Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/98

Hatton MS. sua sua on ðæm mæssehrægle scient ongemang oðrum bleon ðæt tweoðræwene twin.

XV. Hu se lareow sceal bion gesceadwis on his swigean & nytwyrðe on his wordum.

Sie se lariow gemetfæsð & gescadwis & nyttwyrðe on his wordum, ðætte he ne suigige ðæs ðe nyttwyrðe sie to sprecanne, ne ðæt ne sprece ðæt he suigigean scyle. Forðæm sua sua unwærlicu & giemeleaslicu spræc menn dweleð, sua eac sio ungemetgode suige ðæs lareowes on gedwolan gebrin(g)ð ða ðe he læran meahte, gif he sprecende beon wolde. Oft eac ða unwaran lareowas for ege ne durron cleopian, ondrædað him sumra monna unðonc, ne durron forðon ryht freolice læran & unforwandodlice sprecan. Be ðæm sio Sotfæstness cuæð: Ne healde ge mid suelcum eorneste ða heorde suelce hirdas scoldon, ac hyrena ðeawe ge fleoð, & hydaþ eow mid ðære suigean, sua se hyrra ðonne he ðone wulf gesiehð. Ðæt ilce oðwát Dryhten ðurh ðone witgan, ða he cuæð: Dumbe hundas ne magon beorcan. Ond eft he cidde, ða he cuæð: Ne come ge no togenes minum folce ðæt ge meahton standan on minum gefeohte for Israhela folce, ne ge ðone weall ne trymedon ymbe hira hus on ðæm dæge ðe him niedðearf wæs. Ðæt is ðonne ðæt he fare togeanes Israhela folce him mid to feohtanne ðæt he wiðstande mid his spræce ðæm unryhtwillendum ðe ðyses middangeardes waldað mid freore & unforwandodlicre stefne, for gescildnesse his heorde. Ðæt is ðonne ðæt he him mid feohte on ðæm dæge ðe him niedðearf

of men, and so are afraid to teach with due freedom and speak without hesitation. Of which Truth spoke: "Ye do not watch over the flock with the zeal which befits the shepherd, but ye flee like hirelings, and hide yourself in silence, like the hireling when he sees the wolf." The same fault the Lord rebuked through the prophet, saying: "Dumb dogs cannot bark." And again he rebuked it when he said: "Ye came not towards my people to stand in my fight for the people of Israel, nor did ye strengthen the wall round their house in their day of need." Going towards the people of Israel to fight with them is withstanding with his speech the unrighteous who rule this world with free and fearless voice, to protect his flock. Fighting with them in the day of need is withstanding with all his might those whose