SANCTI ISIDORI HISPALENSIS EPISCOPI ETYMOLOGIARUM LIBRI XX.

CAPUT XXXVI. De schematibus. Xiv

Paromoeon est multitudo verborum ex una littera inchoantium, quale est apud Ennium:

O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta tyranne tulisti.

Sed hoc bene temperat Virgilius, dum non toto versu utitur hac figura ut Ennius, sed nunc in principio versus tantum, ut est illud: Saeva sedens super arma; nunc in medio, ut:

Quaeque lacus late liquidos, quaeque aspera dumis;

Nunc autem in fine, ut:

Sola mihi tales casus Cassandra canebat.

RL on Venantius Fortunatus:

But the greatest indulgence occurs in a poem on Childbert, in which Fortunatus compounds alliteration with anominatio and assonance through the first ten lines of a 14-line poem; here a few verses as illustration:

Rex regionis apex et supra regna regimen,

Qui caput es capitum, vir capitale bonum,

Ornamentum ornatus, ornatius ornans … (Appendix 5)

Even in the sober life of Saint Martin, Fortunatus manages to control himself for only eighteen lines of the first book before letting go in the 19^th line:

prudens prudenter Prudentius immolat actus. (Leo 296)

IV.xxii epitaph for two brothers, buried alongside their mother;

Non flenda infantia fratrum

Simili sunt sorte sepulti

The opening lines of Hucbald’s encomium of Charles the Bald (the entire poem, every word of which begins with « c », exceeds 130 lines) :

HUCBALDI MONACHI ECLOGA DE LAUDIBUS CALVITII.
(Apud C. Barthium, Adversar. tom. I, lib. LX.)

[Col.1041]

Incipit ecloga domini Hucbaldi monachi Elnonensis ord. S. Benedicti ad Carolum Calvum imperatorem.

Carmina convicii cerritus, carpere calvos
Conatus, cecinit: celebrentur carmine calvi
Conspicuo clari; carmen cognoscite cuncti.

PROOEMIUM.---Camenae invitantur ad laudem calvorum.

[Col.1042]

Carmina clarisonae calvis cantate Camenae.
[Col.1043A] Comere condigno conabor carmine calvos,
Contra cirrosi crines confundere colli.
Cantica concelebrent callentes clara Camenae:
Collaudent calvos, collatrent crimine claros
Carpere conantes calvos, crispante cachinno.
Conscendat coeli calvorum causa cacumen;
Conticeant cuncti concreto crine comati.
Cerrito calvos calventes carmine cunctos
Consona conjunctim cantentur carmina calvis.

(see L. P. Wilkinson, Golden Latin Artistry, Cambridge 1963, pp. 25-28 for a sketch of the kinds of difficulties that arise when one tries to assess aesthetically the use of alliteration).

Caedmon

Bede CHAPTER XXIV [A. D. 680]

THERE was in this abbess's monastery a certain brother, particularly remarkable for the grace of God, who was wont to make pious and religious verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expressions of much sweetness and humility, in English, which was his native language. By his verses the minds of many were often excited to despise the world, and to aspire to heaven. Others after him attempted, in the English nation, to compose religious poems, but none could ever compare with him, for he did not learn the art of poetry from men, but from God; for which reason he never could compose any trivial or vain poem, but only those which relate to religion suited his religious tongue; for having lived in a secular habit till he was well advanced in years, he had never learned anything of versifying; for which reason being sometimes at entertainments, when it was agreed for the sake of mirth that all present should sing in their turns, when he saw the instrument come towards him, he rose up from table and returned home.

Having done so at a certain time, and gone out of the house where the entertainment was, to the stable, where he had to take care of the horses that night, he there composed himself to rest at the proper time; a person appeared to him in his sleep, and saluting him by his name, said, "Caedmon, sing some song to me." He answered, "I cannot sing; for that was the reason why I left the entertainment, and retired to this place because I could not sing." The other who talked to him, replied, "However, you shall sing." "What shall I sing?" rejoined he. "Sing the beginning of created beings," said the other. Hereupon he presently began to sing verses to the praise of God, which he had never heard, the purport whereof was thus :

We are now to praise the Maker of the heavenly kingdom, the power of the Creator and his counsel, the deeds of the Father of glory. How He, being the eternal God, became the author of all miracles, who first, as almighty preserver of the human race, created heaven for the sons of men as the roof of the house, and next the earth.

Nu sculon herigean         heofonrices weard,
meotodes meahte         and his modgeþanc,
weorc wuldorfæder,         swa he wundra gehwæs,
ece drihten,         or onstealde.

He ærest sceop         eorðan bearnum
heofon to hrofe,         halig scyppend;
þa middangeard         moncynnes weard,
ece drihten,         æfter teode
firum foldan,         frea ælmihtig.

This is the sense, but not the words in order as he sang them in his sleep; for verses, though never so well composed, cannot be literally translated out of one language into another, without losing much of their beauty and loftiness. Awaking from his sleep, he remembered all that he had sung in his dream, and soon added much more to the same effect in verse worthy of the Deity.

Beowulf

Ðá cóm of móre      under misthleoþum		Then came from the moor      under the misty cliffs
Grendel gongan·      godes yrre bær·	710	Grendel walking,      God's wrath he bore;
mynte se mánscaða      manna cynnes		the vile ravager meant      from mankind
sumne besyrwan      in sele þám héan·		a sample to snare      in the high hall;
wód under wolcnum      tó þæs þe hé wínreced		he waded under the clouds      until he the wine-hall,
goldsele gumena      gearwost wisse		--the gold-hall of men--      mostly-certainly saw,
faéttum fáhne·      ne wæs þæt forma síð	715	shining gold;      it was not the first time
þæt hé Hróþgáres      hám gesóhte·		that he Hrothgar's      home had sought;
naéfre hé on aldordagum      aér ne siþðan		he never in the days of his life,      ere nor after,
heardran haéle      healðegnas fand.		harder luck      or hall-thanes found.
Cóm þá to recede      rinc síðian		He came then to the hall      the fighter journeying,
dréamum bedaéled·      duru sóna onarn	720	cut-off from merriment;      the door soon rushed open,
fýrbendum fæst      syþðan hé hire folmum æthrán		firm with fire-forged bands,      when he tapped it with his hands
onbraéd þá bealohýdig      ðá hé gebolgen wæs,		plotting evil then he tore open,      now that he was enraged,
recedes múþan·      raþe æfter þon		the mouth of the building;      straight after that
on fágne flór      féond treddode·		on the tessellated floor      the fiend treaded,
éode yrremód·      him of éagum stód	725	advanced angrily;      from his eyes issued,
ligge gelícost      léoht unfaéger·		most like a flame,      a distorted light;
geseah hé in recede      rinca manige		he saw in the hall      many warriors
swefan sibbegedriht      samod ætgædere		a sleeping company of kinsmen      gathered together
magorinca héap.      Þá his mód áhlóg:		a great host of warriors.      Then his heart laughed:
mynte þæt hé gedaélde      aér þon dæg cwóme	730	he intended to deprive,      ere the day came,
atol áglaéca      ánra gehwylces		the cruel beast,      from each one
líf wið líce      þá him álumpen wæs		life from body,      now had befallen him
wistfylle wén.      Ne wæs þæt wyrd þá gén		a hope of a full feast.      It was not his fate again
þæt hé má móste      manna cynnes		that he might more      of mankind
ðicgean ofer þá niht·      þrýðswýð behéold	735	partake of after that night;      the mighty man beheld,
maég Higeláces      hú se mánscaða		the kinsman of Hygelac,      how the cruel killer
under faérgripum      gefaran wolde.		by means of a sudden attack      wished to proceed.
Né þæt se áglaéca      yldan þóhte		That the monster did not      think to delay,
ac hé geféng hraðe      forman síðe		but he quickly grasped,      at the first occasion,
slaépendne rinc      slát unwearnum·	740	a sleeping warrior,      rended without restraint,
bát bánlocan·      blód édrum dranc·		bit into the bone-locks,      from the veins drank blood,
synsnaédum swealh·      sóna hæfde		swallowed great chunks;      soon he had
unlyfigendes      ealgefeormod		the unliving one      all devoured,
fét ond folma·      forð néar ætstóp·		feet and hands;      nearer he stepped forth,
nam þá mid handa      higeþíhtigne	745	taking then with his hands      a stout-hearted
rinc on ræste·      raéhte ongéan		warrior from his rest,      reached towards him
féond mid folme·      hé onféng hraþe		the foe with his palm;      quickly he grasped
inwitþancum      ond wið earm gesæt.		the malice thoughts      and clamped down on the arm.
Sóna þæt onfunde      fyrena hyrde·		At once he found,      the shepherd of atrocities,
þæt hé ne métte      middangeardes	750	that he had not met      in middle-earth,
eorþan scéatta      on elran men		in the expanse of the world,      in another man
mundgripe máran·      hé on móde wearð		a greater hand-grip;      he in his heart grew
forht on ferhðe·      nó þý aér fram meahte·		fearing for life;      none the sooner could he away;
hyge wæs him hinfús·      wolde on heolster fléon,		eager-to-go-hence was the thought in him,      he wanted to flee into the darkness,
sécan déofla gedræg·      ne wæs his drohtoð þaér	755	to seek the devils' concourse;      his situation there was not
swylce hé on ealderdagum      aér gemétte.		like he in the days of his life      ever had met.
Gemunde þá se góda      maég Higeláces		The good man then recalled,      the kinsman of Hygelac,
aéfenspraéce·      uplang ástód		his evening-speech;      upright he stood
ond him fæste wiðféng·      fingras burston·		and laid hold of him tight;      fingers burst;
eoten wæs útweard·      eorl furþur stóp.	760	the troll was striving to move outward,      the earl stepped forward.
Mynte se maéra      hwaér hé meahte swá		The infamous one meant,      anywhere he so was able,
wídre gewindan      ond on weg þanon		farther escape      and away thence
fléon on fenhopu·     wiste his fingra geweald		flee to his fen-lairs;      he knew his fingers' control
on grames grápum·      þæt he wæs géocorsíð		in his enemy's grip,      that was a bitter journey he
þæt sé hearmscaþa      to Heorute átéah.	765	that the harm-warrior      had taken to Heorot.
Dryhtsele dynede·      Denum eallum wearð		The noble hall broke into a din;      the Danes all were,
ceasterbúendum      cénra gehwylcum		--the citadel-dwellers--      each of the bold,
eorlum ealuscerwen·      yrre waéron bégen		earls in the flood of bitter drink;      enraged were both
réþe renweardas·      reced hlynsode.		fierce hall-wards;      the hall resounded.
Þá wæs wundor micel      þæt se wínsele	770	Then it was a great wonder      that the wine-hall
wiðhæfde heaþodéorum·      þæt hé on hrúsan ne féol		withstood the war-fighters,      that it did not fall to the ground,
faéger foldbold      ac hé þæs fæste wæs		the fair mansion      but it so firm was
innan ond útan      írenbendum		inside and out      with iron-bands
searoþoncum besmiþod·      þaér fram sylle ábéag		skilfully smithed;      there from the floor broke away
medubenc monig      míne gefraége	775	many mead-benches,      I heard,
golde geregnad      þaér þá graman wunnon·		adorned with gold,      where the enemies struggled;
þæs ne wéndon aér      witan Scyldinga·		it was not thought before,      by the sages of the Scyldings,
þæt hit á mid gemete      manna aénig		that it ever by means      any men
betlíc ond bánfág      tóbrecan meahte,		splendid and bone-adorned,      could break it up,
listum tólúcan      nymþe líges fæþm	780	cleverly cleave asunder,      not unless fire's embrace
swulge on swaþule.      Swég up ástág		swallowed it in inferno.      Sound ascended up,
níwe geneahhe·      Norð-Denum stód		new, nearby:      the North-Danes stood
atelíc egesa      ánra gehwylcum		in ghastly horror,      in each one of
þára þe of wealle      wóp gehýrdon,		them who from the wall      weeping heard,
gryreléoð galan      godes andsacan	785	terrible screaming,      God's adversary,
sigeléasne sang,      sár wánigean		a victoryless song,      bewailing his wound,
helle hæfton·      héold hine fæste		Hel's prisoner;      he held him fast,
sé þe manna wæs      mægene strengest		he who was of men      in might strongest
on þaém dæge      þysses lífes.		on that day      in this life.

The cultural isolation of Ireland and Celtic Great Britain was interrupted by the pilgrimages of the Celts on the Continent. They preserved their school tradition, their grammatical education and their pronunciation of Latin, but they expanded their horizon and began to study classical literature, traces of which are already discernible in the writings of Colomban (d. 615).

Before this development, the Celtic and Roman civilizations met and clashed with one another in Germanic England. In the hands of the barbarians the region was Christianized early and was reclaimed for civilization by two groups, monks coming from Ireland and Roman missionaries. At the beginning of the seventh century, the Irish founded several important monasteries, for example, Lindisfarne and Whitby in the north, and Malmesbury in western England. In these abbeys an Irish type of education was given to the Anglo-Saxons, who adopted the Irish pronunciation of Latin, among other things, and preserved it for a long time. It is likely that the Venerable Bede and Alcuin pronounced ce and ci as ke and ki. We can draw this conclusion from their use of alliteration. So, Bede regularly uses two alliterations in each line of his hymn which begins with the strophe:

Adesto, Christe, cordibus,
Celsa redemptis caritas,
Infunde nostris fervidos
Fletus, rogamus, vocibus.

We have an alliteration between Christe and cordibus in the first line, between celsa and caritas in the second, between in-funde and fervidos in the third, and between fletus and vocibus, pronounced focibus, in the fourth (see below). In his poem Nunc bipedali, Alcuin tied Adonic verses two by two with an alliteration of this type:

Esto paratus ecce precamur
Obvius ire omnipotenti
Pectore gaudens Pax tibi semper. . .

from Manuel pratique de latin médiéval by Dag Norberg (Paris, 1980), English translation by R.H.Johnson

Old Icelandic Verse

Hávamál - Gestaþáttur
From the book Eddukvæði,
Ólafur Briem, Skálholt, 1968, Reykjavík.
Believed to be under copyright
Hávamál - Wisdom for Wanderers
and Counsel to Guests
The Elder or Poetic Edda,
edited and translated by Olive Bray
(London: Printed for the Viking Club, 1908),
pp. 61-111.
Believed to be in the public domain.
See also: Full version online.
Havamal - Guest's Chapter
W.H.Auden & P.B.Taylor translation.
Believed to be in the public domain.
Source Rob Goodson.

Gáttir allar,
áður gangi fram,
um skoðast skyli,
um skyggnast skyli,
því óvíst er að vita,
hvar óvinir
sitja á fleti fyrir.
1. At every door-way,
ere one enters,
one should spy round,
one should pry round
for uncertain is the witting
that there be no foeman sitting,
within, before one on the floor
1.
The man who stands at a strange threshold,
Should be cautious before he cross it,
Glance this way and that:
Who knows beforehand what foes may sit
Awaiting him in the hall?
2.
Gefendur heilir.
Gestur er inn kominn,
hvar skal sitja sjá?
Mjög er bráður,
sá er á bröndum skal
síns um freista frama.
2.
Hail, ye Givers! a guest is come;
say! where shall he sit within?
Much pressed is he who fain on the hearth
would seek for warmth and weal.
2.
Greetings to the host,
The guest has arrived,
In which seat shall he sit?
Rash is he who at unknown doors
Relies on his good luck.

Nibelungenlied

Uns ist in alten mæren wunders vil geseit
von helden lobebæren von grôzer arebeit,
von vreude und hôchgezîten von weinen und von klagen,
von kuener recken strîten muget ir nu wunder hoeren sagen.

Ez wuohs in Burgonden ein vil edel magedîn,
daz in allen landen niht schoeners mohte sîn;
Kriemhilt was si geheizen si wart ein schoene wîp.
dar umbe uosen degene vil verliesen den lîp.

Der minneclîchen meide triuten wol gezam;
ir muoten küene recken niemen was ir gram.
âne mâzen schoene sô was ir edel lîp.
der juncvrouwen tugende zierten anderiu wîp.

Ir pflâgen drî kuenege edel unde rich,
Gunther unde Gêrnôt die recken lobelîch,
und Gîselher der junge ein ûz erwelter degen.
diu vrouwe was ir swester die vürsten hetens in ir pflegen."

Full many a wonder is told us in stories old, of heroes worthy of praise, of hardships dire, of joy and feasting, of the fighting of bold warriors, of weeping and of wailing; now ye may hear wonders told.

In Burgundy there grew so noble a maid that in all the lands none fairer might there be. Kriemhild [3] was she called; a comely woman she became, for whose sake many a knight must needs lose his life. Well worth the loving was this winsome maid. Bold knights strove for her, none bare her hate. Her peerless body was beautiful beyond degree; the courtly virtues of this maid of noble birth would have adorned many another woman too.

Three kings, noble and puissant, did nurture her, Gunther [4] and Gernot, [5] warriors worthy of praise, and Giselher, [6] the youth, a chosen knight. This lady was their sister, the princes had her in their care.