Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/145

136 OREGORY'S PASTORAL. [Cotton Mss. weorcum, & noldon beon abisgode nane wuht on eorðlicum ðingum. Đa ðonne hie eallinga agymeleasiað ðone ymbhogan worldcundra ðinga, ðonne ne fultumað [gefultumað] he noht to his hieremonna niedðearfe. Forðæm wirð oft forsewen ðara monna lar, ðonne hie tælað & hatigeað hiera hieremonna unðeawas, & ne doð him nan oðer god [ðisse weorolde] ; forðæm ðæt word ðære lare ne mæg ðurhfaran ðæs wædlan heortan, gif he næfð ða are þe he on bion [onfon] mæge. Ac ðonne grewð ðæt sæd swiðe wel ðara worda, ðonne sio mildhiortnes ðæs lareowes geðwænð & gelecð ða breost ðæs gehierendes. Forðæm is niedðearf ðæm reccere ðæt he mæge & cunne oðerra monna ingeðonc gindgeotan & gewætrian, & hie eac on hiora niedðearfum utane besio. Swæ sculon ða hierdas weallan ymb ða geornfulnesse ðære innerran ðearfe his hieremonna, ðæt hie ne forlæten ða giemenne hiera uterran ðearfe. Niede sceal bion gebrocen ðæt mod ðara hieremonna, gif se lareow & se hierde agiemeleasað ðæt he hiera utan ne helpe. Be ðæm se forma hierde sanctus Petrus geornfullice manode, & cwæð: Ic eom eower efnðeowa & Cristes ðrowunge gewiota, ic eow healsige ðæt ge feden Godes heorde þe under eow is. Swiðe hræðe æfter ðon he gecyðde hwæðer he mænde, þe ðæs modes foster þe ðæs lichoman, ða he cwæð: Ungenidde, mid eorum agnum willum, ge sculon ðencean for eowre heorde Godes ðonces, nalles no for fracoðlicum gestreonum. Mid ðæm wordum fullice he us warude & lærde ðætte ðonne hie gefylden & gebeten ða wædle hiera hieremonna, ðæt hie ne wurden selfe ofslægene mid ðæm sweorde ðære gidsunge, ðætte ðonne hiera nihstan ðurh hie beoð gereorde & geárode ðæt hie selfe ne fæsten ðæs hlafes ryhtwis-

divine works, and would not concern themselves at all with earthly things. These, when they entirely neglect the care of worldly things, do not at all help their subjects in their need. Therefore their in- struction is often despised when they blame and hate the faults of - their subjects, and do them no other good in this world; for the word of instruction cannot penetrate the heart of the poor man unless he be encouraged with kindness. But the seed of words grows very well when the humanity of the teacher softens and moistens the breast of the hearer. Therefore it is necessary for the ruler to be able and know how to irrigate and water the minds of others, and also to pro- vide for their outer wants. The pastors are to be fervidly zealous about the inner wants of their subjects, without neglecting the care of