Ælfric's Colloquy

Ælfric's Colloquy is written in Latin as a teaching tool to help students learn the language. Of the four copies of the manuscript, one has had an Old English translation added to it, between the lines, by a different contemporaneous writer. The 'colloquy' or conversation takes place between the teacher and various characters. The work is attributed to Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 950–c. 1010).

Many and various translations of the Latin and the Old English exist.

Presented here is my literal translation of the Old English text. There is no punctuation, no paragraph breaks and no titles or headings in the Old English original; there is some in the Latin. I have followed convention and added titles and punctuation to make reading it easier!

Children:

Teacher:

Children:

Teacher:

Children:

We cildra biddaþ þe, eala lareow, þæt þu tæce

us sprecan [ . . . ] forþam ungelærede we syndon

& gewæmmodlice we sprecaþ.

Hwæt wille ge sprecan?

Hwæt rece we hwæt we sprecan, buton hit riht spræc sy & behefe, næs idel oþþe fracod.

Wille beswungen on leornunge?

Leofre ys us beon geswungen for lare þænne hit ne cunnan, ac we witun þe bilewitne wesan, &

nellan on belædan swincgla us, buton þu bi togenydd fram us.

We children biddath thee, oh teacher, that thou teach

us to speak [Latin correctly], because unlearned we are

and corruptly we speak.

What will ye speak?

What care we what we speak, except that it right

speech is and useful, not idle or useless.

Will [ye be] beaten while learning?

Dear it is, to us, to be beaten for instruction, than it is

not to know, but we know thee merciful to be, and

unwilling to inflict a whipping on us, unless thou be

compelled to by us.

Munuc - Monk

Teacher:

Ic axie þe, hwæt sprycst þu? Hwæt hæfst þu weorkes?

I ask thee, what speakest thou? What havest thou

[as] work?

Monk:

Ic eom geanwyrde monuc, & ic sincge ælce dæg seofon tida mid gebroþrum, & ic eom bysgod [ ]

& on sange, ac þeahhwæþere, ic wolde

betwenan, leornian sprecan on leden gereorde.

Hwæt cunnon þas þine geferan?

I am a professed monk, and I sing each day

seven times with the brethren, and I am busy [ with reading ] and in singing, but however, I should

in the meantime, learn to speak in the Latin language.

What knowledge [have] these friends of thine?

Teacher:

Monk:

Summe synt yrþlincgas, sume scephyrdas, sume oxanhyrdas, sume eac swylce huntan, sume fisceras, sume fugleras, sume cypmenn, sume scewyrhtan, sealteras, bæceras.

Some are farmers, some sheepherds, some

oxherds, some also are hunters, some

fishers, some fowlers, some merchants, some

shoe-wrights, salters, bakers.

Yrþlingc - Farmer

Teacher:

Hwæt sægest þu, yrþlingc? Hu begæst þu

weorc þin?

What sayest thou, farmer? How goest about thou work of thine?

Farmer:

Teacher:

Farmer:

Teacher:

Farmer:

Teacher:

Eala, leof hlaford, þearle ic deorfe. Ic ga ut on dægræd þywende oxan to felda, & iugie hie to syl; nys hit swa stearc winter þæt ic durre lutian æt ham for ege hlafordes mines, ac geiukodan oxan, & gefæstnodon sceare & cultre mit þære syl, ælce dæg ic sceal erian fulne

æcer oþþe mare.

Hæfst þu ænigne geferan?

Ic hæbbe sumne cnapan þywende oxan mid gadisene, þe eac swilce nu has ys for cylde &

hreame.

Hwæt mare dest þu on dæg?

Gewyslice mare ic do. Ic sceal fyllan binne oxena

mid hig, & wæterian hie, & scearn hira beran ut.

Hig! Hig! Micel gedeorf ys hit!

Well, dear lord, hard I labour. I go out at

dawn driving the oxen to the fields, and yoke them to

the plough-beam; it is never so stark a winter that I dare

loiter at home for fear of this lord of mine, but

with yoked oxen, and fastened share and coulter

with the plough-beam, each day I shall plough a full

acre or more.

Havest thou any friends?

I have some knave driving the oxen with

a gad-iron, who also now hoarse is from cold and shouting.

What more doest thou in the day?

Truly more I do. I shall fill the bins of the oxen

with hay, and water them, and their dung carry out.

Well! Well! Much labour is that!

Farmer:

Ge leof, micel gedeorf hit is, forþam ic neom freoh.

And dear, much labour it is, because I am not

free.

Sceaphyrde - Sheepherd

Teacher:

Sheepherd:

Sceaphyrde, hæfst þu ænig gedeorf?

Gea, leof, ic hæbbe. On forewerdne morgen ic

drife sceap mine to hira læse & stande ofer hie

on hæte & on cyle mid hundum, þy læs wulfas

forswelgen hie, & ic agenlæde hie on hira loca, &

melke hie tweowa on dæg, & heora loca [ ] ic

hæbbe, on þærto ge cyse ge buteran ic do, & ic

eom getrywe hlaforde minum.

Sheepherd, havest thou any labour?

Yea, dear, I have. In early morning I

drive my sheep to their pasture and stand over them

in heat and in cold with hounds, in case wolves

devour them, and I again lead them into their fold, and milk them twice a day, and their fold [ I move ] I

have, in thereto both cheese and butter I make, and I

am true to my lord.

Oxanhyrde - Oxherd

Teacher:

Oxherd:

Eala, oxanhyrde, hwæt wyrcst þu?

Eala, hlaford min, micel ic gedeorfe. Þænne se

yrþlingc unscenþ þa oxan, ic læde hie to læse, &

ealle niht ic stande ofer hie waciende for þeofum,

& eft on ærnemergen ic betæce hie þæm

yrþlincge wel gefylde & gewæterode

Well, oxherd, What workest at thou?

Well, my lord, much I labour. When the

farmer unyokes the oxen, I lead them to pasture, and

all night I stand over them watching for thieves,

and again in early morning I deliver them to the

farmer well filled and watered.

Teacher:

Oxherd:

Is þæs of þinum geferum?

Gea, he is.

Is this [one] of thine friends?

Yea, he is.

Hunta - Hunter

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Canst þu ænig þing?

Ænne cræft ic cann.

Hwylcne?

Hunta ic eom.

Hwæs?

Cincges.

Hu begæst þu cræft þinne?

Ic brede me max ond sette hie on stowe

gehæppre, & getihte hundas mine þæt wildeor

hie ehton, oþþæt hie becuman to þæm nettum

unforsceawodlice & þæt hie swa beon begrynodo, &

ic ofslea hie on þæm maxum.

Know thou any thing?

One craft I know.

Which?

A hunter I am.

Whose?

The King's

How performest thou craft of thine?

I weave my nets and set them in places

convenient, and incite my hounds that beasts

they chase, so that they come to the nets

unawares and that they so be ensnared, and

I slay them in the nets.

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Ne canst þu huntian buton mid nettum?

Gea, butan nettum huntian ic mæg.

Hu?

Mid swiftum hundum ic betæce wildeor.

Hwilce wildeor swyþost gefehst þu?

Ic gefeo heortas & baras & rann & rægan & hwilon haran.

Wære þu todæg on huntnoþe?

Ic næs, forþam sunnandæg is, ac gyrstandæg ic wæs on huntunge.

Nor canst thou hunt but with nets?

Yea, without nets to hunt I may.

How?

With swift hounds I chase beasts.

Which beasts especially catchest thou?

I catch harts and boars and roes and goats and sometimes hares.

Were thou today out hunting?

I was not, because Sunday it is, but yesterday I was out hunting.

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Teacher:

Hunter:

Hwæt gelæhtest þu?

Twegen heortas & ænne bar.

Hu gefencge þu hie?

Heortas ic gefencge on nettum & bar ic ofsloh.

Hu wære þu dyrstig ofstikian bar?

Hundas bedrifon hine to me, & ic þær togeanes

standende færlice ofstikode hine. Ne sceal

hunta forhtfull wesan, forþam mislice wildeor

wuniaþ on wudum.

Hwæt dest þu be þinre huntunge?

Ic sylle cyncge swa hwæt swa ic gefo, forþam ic eom hunta his.

What capturest thou?

Two harts and one boar.

How caughtest thou them?

Harts I caught in nets and boar I slew.

How were thou daringest to stab to death a boar?

Hounds drove him to me, and I there in the way

stood quickly stabbing to death him. Nor should

a hunter timid be, because various beasts

dwell in the woods.

What getest thou from thine hunting?

I give the King whatever I catch, because I am his hunter.

Teacher:

Hunter:

Hwæt sylþ he þe?

He scryt me wel & fett & hwilon sylþ me

hors oþþe beah, þæt þe lustlicor cræft minne ic

begancge.

What giveth he to thee?

He clothes me well and feeds and sometimes gives me a horse or ring, so that the more zealously my craft I

pursue.

Fiscere - Fisher

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Hwylcne cræft canst þu?

Ic eom fiscere.

Hwæt begyst þu of þinum cræfte?

Bigleofan & scrud & feoh.

Hu gefehst þu fixas?

Ic astigie min scyp & wyrpe max mine on ea,

& ancgil ic wyrpe & spyrtan, & swa hwæt swa hig gehæftað ic genime.

Hwæt gif hit unclæne beoþ fixas?

Ic utwyrpe þa unclænan ut, & genime me clæne to mete.

Which craft knowest thou?

I am a fisher.

What gettest thou from thine craft?

Food and clothing and money.

How catchest thou fishes?

I board my ship and throw my net into the river,

and a hook I throw and a creel and whatever they

imprison I take.

What if it unfit be the fishes?

I out-throw the unfit out, and take me the fit

for food.

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Hwær cypst þu fixas þine?

On ceastre.

Hwa bigþ hi?

Ceasterwara. Ic ne mæg swa fela gefon swa ic

mæg gesyllan

Hwilce fixas gefehst þu?

Ælas & hacodas, mynas & æleputan, sceotan &

lampredan, & swa wylce swa on wætere swymmaþ.

Forhwi ne fixast þu on sæ?

Hwilum ic do, ac seldon, forþam micel rewyt

me ys to sæ.

Where sellest thou fishes of thine?

In the city.

Who buys them?

City-inhabitants. I may not as many catch as I

may sell.

Which fishes catchest thou?

Eels and pikes, minnows and eelpouts, shoats and lampreys, and as many as in the water swimmath.

Why not fishest thou in the sea?

Sometimes I do, but seldom, because much rowing

for me it is at sea.

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Teacher:

Fisher:

Hwæt fehst þu on sæ?

Hærincgas & leaxas, mereswyn & stirian, ostran

& crabban, muslan, winewinclan, sæcoccas,

fagc & floc & lopystran & fela swylces.

Wilt þu fon sumne hwæl?

Nic

Forhwi?

Forþam plyhtlic þingc hit ys gefon hwæl. Gebeorhlicre ys me faran to ea mid

scype mynum, þænne faran mid manegum scypum on huntunge hranes.

Forhwi swa?

Forþam leofre ys me gefon fisc þæne ic mæg

ofslean, þonne fisc , þe na þæt an me ac eac

swylce mine geferan mid anum slege he mæg

besencean oþþe gecwylman.

What catchest thou at sea?

Herrings and salmon, sea-swine and sturgeon, oysters and crabs, mussels, periwinkles, seacockles,

plaice and flounder and lobsters and many suchlike.

Wilt thou catch a whale?

I will not.

Why?

Because a dangerous thing it is to catch a whale.

Safer is me faring on the river with

my ship, than faring with many ships

to hunt whales.

Why so?

Because better it is for me to catch fish which I may

kill, than fish, which not only me but each

of my companions with one stroke he may

sink or destroy.

Teacher:

Fisher:

& þeah mænige gefoþ hwælas, & ætberstaþ frecnysse, & micelne sceat þanon begytaþ.

Soþ þu segst, ac ic ne geþristge for

modes mines nytenyssæ.

And yet many catch whales, and escape

danger, and much profit thence begetath.

Truth thou sayest, but I do not dare to for in

this heart of mine is cowardice.

Fugelere - Fowler

Teacher:

Fowler:

Hwæt sægst þu, fugelere? Hu beswicst þu fugelas?

On feala wisan ic beswice fugelas: hwilum mid netum, hwilum mid grinum, hwilum mid lime, hwilum mid hwistlunge, hwilum mid hafoce,

hwilum mid treppum.

What sayest thou, fowler? How ensnarest thou

fowls?

In many ways I ensnare fowls; sometimes with

nets, sometimes with snares, sometimes with lime,

sometimes with whistling, sometimes with a hawk,

sometimes with traps.

Teacher:

Fowler:

Teacher:

Fowler:

Teacher:

Fowler:

Teacher:

Hæfst þu hafoc?

Ic hæbbe

Canst þu temian hig?

Gea, ic cann. Hwæt sceoldon hig me buton ic cuþe temian hig?

Sylle me ænne hafoc.

Ic sylle lustlice, gyf þu sylst me ænne swiftne hund. Hwilcne hafoc wilt þu habban, þone maran hwæþer þe þænne læssan?

Syle me þæne maran. Hu afest þu hafocas

þine?

Havest thou a hawk?

I have.

Canst thou tame them?

Yea, I can. What use would they be to me unless I

know how to tame them?

Give me a hawk.

I give willingly, if thou give me a swift

hound. Which hawk wilt thou have, the larger

or the smaller?

Give me the larger. How feedest thou the hawks

of thine?

Fowler:

Teacher:

Fowler:

Teacher:

Fowler:

Hig fedaþ hig sylfe & me on wintra, & on

lencgten ic læte hig ætwindan to wuda, &

genyme me briddas on hærfæste, & temige hig.

& forhwi forlæst þu þa getemedon ætwindan fram

þe?

Forþam ic nelle fedan hig on sumera, forþamþe

hig þearle etaþ.

& manige fedaþ þa getemodon ofer sumor, þæt

eft hig hig habban gearuwe.

Gea, swa hig doþ, ac ic nelle swa deorfan ofer

hig, forþam ic cann oþre, na þæt ænne, ac

eac swilce manige gefon.

They feedath themselves and me in winter, and at

Lent I let them escape to the woods, and

I take chicks at harvest, and tame them.

And why letest thou the tamed escape from

thee?

Because I don't feed them in Summer, since

they ravenously eateth.

And many feedath the tamed over Summer, so that again they will have readiness.

Yea, so they do, but I am unwilling to so labour over them, because I know how to others, not just one, but also many to catch.

Mancgere - Merchant

Teacher:

Merchant:

Teacher:

Merchant:

Teacher:

Hwæt sægst þu mancgere?

Ic secge þæt behefe ic eom ge cyngce &

ealdormannum & weligum & eallum follce.

& hu?

Ic astige min scyp mid hlæstum minum, & rowe

ofer sælice dælas, & cype mine þingc, & bicge

dyrwyrþe þingc þa on þisum lande ne beoþ

acennede & ic hit togelæde eow hider mid micclan

plihte ofer sæ, & hwilum forlidenesse ic þolie

mid lyre ealra þinga minra, uneaþe cwic ætberstende.

Hwilce þinc gelædst þu us?

What sayest thou merchant?

I say that useful I am to both kings and

noblemen and the wealthy and all folk.

And how?

I board my ship with my cargo, and row

over the high seas, and sell my things, and buy

precious things those in this land be not

producing and I transport it to you hither with great

danger over the sea, and sometimes shipwreck I suffer with loss of all my things, hardly alive

escaping.

Which things bringest thou to us?

Merchant:

Teacher:

Merchant:

Pællas & sidan, deorwyrþe gymmas & gold, selcuþe

reaf & wyrtgemangc, win & ele, ylpesban &

mæstlingc, ær & tin, swefel & glæs, & þylces

fela.

Wilt þu syllan þingc þine her eal swa þu hi

gebohtest þær?

Ic nelle. Hwæt þænne me fremode gedeorf min?

Ac ic wille hira cypen her [deoror] þonne

gebicge ic hig þær, þæt sum gestreon ic me

begyte, þanon ic me afede & min wif & minne

sunu.

Palls and silks, precious gems and gold, rare

garments and plant-mixes, wine and oil, ivory and

maslin, brass and tin, sulphur and glass, and some such.

Wilt thou sell thine things here all as thou they

were boughtest there?

I will not. What then my benefit labour of mine?

But I will them sell here dearer than

I buy them there, so that some riches I for me

get, thence I for myself feed and my wife and my

son.

Sceowyrhta - Shoe-wright

Teacher:

Shoe-wright:

Teacher:

Shoe-wright:

Þu, sceowyrhta, hwæt wyrcst þu us

nytwyrþnessæ ?

Is, witodlice, cræft min behefe þearle eow &

neodþearf.

Hu?

Ic bicge hyda & fell, & gearkie hig mid

cræfte minon, & wyrce of him gescy mistlices cynnes, swyftleras & sceos, leþerhosa & butericas,

bridelþwancgas & geræda, flaxan,

pinnan & higdifatu,

spurleþera & hælftra, pusan & fætelsas; & nan

eower nele oferwintran buton minon cræfte.

Thou, shoe-wright, what workest thou for us usefulness?

It is, certainly, my craft very useful for you and necessary.

How?

I buy hides and skins, and prepare them with

my craft, and work from them shoes of various

kinds, slippers and shoes, leather-hose and bottles,

bridle-thongs and harness, flasks,

(?another type of bottle or flask) and hide-vessels,

spur-leather and halters, purses and bags; and not any

of you would overwinter without my craft.

Sealtere - Salter

Teacher:

Salter:

Teacher:

Salter:

Sealtere, hwæt us fremaþ cræft þin?

Þearle fremaþ cræft min eow eallum. Nan

eower blisse brycð on gereduncge oþþe mete,

buton cræft min gistliþe him beo.

Hu?

Hwylc manna þurhwerodum þurhbrycþ mettum

buton swæcce sealtes? Hwa gefylþ cleafan his

oþþe hedderna buton cræfte minon? Efne,

butergeþweor ælc & cysgerunn losaþ eow buton ic

hyrde ætwese eow, þe ne furþon þæt an wyrtum

eowrum butan me brucaþ.

Salter, what to us benefitath the craft of thine?

Very beneficial my craft for you all. Not one of

you bliss partakes of in meals or food,

without my craft hospitable to him being.

How?

Which man very sweet enjoy to the full foods

without the flavour of salt? Who could fill his cellar

or storehouse without my craft? Even,

buttercurd all, and cheesecurd loosath ye unless I

keep near ye, not even plants

ye without me could enjoy.

Bæcere - Baker

Teacher:

Baker:

Bæcere, hwam fremaþ oþþe hwæþer we butan þe magon lif adreogan?

Ge magon þurh sum fæc butan na lancge ne to

wel: soþlice butan cræfte minon ælc beod æmtig

byþ gesewen, & buton hlafe ælc mete to wlættan

byþ gehwyrfed. Ic heortan mannes gestrangie, ic

mægen wera & furþon litlincgas nellaþ forbigean

me.

Baker, who benefits or whether we without thee may life endure?

Ye may for some time but not long nor too

well: truly without my craft all tables empty

would seem, and without bread all food to loathing

would be turned. I the hearts of people make strong, I

power men and even little ones do not despise

me.

Cocce - Cook

Teacher:

Cook:

Children:

Cook:

Hwæt secge we be þæm cocce? Hwæþer we beþurfon on ænigon cræfte?

Gif ge me ut adrifaþ fram eowrum geferscype,

ge etaþ wyrta eowre grene, & flæscmettas eowre

hreawe, & furþon fætt broþ ge [ne] magon.

We ne reccaþ ne he us neodþearf ys, forþam we

sylfe magon seoþan þa þingc þe to seoþenne synd,

brædan þa þincg þe to brædenne synd.

Gif ge forþy me fram adryfaþ, þæt ge þus don,

þonne beo ge ealle þrælas, & nan eower ne biþ

hlaford; þeahhwæþere buton [me] ge ne etaþ.

What say we about the cook? Whether we

need in any way the craft?

If ye me out drivath from your society,

ye eat your plants green, and your fleshfoods

raw, and even rich broth ye may not have.

We do not care nor it for us necessary is, because we

ourselves may cook the things that to cooking are,

roast the things that to roasting are.

If ye therefore me away driveth, that ye thus do,

then be ye all servants, and not one of you be not

a lord; furthermore without me ye cannot eat.

Munuc - Monk

Teacher:

Monk:

Teacher:

Monk:

Eala, munuc, þe me to spycst, efne, ic hæbbe afandod þe habban gode geferan & þearle neodþearfe; & ic ahsie þa.

Ic hæbbe smiþas, isene smiþas, goldsmiþ, seoloforsmiþ, arsmiþ, treowwyrhtan & manegra oþre mistlicra cræfta biggenceras.

Hæfst ænigne wisne geþeahtan?

Gewislice ic hæbbe. Hu meahte ure gegaderungc buton geþeahtynde beon wissod?

Well, Monk, thou to me has spoken, just now, I have

approved thee of having good friends and very

necessary; and I ask who [they are?]

I have smiths, iron smiths, the goldsmith,

the silversmith, the brass-smith, tree-wrights and many

other various craft workers.

Havest any wise counsellors?

Certainly I have. How might our gathering without counsellors be guided?

Wisa - Wiseman

Teacher:

Wiseman:

Teacher:

Wiseman:

Wisa, hwilc cræft þe geþuht betwux þas furþra wesan ?

Me is geþuht Godes þeowdom betweoh þas

cræftas ealdorscype healdan, swa swa hit geræd

on godspelle: "Fyrmest seceað rice Godes

& rihtwisnesse hys, & þas þingc ealle beoþ

togehyhte eow."

Hwilc þe geþuht betwux woruldcræftas

heoldan ealdordom?

Eorþtilþ, forþam se yrþling us ealle fett.

Se smiþ secgð: Hwanon sylan scear oþþe

culter, þe na gade hæfþ buton of cræfte minon?

Hwanon fiscere ancgel, oþþe sceowyrhton æl, oþþe

seamere nædl? Nis hit of minon geweorce?

Wiseman, which craft to thee seems among these superior to be?

To me it seems God's service among these

crafts supremacy holds, just as it reads

in the gospel: "Formost seekath the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things all will be

added to you."

Which to thee seems among the worldy-crafts

to hold pre-eminence?

The earth-tiller, because the farmer us all feeds.

The smith says: whence the ploughmans shear or coulter, who no goad would have without my craft?

Whence the fishers hook, or the shoe-wrights awl, or

the tailors needle? Is it not from my work?

Se geþeahtend ondsweraþ: Soþ witodlice sægst,

ac eallum us leofre ys wikian mid þe yrþlincge,

þonne mid þe, forþam se yrþling sylð us hlaf &

drenc; þu, hwæt sylst us on smiþþan þinre buton

isenne fyrspearcan & swegincga beatendra

slecgea & blawendra byliga?

The counsellor answers: Truth wisely spoken,

but all of our love is to lodge with the farmer,

than with thee, because the farmer gives us bread and

drink; thou, what givest to us from thine smithy but

iron fire-sparks and clanging beating

blows and blowing bellows?

Se treowwyrhta segð: Hwilc eower ne

notaþ cræfte minon, þonne hus & mistlice

fata & scypa eow eallum ic wyrce?

Se goldsmiþ ondwyrt: Eala, treowwyrhta, forhwi

swa sprycst þu, þonne ne furþon an þyrl þu ne

miht don [butan minum cræfte]?

The tree-wright sayeth: Which of you does not

make use of my craft, when a house and various

vessels and stables/ships for you all I make?

The goldsmith answers: Well, tree-wright, why

so speakest thou, when not even a hole thou

might create [without my craft]?

Se geþeahtend sægþ: Eala, geferan & gode

wyrhtan, uton towurpon hwætlicor þas geflitu, &

sy sibb & geþwærnyss betweoh us, & framige

anra gehwylc oþron on cræfte hys, geðwærian

symble mid þam yrþlinge, þær we bigleofan us &

foddor horsum urum habbaþ. & þis geþeaht ic

sylle eallum wyrhtum, þæt anra gehwylc

cræft his geornlice begange, forþam se þe cræft

his forlæt, he byþ forlæten fram þam cræfte.

Swa hwæðer þu sy, swa mæsseprest, swa munuc,

swa ceorl, swa kempa, bega oþþe behwyrf þe

sylfne on þisum, & beo þæt þu eart; forþam

micel hynð & sceamu hyt is menn nellan

wesan þæt þæt he ys & þæt he wesan sceal.

The counsellor sayeth: Indeed, friends and good wrights, let us stop quickly this dispute, and

let peace and concord be between us, and help

one another in his craft, agree

always with the farmer, who feeds us and

fodder for our horses has. And this counsel I

give to all wrights, that each one

his craft diligently practise, since he who his craft

neglects, he will be neglected by the craft.

Whichever thou be, whether masspriest, or monk,

or churl, or champion, practise or instruct the

self in this, and be what thou art; because

much humiliation and shame it is for a man not to want to be that which he is and what he should be.

Cildra - Children

Teacher:

Children:

Teacher:

Children:

Eala, cild, hu eow licaþ þeos spæc?

Wel heo licaþ us, ac þearle deoplice sprycst &

ofer mæþe ure þu forþtyhst spræce: ac sprec

us æfter urum andgyte, þæt we magon

understandan þa þingc þe þu specst.

Ic ahsige eow, forhwi swa geornlice leorni ge?

Forþam we nellaþ wesan swa stunte nytenu, þa

nan þingc witaþ, buton gærs & wæter.

Well, children, How [do] you like this speech?

Well we like it, but very profoundly you speak and

above our ability thou drawforth speech: but speak

to us according to our intellect, that we may

understand the things which thou speak about.

I ask you, why so eager to learn ye?

Because we do not want to be like dumb animals, who

nothing know, except grass and water.

Teacher:

Children:

Teacher:

Children:

& hwæt wille ge?

Wyllaþ wesan wise.

On hwilcon wisdome? Wille ge beon prættige oþþe

þusenthiwe on leasungum, lytige on spræcum,

onglæwlice, hindergepe, wel sprecende & yfele

þencende, swæsum wordum underþeodde, facn

wiðinnan tyddriende, swa swa bergyls metton

ofergeweorke, wiþinnan full stence?

We nellaþ swa wesan wise, forþam he nys wis,

þe mid dydrunge hyne sylfne beswicð.

And what wantath ye?

Wantath to be wise.

In which wisdom? Will ye be wily or

thousand-formed in lying, cunning in speech, imprudent, crafty, well speaking and evil

thinking, charming words subjugated by, deceit

within fostering, just as sepulchres have painted

structures, within are full of stench?

We do not want so to be wise, since he is not wise,

who with illusion himself deceives.

Teacher:

Children:

Teacher:

Ac hu wille ge?

We wyllaþ beon bylewite butan licetunge, & wise

þæt we bugon fram yfele & don goda. Gyt

þeahhwæþere deoplicor mid us þu smeagst, þonne yld ure onfon mæge; ac sprec us æfter uran

gewunon, næs swa deoplice.

& ic do æal swa ge biddaþ.

But how wantath ye?

We would like to be honest without pretence, and wise

that we depart from evil and do good. Still

however deeply with us thou deliberates, than

our age may take; but speak to us concerning our

lives, not so deeply.

And I do all as ye biddath.

Cnapa - Knave

Teacher:

Knave:

Þu, cnapa, hwæt dydest todæg?

Manega þingc ic dyde. On þisse niht, þa þa cnyll

ic gehyrde, ic aras on minon bedde & eode to

cyrcean, & sang uhtsang mid gebroþrum; æfter

þa we sungon be eallum halgum & dægredlice

lofsangas; æfter þysum prim & seofon seolmas

mid letanian & capitolmæssan; syþþan undertide,

& dydon mæssan be dæge; æfter þisum we sungan

middæg, & æton & druncon & slepon, & eft

we arison & sungan non; & nu we synd her ætforan þe, gearuwe gehyran hwæt þu us secge.

Thou, knave, what did you do today?

Many things I did. On this night, when the knell

I heard, I arose from my bed and went to

church, and sang 'out-song' with the brethren; after

that we sang 'of the all holy' and morning

praise; after this Prime and seven psalms

with litanies and early-mass; afterwards Tierce,

and did the mass of the day; after this we sang

midday service, and ate and drank and slept, and again

we arose and sang Nones; and now we are here

before thee, ready to hear what thou to us says.

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Hwænne wylle ge singan æfen oþþe nihtsangc?

Þonne hyt tima byþ.

Wære þu todæg beswuncgen?

Ic næs, forþam wærlice ic me heold.

& hu þine geferan?

Hwæt me ahsast be þam? Ic ne dear yppan þe

digla ure. Anra gehwylc wat gif he

beswuncgen wæs oþþe na.

When will ye sing Even or Nightsong?

When it be time.

Were thou today beaten?

I was not, because warily I myself held.

And how thine friends?

Why ask me about them? I do not dare to reveal to thee

our secrets. Each one knows if he

was beaten or not.

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Hwæt ytst þu on dæg?

Gyt flæscmettum ic bruce, forðam cild ic eom

under gyrda drohtniende.

Hwæt mare ytst þu?

Wyrta & æigra, fisc & cyse, buteran & beana

& ealle clæne þingc ic ete mid micelre þancunge.

Swiþe waxgeorn eart þu þonne þu ealle þingc etst þe þe toforan.

Ic ne eom swa micel swelgere þæt ic ealle cynn metta on anre gereordinge etan mæge.

What eatest thou in the day?

Still fleshmeat I enjoy, because a child I am

under the rod living.

What more eatest thou?

Plants and eggs, fish and cheese, butter and beans

and all fit things I eat with many thanks.

Very growth-yearning art thou when thou all things eatest which thee in front of.

I am not so great a swallower that I all kinds

of foods in one meal may eat.

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Ac hu?

Ic bruce hwilon þisum mettum, oþrum mid

syfernysse, swa swa dafnað munuce, næs mid

oferhropse, forþam ic eom nan gluto.

& hwæt drincst þu?

Ealu, gif ic hæbbe, oþþe wæter gif ic næbbe

ealu.

Ne drincst þu win?

Ic ne eom swa spedig þæt ic mæge bicgean me

win; & win nys drenc cilda ne dysgra,

ac ealdra & wisra.

But how?

I enjoy sometimes these foods, at others with

moderation, just as it becomes a monk, not with

voracity, because I am no glutton.

And what drinkest thou?

Ale if I have it, or water if I don't have

ale.

No drinkest thou wine?

I am not so wealthy that I may buy myself

wine; and wine is not a drink for children nor the foolish, but the old and wise.

Teacher:

Knave:

Teacher:

Knave:

Hwær slæpst?

On slæpern mid gebroþrum.

Hwa awecþ þe to uhtsancge?

Hwilon ic gehyre cnyll ond ic arise; hwilon

lareow min awecþ me stiþlice mid gyrde.

Where sleepest?

In the dormitory with the brothers.

How awakeneth thee for 'Outsong'?

Sometimes I hear the knell and I arise; sometimes

the teacher awakens me harshly with the rod.

Lareow - Teacher

Teacher:

Eala, ge cildra & wynsume leorneras, eow manaþ eower lareow þæt ge hyrsumian godcundum larum & þæt ge healdan eow sylfe ænlice on ælcere stowe. Gaþ þeawlice þonne ge gehyran cyrcean bellan, & gaþ into cyrcean, & abugaþ eadmodlice to halgum wefodum, & standaþ þeawlice, & singað anmodlice, & gebiddaþ for eowrum synnum, & gaþ ut butan hygeleaste to claustre oþþe leorninga.

Well, ye children and pleasant learners, you are admonished by your teacher that ye obey divine lore and that ye hold yourself excellent in every place. Goeth obediently when ye hear church bells, and goeth into church, and bow humbly before the holy altar, and stand obediently, sing with one accord, and pray for your sins, and goeth out without folly to cloister or school.

Sources:

PAPER No. 016 AELFRIC’S COLLOQUY Translated from the Latin Ann E. Watkins downloaded from www.kentarchaeology.ac
The Viking Age Compendium - Aelfrics Colloquy - http://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Aelfric%E2%80%99s_Colloquy
Aelfric's Colloquy Edited by G.N. Garmonsway university of Exeter Press, 1991
https://www.kul.pl/files/165/history%20of%20english/texts2009/aelfriccolloquy-translation.pdf
The British Library Cotton MS Tiberius A III fols 60v - 64v (http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_tiberius_a_iii_f002r)
Elfric's Colloquy - Stephen J Harris - https://people.umass.edu/sharris/general/Aelfric.pdf
Bosworth and Toller Old English Dictionary - https://bosworthtoller.com/