Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/49

40 GREGORY'S PASTORAL. [Cotton MSS. oðre men, him gebyrede (þæt he) nysse self ðæt he man wæs. Swaðeah, (ðeah ic) nu ðis recce, ne tæle ic na micel weorc ne ry(htne) onwald, ac ic tæle þæt hine mon forðy upahe(bbe) on his mode ; & þa untrymnesse hira heortan ic wolde getrymman & gestiran ðære wilnunge ðæm unmedemum, þæt hira nan ne durre gripan swæ orsorglice on ðæt rice & on ðone lareowdom, ðylæs ða gongen on swæ frecne stige, ða þe ne magon uncwaciende gestondan on emnum felda.

V. Be ðæm þe magon on ealdordome nytte beon on bisnum & on cræftum, & ðonne for hiera agenre ieðnesse ðæt fleoð.

Ac monige sindon mid miclum gifum monegra mægena & cræfta geweorðode, forðonðe hi hie sceoldon monegum tæcean, & for oðerra monna ðearfe onfoð ðyllica gifa. Þæt is þæt hie gehealdað hiera lichoman firenlusta clænne; oðer is þæt hie bioð on forhæfdnesse strengeo strange; ðridde is þæt hie bioð mid lara swetmettum gefylde; feorðe is þæt hie bioð on ælengum ðingum & on ælcre longunge geðyldige, & on forebyrde eaðmode ; fifte is þæt hie habbað þa arudnesse & þa bældo þæt hie magon anwald habban ; sixte is þæt hie bioð fremsume; siofoðe is þæt hie bioð reðe & strece for ryhtwisnesse. Đa þe ðonne ðyllice bioð, & him mon swelcne folgoð beodeð, & hie him widsacað, oft him gebyreð þæt hie weorðad bereafod ðara gifa be him God for monegra monna ðingum geaf, næs for hiera anra. Đonne hie synderlice ðenceað hu hie selfe scylen fulfremedeste weorðan, & ne gimað to hwon oðerra monna wise weorðe, mid ðy at all. However, although I tell this now, I do not blame great works nor legitimate power, but I blame a man for being conceited on that account ; and I would strengthen the weakness of their hearts, and forbid the incompetent such desires, lest any of them presume to seize on power or the office of teaching so rashly, lest those attempt such dangerous paths who cannot stand firmly on level ground. V. Concerning those who can be useful as teachers with their example and virtues, and for their own ease avoid it. But there are many distinguished with great gifts of many virtues and talents, because they ought to teach many, and for the need of other men they receive such gifts. That is, that they keep their

t all. However, although I tell this now, I do not blame great works nor legitimate power, but I blame a man for being conceited on that account ; and I would strengthen the weakness of their hearts, and forbid the incompetent such desires, lest any of them presume to seize on power or the office of teaching so rashly, lest those attempt such dangerous paths who cannot stand firmly on level ground. V. Concerning those who can be useful as teachers with their example and virtues, and for their own ease avoid it. But there are many distinguished with great gifts of many virtues and talents, because they ought to teach many, and for the need of other men they receive such gifts. That is, that they keep their