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and third members (beaga bryttan, Grendles gudcræft), in D2 and D1 the first and second (wlanc Wedera leod leof land-fruma), in E the first and fourth (murnende mōd), in B the second and fourth (benden wordum weold), in C the second and third (oft Scyld Scefing). In types D2 49, 50 and D1 89, 90, where the verse begins with a compound of two members, the second alliteration is on the next independent word, since compounds with the same initial sound are rare. Thus in D2 49, 50 the alliteration is, as in E, on the first and fourth members (sa-bāt gesæt), in D1 89, 90, as in A, on the first and third (mago-driht micel).

NOTE. In the second half-line double alliteration is not possible. Here and there before or after the syllable with the chief stress a syllable with a weaker stress has the same initial sound, e.g. swa he selfa bæd Beow. 29, hine halig god 381 — in eowrum gud-geatwum 395, but owing to the predominance of the chief stress this was clearly not felt as double alliteration. For pā was heal hroden we must read with Bugge: roden.

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In Beowulf double alliteration is a little more frequent than simple alliteration, in the first 1000 verses 513 to 487. In Genesis B double alliteration is commoner (59%), less common in Genesis A (35%). The use of double alliteration does not depend entirely on the whim of the poet, but on the 'filling' of the verse, and especially on the strength of the stress of the words employed in the verse. According to the researches of Fuhr (§ 15-18) one must distinguish between com

pounds of simple conception and compounds of double conception. Then the following law with regard to the use of double alliteration can be enunciated (Stud. 2, 91 f.): "The dominion of one alliterating sound does not extend over more than two root-syllables of strongly stressed words. Compounds of simple conception count as simple words, but compounds of double conception count as two independent root-syllables." Thus double allit

eration is necessary in the first half-line in D2 verses, which contain three independent words. It is usual in A2, E and D1 verses, where there are compounds of double conception. In the second half-line, where only simple alliteration is allowed, only compounds of simple conception can be used in A2 or D1 verses according to this rule. In D1 verses, also, simple words of three members can of course be used. The D2 verses of the second half-line have as their last member nearly exclusively monosyllabic forms of a verb, which are somewhat more weakly stressed than the nouns, which stand at the end of the first half-lines (§ 82). The same is, in general, true for E verses also. Also where double alliteration is not necessary, it can, of course, be used, e.g. in the simpler forms of A verses (beaga bryttan), or in B verses, which do not contain more than two strongly stressed words. In C verses double alliteration is found only when the foot of three members consists of two independent words (C8 67-70); in compounds

(C2 64-66) it is rare, in simple words (C1 61–63) impossible.

NOTE. Recently an article appeared by Bayard Morgan, Zur Lehre von der Alliteration in der westgermanischen Dichtung, Halle 1907, in which the use of double alliteration is made dependent on the musical pitch of the hebungen. His results, however, require another careful examination. Morgan seems to pay too little attention to other points, which have to be considered.

§ 94. Crossed Alliteration.

a

The so-called crossed alliteration is something between simple alliteration and double alliteration. In addition to the alliteration of the first strongly stressed word of each half-line two following stressed words are connected by having the same initial sound. This sound is different from the first alliterating sound. The scheme is ab: ab, e.g. Hwat wē Gār-Dena in gear-dagum Beow. 1 hilde-wapnum ond heado-wædum 39

lagu-cræftig mon lond-gemyrcu 209.

Opinions differ with regard to crossed alliteration, whether it is accidental or intended; cp. e.g. Lawrence, Chapters on Alliterative Verse, London 1893. But the latter is the more probable, since occasionally other evidently intended strengthenings of the chief alliteration by means of the same initial sound in the more weakly stressed words are found, e.g.

ne hie huru heofena helm herian ne cüdon Beow. 182 þæt fram ham gefrægn Hygelaces pegn 194

Mal is me to feran! Fæder alwalda 316 etc.

§ 95. Enjambement of the Alliteration.

A further strengthening of the alliteration occurs sometimes, viz. the last word of a long-line, which does not alliterate, anticipates the alliteration of the following long-line (Enjambement of the alliteration, Stud. z.'g. All. 2, 93). Compare:

Beow. 15 f.: þe hie är drugon aldor-lease

lange hwile.

22 f.: þæt hine on ylde

30 f.:

wil-gesīdas.

eft gewunigen

þær wæs madma fela

of feor-wegum frætwa gelæded.

88f.: þæt he dōgora gehwām dream gehyrde
hludne in healle; þær wæs hearpan swēg,
swutol sang scopes.

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wid wrad werod wearde healdan etc.

In Exodus this enjambement of the alliteration occurs frequently where the one long line runs on into the next; cp. Graz p. 35.

A word, which does not share the alliteration of its own verse, may alliterate with words in a preceding or following verse, e.g.

Beow. 539 f.: Hæfdon swurd nacod pā wit on sund rẽowun heard on handa.

728 f.: Geseah he in recede rinca manige

swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere. 387 f.: sẽon sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere; gesaga him eac wordum þæt hi sint wil

432 f.: þes hearda heap Heorot fælsian.

cuman etc.

Hæbbe ic eac geahsod þæt se @glæca etc.

Sometimes two non-alliterating words in consecutive verses have the same initial sound: Beow. 2 f.: peod-cyninga prym gefrünon,

hu pa ceđelingas ellen fremedon.

102 f.: Wæs se grimma gæst Grendel haten,
mære mearc-stapa, sẽ be mōras hēold.
229 f.: þa of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,
sẽ pe holm-clifu healdan scolde.

238 f.: byrnum werede, be pus brontne ceol
ofer lagu-stræte lædan cwōmon.

321 f.: gumum ætgædere; güđ-byrne scān
heard hond-locen; hring-Iren scir etc.

470 f. siddan þá fæhđe feo þingōde;

sende ic Wylfingum ofer wæteres hrycg etc.

745 f.: fēt ond folma; ford near ætstōp.

Nam pa mid handa hige-pihtigne etc.

$96. How far the various kinds of words may alliterate.

Since alliteration is intended to give prominence only to the most strongly stressed words, one can draw a posteriori conclusions from the practice of the poets with regard to the Old Germanic sentence stress. Rieger instituted researches with regard to this, Zur alt- und angelsächsischen Verskunst, ZfdPh. 7, 1 ff. The result is expressed as follows by Saran (Deutsche Verslehre p. 231):

"For the alliteration there is a scale of the Parts of Speech according to their usual stress. Most strongly stressed are the chief syllables of the 'nomina' (substantives, adjectives, 'nominal' adverbs, 'nominal' forms of the verb, i. e. infinitive and

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