ABSTRACT

The evidence on the publication of Alfred's version of Gregory's Pastoralis is exceptionally good; and the details are important because two manuscripts of his time are the prime sources for the study of Early West Saxon. These are Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Hatton 20, Sweet's 1 H, and London, British Library, MS. Cotton Tiberius B.xi, Sweet's C, which, apart from some charred fragments, is preserved in a transcript made by Junius when the manuscript had already been mutilated at the end. Both were prepared by the King's orders, yet they differ in many details of forms or spellings and in some readings of substance: thus in the famous Prose Preface H reads: 'ðone naman anne we lufodon ðætte we Cristne wæren, ond swiðe feawe ða ðeawas', where C has hœfdon for lufodon; and in ch. viii H reads: 'for hiera gitsunge hie doð him to leafe done cwide ðe Sanctus Paulus cwæð ...' where C has lade 'excuse' for leafe. In the first of these H's reading lufodon may be a mechanical repetition of the preceding lufodon, which survived because it made passable sense. The second is clear evidence of intelligent revision before copies were sent to the bishops.