derivatives. 4. By using less inversion and ellipsis, especial- ANGLO-SAXON. King Alfred's Version of Literal English Version. Nu we sceolan herian metodes mihte oord onstealde. firum foldan frea aelmihtig. FROM ANGLO-SAXON Now must we praise the Creator's might, formed the beginning. for the children of earth then mid-earth the guardian of mankind, §36. 1. The substitution of -an for -as, in the Plural of Substantives; as, Munucan for Munucas (monks); and, conversely, the substitution of -s for -n; as, Steorres for Steorran (stars). The use of -s as the sign of the Plural, without respect to Gender or Declension, may be one of those changes that the Norman Conquest forwarded, -s being the sign of the plural in Anglo-Norman. 2. The ejection or shortening of final Vowels: paet Ylc for paet Ylce; Sone for Sunu; Name for Nama; Dages for Dagas. 3. The substitution of -n for -m in the Dative Case: Hwilon for Hwilum. 4. The ejection of the -n of the Infinitive Mode: Cumme for Cuman (to come); Nemne for Nemnen (to name). 5. The ejection of the -en in the Participle Passive: I-hote for Ge-haten (called, hight). 6. The so-called Gerundial Termination -enne, superseded by the Infinitive Termination -en; as, to Lufian for to Lufienne or Lufigenne. 7. The substitution of -en for -a, in the Persons Plural of Verbs: Hi clepen (they call) for Hi clypias, &c. The preponderance (not the occasional occurrence) of forms like those above constitute Semi-Saxon, in contradistinction to Standard Saxon, Classical Saxon, or Anglo-Saxon proper. SEMI-SAXON. THE GRAVE. [A Fragment, supposed to have been written about the year 1150.] § 37. Further changes convert Semi-Saxon into Old English. Some, among others, are the following: 1. The ejection of the Dative Plural Termination -um, and the substitution of the Preposition to and the Plural sign -s; as, To Smiths for Smiðum. Of the Dative Singular, the -e is retained (Ende, Worde); but it is by no means certain that, although recognized in writing, it was recognized in pronunciation also. 2. The ejection of -es in the Genitive Singular whenever the Preposition of came before it: Godes love (God's love); but the Love of God, and not the Love of Godes. 3. The syllable -es, as a sign of the Genitive Case, extended to all genders and declensions: Heart's for Heortan; Sun's for Sunnan. 4. The same in respect of the Plural Number: Sterres for Steorran; Sons for Suna. 5. The ejection of -na in the Genitive Plural; as of Sunges' for Sungena. 6. The use of the word The as an article, instead of Se, &c. The preponderance of the forms above (not their occasional occurrence) constitutes Old English, in contradistinction to Semi-Saxon. $38. PREDOMINANT FORMS IN OLD ENGLISH. 1. A fuller inflection of the Demonstrative Pronoun or Definite Article: pan, penne, paere, pam, in contradistinction to the Middle English. 2. The presence of the Dative Singular in -e: Ende, Smithe, in contradistinction to the Middle English. 3. The existence of a Genitive Plural in -r or -ra: Heora, Theirs; Aller, of All, in contradistinction to the Middle English. This with substantives and adjectives is less com mon. 4. The substitution of Heo for They, of Heora for Their, of Hem for Them, in contradistinction to the later stages of English, and in contradistinction to Old Lowland Scotch. 5. A more frequent use of Min and Thin, for My and Thy, in contradistinction to Middle and Modern English. 6. The use of Heo for She, in contradistinction to Middle and Modern English and Old Lowland Scotch. 7. The use of broader vowels; as in Iclepud or Iclepod (for Icleped or Yclept); Geongost, Youngest; Ascode, Asked; Eldore, Elder. 8. The use of the Strong Preterite (see the chapter on the Tenses of Verbs) where in the present English the weak form is found: Wex, Wop, Dalf, for Waxed, Wept, Delved. 9. The omission not only of the Gerundial Termination -enne, but also of the Infinitive sign -en after to: To honte, To speke, in contradistinction to Semi-Saxon. 10. The substitution of -en for -ep or -ed, in the First and Second Persons Plural of Verbs: We wollen, We will; Heo schullen, They should, in contradistinction to Semi-Saxon. 11. The comparative absence of the articles Se and Seo, in contradistinction to Semi-Saxon. 12. The substitution of Ben and Beeth for Synd and Syndon we, ye, they are, in contradistinction to Semi-Saxon. The following extract is from the proclamation of Henry III. to the people of Huntingdonshire, A.D. 1258. rently passes for the earliest specimen of English, i. e., Old English: It cur Henry, thurg Godes fultome, King on Engleneloande, Lhoaurd on Yrloand, Duke on Normand, on Acquitain, Eorl on Anjou, send I greting to alle hise holde, ilaerde & ilewerde, on Huntingdonschiere. "That witen ge well alle, thaet we willen & unnen (grant) thaet ure raedesmen alle, other the moare del of heom, thaet beoth ichosen thurg us and thurg thaet loandes-folk on ure Kuneriche, habbith idon and schullen don, in the worthnes of God and ure threowthe, for the freme of the loande, thurg the besigte of than toforen iscide raedesmen," &c. Literal Translation.-Henry, through God's support, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, of Aquitaine, Earl of Anjou, sends greeting to all his subjects, learned and unlearned, of Huntingdonshire. This know ye well all, that we will and grant what our counselors all, or the more part of them, that be chosen through us and through the land folk of our kingdom, have done, and shall do, to the honor of God, and our allegiance, for the good of the land, through the determination of the aforesaid counselors, &c. MIDDLE ENGLISH. $39. In Chaucer and Mandeville, and perhaps in all the writers of the reign of Edward III., we have a transition from the Old to the Middle English. The last characteristic of a grammar different from that of the present English is the plural form in -en: We tellen, Ye tellen, They tellen. As this disappears, which it does in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (Spenser has it continually), the Middle English may be said to pass into the New or Modern English. Alas the wo! alas the peines stronge That I for you have suffered, and so longe! Alas the deth! Alas min Emelie ! Alas departing of our compagnie ! Alas min hertes quene! alas my wif! Min hertes ladie, ender of my lif! What is this world? what axen men to have? Alone withouten any compagnie. Farewel my swete, farewel min Emelie, And softe take me in your armes twey, For love of God, and herkeneth what I sey. SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE. 1300-1372. And therfore I shall telle you what the Soudan tolde me upon a day in his chambre. He leet voyden out of his chambre alle maner of men, lordes and othere; for he wolde spake with me in conseille. And there he asked me how the Cristene men governed him in oure countree. And I seyde him, righte wel, thanked be God. And he seyde, treulyche nay; for ye Cristene men ne recthen righte noghte how untrewly to serve God. Ye scholde geven ensample, &c. And Marye seyde my soul magnifieth the Lord. And my spirit hath gladed in God myn helthe. For he hath behulden the mekeness of his handmaiden; for lo for this alle generatiouns schulen seye that I am blessid. E |