I.--ANGLO-SAXON PREFIXES.
A--(corrupted from A.-S. _on_) signifies _in_, _on_, _at_: as abed, aboard,
aside, aback; and gives the adverbial form to adjectives, as in aloud,
aboard.
BE--gives a transitive signification, as in bespeak. It is sometimes
intensive, as in bestir, and converts an adjective into a verb, as in
bedim. _Be_, as a form of _by_, also denotes proximity, as in beside: as
bystander.
FOR[10]--means privation, or opposition: as forbear, forbid, forget.
FORE--_before_: as foretell, forebode.
MIS--_error_, _wrongness_: as mistake, misstate, misinform.
N--has a negative signification, as in many languages: thus, never,
neither, none.
OFF--from offspring.
OUT--_beyond_: as outdo, outlaw.
OVER--_above_: as overhang, overflow, overturn.
TO--in to-day, to-morrow.
UN--_not_, _the reverse_: as, unskilled, unlearned.
UNDER--_beneath_: as undermine.
WITH--_against_ (German _wider_): as withstand.
II.--ANGLO-SAXON SUFFIXES.
AR, ARD, ER, YER, STER[11]--signifying _agent_ or _doer_; as in beggar,
drunkard, beginner, lawyer, spinster. _Er_ forms verbs of adjectives, as
lower, from low, and also forms the comparatives of adjectives.
ESS, as in songstress, is borrowed from the French.
DOM, SHIP, RIC, WIC--from _dom_, judgment; _ship_, shape or condition;
_ric_, _rice_, power; _wic_, a dwelling--signify state, condition, quality,
etc., as in kingdom, friendship, bishopric, Berwick.
EL, KIN (= _chen_, German), LET (from French), LING, OCK--have a
_diminutive_ effect, as in manikin, streamlet, youngling, hillock,
cockerel.
EN--adjective termination, as wooden, from wood; it also converts
adjectives into verbs, as deepen from deep.
FOLD--from _fealdan_, to fold; a numeral termination, like _ple_, from the
Latin _plico_, I fold.
FUL--full; truthful.
HOOD, NESS--of uncertain derivation, signify state, etc., as in priesthood,
righteousness.
ISH--_isc_ (Saxon), _isch_ (German), denotes a quality; like rakish,
knavish, churlish, Danish. _Ish_ is also employed as a
diminutive--blackish.
LESS--_loss_: as penniless, hopeless.
LIKE and LY--_like_; _lic_ (A.-S.): as warlike, manly.
SOME--_sum_ (A.-S.), _sam_ (German), lonesome, handsome.
TEEN--ten, as in fourteen.
TY--from _tig_ (A.-S ), ten; _zig_ (German), as in six-_ty_. _Teen_ adds
ten--_ty_ multiplies by ten.
WARD--_weard_, _wärts_ (German), _versus_ (Latin), against, direction,
towards; downward, eastward.
WISE--_wisa_, manner; likewise.
Y--_ig_, an adjective termination; _dreorig_ (A.-S.), dreary.
ANGLO-SAXON ROOTS AND ENGLISH DERIVATIVES.
The pronunciation of Anglo-Saxon is much nearer to that of modern German or
the Continental pronunciation of Latin than of modern English.
The letters of the alphabet wanting in Anglo-Saxon are: _j_, _k_, _q_, _v_,
and _z_. _K_ is commonly represented by _c_; thus, _cyning_ (king) is
pronounced _kining_; _cyrtel_, _kirtle_; _qu_ is represented by _cw_, as
_cwic_, _quick_; _cwen_, _queen_; _cwellan_, to _quell_; _th_ is
represented by two peculiar characters, one of which in its reduced form
resembles _y_, as in _ye olden times_, where _ye_ should be pronounced
_the_, and not _ye_, as is often ignorantly done.
Long vowels should be carefully distinguished from short vowels. Long
vowels are _a_ as _far_, _ae_ as in _fare_, _e_ as in _they_, _i_ as in
_pique_, _o_ as in _bone_, _u_ as in _rule_, _y_ as in _i_ (nearly). Short
vowels are _a_ as in _fast_, _ae_ as in _man_, _e_ as in _men_, _i_ as in
_pin_, _o_ as in _God_, _u_ as in _full_, _y_ as in _i_ (nearly).
In the diphthongs _ea_, _eo_, and _ie_, the first element receives the
stress; the second is pronounced very lightly.
There are no silent letters in Anglo-Saxon as in modern English. The vowel
of every syllable is pronounced, and in difficult combinations of
consonants, as in _hlud_, loud, _cniht_, knight, _cnif_, knife, each
consonant has its distinct sound.
_E_ before _a_ and _o_ has the sound of _y_ as a consonant; _i_ before _e_
and _u_ has the same sound: thus, _Earl_ = _yarl_; _eow_ = _you_; _iett_ =
_yett_; and _iúgoth_ = _yúgoth_, youth.
AC, _an oak_--oak, oaken.
ACSIAN, _to inquire_--ask.
ÆCER, _a field_--acre, acreage.
ÆR, _before_--early, ere, erelong, erst.
AFT, _hind-part_--after, abaft.
ÁGAN, _to have_--owe, own, owner, ought, disown.
ARISAN, _to arise_--raise, rise, rouse.
BÁCAN, _to bake_--baker, bakery, bakehouse, batch.
BÆC, _back_--backbite, backslide, backward, aback.
BÆLG, _a bag_.
BALD, _bold, brave_--bold, boldness.
BÁNA, _death_--bane, baneful, henbane.
BANC, _a bank or raised place_--bank, banker, bankrupt, bankruptcy, bench,
embankment.
BEACNIAN, _to beckon_--beck, beckon, beacon.
BELLAN, _to roar_--bawl, bellow.
BEORGAN, _to protect_--borough, borrow, burgh, burglar, burrow, harbinger,
harbor, berth.
BEORHT, _bright_--bright.
BERAN, _to bear, to bring forth_--barrow, bear, bier, birth.
BIDAN, _to wait_--abide.
BIDDAN, _to pray_, _to bid_--bid, bidding, bead, beadsman, beadle, forbid,
unbidden.
BINDAN, _to bind_--band, bond, bondage, bundle.
BLÆC, _pale_--bleach, bleacher, bleak, bleakness.
BLAWAN, _to blow_--blade, bladder, blast, blaze, blazon, blister, blossom,
blow, blush, bluster.
BLETSIAN, _to bless_--bless, blessing.
BRÁD, _broad_--broad, breadth, board, aboard.
BRÉCAN, _to break_--bray (_to pound_), breach, breaker, breakfast, brink,
broken.
BREOST, _the breast_--breast, breastplate, breastwork, abreast.
BREÓWAN, _to brew_--brew, brewer, brewery.
BRUCAN, _to use_--broker, brokerage, brook (_to endure_).
BUAN, _to cultivate_--boor, boorish, neighbor, neighborhood.
BUGAN, _to bow or bend_--bay, bight, bough, bow, buxom, elbow.
BYLDAN, _to design_, _to make_--build, builder, building.
BYRNAN, _to burn_--brand, brandish, brandy, brimstone, brown, brunt,
auburn, firebrand.
CÆLAN, _to cool_--chill, chilblain.
CEAPIAN, _to buy_--cheap, cheapen, cheapness, chaffer, chapman.
CÉNNAN, _to produce_--kin, kind, kindness, kindred, akin, mankind.
CEORL, _a churl_--carle, churlish.
CLÆNE, _clean_--clean, cleanly, cleanliness, cleanse, unclean.
CLÁTH, _cloth_--clothe, clothier, clothing, clad, unclad.
CLEÓFAN, _to cleave_; CLIFIAN, _to adhere_--cleaver, cliff, clover, club.
CNAFA, _a boy_--knave, knavery.
CNÁWAN, _to know_--knowledge, acknowledge, foreknow, unknown.
CNYLL, _a loud noise_--knell.
CNYTTAN, _to knit_--knitting, knot, knotty, net, network.
CRACIAN, _to crack_; CEARCIAN, _to creak_--crack, crackle, creak, cricket,
croak, screech, shriek.
CUMAN, _to come_--comely, comeliness, become, overcome, welcome.
CUNNAN, _to know_, _to be powerful_--can, con, cunning, keen.
CWELLAN, _to slay_--kill, quell.
DÆG, _a day_--dawn, daylight, day-star, daisy = day's eye.
DǼL, _a part_--deal, dole, ordeal.
DÉMAN, _to think_--deem.
DEOR, _a wild animal_--deer.
DEORE, _dusky or black_--dark, darken, darkly, darkness.
DIC, _a dyke_--dig, ditch, ditcher.
DISC, _a plate_--desk, disc, dish.
DÓM, _judgment_--doom, doomsday.
DÓN, _to do_--doer, deed, undo.
DRAGAN, _to draw_--drag, draggle, drain, draught, draughtsman, draw, dray.
DRIFAN, _to drive_--drift, driver, drove.
DRIGAN, _to dry_--drysalter, drought, drug (originally _dried plants_),
druggist.
DRINCAN, _to suck in_--drench, drink, drunk, drunkard, drunken.
DRYPAN, _to drip or drop_--drip, drop, droop, dribble, drivel.
DWINAN, _to pine_--dwindle, dwine.
DYN, _a noise_--din, dun.
EAGE, _the eye_--eye, eyeball, eye-bright, eyelid.
EALD, _old_--alderman, earl.
EFEN, _just_--even, evenness.
ERIAN, _to plough_, _to ear_--earth, earthy, earthquake.
FAEGER, _bright_--fair, fairness.
FÁER, _fear_--fearful, fearless.
FARAN, _to go_--fare, farewell, ferry, ford, seafaring, wayfarer.
FEDAN, _to feed_--feed, feeder, fodder, food, father, fatherly.
FEOND, _an enemy_--fiend, fiendish.
FLEÓGAN, _to fly_--flag, flake, fledge, flee, flicker, flight.
FLEÓTAN, _to float_--float, fleet.
FLÓWAN, _to flow_--flood, flow.
FOLGIAN, _to go after_--follow.
FÓN, _to seize _--fang, finger.
FÓT, _the foot_--foot, fetter, fetlock.
FREÓN, _to love_--free, freedom, friend, friendship.
FRETAN, _to gnaw_--fret, fretful.
FUGEL, _a bird_--fowl, fowler, fowling-piece.
FÚL, _unclean_--filth, filthy, foul, fulsome.
FULLIAN, _to whiten_--full (_to scour and thicken cloth in a mill_),
fuller, fuller's-earth.
FÝR, _fire_--fiery, fireworks, bonfire.
GABBAN, _to mock_--gabble, gibe, gibberish, jabber.
GALAN, _to sing_--nightingale.
GANGAN, _to go_--gang, gangway.
GÁST, _a ghost_--gas, ghastly, ghost, ghostly, aghast.
GEARD, _an enclosure _--garden, orchard, yard.
GEOTAN, _to pour_--gush, gut.
GEREFA, _a governor_--grieve (_an overseer_), sheriff, sheriffdom.
GETAN, _to get_--get, beget, begotten, forget, forgetful.
GIFAN, _to give_--give, gift, forgive, forgiveness, misgive, unforgiven.
GLOWAN, _to glow_--glow, glowing.
GÓD, _good_--gospel, gossip.
GRÆS, _grass_--grass, graze, grazier.
GRAFAN, _to dig_--grave, graver, graft, groove, grove, grub, engrave.
GRAPIAN, _to grapple_; GRÍPAN, _to gripe_; GROPIAN, _to grope_--grapple,
grapnel, gripe, grope, group, grovel.
GREOT, _dust_--gritty, groats.
GRÓWAN, _to grow_--grow, growth.
GRÚND, _the ground_--ground, groundless, groundsel, groundwork.
HABBAN, _to have_--have, haft, behave, behavior, misbehave.
HÆGE, _a hedge_--haw, hawthorn.
HÆL, _sound_, _whole_--hail, hale, heal, health, healthful, healthy, holy,
holiness, whole, wholesome.
HÁM, _a dwelling_--hamlet, home, homely, homeliness.
HANGIAN, _to hang_--hang, hanger, hinge, unhinge, overhang.
HÁT, _heat_--heat, heater, hot.
HEALDAN, _to hold_--halt, halter, hilt, hold, behold, uphold, upholsterer,
withhold.
HEARD, _hard_--harden, hardihood, hardship, hardware, hardy.
HEBBAN, _to lift_--heap, heave, heaven, heavy, upheaval.
HÉDAN, _to heed_--heed, heedful, heedfulness, heedless, heedlessness.
HEORTE, _the heart_--hearten, heartless, hearty, heartburn, heart's-ease,
dishearten.
HLÁF, _bread_--loaf.
HLEAPAN, _to leap_--leap, overleap, elope, elopement.
HOL, _a hole_--hole, hold (_of a ship_), hollow, hollowness.
HRISTLAN, _to make quick sounds_--rustle, rustling.
HUNTIAN, _to rush_--hunt, hunter, huntsman.
HÚS, _house_--housewife, husband, hustings.
HWEORFAN, _to turn_--swerve, wharf.
HÝRAN, _to hear_--hear, hearer, hearsay.
LǼDAN, _to lead_--lead, leader, loadstar, loadstone, mislead.
LÆFAN, _to leave_--left, eleven, twelve.
LǼRAN, _to teach_--learn, learner, learning, lore, unlearned.
LANG, _long_--long, length, lengthen, lengthy, linger.
LECGAN, _to lay_--lay, layer, lair, law, lawful, lawless, lea, ledge,
ledger, lie, low, lowly, outlaw.
LEOFIAN, LYBBAN, _to live_--live, lively, livelihood, livelong, alive,
outlive.
LEOHT, _light_--lighten, lightsome, lighthouse, enlighten.
LÍC, _like_--like, likely, likelihood, likeness, likewise, unlike.
LOCIAN, _to stretch forward_--look.
LOMA, _utensils_, _furniture_--loom, hand-loom, power-loom.
LOSIAN, _to lose_--lose, loser, loss.
LÚF, _love_; LUFIAN, _to love_--lover, lovely, loveliness, lief, beloved,
unlovely.
LYFAN, _to permit_--leave (_permission_), belief, believe, believer,
misbelieve.
LYFT, _the air_--loft, lofty, aloft.
MACIAN, _to make_--make, maker, match, matchless, mate, inmate.
MÆNGAN, _to mix_--among, mingle, commingle, intermingle, mongrel.
MAGAN, _to be able_--may, might, mighty, main, mainland, dismay.
MEARC, _a boundary_--mark, marksman, marches, remark.
METAN, _to measure_--meet, meeting, meet (_fit_), meetness.
MUND, _a defence_--mound.
MURNAN, _to murmur_--mourn, mourner, mournful.
MYND, _the mind_--mind, mindful, mindfulness, remind.
NÆS, _a nose_--naze, ness.
NAMA, _a name_--name, nameless, namesake, misname.
NEAD, _need_--need, needful, needless, needs, needy.
NEAH, _nigh_--near, next, neighbor.
NIHT, _night_--night, nightfall, nightless, nightmare, nightshade.
OGA, _dread_--ugly, ugliness.
PÆTH, _a path_--pathless, pathway, footpath.
PLEGAN, _to exercise_, _to sport_--play, player, playful, playmate.
RÆCAN, _to reach_--reach, overreach, rack, rack-rent.
RǼDAN, _to read_--read, readable, reader, reading, riddle.
READ, _red_--red, redden, ruddy.
REAFIAN, _to seize_--bereave, bereavement, raven, ravenous, rive, rob,
robber, robbery, rove, rover.
RECAN, _to heed_--reck, reckless, recklessness, reckon, reckoning.
RÍDAN, _to ride_--ride, rider, road, roadster, roadstead.
RINNAN, _to run_--run, runner, runaway, outrun.
RIPAN, _to reap_--reap, reaper, ripe, ripen, ripeness, unripe.
RUH, _rough_--rough, roughness.
SÆGAN, _to say_--say, saying, hearsay, unsay.
SAR, _painful_--sore, soreness, sorrow, sorrowful, sorry.
SCACAN, _to shake_--shake, shaky, shock, shocking.
SCEADAN, _to shade_--shade, shady, shadow, shed (_a covered enclosure_).
SCEDAN, _to scatter_, _to shed_--shed (_to spill_), watershed.
SCEOFAN, _to push_--shove, shovel, scuffle, shuffle, sheaf.
SCEÓTAN, _to shoot_--shoot, shot, sheet, shut, shutter, shuttle, overshoot,
undershot, upshot.
SCÉRAN, _to cut_--scar, scarf, score, share, sharp, shear, sheriff, shire.
SCÍNAN, _to shine_--sheen, outshine, moonshine, sunshine.
SCREOPAN, _to creak_--scrape, scraper, swap, scrap-book.
SCROB, _a bush_--shrub, shrubbery.
SCYPPAN, _to form_--shape, shapeless, landscape.
SELLAN, _to give_--sale, sell, sold.
SEON, _to see_--see, seer, sight, foresee, oversee, unsightly, gaze.
SETTAN, _to set_; SITTAN, _to sit_--set, setter, settle, settler,
settlement, set, beset, onset, outset, upset.
SÍDE, _side_--side, sideboard, aside, beside, inside, outside, upside.
SINGAN, _to sing_--sing, singer, song.
SLÆC, _slack_--slack, slackness, slow, sloth, slothful, sluggard, sluggish.
SLEÁN, _to slay_--slay, slaughter, sledge (_a heavy hammer_).
SLIDAN, _to slide_--slide, sled, sledge.
SLIPAN, _to glide_--slip, slipper, slippery, slipshod.
SMITAN, _to smite_--smite, smiter, smith, smithy.
SNICAN, _to creep_--snake, sneak.
SOCC, _a shoe_--sock, socket.
SOFT, _soft_--soften, softly, softness.
SOTH, _true_--sooth, soothsayer.
SPECAN, _to speak_--speak, speaker, speech, bespeak.
SPELL, _a message_--spell (_discourse_), gospel.
SPINNAN, _to spin_--spinner, spider.
STÁN, _a stone_--stony, stoneware.
STANDAN, _to stand_--standard, understand, understanding, withstand.
STEALL, _a place_--stall, forestall, install, pedestal.
STEORFAN, _to die_--starve, starvation, starveling.
STICIAN, _to stick_--stake, stick, stickle, stickleback, sting, stitch,
stock, stockade, stocking.
STIGAN, _to ascend_--stair, staircase, stile, stirrup, sty.
STRECCAN, _to stretch_--stretch, stretcher, straight, straighten,
straightness, outstretch, overstretch.
STÝRAN, _to steer_--steer, steerage, steersman, stern (_the hind part of a
ship_), astern.
STÝRIAN, _to stir_--stir, bestir.
SÚR, _sour_--sour, sourish, sourness, sorrel, surly, surliness.
SWERIAN, _to swear_--swear, swearer, forswear, answer, unanswered.
SWÉT, _sweet_--sweet, sweetbread, sweeten, sweetmeat, sweetness.
TÁECAN, _to show, to teach_--teach, teachable, teacher.
TELLAN, _to count_--tell, teller, tale, talk, talkative, foretell.
THINCAN, _to seem_; pret. thuh-te, _methinks_, _methought_.
THRINGAN, _to press_--throng.
THYR, _dry_--thirst, thirsty.
TREOWE, _true_--true, truth, truthful, truism, trust, trustee, trustworthy,
trusty.
TWA, _two_--twice, twine, twist, between, entwine.
TYRNAN, _to turn_--turn, turner, turncoat, turnkey, turnpike, overturn,
return, upturn.
WACAN, _to awake_--wake, wakeful, waken, wait, watch, watchful,
watchfulness, watchman.
WARNIAN, _to defend_, _to beware_--warn, warning, warrant, wary, weir,
aware, beware.
WEARM, _glowing_--warm, warmth.
WEGAN, _to move_--wag, waggle, wain, wave, way, wayfarer, weigh, weight,
weighty.
WEORDH, _worth_--worth, worthy, worship, worshipper, unworthy.
WERIAN, _to cover_--wear, wearable, weary, wearisome.
WINNAN, _to labor_--win, won.
WITAN, _to know_--wise, wisdom, wizard, wit, witness, witty.
WRINGAN, _to twist_--wrangle, wrench, wriggle, wring, wrinkle.
WRITHAN, _to twist_--wrath, wrathful, wroth, wreath, wreathe, wry, wryneck,
wrong.
WUNIAN, _to dwell_--wont, wonted.
WYRM, _a worm, a serpent_--worm.
Specimens of Anglo-Saxon, and the same literally
translated into Modern English.
_EXTRACT FROM CÆDMON'S PARAPHRASE._
_Cædmon: died about 680._
Nu we sceolan herian | Now we shall praise
heofon-rices weard, | the guardian of heaven,
metodes mihte, | the might of the creator,
and his mod-ge-thonc, | and his mind's thought,
wera wuldor-fæder! | the glory-father of men!
swa he wundra ge-hwæs, | how he of all wonders,
ece dryhten, | the eternal lord,
oord onstealde. | formed the beginning.
He ærest ge-scéop | He first created
ylda bearnum | for the children of men
heofon to hrófe, | heaven as a roof,
halig scyppend! | the holy creator!
tha middan-geard | them the world
mon-cynnes weard, | the guardian of mankind
ece dryhten, | the eternal lord,
æfter teode, | produced afterwards,
firum foldan, | the earth for men,
frea ælmihtig! | the almighty master!
_PASSAGE REPEATED BY BEDE ON HIS DEATH-BED._
_Bede: died 735._
For tham ned-fere | Before the necessary journey
neni wirtheth | no one becomes
thances suotera | more prudent in thought
thonne him thearf sy, | than is needful to him,
to ge-hicgeune | to search out
er his heonon-gange | before his going hence
hwet his gaste | what to his spirit
godes othe yveles | of good or of evil
efter deathe heonon | after his death hence
demed weorthe. | will be judged.
_EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE--Tenth Century._
Tha feng Ælfred Æthelwulfing to | Then took Alfred, son of Ethelwulf
West-Seaxna rice; and thæs ymb ænne | to the West Saxon's kingdom; and
monath gefeaht Ælfred cyning with | that after one month fought Alfred
ealne thone here lytle werode æt | king against all the army with a
Wiltoune, and hine lange on dæg | little band at Wilton, and them long
geflymde, and tha Deniscan ahton | during the day routed and then the
wæl-stowe geweald. And thæs geares | Danes obtained of the battle-field
wurdon nigon folcgefeoht gefohten | possession. And this year were nine
with thone here on tham cyne-rice be | great battles fought with the army
suthan Temese, butan tham the him | in the kingdom to the south of the
Ælfred, and ealdormen, and cyninges | Thames, besides those in which
thegnas oft rada onridon the man na | Alfred, and the alder-men, and the
ne rimde. And thæs geares wæron | king's thanes oft inrode--against
of-slegene nigon eorlas, and an | which one nothing accounted. And
cyning; and thy geare namon | this year were slain nine earls and
West-Seaxan frith with thone here. | one king; and this year made the
| West-Saxons peace with the army.
_EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON GOSPELS--Eleventh Century._
LUCÆ, Cap. I. v. 5-10. | LUKE, Chap. I. v. 5-10.
|
5. On Herodes dagum Iudea cyninges, | 5. In the days of Herod the king of
wæs sum sacerd on naman Zacharias, of| Judea, there was a certain priest by
Abian tune: and his wif wæs of | name Zacharias, of the course of
Aarones dohtrum, and hyre nama wæs | Abia: and his wife was of the
Elizabeth. | daughters of Aaron, and her name was
| Elizabeth.
6. Sothlice hig wæron butu rihtwise | 6. And they were both righteous
beforan Gode, gangende on eallum his | before God, walking in all the
bebodum and rihtwisnessum, butan | commandments and ordinances of the
wrohte. | Lord without blame.
7. And hig næfdon nan bearn, fortham | 7. And they had no child, because
the Elizabeth wæs unberende; and hig | that Elizabeth was barren; and they
on heora dagum butu forth-eodon. | in her days were both of great age.
8. Sothlice wæs geworden tha | 8. And it befell that when Zacharias
Zacharias hys sacerdhades breac on | should do the office of the
his gewrixles endebyrdnesse beforan | priesthood in the order of his
Gode, | course before God,
9. Æfter gewunan thæs sacerdhades | 9. After the custom of the
hlotes, he eode that he his offrunge | priesthood he went forth by lot, to
sette, tha he on Godes tempel eode. | burn incense when he into God's
| temple went.
10. Eall werod thæs folces wæs ute | 10. And all the multitude of the
gebiddende on thære offrunge timan. | people were without praying at the
| time of incense.
_THE LORD'S PRAYER._
Fæder ure, thu the eart on heofenum; | Father our, thou who art in heaven;
si thin nama gehalgod; to-becume thin| be thine name hallowed; let come
rice; geweordhe thin willa on | thine kingdom; let be done thine
eorthan, swa swa on heofenum. Urne ge| will on earth, so as in the heavens.
dæghwamlican hlaf syle us to-dæg; and| Our also daily bread give thou us
forgyf us ure gyltas, swa swa we | to-day; and forgive thou to us our
forgidfadh urum gyltendum; and ne | debts, so as we forgive our debtors;
gelæde thu us on costnunge, ac alys | and not lead thou us into
us of yfle, etc. | temptations, but deliver thou us
| from evil, etc.
SPECIMENS OF SEMI-SAXON AND EARLY ENGLISH.
_EXTRACT FROM THE BRUT OF LAYAMON--About 1180._
He nom tha Englisca boc | He took the English book
Tha makede Seint Beda; | That Saint Bede made;
An other he nom on Latin, | Another he took in Latin,
Tha makede Seinte Albin, | That Saint Albin made,
And the feire Austin, | And the fair Austin,
The fulluht broute hider in. | That baptism brought hither in.
Boc he nom the thridde, | The third book he took,
Leide ther amidden, | _And_ laid there in midst,
Tha makede a Frenchis clerc, | That made a French clerk,
Wace was ihoten, | Wace was _he_ called,
The wel couthe writen, | That well could write,
And he hoc yef thare aethelen | And he it gave to the noble
Allienor, the wes Henries quene, | Eleanor, that was Henry's Queen,
Thes heyes kinges. | The high king's.
_EXTRACT FROM A CHARTER OF HENRY III.--1258._
Henry, thurg Gode's fultome, King on | Henry, through God's support, King
Engleneloande, Lhoaverd on Yrloand, | of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of
Duk on Norman, on Acquitain, Earl on | Normandy, of Acquitain, Earl of
Anjou, send I greting, to alle hise | Anjou, sends greeting to all his
holde, ilærde and ilewede on | subjects, learned and unlearned, of
Huntindonnschiere. Thæt witen ge wel | Huntingdonshire. This know ye well
alle, hæt we willen and unnen thæt | all, that we will and grant what our
ure rædesmen alle, other the moare | counsellors all, or the more part of
del of heom, thæt beoth ichosen thurg| them, that be chosen through us and
us and thurg thæt loandes-folk on ure| through the landfolk of our kingdom,
kineriche, habbith idon, and schullen| have done, and shall do, to the
don in the worthnes of God, and ure | honor of God, and our allegiance,
treowthe, for the freme of the | for the good of the land, etc.
loande, etc. |
Anglo-Saxon Element in Modern English.
That the young student may be made aware of the extent of the employment of
Anglo-Saxon in our present language, and that he may have some clue to
direct him to a knowledge of the Saxon words, the following extracts,
embracing a great proportion of these words, are submitted to his
attention. The words not Teutonic are marked in _Italics_.
MILTON.
Of man's first _disobedience_, and the _fruit_
Of that forbidden tree, whose _mortal taste_
Brought death into the world, and all our woe,
With loss of _Eden_, till one greater man
_Restore_ us and _regain_ the blissful seat--
Sing, heavenly _Muse_.
With thee _conversing_, I forget all time,
All _seasons_, and their _change_; all _please_ alike.
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With _charm_ of earliest birds; _pleasant_ the sun
When first on this _delightful_ land he spreads
His _orient_ beams on _herb_, tree, _fruit_, and _flower_,
Glistering with dew; _fragrant_ the _fertile_ earth,
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of _grateful_ evening mild; then _silent_ night
With this her _solemn_ bird, and this fair moon,
And these the _gems_ of heaven, her starry _train_.
SHAKESPEARE.
To be, or not to be, that is the _question_;
Whether 't is _nobler_ in the mind to _suffer_
The stings and arrows of _outrageous fortune_,
Or to take _arms_ against a sea of _troubles_,
And, by _opposing_, end them? To die, to sleep;
No more;--and by a sleep to say we end
The heart_ache_ and the thousand _natural_ shocks
That flesh is _heir_ to! 't were a _consummation_
_Devoutly_ to be wished. To die; to sleep;
To sleep?--_perchance_ to dream!
All the world's a _stage_,
And all the men and women _merely_ players.
They have their _exits_ and their _entrances_,
And one man in his time plays many _parts_;
His _acts_ being seven _ages_. At first the _infant_,
Mewling and puking in his _nurse's arms_.
And then the whining _school_-boy, with his _satchel_
And shining morning _face_, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to _school_. And then the lover,
Sighing like _furnace_, with a woeful _ballad_
Made to his _mistress'_ eyebrow. Then a _soldier_,
Full of _strange_ oaths, and bearded like the _pard_,
_Jealous_ in _honour_, _sudden_ and quick in _quarrel_;
Seeking the bubble _reputation_
Even in the _cannon's_ mouth.
TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.
In the beginning God _created_ the heaven and the earth. And the earth was
without _form_, and _void_; and darkness was upon the _face_ of the deep:
and the _Spirit_ of God _moved_ upon the _face_ of the waters. And God
said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that
it was good; and God _divided_ the light from the darkness. And God called
the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the
morning were the first day.--_Genesis_ i. 1-6.
And it came to _pass_, that when _Isaac_ was old, and his eyes were dim, so
that he could not see, he called _Esau_, his eldest son, and said unto him,
My son. And he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I
am old, I know not the day of my death. Now therefore take, I _pray_ thee,
thy weapons, thy _quiver_ and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me
some _venison_; and make me _savoury_ meat, such as I love, and bring it to
me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And _Rebekah_
heard when _Isaac_ spake to _Esau_ his son. And _Esau_ went to the field to
hunt for _venison_, and to bring it. And _Rebekah_ spake unto _Jacob_ her
son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto _Esau_ thy brother,
saying, Bring me _venison_, and make me _savoury_ meat, that I may eat, and
bless thee before the Lord before my death.--_Genesis_ xxvii. 1-7.
THOMSON.
These as they _change_, Almighty Father! these
Are but the _varied_ God. The _rolling_ year
Is full of thee. Forth in the _pleasing_ spring
Thy _beauty_ walks, thy _tenderness_ and love.
Wide flush the fields; the softening _air_ is _balm_;
_Echo_ the _mountains round_; the _forest_ smiles;
And every _sense_ and every heart is _joy_.
Then comes thy _glory_ in the summer months,
With light and heat _refulgent_. Then thy sun
Shoots full _perfection_ through the swelling year.
ADDISON.
I was yesterday, about sunset, walking in the open fields, till the night
_insensibly_ fell upon me. I at first _amused_ myself with all the richness
and _variety_ of _colours_ which _appeared_ in the western _parts_ of
heaven. In _proportion_ as they _faded_ away and went out, _several_ stars
and _planets appeared_, one after another, till the whole _firmament_ was
in a glow. The blueness of the _ether_ was _exceedingly_ heightened and
enlivened by the _season_ of the year.
YOUNG.
Let _Indians_, and the _gay_, like _Indians_, fond
Of feathered _fopperies_, the sun _adore_:
Darkness has more _divinity_ for me;
It strikes thought inward; it drives back the soul
To settle on herself, our _point supreme_.
There lies our _theater_: there sits our _judge_.
Darkness the _curtain_ drops o'er life's dull _scene_:
'T is the kind hand of _Providence_ stretched out
'Twixt man and _vanity_; 't is _reason's reign_,
And _virtue's_ too; these _tutelary_ shades
Are man's _asylum_ from the _tainted_ throng.
Night is the good man's friend, and guardian too.
It no less _rescues virtue_, than _inspires_.
SWIFT.
Wisdom is a fox, who, after long hunting, will at last _cost_ you the
_pains_ to dig out. 'T is a cheese, which by how much the richer has the
thicker, homelier, and the _coarser coat_; and whereof, to a _judicious
palate_, the _maggots_ are the best. 'Tis a _sack posset_, wherein the
deeper you go on you will find it sweeter. But then, lastly, 'tis a nut,
which, unless you choose with _judgment_, may _cost_ you a tooth, and _pay_
you with nothing but a worm.
HUME.
The _beauties_ of her _person_ and _graces_ of her _air combined_ to make
her the most _amiable_ of women; and the _charms_ of her _address_ and
_conversation aided_ the _impression_ which her lovely _figure_ made on the
heart of all beholders. _Ambitious_ and _active_ in her _temper_, yet
_inclined_ to _cheerfulness_ and _society_; of a lofty _spirit_, _constant_
and even _vehement_ in her _purpose_, yet _politic, gentle_, and _affable_,
in her _demeanor_, she _seemed_ to _par_take only so much of the _male
virtues_ as to _render_ her _estimable_, without _relinquishing_ those soft
_graces_ which _compose_ the _proper ornament_ of her _sex_.
GIBBON.
In the _second century_ of the _Christian era_, the _empire_ of _Rome
comprehended_ the fairest _part_ of the earth, and the most _civilized
portion_ of mankind. The _frontiers_ of that _extensive monarchy_ were
guarded by _ancient renown_, and _disciplined valour_. The _gentle_ but
_powerful influence_ of laws and _manners_ had _gradually cemented_ the
_union_ of the _provinces_. Their _peaceful inhabitants enjoyed_ and
_abused_ the _advantages_ of wealth and _luxury_. The _image_ of a free
_constitution_ was _preserved_ with _decent reverence_.
JOHNSON.
Of _genius_, that _power_ which _constitutes_ a _poet_; that _quality_
without which _judgment_ is cold, and knowledge is _inert_; that _energy_
which _collects_, _combines_, _amplifies_, and _animates_; the
_superiority_ must, with some _hesitation_, be _allowed_ to Dryden. It is
not to be _inferred_ that of this _poetical vigor Pope_ had only a little,
_because_ Dryden had more; for every other writer since Milton must give
_place_ to _Pope_; and even of Dryden it must be said, that if he has
brighter _paragraphs_, he has not better _poems_.
BYRON.
_Ancient_ of days! _august Athena!_ where,
Where are thy men of might--thy _grand_ in soul?
Gone--glimmering through the dream of things that were.
First in the race that led to _Glory's goal_,
They won, and _passed_ away. Is this the whole?
A _school_-boy's tale--the wonder of an _hour_!
The warrior's-weapon and the _sophist's stole_
Are sought in _vain_, and o'er each _mouldering_ tower,
Dim with the mist of years, gray flits the shade of _power_.
SIR WALTER SCOTT.
The way was long, the wind was cold,
The _Minstrel_ was _infirm_ and old;
His withered cheek and _tresses_ gray
_Seemed_ to have known a better day;
The harp, his _sole remaining joy_,
Was carried by an _orphan_ boy.
The last of all the bards was he
Who sung of border _chivalry_;
For, well-a-day! their _dale_ was fled;
His _tune_ful brethren all were dead;
And he, _neglected_ and _oppressed_,
Wished to be with them and at rest.
WORDSWORTH.
Ah! little doth the young one dream,
When full of play and childish cares,
What _power_ is in his wildest scream,
Heard by his mother unawares!
He knows it not, he cannot guess;
Years to a mother bring _distress_;
But do not make her love the less.
My son, if thou be _humbled_, _poor_,
Hopeless of _honor_ and of _gain_,
Oh! do not dread thy mother's door;
Think not of me with _grief_ and _pain_.
I now can see with better eyes;
And worldly _grandeur_ I _despise_,
And _Fortune_ with her gifts and lies.
TENNYSON.
Not wholly in the busy world, nor _quite_
Beyond it, blooms the garden that I love.
News from the humming _city_ comes to it
In _sound_ of _funeral_ or of _marriage_ bells;
And sitting muffled in dark leaves you hear
The windy clanging of the winter clock;
Although between it and the garden lies
A _league_ of grass, washed by a slow broad stream,
That, stirred with _languid pulses_ of the oar,
Waves all its lazy _lilies_, and creeps on,
Barge laden, to three _arches_ of a bridge,
_Crowned_ with the _minster-towers_.