Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/102

Hatton MS.] ðæt se halega gæst on tu[n]gena onlicnesse gesette ofer ða apostolas, forðæm butan tweon ðone ðe he gefylð he gedeð ðæt he bið suiðe hræðe ymbe hine sprecende. Forðæm wæ[s] beboden Moyse ðæt se sacerd scolde bion mid bellum behangen. Ðæt is ðæt he hæbbe ða stefne ðære lare, ðylæs he abelge mid ðære suigean ðone dom ðæs Sceaweres. Hit is awriten ðæt he scolde inngongende & útgongende beforan Gode to ðæm halignessum beon gehiered his sueg, ðylæs he swulte. Hit is gecueden ðæt se sacerd scolde sweltan, gif se sweg nære of him gehiered ægðer ge inngongendum ge utgongendum, forðon he geniet ðone dieglan deman to irre, gif he inngæð butan ðæm swege ðære lare. Hit was awriten ðæt ðæs sacerdes hrægl wære behongen mid bellum. Hwæt elles getacnað ðæs sacerdes hrægl butan ryht weore? Dauid se witga ðæt cyðde, ða he cuæð: Sien ðine sacerdas gegierede mid ryhtwisnesse. On ðæs sacerdes hrægle wæron bellan hangiende. Ðæt is ðæt ða weorc ðæs sacerdes & eac se sueg his tungan clypien ymb lifes weg. Ac ðonne se lareow hine gegearwa to ðære spræce, behalde he hine geornlice ðæt he wærlice sprece; forðon gif he unendebyrdlice onet mid ðære spræce, & wilnað ðæt he ðy wi[s]ra ðynce, ðonne is wén ðæt he gewundige ða heortan ðara gehirendra mid ðære wunde, ðæt is ðæt he hie gedweleð & unwislice geiecð ða idelnesse ðe he ofaceorfan sceolde. Be ðæm sio Soðfæsðnes cuæð: Habbað ge sealt on ieow, & sibbe habbað betweoh iow. Durh ðæt sealt is getacnod ða word wisdomes. Se ðonne se ðe fundige wislice to sprecanne, ondræde he him suiðlice, ðylæs his spræc gescynde ða anmodnesse ðara ðe ðærto hlystað. Be ðæm cuæð Paulus: Ne wilnien ge mare to witenne ðonne iow ðearf sie, ac witað

be clad with righteousness." Bells hung on the priestly robe, which means that the works of the priest and his voice are to proclaim the way of life. But when the teacher is ready to speak, let him be careful to speak warily; for if he hastens on irregularly with his speech that he may seem the more wise, it is probable that he will wound the hearts of his hearers by leading them into error and foolishly increasing the frivolity which he ought to prune away. Of which Truth spoke: "Have salt in you and peace among you." Salt signifies the words of wisdom. He therefore who hastens to speak wisely ought to fear greatly, lest his speech disturb the confidence of the hearers. Of which Paul spoke: "Desire not to know more than is needful for