e r c e i v e s t he
his Old English translator,
o n the o t h e r hand,
in t h e L a t i n a l o o s e a s s e m b l i n g o f n o t e w o r t h y a n d d r a m a t i c
i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f t h e A n g lo - S a x o n C h r o n i c l e b u t w i t h a s t r o n g
m o r a l i s t i c bent.
C o u p l e d w i t h t h ese two p e r c e p t i o n s of h o w the m a t e r i a l s
of English Church history should be viewed are major differences
t o w a r d s the r o l e of
the h i s t o r i a n a n d h i s h a n d l i n g o f h i s
essential differences are particularly apparent
in a t t i t u d e
sources.
in t h r e e pla c e s :
These
in Bede ' s
l e n g t h y n a r r a t i o n o f c e r t a i n m a j o r e v e n t s o m i t t e d in the O l d E n g l i s h
version;
in t h e L a t i n P r e f a c e ,
s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o d i f i e d in t r a n s l a t i o n ;
and
in B e d e ' s i n c l u s i o n of tex t s of l e t t e r s r e l a t i n g to th e E n g l i s h C h u r c h an d
o f m a n y b i t s of i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the p h y s i c a l world, all g e n e r a l l y
o m i t t e d in the O l d English.
T h e t r a n s l a t i o n is a r e m a r k a b l e w o r k m e r i t i n g
a t t e n t i o n o n o t h e r than p u r e l y l i n g u i s t i c g r o u n d s a n d g r e a t l y d e s e r v i n g of
p r a i s e a s a l i t e r a r y w o r k in its ow n right.
f e a t u r e s s h o u l d be s i ngled o u t —
A t lea s t two p r a i s e w o r t h y
the t r a n s l a t o r ' s sure g r a s p of p r o s e
s t y l e s a n d h i s fine n a r r a t i v e c r a f t s m a n s h i p .
2
O n e o f the d o m i n a n t p a t t e r n s B e d e p e r c e i v e s in some m a j o r e v e n t s of
the h i s t o r y o f the C h u r c h in t h e B r i t i s h Isles, c o n s i d e r a b l y if not t o t a l l y
o b s c u r e d b y t h e t r a n s l a t o r t h r o u g h a s e r i e s of d e l e t i o n s , m a y b e s u n m a r i z e d
as follows.
T h e d o c t r i n e s of the U n i v e r s a l C h u r c h ar e c h a l l e n g e d b y the
f o r c e s o f f a l s e h o o d in on e g u i s e o r anot h e r ,
l e a d i n q to a c o n f l i c t in w h i c h
the t r u t h o f o r t h o d o x t r a d i t i o n d e f e a t s falseh o o d .
There follows a period
in w h i c h f a i t h is s t r e n g t h e n e d o n l y to b e c h a l l e n g e d a g a i n b y f a l s e h o o d as
t h e p a t t e r n r e p e a t s itself.
T h i s p a t t e r n is f i rst s k e t c h e d in B o o k I, c h a p t e r 8, o n the A r i a n
h e r e s y , a c h a p t e r o n l y p a r t l y r e n d e r e d i n t o Ol d Engl i s h .
The s e c t i o n
t r a n s l a t e d d e p i c t s the U n i v e r s a l C h u r c h in c o n f l i c t w i t h A r i a n i s m , w h i c h is
f i n a l l y c r u s h e d by the fo r c e s o f o r t h o d o x y a n d t r a d i t i o n r e p r e s e n t e d by
t he C o u n c i l o f Nicaea:
P a e sc y n in g e s tidum se A r r ia n ls c a gedwola waes upcumen; & £aet
deadbaerende a t t o r h is g e tre o w Ie a sn ysse , n a la e s > aet on eallum
mIddangeardes cyricu m £aet he s tre g d e , ac h it eac sw ylce on £ is
ealond becom.
Se gedweola waes on £am N yceanlscan sino^e
g e n iSe ra d & a f y lle d on C o n sta n tin u s dagum.
(In t h i s k i n g ' s t i m e th e A r i a n h e r e s y arose; a n d the d e a d l y
poison of
[its] u n b e l i e f
[it] s p r e a d n o t o n l y to al l the c h u r c h e s
in the world, b u t it a l s o c a m e int o t h i s island.
This heresy
w a s c o n d e m n e d a n d c r u s h e d in the d a y s of C o n s t a n t i n e at the
C o u n c i l of N i c a e a . ) 3
Missing, however,
is the v e h e m e n c e of the L a t i n d e n u n c i a t i o n of A r i a n i s m
a n d B e d e ' s p e r c e p t i o n of the p r o f u n d i t y o f the evil of this error:
M a n s i t q u e haec in e c c l e s i i s C h r i s t i q u a e e r a n t in B r i t t a n i a p a x
u s q u e a d t e m p o r a A r r i a n a e v a e s a n i a e , q u a e c o r r u p t o o r b e toto
h a n c e t i a m i n s u l a m e x t r a o r b e m t a m l o n g e r e m o t a m v e n e n o sui
infecit erroris?
patefacta,
et hac q u a s i v i a p e s t i l e n t i a e t r a n s O c e a n u m
non mora,
omnis
se lues h e r e s e o s c u i u s q u e
insulae
novi s e m p e r a l i q u i d a u d i r e g a u d e n t i et nihil c erti f i r m i t e r
obtinenti
infudit.
(The c h u r c h e s o f B r i t a i n r e m a i n e d a t p e a c e u n t i l t h e t i m e o f
Arian madness which corrupted
this
island,
s u n d e r e d so far
p o i s o n o f its error.
heresy from across
in h e a r i n g
belief.)
[pp.
In B o o k I,
10,
w i t h the
This q u i c k l y o p e n e d the w a y f o r e v e r y foul
Bede's
form.
"madness"
o r t h o d o x y is d e s c r i b e d
(p.
c o n t a i n s the same p a t t e r n in a
39).
falsehood
evil,
a
"treacher­
The c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n it a n d
in t e r m s o f an e p i c b a t t l e ,
given a timeless quality
is m a r s h a l l e d a g a i n s t
"thousands of Catholic a u t h o r i t i e s ” emoted by
however,
sure
first r e f e r e n c e to the P e l a g i a n heresy,
P e l a g i a n i s m is a u n i v e r s a l
as t h e w h o l e o f C h u r c h t r a d i t i o n
the orthodox fathers."
into an island which always
something new and holds firmly to no
in t h e O l d E n g l i s h ,
slightly more d e veloped
ous poison," a
from the rest of m a n k i n d ,
34-37]
chapter
which does not appear
infected
t h e O c e a n to p o u r
delights
the
the w h o l e w o r l d a n d e v e n
As will be the case
i t in t h e f o r m o f
" A u g u s t i n e a n d t h e r e s t of
in l a t e r c h a p t e r s o n P e l a g i a n i s m ,
is n o t t o t a l l y d e f e a t e d a n d t h e t r u t h
is n o t p e r c e i v e d
o r a c c e p t e d by all.
The
first detailed prese n t a t i o n of the patt e r n occurs
in c h a p t e r s 17
t o 22 o f B o o k I, a s i x - c h a p t e r s e c t i o n o m i t t e d i n i t s e n t i r e t y i n t h e O l d
4
The British Church, battling Pelagianism unsuccessfully, seeks
English.
he l p f r o m the C h u r c h of Gaul,
w h i c h sends a g r o u p of m i s s i o n a r i e s h e a d e d
by Germanus and Lupus.
several
After
encounters with devils bent on p r e ­
venting them from carrying out their mission,
the heretics,
th e
faith of
the B r i t o n s .
at a particular
time,
While
the beginning the characters
is C h r i s t - l i k e
b l i n d a n d the lame.
good conscience,
the s t o r y o c c u r s
thereby reaffirming
in a p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e ,
Bede t akes g r e a t p a i n s to d e m o n s t r a t e
and timeless characteristics and
himself
they m e e t in o p e n d e b a t e w i t h
de f e a t them and force them into retreat,
its r e c u r r e n c e
in t h e d r a m a
in h i s a c t i o n s ,
its universal
in C h u r c h h i s t o r y .
l o o m larg e r t h a n life.
c a l ming the
tempests,
From
Germanus
c u r i n g the
His c o m p a n i o n s a r e l i k e n e d to the a p o s t l e s b y t h e i r
their scriptural
t h e m to w o r k ‘
m i r a c l e s : "Erat
learning and their virtue,
which enable
i llis a p o s t o l o r u m instar et g l o r i a et
auctoritas per conscientiam doctrina per
("like the ap o s t l e s ,
through a good conscience,
virtutes ex m e r i t i s ”
their learning through the scriptures,
p o w e r of w o r k i n g m i r a c l e s t h r o u g h
the
litteras,
they acquired honour and authority for themselves
their merits,"
pp.
56-57).
and the
T h e p o w e r of
f o r c e s b e h i n d the h e r e s y and the d e p t h of its evil, w h i c h t h e m i s s i o n ­
aries must counter,
a r e m a d e e x p l i c i t b y B e d e in h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e two
camps before the great debate.
C h r i s t on
The conflict pits divine
the one hand against human presumption,
the other:
superbia;
"hinc divina fides,
inde h u m a n a p r a e s u m t i o ;
inde P e l a g i u s auctor,
hinc Christus"
has now been raised to a cosmic and timeless
faith,
pride,
(pp*
level.
piety,
and
and Pelagius on
hinc pietas,
56-58).
inde
The battle
In the end f a l s e h o o d
is o v e r c o m e a n d d e c e i t u n m a s k e d t h r o u g h a r g u m e n t s d r a w n f r o m a p o s t o l i c
tradition:
"deinde antistites venerandi torrentes eloquii sui cum apostolicis
et evangelicis
imbribus profuderunt"
("Then the v e n e r a b l e b i s h o p s s h o w e r e d
upon them the words of the apostles and evangelists
pp.
58-59).
Later,
in t o r r e n t s o f e l o q u e n c e , "
the st r u g g l e b e t w e e n the B r i t i s h C h u r c h a n d P e l a g i a n i s m
is a g a i n l i n k e d to t h e U n i v e r s a l C h u r c h ' s o t h e r
historical conflicts when
Germanus pl a c e s within the tomb of British m a r tyrs w h o have died resisting
P e l a g i a n i s m the relics of all
the a p o s t l e s a n d v a r i o u s m a r t y r s
a p o s t o l o r u m d i v e r s o r u m q u e m a r t y r u m , " p.
heaven equal
in merits.
58)
The rest of chapter
("omnium
since they have all entered
1 8 a n d c h a p t e r s 1 9 t o 22
r e p e a t this p a t t e r n a s P e l a g i a n i s m r e e m e r g e s a n d is a g a i n crushed.
This
ti m e G e r m a n u s c u r e s a b l i n d g i r l t h r o u g h the m i g h t o f C h u r c h t r a d i t i o n in
the form of relics of saints,
w h i c h he p r e s s e s t o h e r eyes.
T h e m i r a c l e is
d e s c r i b e d a s the r e t r e a t of d a r k n e s s b e f o r e the l i g h t o f t r u t h
tenebris
lumen veritatis
i m p l e v i t , " p.
58).
Once again,
("evacuatos
the f a i t h o f the
B r i t o n s is r e a f f i r m e d .
I n t e r e s t i n g v a r i a t i o n s a p p e a r i n c h a p t e r s 2 1 a n d 22.
Br i t i s h are a tta c k e d b y he a t h e n Pictish forces,
p o w e r o f their faith,
chapter
First,
the
w i n the d a y t h r o u g h the
and are blessed with a long period of peace.
As
22 e n d s , h o w e v e r , j u s t i c e a n d t r u t h a r e e v e r y w h e r e o n t h e w a n e a s
the British relapse
into sin a n d faithlessness.
s p e c i f i c a l l y to o n e sin f u l act,
the truth to the S a x o n
to the truth
invaders.
Bede here refers
the f a i l u r e o f the B r i t i s h C h u r c h to p r e a c h
The
i n v a d e r s will, o f c o u r s e ,
in t i m e b u t l a r g e l y b y R o m a n m i s s i o n a r i e s ,
to a n o t h e r g r e a t c o n f l i c t ,
be converted
leading eventually
this time b e t w e e n the R o m a n a n d C e l t i c C h u r ch es
ov e r the o b s e r v a n c e of Easter.
Bede's
treatment of
major concerns,
the Faster c o n t r o v e r s y shows
a n d h e d e s c r i b e s it as a r e p e t i t i o n o f
of struggle between truth and
falsehood
the powerful personal
p.
III,
206).^
chapters
17, p.
are faithfully translated
The Old English version,
25-26,
however,
His
in t h e O l d E n g l i s h ,
fee l i n g s g e n e r a t e d by this e r ror
264)
this same p a t t e r n
in the U n i v e r s a l C h u r c h .
fre q u e n t b r ief r e f e r e n c e s to the d i s p u t e app e a r
tans,"
it to b e o n e o f h i s
a n d even
("hoc m u l t u m d e t e s -
("!c h i t s w ¡ 5 e o n s c u n e d e , "
h a s c h o s e n t o o m i t B o o k III,
Bed e ' s d r a m a t i c p r e s e n t a t i o n of the d e b a t e b e t w e e n the
p a r t i e s at W h i t b y a n d the r e s u l t i n g d e f e a t and d e p a r t u r e o f t h e C e l t i c p a r t y ,
t h e s t o r y o f A d a tnnan o f I o n a a n d h i s a t t e m p t t o l e a d h i s m o n a s t e r y i n t o t h e
R o m a n f o l d i n B o o k V,
chapters
C e o l f r i t h t o N e c h t a n in B o o k V,
l a s t is n o t r e p r o d u c e d
15-17,
as w ell as the v ery long let t e r of
chapter
21.
It i s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t
the
i n t h e O l d E n g l i s h a s it e x p l a i n s B e d e ' s v i e w o f t h e
se r i o u s n e s s of the C e l t i c C h u r c h ' s error,
w h i c h h e s e e s a s a n a l o g o u s to the
P e l a g i a n heresy:
Qui ergo p l e n i tudinem lunae paschalis ante aequinoctium provenire
posse contenderit,
talis
in m y s t e r i o r u m c e l e b r a t i o n e m a x i m o r u m
a sanctarum quidem seripturarum doctrina discordat;
concordat
a u t e m eis,
q ui s i n e p r a e v e n i e n t e g r a t i a C h r i s t i se s a l v a r i p o s s e
confidunt,
q u i e t si v e r a
gendo numquam vicisset,
lux tenebras m u n d i m o r i e n d o ac r e s u r -
perfectam
se h a b e r e p o s s e
iustitiam
dogmatizare praesumunt.
(Whoever argues,
therefore,
that the full P a s c h a l m o o n c a n
fall
b e f o r e t h e e q u i n o x d i s a g r e e s w i t h t he t e a c h i n g o f t h e h o l y
Scriptures
in t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f
with those who
[prevenient]
trust
the g r e a t e s t m y s t e r i e s ,
grace of Christ
they cpuld have attained
. . . and who presume
dying and rising again.)
then,
this dispute
e x a m p l e of a m a j o r a t t a c k upon
[pp.
for the d e l e t i o n
Many
th e d a r k n e s s o f t h e w o r l d b y
544-45]
is n o t a m e r e
squabble but another
the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a n d the a p o s t o l i c t r a ­
d i t i o n o f w h i c h i t is t h e c u s t o d i a n ?
of Church history.
to t e a c h that
to p e r f e c t r i g h t e o u s n e s s e v e n t h o u g h
the t r u e L i g h t h a d n e v e r c o n q u e r e d
For Bede,
and agrees
that they can be saved wi t h o u t the
i t is,
in f a c t ,
interesting and plausible
part of
the p a t t e r n
reasons can be
suggested
in t h e O l d E n g l i s h o f B e d e ' s c h a p t e r s o n P e l a g i a n i s m a n d
the Easter controversy,
b u t the
fact remains
that these cuts s i g n i f i c a n t l y
90
alter the reader's understanding of Bede's vision of Church history and, I
suggest, point to a very different approach to things historical.
This impress ion that we are deal;ng with two differing views of history
is borne out, I think, in the latin Preface and its Old English translation,
where further essential differences concerning the function of history and
the task of the historian are expressed.
Both men begin by distancing
themselves from toe work at hand through the rhetorical device of
6
For the Old English writer the book he is translating will
prosopopaeia.
speak to the reader.
Its function will be to praise good and denounce
7
ev il, and the reader will practise one and avoid the other.
This statement
of didactic intent is reinforced by a comment on the worthiness of such an
undertaking and by a rhetorical question asking how a reader who refuses
to act accordingly can hope to benefit from the instruction the book
provides:
Foroon pis gewrit oooe hit god sagao be godum mannum,
& se
oe
hit gehyrep, he onhyrep pam, oooe hit yfel sagap be yfelum
mannum,
& se
oe hit gehyreo, he flyho paet
hit is god godne to herianne
se pe hit gehyre.
& yfelne
& onscunap.
Forpon
to leanne, paet se geoeo
Gif se o oe r nolde, hu wuro he el les gelaered?
(For this book either speaks good of the good, and the hearer
imitates that, or it speaks e vil of the evil, and the hearer
flees and shuns the evil.
For it is good to praise the good and
blame the bad, that the hearer may profit.
If your hearer be
reluctant, how else will he gain instruction?)
[pp. 2-3J
While this didactic function is,presented in the Old English preface as
the most important and indeed the only function of the Eccl esias tical
History, Bede's original is
le~s
categorical.
Where the translator
speaks of "this book," Bede refers to historia itself not as a book but
as a genre, a discipline with its own law ("vera lex historiae," p. 6) as
he tells us at the end of the Preface ;n a passage which does not appear in
the Old English.
One of the functions of historia is certainly to distin-
guish between virtuous and wicked men and deeds, but only the read er who is
thoughtful, devout, and earnest will profit from this and be spurred on to
imitate good and eschew evil:
Sive enim historia de bonis bona referat, ad irnitandum bonum
auditor sollicitus instigatur; seu mala commemoret de pravis,
n i h i l o m i n u s r e l i g i o s u s ac p i u s a u d i t o r
quod noxium est ac perversum,
siue lector devitando
ipse s o l l e r t i u s a d e x s e q u e n d a ea
quae bona ac Deo digna esse cognoverit,
accenditur.
(Should h i s t o r y tell of good m e n and their g ood estate,
thoughtful
listener
is s p u r r e d o n t o i m i t a t e t h e g o o d ;
r ecord the evil ends of w i cked men,
no less e f f e c t u a l l y the
devout and earnest listener or reader
is h a r m f u l a n d p e r v e r s e ,
those
Bede
[pp.
s e e s at l e a s t o n e o t h e r
to h i s P r e f a c e
apologizing
in-several
is k i n d l e d t o e s c h e w w h a t
and himself with greater care pursue
t h i n g s w h i c h he has
sight of God.)
the
s h o u l d it
learned to be g o o d a n d p l e a s i n g in the
2-3]
f u n c t i o n a n d a l l u d e s to it in t he c o n c l u s i o n
s e n t e n c e s o m i t t e d in t h e O l d E n g l i s h .
After
f o r t h e e r r o r s w h i c h m i g h t h a v e c r e p t i n t o h i s d a t a a n d f or
w h i c h h e is n o t r e s p o n s i b l e
—
the Old E n g l i s h p r e f a c e e n d s a t this p o i n t
-- B ede g oes o n to ask for his r e a d e r ' s p r a y e r s a n d e x p l a i n s w h y he des e r v e s
them;
he has s o u g h t to p u t o n r e c o r d t h o s e e v e n t s w h i c h he b e l i e v e s
w o r t h y o f r e m e m b r a n c e a n d lik e l y to be w e l c o m e to the
k i n g d o m s a nd p l a c e s w i t h w h i c h he h a s d e a l t :
" ut q u i d e s i n g u l i s p r o v i n c i i s
sive locis s u b l i m i o r i b u s , quae m e moratu digna atque
diligenter adnotare curavi
. . . "
to the i n h a b i t a n t s
incolis grata credideram,
("Since I h a v e d i l i g e n t l y s o u g h t to p u t
on record concerning each of the kingdoms and more
events which I believe
to b e
inhabitants of those
important places,
those
to b e w o r t h y o f r e m e m b r a n c e a n d l i k e l y t o b e w e l c o m e
. . .," p p .
in s t r u c t i o n t h r o u g h the exe m p l a
6-7).
History,
it p r e s e n t s ,
o f e v e n t s so t h a t p o s t e r i t y m a y k n o w
therefore,
but
its past.
may offer moral
it a l s o s e r v e s as a r e c o r d
8
Th e L a t i n P r e f a c e a l s o p r o v i d e s us w i t h k n o w l e d g e o f B e d e ' s v i e w of
his sources and data
Old English,
in thr e e p a s s a g e s ,
a n d t h e n in a l t e r e d form.
o n l y one of w h i c h a p p e a r s in the
In d i s c u s s i n g h i s
s t o r y o f St. C u t h b e r t B e d e d i v i d e s h i s m a t e r i a l
sources
for the
into two c a t e g o r i e s .
T h e r e are f i rst the w r i t i n g s a b o u t the a b b o t by the b r e t h r e n a t L i n d i s f a r n e ,
w h i c h Bede says,
simple
faith
in a clau s e o m i t t e d b y the translator,
("s i m p l i c i t e r
sto r i e s he has m a d e
learned
("per m e
the Old English,
toycte"
h e h a s r e a d in
f i d e m h i s t o r i a e q u a m l e g e b a m , " p.
6 ).
To these
it h i s b u s i n e s s to a d d w i t h c a r e w h a t he h i m s e l f h as
ipse cognoscere potui
the l a s t c l a u s e of
("I h a v e a d d e d , " p.
omissions does not reproduce
4).
sollerter adicere curavi").
t h e L a t i n is r e n d e r e d o n l y a s
The Old English,
then,
the fine d i s t i n c t i o n Bede
In
" Ic
t h r o u g h i ts
is m a k i n g b e t w e e n
m a t e r i a l s of a h a g i o g r a p h i c a l b e n t a n d d o c u m e n t e d
facts,
t h e c a r e w i t h w h i c h B e d e h a s c o m b i n e d b o t h in h i s w o r k .
nor does
it m e n t i o n
Furthermore,
the
O l d E n g l i s h d o e s no t t r a n s l a t e o n e of the c o n c l u d i n g s e n t e n c e s o f the
P r e f a c e in w h i c h B e d e a g a i n d e a l s w i t h t h e t r u t h o r f a l s e n e s s o f h i s s o u r c e s .
Here Bede
s t a t e s t h a t in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the t r u e law o f h i s t o r y ,
he has
c o l l e c t e d d a t a f r o m corrmon r e p o r t a n d a s s e m b l e d t h e m s i m p l y i n t o a b o o k
("qui,
quod vera
lex h i s t o r i a e est,
s i m p l i c i t e r ea quae fama v ulgante
c o l l e g i m u s ad i n s t r u c t i o n e m p o s t e r i t a t i s li tt er is m a n d a r e s t u d u i m u s , ”
p.
6 ).
prove
The
false,
inference,
of course,
is t h a t s h o u l d t h e s e c o m m o n r e p o r t s l a t e r
Bede as a c o m p i l e r sho u l d not be blamed.
Finally,
Bede's
a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s s o u r c e s l e a d s h i m a g a i n in h i s P r e f a c e to r e f e r to the
research carried out for him
of
the letters he will
t e x t s o f the
letters,
should not appear
in t h e R o m a n a r c h i v e s ,
later quote.
Since
which has produced many
the Old English eliminates the -
it is u n d e r s t a n d a b l e t h a t t h i s p a r t o f t he P r e f a c e
in t h e
translation.
It m a y w e l l b e t h a t t h e d e l e t i o n o f
t h e l e t t e r s w a s s i m p l y m e a n t to s h o r t e n t he O l d E n g l i s h v e r s i o n .
in t h e
However,
light of the translator's handling of Bede's comments on sources
the Preface,
in
I sug g e s t that the e l i m i n a t i o n of the l e t t e r s s t ems p r i m a r i l y
from a very different v i e w from that of Bede of how such materials,
p r o v i d e the solid u n d e r p i n n i n g of a h i s t o r i c a l work,
If the t e x t s of t h e s e
Bede as an historian,
which
should be handled.
l e t t e r s p r o v i d e f i r m s u p p o r t for the a u t h o r i t y of
h i s f r e q u e n t in s e r t i o n of p i e c e s of v e r i f i a b l e
i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t the p h y s i c a l w o r l d a l s o l e n d s a c e r t a i n s o l i d i t y to h i s
work.
Bede
frequently pauses,
l o c a t i o n s uch as that o f the
for example,
Isle of Wight,
to comment on a geographical
w h i c h is a b o u t t h i r t y m i l e s
in l e n g t h f r o m e a s t to w e s t a n d t w e l v e f r o m n o r t h to s o u t h a n d lies six
m i l e s o f f th e s o u t h e r n c o a s t o f B r i t a i n at its e a s t e r n en d an d t h ree m i l e s
a t its w e s t e r n end:
passuum,
milium,
(I,
ab austro
"quae habet ab oriente
in b o r e a m X I I ,
in o c c i d e n t a l i b u s t r i u m ,
3, p.
24).
in o c c a s u m X X X c i r c i t e r m i l i a
in o r i e n t a l i b u s
suis p a r t i b u s m a r i
sex
a meridiano Brittaniae litore distans"
A t o t h e r t i mes he d e s c r i b e s some natural p h e n o m e n o n s uch as
t he c u t t i n g o f f f r o m the m a i n l a n d o f t he i s l a n d o f L i n d i s f a r n e a t h i g h tide:
"qui videlicet locus accedente ac recedente reumate bis cotidie instar
insulae maris circumluitur undis,
redditur"
(III,
3, p p .
218-20).
whether or not Bede meant this
bit renudato litore contiguus
terrae
I do not w ish to b e l a b o u r this point,
i n f o r m a t i o n to f u n c t i o n in t h i s w a y ,
f r e q u e n t i n c l u s i o n s do h e l p to a n c h o r
but
such
the w o r k to t h e w o r l d o f e v e r y d a y
realities.
has
By d e l e t i n g m o s t of
t h ese d e t a i l s the O l d E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t o r
to s o m e e x t e n t d e p r i v e d his w o r k o f this solidity.
Ha s the t r a n s l a t o r ,
o f t e n said to do?
then,
b e t r a y e d his o r i g i n a l as all t r a n s l a t o r s are
In a s e n s e ,
yes.
Nevertheless,
his fidelity,
respect,
a n d l o v e f or h i s L a t i n s o u r c e are e v e r y w h e r e e v i d e n t in w h a t h e h a s r e t a i n e d ,
which
is in f a c t m a n y ,
many times greater
demonstrates this respectful and
an often
scrupulous adherence
than w h a t he has left out.
He
loving attitude towards his material
to t h e l e t t e r o f t h e L a t i n t e x t ,
in
but f r e q u e n t ­
ly,
as
if c a u g h t u p in t h e m o m e n t u m o f a s t o r y h e is t r a n s l a t i n g ,
the
s h ape of the L a t i n p r o s e or a d d s a s i g n i f i c a n t deta i l a n d t h e r e b y m a k e s
some positive contribution
appreciation of
The
to the o r i g i n a l n a r r a t i v e a n d t o t he r e a d e r s '
the text.
t r a n s l a t o r ' s c r a f t s m a n s h i p is p e r h a p s b e s t s t u d i e d f i r s t
handling of English prose,
w h i c h r e v e a l s his a b i l i t y to w o r k w e l l
r a nge of styles,
some of which are
first,
IV,
from Book
he alters
chapter
3,
in h i s
in a w i d e
t y p i f i e d in the f o l l o w i n g e x a m p l e s .
The
is a s t a t e m e n t t h a t E g b e r t ' s a c c o u n t o f
C h a d ' s d e a t h can b e c o n f i r m e d by s i m i l a r s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y the m o n k
Trumberht:
C o n v e n i t a u t e m r e v e l a t i o n i et re l a t i o n i p r a e f a t i f r a tris
GepwaeraS eac sw ylce paere onw rigenesse & paere gesegene
de o b i t u h u i u s a n t i s t i t i s
paes fore sp re ce n an bro5or bi fo r S fo re p is s e s b isco p e s
etiam sermo reverentissimi patris Ecgbercti,
& eac paet word paes arwyr5an fa e d e r Ecgberh+es,
-- d e q u o
supra diximus —
—• bi paem we beforan saegdon —
qui d u d u m cum e o d e m C e a d d a a d u l e s c e n t e et ipse a d u l e s c e n s
in H i b e r n i a
se geo aer mid pone ilc a n Ceoddan in H ib e rn ia (S c o tta e alon d e )
begen in geoguc3e
m o n a c h i c a m in orationibur, et c o n t i n e n t i a e t m e d i t a t i o n e
in m u n u clife in gebedum & in fo rh a e fd n e sse & in leornunge
d i v i n a r u m scripturarurn v i t a m s e d u l u s a g e b a t
hal igra g e w r i t a G o d e
i ifdon
(p.
27 0 ).
(p. 3 4 4 ) .
In b o t h t e x t s t h e m a i n v e r b a p p e a r s f i r s t ,
("sermo").
The
ideal position
an elegant
the
subject's genitive complement
to g o v e r n
solution
fol l o w e d b y the subject
"Ecgbercti"
its two a d j e c t i v e clauses.
to the p r o b l e m o f p o s i t i o n i n g
is t h e n in a n
Bede's Latin provides
two c l a u s e s r e l a t e d to
subj ect w i t h o u t losi ng the c o n n ecti on b etw een the subject,
dative
complement of
same d a t i v e
the main clause while,
in p r e v i o u s
a n d the. i n v e r s i o n o f
e a londe")
and
"aforesaid brother" as the Trumberht
sentences.
pattern with two m i n o r changes,
geogu5e").
verb,
p l a c i n g the
c o m p l e m e n t c l o s e e n o u g h t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e n t e n c e so
that the reader can identify the
mentioned
a t the s ame time,
Time after
time,
The Old English reproduces this contrived
the addition of an appositive
two p h r ases
("S c o tta
( " i n H i b e r n i a " a n d "begen
in
the t r a n s l a t o r f a i t h f u l l y r e p r o d u c e s such
"Latinate" patterns.
The second example
is i n a m o r e m i x e d s t y l e ,
c o p y i n g the L a t i n in the
g e n e r a l o r d e r i n g o f e l e m e n t s b u t f r e e r in t he r e n d e r i n g o f c e r t a i n o f t h e s e
elements.
The
s e n t e n c e s o c c u r i n B o o k IV,
the m i r a c u l o u s cure o f
c h a p t e r 10, a n d t e l l
the w i f e of a " g e s ith "
the story of
in t h e c e m e t e r y o f t h e
m o n a s t e r y at B a r k i n g :
P e r d u c t a jiamque a p u e l l i s s u i s a d m o n a s t e r i u m ,
pa waes heo g e la e d e d fr o m h i r e peowum & pignenum t o paem m y n s t r e ,
quia
in p r o x i m o erat,
pe p a e r neah waes
ubi fidem suae sanationis
i n t e g r a m se h a b e r e p r o f e s s a est,
paer heo was o n d e t t e n d e , p a e t heo h a e fd e onwalg ne g e l e a f a n
h i r e h a e lo .
introducta
est ad cymiterium
Pa waes heo g e la e d e d t o
liic tu n e
(pa ra Godes peowa);
et,
cum ibidem diutius flexis genibus oraret,
&
mid py heo p a e r
lo nge gebegdum cneom h i r e gebaed,
n ihilo tardius me r u i t exaudiri.
sona gee arn o d e p a e t h i r e bene ge h erd e wa eron.
Nam exsurgens ab oratione,
Ond sona paes pe heo fram pam bede a r a s ,
95
pruisquam exiret de loco
aer pon pe heo of paere stowe eode,
petitae lucis gratiarn recepit
paet heo onfeng gife paes bedenan leohtes
et
qua e famularurn manibus adducta fuerat,
ond
seo aer hire reowa hondum pyder gelaeded waes,
ipsa libe ro pedum incessu domum laeta reversa est;
heo pa fr e o on hire fota gongum bl io e ham hweorfende waes,
quasi ad hoc solummodo lucem amitteret temporalem,
efne pan gel icost , s wa swa heo to non paet wilwendl ice
leoht an forlete,
paet he o
ut
i n hire ha e lo aeteawde
quanta sanctos
hu micel
r.hri ~ ti
lux in caelis
l eo ht Cris"t e s ra halgan in heofenum ahten, &
quae gratia virtu tis possideret,
hwylc gifu heora ma 8genes waere (pp. 292-94).
sua sanatione demonstraret (p. 364).
The first sentence is bu i lt around two principal clauses, the first preceded
by one
partici~ial
phrase modifying the subject of the main clause and
governing two subordinate clauses, the se c ond preceded by one subordinate
clause only.
The Old English follows the pattern of the Latin but trans-
forms the initial participial
rhra~e
into a clause, which gives a better
sense of the movement of the action thiln does the Latin "perducere" in its
participial form.
It also expands the infinitive clause "se habere fidem"
and the infinitive "exaudiri" into two noun clauses ("paet heo haefde . . .
geleafan" and "paet hire bene geherde waeron"), producing greater flow than
the more static Latin.
The second sentence is in the same mixed style, with
the Old English once again changing the participial phrase
("exsurgens . . . ")
into a clause ("heo aras") and again improving the sense of chronological
development.
The Old English closely imitates the next three clauses of
the Latin, but then moves logically from t h e third clause ("e f ne pon
gel ¡cos!-, s w a
reading:
swa
. . .")
"exactly as
into the "poet" c l a u s e —
if s h e h a d o n l y
might by her cure demonstrate
each referring
much more
to a truth w h i c h the m i r a c l e d e m o n s t r a t e s .
and the rest of
the clause
The Latin,
in a
introduces between the conjunction
"ut"
it g o v e r n s a l o n g s u b o r d i n a t e c l a u s e d e s c r i b i n g
the two t r u t h s d e m o n s t r a t e d b y the cure.
"ut" clause,
"sanatione";
story began.
l i g h t so t h a t s h e
. . .," f o l l o w e d b y t w o s u b o r d i n a t e c l a u s e s ,
sophisticated manoeuvre,
rest of the
the whole passage then
lost that temporal
this
echoes
The Latin then goes on wit h the
the s tory and the c h a pter e n d i n g w i t h the w o r d
" m i r a c u l u m s a n i t a t i s , " the w o r d s w i t h w h i c h the
T he Old English,
then,
im i t a t e s the L a t i n m o s t o f the way,
but gives up on the closing rhetorical
flourish.
T h e f i n a l e x a m p l e m i g h t be d e s c r i b e d a s w r i t t e n in t h e p l a i n s tyle of
simple
chronology.
I t is f o u n d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f B o o k IV,
c h a p t e r 1, a n d
d e a l s w i t h H a d r i a n ’s p r o p o s i n g o f t h e m o n k A n d r e w a s A r c h b i s h o p o f C a n t e r b u r y
to r e p l a c e
the d e c e a s e d D eusdedit:
Qui
i n d i g n u m se t a n t o g r a d u i r e p o n d e n s ,
pa ondsware de he him <& cwaeS, p a e t he waere swa m i c l e s hades
unwyrSe;
o s t e n d e r e p o s s e se d i x i t a l i um ,
& cwaeS paet he meahte o 5 e rn e g e ta e c n a n ,
cuius m agis ad suscipiendum episcopatum et eruditio
pe b is co p h a d a wy r5 ra waere ge on g e la e r e d n e s s e ge on h i s
i f e s gegearnunge
I
conveniret et aetas
ge on g e d e f r e e l d o
Bede c a refully arranges the elements
(p.
(p.
328).
254).
for the reader,
subordinating Hadrian's
f e e l i n g s a n d t h e a c t o f r e s p o n d i n g in a p a r t i c i p i a l p h r a s e ,
Hadrian's nominee
("alium")
foregrounding
in t h e m a i n c l a u s e a n d g i v i n g H a d r i a n ' s r e a s o n s
in the s u c c e e d i n g s u b o r d i n a t e clause.
Fro m the outset the O l d English
p r e f e r s to f o l l o w the n a t ural o r d e r o f e v e n t s in a s e ries o f b r i e f c l a uses
joined by
"and" and arranged chronologically.
The sentence ends with a
s u b o r d i n a t e c l a u s e l e s s r h e t o r i c a l b u t m o r e l o g ical t h a n the Latin,
listing
in o r d e r t h e t h r e e a r e a s i n w h i c h A n d r e w i s w o r t h i e r t h a n H a d r i a n a n d
refusing
to i m i t a t e t h e L a t i n ' s e l e g a n t
"et e r u d i t i o c o n v e n i r e t e t a e t as."
This
l a s t s e n t e n c e m i g h t w e l l b e p r a i s e d as a b e t t e r i m i t a t i o n o f t r u e - l i f e
action
and discourse,
for this style;
but the O l d E n g lish t r a n s l a t o r shows no g r e a t p r e f e r e n c e
h e is a c o n s u m m a t e c r a f t s m a n o f p r o s e ,
s t y l e s d e s c r i b e d above.
This last sentence
of alteration,
ly, m o r e e v i l ,
a l s o furnishes an e x a m p l e of a n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t type
more often
than no t m a k i n g the c h a r a c t e r a l i t t l e mo r e s a i n t ­
or simply more human
Abbot Hadrian proposes Andrew,
than the original description.
g e g e a r n u n g e " ).
life
the Isle o f W i g h t ,
two y o u n g princes,
conceal themselves
f r o m the
unho Idan c y n i n g e s , " IV, 18, p.
("a f a c i e r e g i s
308).
are c onverted to the true
salvation,
they
victoris,"
( " u n f o r h t e " ) as w e l l .
less c a p a b l e
decides
contribution,
needful
IV,
3, p.
the Old English
338).
adds
("bl ¡5e")
When Owine,
as i n t h e
the h e a d o f Q u e e n
he b r i n g s his
sibbe
touchingly
r e s + e S ," II,
from the opened
stores
16, p.
th a t he p r o d u c e d t hose
things
3, p.
that were
264.
T o the
aperta,"
III,
that his body rests
in p e a c e
labours
p.
(“& h i s
204)
("ad
the
lichama on
The L a t i n says o f the f r a g r a n c e w h i c h a r o s e
unsealed
("quasi o p o b a l s a m i
cellaria esse viderentur
8 , p. 2 4 0 ) ; t h e O l d E n g l i s h c o n s i d e r a b l y s t r e n g t h e n s t h i s a n d
increases
Eorcengota's
claims
to h o l i n e s s by a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h
the s c e n t o f the b a l s a m t h a t o f the m o s t v a l u a b l e
world
20,
to the
tom b of the h o l y n u n E o r c e n g o t a t h a t it w a s as s w e e t as if
of balsam had been
by implication
glorious
f r u c t u l a b o r i s a s c e n d i t , " I I,
150).
to
U n d e r s c o r i n g the v alue o f O w i n e ' s
k i n g d o m o f h e a v e n b e a r i n g w i t h h i m the fruits o f h i s
adds
tools
he wishes
L atin d e s c r i p t i o n o f the d eath of A r c h b i s h o p P a u l i n u s , w h o a s c ends
Old English
the
l a b o u r C'eo a m p l i u s o p e r i m a n u u m
( " w o r h t e pa p i n g , pe n y d p e a r f l e c o w a e r o n , " IV,
caelestia regna cum gloriosi
382)
Thus a s sured of
of s tudy o f the Scri p t u r e s ,
apply h i m s e l f m o r e e a r n e s t l y to manual
studium inpendebat,"
16, p.
( " f r o m onsyne paes
to e n t e r a m o n a s t e r y ,
than others
IV,
fac e of.
Captured and condemned to death,
faith and baptized.
face t h e i r e x e c u t i o n e r not only g l adly
fearlessly
A e t h e l t h r y t h *s h o u s e h o l d ,
because,
I Ife s
When Cadwall overruns
f r o m the s i g h t o f the c r u e l k i n g in the O l d E n g l i s h
Latin but
("ge
of the d e f e a t e d k i n g A r w a l d ,
th e v i c t o r i o u s k i n g i n t h e L a t i n
princes
When
i t is n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e e l d e r l y m o n k ' s
le a r n i n g and age b u t also b e c a u s e o f his m e r i t o r i o u s
but
in all three
the a d d i t i o n o f some d e t a i l or o t h e r to the L a t i n d e s c r i p t i o n
of a character,
brothers
at h o m e
10
("hordaern
. . . 5e b a is a m i
and sweetest spices
& para deorw yr6es+ ena w y r t a
i n the
& pa ra s w e t e s -
te n a p a ra pe in mid dangeard e w a e r o n , " I I I , 6 , p. 1 7 4).
The t r a n s l a t o r also often
more
dramatic.
In B o o k
II,
adds de t a i l s
chapter
that h e l p to make
12, w e a r e t o l d t h e s t o r y
a situation
of Edwin, w h o
while
in e x i l e
i n t h e c o u r t o f R a e d w a l d l e a r n s t h a t h i s h o s t is p l a n n i n g t o
surrender h i m to his enemies.
in s i m i l a r t e r m s h i s
outside
the p a l a c e
English paints
("swiSe
ghostly
stone
("residensque m e s t u s
a n t e p a l a t i u m , " p.
178),
the Old
an eve n mor e desolate p icture by h a v i n g h i m sit on a stone
u n r o t on s t a n e , " p.
sentences
B o t h the L a tin and the O l d E n g l i s h d e s c r i b e
anguished t h o u g h t s , but while the Latin has h i m sitting
128).
This det a i l app e a r s in the L a t i n s e v e r a l
l a t e r , b u t t h e r e a d e r l e a r n s o f i t s e c o n d h a n d as i t w e r e
figure wh o
in s u c h
appears
from a
t o E d w i n a n d a s k s h i m w h y h e is s i t t i n g o n a
a dejected manner.
H e r e t h e t r a n s l a t o r is t o b e c o m m e n d e d
for
his sense o f t i m i n g and visual effect.
M o r e d r a m a t i c a l s o b e c a u s e o f a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s is t h e s t o r y o f t h e
co n v e r s i o n of E d w i n ' s h i g h p r i e s t C o ifi
give
the k i n g c l e a r - c u t p r o o f of his
asks the k i n g for a s t a l l i o n
i n B o o k I I,
c h a p t e r 13.
"qucm ascendens
to w e o r p a n "
the O l d English
("that he m i g h t
Coifi
ad i d o l a d e s t r u e n d a v eniret"
( " w h i c h h e m i g h t m o u n t a n d s o t o u t t o d e s t r o y t h e i d o l s , " p.
fairly faithfully by
W i s h i n g to
rejection of the old religion,
184),
rendered
" p a e t he meahte on cuman & d e o f o l g y l d
r i d e o u t a n d o v e r t h r o w t h e i d o l s , ” p.
138).
B o t h the L a t i n a n d the O l d E n g l i s h then m e n t i o n the law p r o h i b i t i n g p r i e s t s
from riding stallions
a c t i o n in t h e
manu,
a n d c a r r y i n g arms.
following manner:
The Latin describes
et ascendens e m i s s a r i u m regis pergebat ad idola"
sword,
effectively.
Coifi's
The Old English dramatizes
stallion he set
the s c e n e more
he then takes
leaps o n the k i n g ' s s t a l l i o n and rides to the idols:
c y n i n g him sw e o rd , p a e t he h i n e mid g y r d e ;
to the L a t i n c o m m e n t that
("Quod aspiciens
"swa g e s c y rp e d n e "
vulgus
& nom h i s s p e re on hond &
("so e q u i p p e d " ) ,
("profanare illud,
omits
the e x act motive
h e rig e "
tho u g h t the p r i e s t m a d
m a k i n g the p e o p l e ' s
reaction
refer
law t hat the h i g h p r i e s t w a s b r e a k i n g .
Latin goes on to describe Coifi
o f the throw:
the co m m o n p e o p l e
At this
a e s t i m a b a t e u m i n s a n i r e " ) , the O l d E n g l i s h adds
c l e a r l y b a c k to the r e l i g i o u s
it
a s p e a r in
"Pa s e a ld e se
h le o p on paes c y n in g e s s t e d a n & t o paem d e o fu lg e ld u m f e r d e . "
point,
girded with a
r e q u e s t is g r a n t e d a n d w e are s h o w n the k i n g g i v i n g
the p r i e s t t he s w o r d w i t h w h i c h he g i r d s h i m s e l f ;
hand,
("So,
he t o o k a s p e a r in his h a n d a n d m o u n t i n g the ki n g ' s
off to where the idols w e r e " ) .
the e n s u i n g
" A c c i n c t u s e r g o g l a d i o a c c e p i t l a n c e a m in
throwing his spear into the temple
iniecta in eo lancea qu a m tenebat").
for C o i f i ' s
action,
The
to p r o fa ne
The Old English
i n s i s t i n g i n s t e a d on the v i olence
"pa s c e a t he mid py s p e r e , p a e t h i t s t i c o d e f a e s t e on paem
("then he c ast his spear,
s o t h a t it s t u c k
f a s t i n t h e s a n c t u a r y " ) . 11
P a s s a g e s d e a l i n g w i t h s t o r m s a t s e a s e e m s t o be a n o t h e r f a v o u r i t e a r e a
of expansion
t ells the
for the tra n s l a t o r .
O n e such p a s s a g e
s t o r y of the p r i e s t Utta,
w ho was caught
in Book
III,
chapter
15,
in a t e r r i b l e storm.
The
O l d E n g l i s h b e g i n s t h e n a r r a t i v e w i t h s e v e r a l r e a l i s t i c d e t a i l s n o t in t h e
Latin.
T h e p a s s e n g e r s e m b a r k a n d the s h i p s e t s o u t
l e + o n , " p. 2 0 0 ) .
Soon,
however,
("heo
contrary winds arise
Both texts then d e p i c t the fury of the waves,
wiS orw e a rde w i n d a s " ) .
s a i l o r s ’a t t e m p t s to m o or the ship w i t h her anchor s,
p a s s e n g e r s as w a t e r f i l l s the ship.
death and their end as
adesse viderent,"
p.
in s c ip eodon 5, u +
("pae+te a s tig o n
iiminent
260).
and the d e s p a i r o f the
T h e L a t i n tells us the p a s s e n g e r s see
("mortem sibi o m n e s
inminere et iamiamque
T h e O l d E n g l i s h is c o n s i d e r a b l y m o r e g raphic;
the p a s s e n g e r s see the figure o f d e a t h itself o p p o s i n g t he m
deaS s e o l f n e him onweardne g e s e a g o n " ) .
In B o o k V,
chapter
a c c o u n t o f the c a l m i n g of a s t o r m b y the h e r m i t Ethe l w a l d ,
is o n c e a g a i n
sailors
in m o r e d r a m a t i c
terms.
s t o r m o n e v e r y h a n d , " pp.
454-55).
the d e s p e r a t e m a n o e u v e r i n g s
a t t e m p t to f l e e
"mortem"
the storm:
turn,
"invenimus nos
("we f o u n d w e w e r e
shut
in b y t h e
T h e O l d E n g l i s h a l l o w s us to v i s u a l i z e
the s e a f a r e r s e n g a g e
in a s t h e y u n s u c c e s s f u l l y
"Caerde w e u s i c 3 i d e r w e c a e rd e , ge m a e tto n w e
u s i c aeghwonon g e l iice s to rm e f o r e s e t h e & f o r e t y n d e
pp.
the Latin
The Latin has the seafarers
t h a t the s t o r m c o m p l e t e l y s u r r o u n d s them:
u n d i q u e v e r s u m p a r 1! t e m p e s t a t e p r a e c l u s o s "
we might
( ” heo e a l l e
1, G u t h f r i d ' s
t r a n s l a t e d a s "deaSes s e o l f e s , " a n d t h e n e a r p a n i c o f t h e
is d e s c r i b e d
discovering
the
we found ourselves closed
. .
("Turn w h e r e v e r
in a n d c u t o f f b y t h e s a m e s t o r m , "
386-87) .
One
final example must
suffice,
in t h i s c a s e a p a r t i c u l a r l y f i t t i n g
o n e s i n c e B e d e h i m s e l f c o m m e n t s on the p o t e n t i a l e f f e c t of the s t o r y o n the
audience,
his
a p o i n t no d o u b t w e l l
love o f moralizing
writes
Bede,
tales.
taken by the Old English translator,
"Factum est hoc nuper
"ac longe lateque d i f f a m a t u m m u l t o s ad a g e n d a m e t non d i f f e r e n -
dam scelerum suorum paenitudinem provocavit.
nostrarum lectione
of Bernicia.
The
penance for their
of ours have
with
in p r o v i n c i a B e r n i c i o r u m , "
the
litterarum fiat!"
Quod utinam exhinc etiam
("This h a p p e n e d l a t e l y in the k i n g d o m
story spread far a n d wide and r o u s e d m a n y p e o p l e
sins wi t h o u t delay.
s a m e e f f e c t ! " pp.
And may
504-5).
the r e a d i n g of
It o c c u r s
to do
this acco unt
in B o o k V,
chapter
14
an d d e a l s w i t h a m o n k w h o h a v i n g r e f u s e d to li v e a g o o d life s a w a t the
m o m e n t o f h i s d e a t h t h e p l a c e r e s e r v e d f o r h i m in h e l l .
describes him onl y as
"fabrili arte singularis"
T h o u g h the Latin
("an e x c e p t i o n a l l y s k i l l e d
craftsman/'
p.
•■syndrygl ice
502),
the O l d Eng l i s h
further particularizes,
in s m i3 c r a e f + e wae I n e l a e r e d "
c r a f t o f a s m i t h , " p.
442).
saying
( " s p e c i a l l y w e l l t r a i n e d in the
E x p a n d i n g upon the L a t i n ' s
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t he
reactions of the o ther monks, by w h o m "ad c a s t i g a t i o r e m v i tam converti
ammonebatur"
("he w a s w a r n e d t o t u r n t o a m o r e
the O l d Engl i s h dwells on his sinfulness:
p a e t he h i s
absences
life and p u rge his sins").
residero"
suddenly strikes h i m and brings him to his death
ad extrema perductus")
h e fig re a d le ;
"S itta n
and
The illness
lic g a n "
that
("percussus e n i m languore
is p r e s e n t e d a t g r e a t e r l e n g t h a n d m o r e
cli n i c a l l y in the translation:
g e la e d e d "
The Latin speaks
("to r e m a i n i n h i s w o r k s h o p d a y a n d
W h a t c o uld he have bee n doing all the w h i l e ?
( " s i t t i n g a n d l y i n g d o w n " ) , answers the t ranslator.
atque
ia e rd o n
(they a d m o n i s h e d
f r o m r e l i g i o u s o f f i c e s s i n c e h e p r e f e r r e d " m a g i s q u e in
o f f icina sua die noctuque
night").
"& h i e h ie n e monedon &
g e c e rd e t o c la e n s n u n g e h i s s y n n a "
life
a n d w a r n e d h i m to change his
of his
c h a s t e n e d w a y o f life") ,
" p a waes s e mon g e s le g e n & gestonden
& seo weox & h e f i g a d e , oSSaet he waes t o pam yte m e s ta n daege
("Then was the man stricken and afflicted with severe illness;
and i t i n c r eased and grew worse,
till h e was b r o u g h t to the last day").
the m o m e n t o f d e a t h the m o n k sees Satan, w h o m the O l d E n g l i s h calls:
e a ld a n fe o nd moncynnes"
depths of hell,
fundis
Tartari
to stress
or Tartarus
in Bede's
the suffering o f hell,
t i n t r e g o opene"
"pone
("the o l d e n e m y o f m a n k i n d " ) , p l u n g e d i n t o the
classical Latin:
. . . vidit aperta Tartara."
he I le t i n t r e g e s "
At
" d e m e r s u m in p r o -
The Ol d English writer
chooses
t r a n s l a t i n g "b ese n ce d n e on pam grundum
("sunk in the d e p t h s o f h e l l ' s
torments")
("he s a w h e l l ' s t o r m e n t o p e n " ) .
a n d "geseah h e I I e
A l though the monks beg
him "paenitentiam faceret"
("to d o p e n a n c e " ) , w h i c h p h r a s e t he O l d E n g l i s h
significantly expands
" h i s synna hreowe & a n d e tn e s s e dyd e"
repent and confess
into
his s i n s " ) , the d y i n g m o n k cannot.
t h a t the t a l e is m e a n t t o i l l u s t r a t e a p p e a r s
a way in a s u b o r d i n a t e noun clause:
quidam,
The
("to
folk p rove rb
in the L a tin b u t t u c k e d
"Unde accidit illi, qu o d s olent dicere
q u i a qui non vult ecclesiae ianuam sponte humiliatus ingredi,
ne c esse h a b e t in ianuam inferni non sponte damnatus
introduci"
("It h a p p e n e d
t o h i m a s p e o p l e s a y t h a t h e w h o is n o t w i l l i n g t o e n t e r t h e c h u r c h g a t e
humbly o f his own accord,
gates
of hell,
i s b o u n d t o b e c a r r i e d a g a i n s t h i s w i l l t o the
a d a m n e d soul").
is s t a t e d c l e a r l y as a p r o v e r b
a much more quotable
¡ng o n g a n , se s c e a l
form:
In
the O l d E n g l i s h , h o w e v e r ,
the proverb
in a g r a m m a t i c a l l y i n d e p e n d e n t u n i t a nd in
"Se Se ne w i l e c i r i c a n
d u ru w i l s u m l i c e geeadmoded
nede ¡n h e l l e d u ru u n w i I I s u m l i c e g e n ip e r a d gela eded
beon"
("He t h a t w i l l n o t v o l u n t a r i l y
shall of necessity
and hum bl y e n t e r the c h u r c h door,
against his will be
l e d as o n e o f t h e d a m n e d i n a t h e l l ' s
d o o r " ).
These examples,
s e l e c t e d at r a n d o m , p r o v i d e a v e r y
the w e a l t h of additional details
many of which contribute
r e s p o n s e to the p e o p l e
not been
his
completely
readers,
in t he O l d E n g l i s h .
to a true heightening o f the reader's
and situations Bede depicts.
fa i t h f u l in t r a n s m i t t i n g Bede's
he has
incomplete view of
Numerous others exist,
emotional
If the t r a n s l a t o r has
visi o n o f h i s t o r y to
r e d e e m e d h i m s e l f as a m a s t e r o f p r o s e n a r r a t i v e .
University of Ottawa
NOTES
^ " T h e O l d E n g l i s h B e d e , " PBA 4 8 (1962) 5 7 - 9 0 .
authorship,
see also Sherman Kuhn,
Revisited
in S t u d i e s P r e s e n te d
"The A u t h o r s h i p o f the O l d E n g l i s h B e d e
t o Tauno F. M ustano ja on t h e O c c a s io n o f
H i s S i x t i e t h B i r t h d a y , NM 7 3 (1972)
2
In his
On the q u e s t i o n of
172-80.
" I m i t a t i o n a n d t h e V e n e r a b l e B e d e ' s H i s t o r i a E c c l e s i a s t i c a ,"
i n S a i n t s , S c h o l a r s and H e r o e s : S t u d i e s i n M e die val C u l t u r e i n H o n o u r o f
C h a r l e s N. J o n e s , ed. M a r g o t H. K i n g a n d W e s l e y M. S t e v e n s , I ( C o l l e g e v i l l e ,
Minn.
19 7 9 )
patterns,
1 6 1 - 9 0 , C a l v i n B.
Kendall discusses Bede's
e s p e c i a l l y b i b l i c a l ones.
if the Old English translator saw
scrupulous
be
a b out p r e s e r v i n g them.
an i m i t a t i o n o f A c t s
w hat Kendall
32),
takes
these patterns,
Though he reproduces what Kendall
an i m i t a t i o n o f the P a u l i n e E p i s t l e s
24 a n d 2 8 a n d a b r i d g i n g c h a p t e r 23.
(I, 23,
Kendall's
level of imitation,
t h a t of the w h o l e b o d y o f s a c r e d s c r i p t u r e s ,
ously marred by
translator, who deletes
the
along with chapters
period.
1-16 K e n d a l l
finds
that
finds to
chapters
17-22
24,
27-
second
is a l s o s e r i ­
f r o m B o o k I, w h e r e
an i m i t a t i o n o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t
The s t o r y o f G e r m a n u s o f A u x e r r c
a c c o r d i n g to K e n d a l l ,
however,
he was not particularly
in B o o k I o f the L a t i n , he o n l y p a r t i a l l y p r e s e r v e s
to b e
omitting chapters
use o f o t h e r types of
I t is i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e ,
(I, 19) , a p a r a l l e l t o J o b
is b u r i e d i n c h a p t e r 14 o f t h e O l d E n g l i s h , w h i c h
also contains chapters
(V,
16-17),
spatially and
the Latin.
The account of holy places
"the axes o f h i s t o r y
t e m p o r a l l y to e m b r a c e all h u m a n expe r i e n c e "
omitted entirely
3
1 5 to 2 0 o f
which Kendall describes as extending
(p. 1 7 6 ) ,
is
in t h e O l d E n g l i s h .
The O ld E n g l i s h V e r s i o n o f B e d e ' s E c c l e s i a s t i c a l H i s t o r y o f t h e
E n g l i s h P e o p l e , ed . T h o m a s M i l l e r , E E T S , O . S . 9 5 a n d 9 6 ( L o n d o n 1 8 9 0 - 9 1 ) , I,
42-43.
All
subsequent references
All references
to the L a t i n
to t h e O l d E n g l i s h a r e f r o m t h i s e d i t i o n .
text are
taken from Bede's E c c le s i a s ti c a l
H i s t o r y o f t h e E n g l i s h P e o p l e , ed. B e r t r a m C o l g r a v e a n d R . A . B . M y n o r s
(Oxford 1969).
Any changes
I have made
to t h e t r a n s l a t i o n s p r o v i d e d in
t h e s e e d i t i o n s a p p e a r in s q u a r e b r a c k e t s .
4
I n h i s m a s t e r f u l c h a p t e r o n B e d e in The V i s i o n o f H i s t o r y m
Eariy
B r i t a i n f r o m G i l d a s t o G e o f f r e y o f Monmouth ( N e w Y o r k 1 9 6 6 ) , R o b e r t W.
H a n n i n g s p e a k s o f B o o k I, c h a p t e r s 1 7 - 2 2 a s e s s e n t i a l t o B e d e ' s h i s t o r i c a l
vision of
the Saxons
the New Israel,
"not s i mply as v i r t u o u s h e a t h e n s
. . . but
. . .
as
c h o s e n b y G o d to r e p l a c e the s i n - s t a i n e d B r i t o n s in the
promised land of Britain"
(p.
70).
By o m i t t i n g t hese c h a p t e r s entirely,
the Old English has all but obliterated this vision.
^ For
Bede's
"d e te st a t i o n of h e r e s y a n d sc hism" a s a s ig n o f his
" s ense o f w r i t i n g w i t h i n the p a t r i s t i c t r a d i t i o n , "
to b e
something which seems
l o s t o n t h e O l d E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t o r a s is a p p a r e n t f r o m h i s o m i s s i o n s
and abridgements of materials dealing with heresies a nd schisms,
Bonner,
" B e d e a n d M e d i e v a l C i v i l i z a t i o n , " ASE 2
the Fathers and apostolic tradition loom large
described above,
for
(1973)
73-4.
see G e r a l d
The faith of
in t h e p a t t e r n s o f h i s t o r y
these are the very forces w h i c h are employed to defeat
falsehood and evil.
On the r e f u t a t i o n o f h e r e s i e s as one of the r e a s o n s
for w riting history,
s e e B. L a c r o i x ,
( Montreal 1971)
o.p.,
L ' H i s t o r i e n au moyen a g e
18 9 .
^ For an e x cellent discus s i o n of this and other rhetorical strategies
in Bede,
s e e C a l v i n B. K e n d a l l ,
Rhetoric of Faith,"
"Bede's H isto ria
e c c le s ia s tic a : The
i n M e d ie v a l E l o q u e n c e : S t u d i e s i n
t h e T h e o ry and
P r a c t i c e o f M e d ie v a l R h e t o r i c , e d . J a m e s J. M u r p h y ( B e r k e l e y 1 9 7 8 ) 1 4 5 - 7 2 .
Kendall
sees the H isto ria
man's experience
The
as
"a f i n a l l y u n i f i e d v i s i o n o f t h e t o t a l i t y o f
fr o m the m u n d a n e to t h e m i r a c u l o u s ,
instrument which enabled Bede
materials relating
losing control,
to h o l d
in a n d b e y o n d time.
in s u s p e n s i o n t h e m o s t d i v e r s e
to the i n t e r n a l a n d exter n a l d r a m a s o f life w i t h o u t
and thus to p r o j e c t the shape o f f aith
the Latin r h e t o r i c of
the e arly Midd l e Ages"
(p. 1 4 7 ) .
in t h e s i x t h age,
was
This
is, o f c o u r s e , o n e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l r e a s o n s
as Livy had pointed out
model
in t h e P r e f a c e
for so m a n y l ater h i s t o r i a n s :
re r u m s a l u b r e ac f r ugiferum,
monumento
intueri;
foedum inceptu,
"Hoc
illud est praecipue
o m n i s te e x em pl i d o cu m e n t a
inde tibi t u a e q u e rei p u b l i c a e q u o d
foedum exitu,
quod vites"
history wholesome and profitable
for w r i t i n g h i s t o r y
t o h i s Ab Ur be Q o n d i t a
(1, 10) , a
in c o g n i t i o n e
in i n l u s t r i p o s i t a
imitere capias,
("What c h i e f l y m a k e s
is this,
that y o u b e h o l d the l e s s o n s of
e v e r y k i n d o f e x p e r i e n c e set forth as o n a c o n s p i c u o u s m o n u m e n t :
you may
c h o o s e for y o u r s e l f and for your own
these mark
f o r a v o i d a n c e w h a t is s h a m e f u l
the r e s u l t " ) :
1948-67)
B.O.
Foster,
inde
the s t u d y o f
from these
state w h a t to imitate,
from
in t h e c o n c e p t i o n a n d s h a m e f u l
e d . , Loeb Classical Library
in
(Cambridge, Mass.
I, 6- 7 .
0
Benoit Lacroix,
o.p.,
of this a i m of history:
in O r o se e t s e s i d é e s
{Montréal 1965)
writes
"N a r r a t i o r e i g e s t a e ad i n s t r u c t i o n e m p o s t e r i t a t i s ,
c ' e s t la d e f i n i t i o n q u e r e ç u r e n t tour à tour et sa n s d i s c u t e r
le m o y e n â g e et la R e n a i s s a n c e "
(p.
51).
l'antiquité,
S e e a l s o h i s L ' H i s t o r i e n au
moyen a g e (at n. 5) 1 6 8 , e s p e c i a l l y n. 1 0 2 f o r s o u r c e s f o r t h i s a n d s i m i l a r
s t a t e m e n t s in Cicero,
9
I n De O r a t o r e ,
representation
Quintilian,
and Bede himself.
2, 1 5 , C i c e r o n o t e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f g e o g r a p h i c a l
in h i s t o r i c a l writing,
a r r a n g e m e n t in i m p o r t a n c e :
regionum descriptionem;
placing
it n e x t to c h r o n o l o g i c a l
"Rerum ratio ordinem temporum desiderat,
. . . "
("The n a t u r e o f t he s u b j e c t n e e d s
logical arrangement and geographical representation"):
H. R a c k h a m ,
eds.,
I
Loeb Classical Library
Mass.
chrono­
Sutton and
1942)
I,
244-45.
wish to thank my student Deborah Knott for several valuable
s u g g e s t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g the
^
(Cambridge,
E.W.
translator's prose
In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s e p i s o d e o n e
E n g l i s h a d d i t i o n s of
"Hwaet ÎC w a t"
should also note the Old
("Well I know")
the k i n g or the r e n d e r i n g of the L a t i n
as "Forpon m e p y n c e ô wislic"
style.
to C o i f i ' s
"Unde r e stât ut"
( " T h e refore it s e e m s w i s e
Co i f i ' s w ords a m o r e personal ring than
s p e e c h to
("So i t f o l l o w s " )
to m e " ) ,
is h e a r d i n t h e m o r e
which give
formal Latin.
The Latin
text o f the e a r l i e r p a r t o f t h e s t o r y is d i s c u s s e d a t l e n g t h by
Donald
F r y in
K.
"The A r t of Bode:
Edwin's Council"
in S a i n t s , S c h o l a r s
and H e ro e s (at n. 2) 1 9 1 - 2 0 7 .
F r y l i n k s the
to P s a l m 83 a n d
As Fry and o t h e r s have p o i n t e d out,
its e x e g è s i s .
q u o t e s f r o m the P s a l m s e v e r a l
is c o n v incing.
" s p a r r o w in the h a l l "
t i m e s in t h e H i s t o r i a ,
image
Bede
and Fry's argument
The t r a n s l a t o r d o e s n o t see m to h a v e u n d e r s t o o d w h a t Bede
was doing here,
83
(III,
instance.
however.
19 a n d IV,
He d o e s not,
cenaculo" pun,
using
"tabernacula,"
and
See,
for example,
217-18.
He d o e s r e t a i n the L a t i n ' s q u o t a t i o n s
13) a n d e v e n
however,
instead
"brid"
includes the Latin verse
reproduce anything like
in the
the
from Psalm
first
"Tabernacula/
"heal I,” n o t n o r m a l l y e m p l o y e d to g l o s s
for "passer"
A.P. Campbell,
ed..
i n s t e a d o f the c o r r e c t "s pearw a."
The T i b e r i u s P s a l t e r
(Ottawa 1974),