ABSTRACT
The two following homilies have been selected, the first as a characteristic specimen of Ælfric's simple narrative style, the second as showing that command of the tender and pathetic in which he excels. Both are perfect models of style, and deserve the most careful study. The present text is based on a comparison of the three oldest MSS. I could gain access to, namely the Cambridge (Public Library) MS. used by Thorpe (C.), the Bodleian (B.), and the Royal (British Museum) (R.), all of which are contemporary, or nearly so, with Æifric himself. Of these the best is certainly C., with which R. closely agrees. B., on the other hand, is carelessly written, and full of omissions, but has many valuable forms. I have therefore generally followed C., only occasionally substituting the spellings of the other MSS. The various readings of B. have in most cases been disregarded as obvious errors, my object not being to supply an apparatus criticus, but simply to select from the MSS. what is most instructive for the student. Nor have I attempted a genealogical classification of the MSS. Such a task could only be attempted by an editor of the whole body of Homilies, and its difficulties would be very considerable on account of the large number of MSS. and the remarkably small divergence of their readings,—at least among the better ones.
