Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/55

46 GREGORY'S PASTORAL. [Cotton MSS. scinað, & magon hiera nihstum swæ nytte bion, hwy hie þara geearnunga hiora digelnesse & anette bet truwien ðonne ðære hu hie oðerra monna mæst gehelpen? Hwæt se ancenda Godes sunu of his fæder bosme wæs ferende to urre andweardnesse ðæt he ure gehulpe.

VI. Be ðæm þe for eaðmodnesse fleoð ða byrðenne þæs lareowdomes, ðonne hi beoð ryhtlice eaðmode ðonne hie ne winnað wið ðone godcundan dom.

Đonne sindon monige þe fleoð for eaðmodnesse anre, forðæm hie noldon þæt hie mon ahofe ofer ða þe him betran ðynceað ðonne hie selfe. Nis ðæs ðonne nan tweo, gif swelc eaðmodnes bið mid oðrum godum ðeawum begyrded, þæt ðæt bið beforan Godes eagum soð eaðmodnes, ðonne he for nanre anwilnesse ne wiðcwið ðæm nyttum weorcum þe him mon beodeð to underfonne. Ne bið ðæt na soð eadmodnes, gif mon ongit ðæt ðæt Godes willa sie ðæt he ofer oðre bion scile, ðæt he ðonne wiðsace, ac bio underðided Godes willan & his dome, & forlæte ða uncysta ðære anwilnesse. Đonne he oferstæled bið, & him gereaht bið þæt he oðrum mæg nyt bion on ðæm þe him mon ðonne bebeodet, mid his mode he hit sceal fleon & ðeah for hiersumnesse he hit sceal underfon.

VII. Þætte oft ðæs lareowdomes ðenung bið swiðe untælwierðlice gewilnod, & eac swiðe untælwierðlice monige bioð to geniedde.

Ðeahhwæðre monige wilniað folgoðes & ealdordomes swiðe un-

to the merits of retirement and solitude than aiding other men as much as possible? Did not the only born Son of God come from his Father's bosom to be with us and help us ? VI. Of those who through humility avoid the burden of teaching, but if they are really humble, do not oppose the divine decree. And there are many who avoid it out of humility alone, because they do not wish to be raised above those whom they think better than themselves. There is no doubt that if such humility is enforced with other virtues, it is before God's eyes genuine humility, when he