Old and Middle English c.890–c.1450: An Anthology

Building on the success of the first two editions of Old and Middle English: An Anthology (2000, 2004), Old and Middle English c. 890– c .1400: An Anthology is a valuable seminar resource. Spanning almost seven centuries, this anthology of literary texts ranges from the earliest writings in English up to the time of Chaucer. It encapsulates the foundation and consolidation of literature written in English, culminating in some of the finest works produced in the high Middle Ages. The texts are arranged by date of manuscript, foregrounding issues of dating, textual transmission, authorship and audience Full translations are offered for all the Old and earlier Middle English material, along with marginal glosses for the later texts, making them accessible to those who are not language specialists A general introduction gives an outline of the key works and the historical context in which they were written It contains an imaginative selection of canonical and non–canonical material, and can be used both to facilitate group discussion and to encourage independent student research

Alphabetical List of Authors and Works Preface and Acknowledgements to the First Edition Preface and Acknowledgements to the Second Edition Preface and Acknowledgements to the Third Edition Chronology of Events and Literary Landmarks Introduction Bede’s Ecclesiastical History : Cædmon’s Hymn The Settlement of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes; The Life of Cædmon Alfred: Preface  to the Translation of Gregory’s Pastoral Care Translation of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy The Accounts of the Journeys of Ohthere and Wulfstan The Anglo–Saxon Chronicle : Annal 755: Cynewulf and Cynheard; Annals 855–78: The Death of Edmund, Alfred’s Battles with the Vikings The Reign of Æðelstan and The Battle of Brunanburh The Exeter Book: Advent Lyrics   VII and VIII The Wanderer The Seafarer The Whale Deor Wulf and Eadwacer Exeter Book Riddles 5, 7, 12, 26, 29, 30, 43–6, 55 The Wife’s Lament The Husband’s Message The Ruin The Vercelli Book: The Fates of the Apostles Vercelli Homily X The Dream of the Rood Ælfric: Old English Preface to his First Series of Catholic Homilies Homily on the Nativity of the Innocents Old English Preface to his Lives of Saints Passion of Saint Edmund The Battle of Maldon The Beowulf–Manuscript: The Wonders of the East Beowulf Judith The Junius Manuscript: Exodus Wulfstan’s Sermo Lupi ad Anglos King Cnut’s Letter to the English of 1020 Apollonius of Tyre The Peterborough Chronicle The Life of Saint Margaret The Hymns of Saint Godric The Orrmulum Cambridge, Trinity College B. 14.52: Poema Morale Trinity Homily 33 Worcester Cathedral Library, F. 174: The First Worcester Fragment Hali Meiðhad Ancrene Wisse Sumer is Icumen In Oxford, Bodleian Library, Digby 86: Ubi Sount Qui Ante Nos Fuerount? Stond Wel, Moder, Ounder Rode The Fox and the Wolf Dame Siriþ Love is Sofft Arundel 292: The Bestiary Oxford, Jesus College 29: The Love–Ron of Friar Thomas Hales The Proverbs of Alfred London, British Library, Cotton Caligula A. ix: La3amon’s Brut The Owl and the Nightingale Lyrics from Cambridge, Trinity College B. 14. 39 Trinity Lyrics: Of One That Is So Fair and Bright When I Think on Domesday When the Turf is Thy Tower A Saying of Saint Bernard I Sing of One That Is Matchless An Orison to Our Lady The South English Legendary: The Life of Saint Wulfstan Cursor Mundi Robert Mannyng of Brunne: The Chronicle Handlyng Synne The Land of Cockayne The Auchinleck Manuscript: Sir Orfeo The Four Foes of Mankind London, British Library, Harley 2253: Earth upon Earth Alysoun Spring Advice to Women An Old Man’s Prayer Blow, Northerne Wynd The Death of King Edward I I Syke when Y Singe An Autumn Song King Horn The Ayenbite of Inwit Richard Rolle: Ego Dormio Ghostly Gladness King Alisaunder Ywain and Gawain Athelston Wynnere and Wastoure William Langland: Piers Plowman Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales : The General Prologue The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Julian of Norwich: A Vision The Book of Margery Kempe Select Bibliography Glossary of Common Hard Words Index of Manuscripts General Index

Elaine Treharne is Professor of Early English at Florida State University. She has published extensively on Old and Middle English literature, and focuses particularly on medieval manuscripts and their contexts of production. She is a General Editor of the Oxford Textual Perspectives Series, Editor of Essays and Studies, Medieval Editor for Review of English Studies, and a former Chair and President of the English Association. She is the founding convenor of the English Association Special Interest Group in the History of Books and Texts.