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Big (bi), on, ofer, ymb, sometimes rime and some

times do not; as,

And begen pa beornas
pe him big stódon.
Big-standad me strange
ge-neátas (5)

pa ne willad me at þám
stríde (6) ge-swícan.

And both the warriors
who stood by him.
Stand by me strong com-
rades

who will not fail me at
the strife.

(1) Gilp (II. 2.) boast; sceaða enemy, robber, &c.

(2) Fær (II. 2.) stratagem; in composition it implies suddenness, danger, or the like; fær-líc dangerous; G. ge fahr danger, ge-fähr-lich dangerous. Cyle II. 2.; hence chill; G. kühle.

(3) Wylm (II. 2.) heat, boiling (= L. æstus); welan, weallan to boil; G. wallen. (4) Wadan (II. 3.) to go; L. vadere.

(5) Ge-neát; G. ge-noss, D. ge-noot. (6) Stríð (II. 2.) G. streit, D. strijd.

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And-, un-, ed-, in, tó, &c. are deemed emphatic and

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(1) Helm is the top of anything; see p. 133, n. 13.

(2) Rodor (II. 2.) heaven, sky.

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*** The following is King Alfred's translation of Boëthius, Lib. III. metr. I.

Se-pe wille wyrcan
wæstm-bare lond,
a-teó of pám æcere
ærest sona

fearn (5), and pornas(6),

and fyrsas, swa-same(7) weód (8),

He that will work

fruitful land,

let him pluck off the field first straightway

fern, and thorns,

and furzes, as also weeds,

(1) Cer, cyr (II. 2.) turn; hence char a turn of work; cyrran to turn, re-turn; G. kehren.

(2) Adverb formed from the dative plural; see p. 70. Comp. G. einge-denk mindful, thoughtful.

(3) Starian; G. starren, D. staaren.

(4) Chiefly from the Rev. S. Fox's edition.

(5) P. vearn, G. farn-kraut.

(7) Same is connected with our same.

(8) Weód (II. 1.) D. wied. ̧

(°) porn; G. dorn.

þa þe willad
wel hwær (1) derian
clanum hwæéte,

þý-læs he cida-leás (2)
licge on pæm lande.

Is leóda (3) ge-hwam
þeós óðru bysen
efn be-héfe (4);

þæt is pætte pince₫ (5)
þegna ge-hwylcum
huniges (6) beó-bread
healfe þý swétre,
gif he hwene (7) ær
huniges teare (8),
bitres on-byrgað.
Býd eác swá-same
monna æg-hwyle
micle þý fægenra
lides (9) wedres (10),
gif hine lytle ær
stormas ge-stondađ (11),

that will
everywhere hurt
the clean wheat,
lest it germ-less

lie on the land.
Is to all people
this other example
even as needful;
that is that seemeth

to every man
honey's bee-bread
half the sweeter,
if he a little ere
the honey's drop,
something bitter tasteth.
Is eke in like wise
every man
much the gladder
of fair weather,
if him a little ere
storms assail,

(1) Wel prefixed is intensive; wel-oft very often, wel-hrade very soon. (2) Cið shoot, growth of any kind; hence kid, used either of a child or a young animal: comp. the uses of imp, scion, sprig, &c.

(3) Le6de people, persons; G. leute, D. lieden.

(*) Be-hófian to need, be-hove.

(6) G. honig.

(5) See Additions, &c.

(7) Hwene, hwon a little, S. a wheen.

(8) Tear (II. 2.) tear; G. zähre.

(9) Líðe tender, mild, lithe; G. linde: observe the n dropped and the

vowel lengthened, and see p. 2, and Additions, &c.

(10) Weder (II. 1.) G. wetter, D. weder.

(1) Observe the force of ge-; see p. 64.

and se stearca (1) wind
nordan and eástan.
Nænigum þúhte
dæg on ponce (2),
gif seó dimme niht
æér ofer eldum (3)
egesan (4) ne bróhte.

Swá þincd ánra ge-hwam
eord-búendra
seó sóde ge-sælđ (5)
simle pe betere,
and by wynsumre,
be he wíta má,

heardra honđa (),

her a-dreóged (7).

and the violent wind from north and east. To none would seem the day delightful, if the dim night before over men terror had not brought. So seemeth to every one of the earth-dwellers the true happiness ever the better, and the winsomer,

as he more plagues,

and hard afflictions,

here suffereth.

þú meaht eác micle þý éd Thou mayst eke much the

on mód-sefan

sóde ge-sælda

sweótolor ge-cnáwan,

and tó heora cyđđe (8)

be-cuman síd-pán,

gif þú úp-a-týhst

easier

in thy mind

true happinesses clearlier know,

and to their country

come afterwards,

if thou pluckest up

(1) Stearc stark, strong; G. stark, D. sterk.

(2) ponc (panc) (II. 2.) thank; G. dank: comp. L. gratiæ and gratus.

(3) Eld, yld (II. 2.) man, human being.

(*) Egesa=ege awe, dread.

(5) II. 3. from sél, sál good.

(*) Hænðu (hýnðu) III. 3.; heán abject, miserable.

(7) (A-)dreógan (III. 3.) to suffer; S. dree.

(8) Cyððu (III. 3.) also acquaintance, l:nowledge, hence kith.

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