Re: Anglo-Saxon

[EoganOg@aol.com]

Poster: EoganOg@aol.com

Here are some pertinant Anglo-Saxon peices I thought I would share.  I copied 
them from an Old English Grammar years ago that has sence been returned to 
the library, so I do not know the translator's name, but I have seen the same 
peices quoted in other collections of Anglo-Saxon poetry, so they should not 
be hard to find or document.

>From "Eard-Stapa" (the Wanderer)
". . . a man cannot become wise before he has his portion of years in the 
world.  A wise man must (be)  patient, nor must he (be)  at all too irascible 
nor too hasty of speech nor too weak a warrior nor too reckless nor too 
fearful nor too elated nor too avaricious nor ever (lit. never) to eager for 
glory before he really knows--a man must wait, when he makes a vow, until, 
bold-spirited, (he) really knowes whither the thought of his heart will turn."

The following are from a peice of gnomic poetry called "Maxims I" in the 
collection I took it from, although I have seen it under different names 
(including just "Gnomic Poetry").
"Glorious reputation is best.  A king must buy a queen with goods, with cups 
and rings; both must first be liberal with their gifts.  Battle and war must 
grow powerful in a warrior, and a woman (must) thrive, beloved among her 
people, (must) be lighthearted, (must) keep a secret, (must) be generous with 
horses and treasures, (must) always and everywhere greet first her lord with 
mead-serving before the company, quickly offer the first cup to the hand of 
her lord, and know what is best for them, for both households together."

And from the gnomic poem entitled in my volume "Maxims II":
"A king must rule. . . Truth is most evident, treasure is most precious, gold 
(is most precious) to every man, and an old man (is) wisest, experienced in 
bygone years, who formerly experiences a great deal. . .  Good companions 
ought to encourage a young prince in battle and ring-giving.  Courage ought 
(to be) in a warrior. . .  A good (man) ought to attain glorious reputation 
in his native land.  A javelin must (be) in hand, a spear shining with gold. 
. . A king must give out rings in the hall. . . An army must (stay) together, 
a troop of glorious (men).  Fidelity must (be) in a warrior, wisdom in a man. 
. . A wise man ought always to think about the troubles of this world, a 
criminal (must) hang, (must) fittingly atone to mankind for (the fact) that 
he committed a crime. . ."

I would also look to Beowulf for other examples of Anglo-Saxon warrior elite 
and what is expected of them.

Aye,
Eogan Og
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Tighearn Eoghan Og Mac Labhrainn, CP 
Sangster of Scotland and Atlantia
Chronicler of the Militant Society of Bards
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7547/eogan.html
Checky Or & Vert, two lions combattant, tails knowed, in base a 
mouse couchant, all within an orle of roundels, Argent.
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