Lays of Boethius
Encyclopedia
The Metres of Boethius are a series of Old English alliterative poems adapted from the Latin metra of the 6th-century Consolation of Philosophy
by Boethius. The Metres were produced shortly after King Alfred
(r. 870-899) translated the Consolation of Philosophy in straightforward prose at the end of the 9th century. Alfred may also have been the author of the Metres, though any direct evidence is lacking.
work and is considered one of the most important works of philosophy from the Middle Ages
. Alfred's avowed aims in translating the Consolation and other philosophical and historical works was the education of his people. In another of his works, Pastoral Care
, Alfred decries the lack of people who could read Latin in his kingdom; even in the clergy. The translation of Boethius would not only bring his important work and philosophies to a larger readership, it would also promote the English language
.
The Latin of the 9th century had changed considerably from that of the 6th century when Boethius wrote, and it is likely Alfred was only familiar with the Latin of his day. Asser
reports in his life of King Alfred that:
The Lays are probably Alfred's most important work, for although he is credited with translating several other works, the Lays show a greater spark of creativity than a simple translation. The attribution of the work to the King himself, along with his other works, is sometimes disputed. This is partly due to Asser's claim of an immediate and miraculous conversion to literacy by Alfred.
Although this reported late development casts some doubt on Alfred's authorship, all of his purported works seem to bear the influence of a single writer and although he certainly worked with a group of scholars Alfred's authorship is usually considered likely. This is in marked contrast to his near contemporary Charlemagne
who had rudimentary literary skills.
While some of these additions may be Alfred's own work, many of them come from glosses to contemporary Latin manuscripts of the Consolation which were obviously used in the translation process. There is also a significant number of references to Christianity within the translation which are entirely absent in Boethius's secular work.
There are two surviving main manuscripts of the Alfred's Boethius. The earliest was written in the 10th century about fifty years after Alfred's death and contains the alliterative verse
rendering of the work. This manuscript was damaged in the Cotton library
fire of 1731. The later document is from the 12th century and is the prose translation of the work.
Alfred enjoyed working on the translation as a release from his worries and as a kind of self-education in philosophy. It was his hope that others would benefit from its moral message. He explains this in the proem
of the work as well as confirming that he produced both the prose translation and the verse Lays.
Consolation of Philosophy
Consolation of Philosophy is a philosophical work by Boethius, written around the year 524. It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West on Medieval and early Renaissance Christianity, and is also the last great Western work that can be called Classical.-...
by Boethius. The Metres were produced shortly after King Alfred
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
(r. 870-899) translated the Consolation of Philosophy in straightforward prose at the end of the 9th century. Alfred may also have been the author of the Metres, though any direct evidence is lacking.
Alfred's translations
The Consolation of Philosophy was a 6th century LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
work and is considered one of the most important works of philosophy from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Alfred's avowed aims in translating the Consolation and other philosophical and historical works was the education of his people. In another of his works, Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care
Liber Regulae Pastoralis or Regula Pastoralis is a treatise on the responsibilities of the clergy written by Pope Gregory I around the year 590, shortly after his papal inauguration...
, Alfred decries the lack of people who could read Latin in his kingdom; even in the clergy. The translation of Boethius would not only bring his important work and philosophies to a larger readership, it would also promote the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The Latin of the 9th century had changed considerably from that of the 6th century when Boethius wrote, and it is likely Alfred was only familiar with the Latin of his day. Asser
Asser
Asser was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court...
reports in his life of King Alfred that:
- "...his most usual custom, both night and day, amid his many other occupations of mind and body, either himself to read books, or to listen whilst others read them."
The Lays are probably Alfred's most important work, for although he is credited with translating several other works, the Lays show a greater spark of creativity than a simple translation. The attribution of the work to the King himself, along with his other works, is sometimes disputed. This is partly due to Asser's claim of an immediate and miraculous conversion to literacy by Alfred.
- "In the same year [c. 886] Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, so often before mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on one and the same day, to read and to interpret..."
Although this reported late development casts some doubt on Alfred's authorship, all of his purported works seem to bear the influence of a single writer and although he certainly worked with a group of scholars Alfred's authorship is usually considered likely. This is in marked contrast to his near contemporary Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
who had rudimentary literary skills.
Prose and verse
Alfred's prose version was a fairly free adaptation of Boethius and some parts are greatly summarised from the original. There is an introduction putting the work into context and numerous notes and digressions throughout explaining allusions for the intended audience.While some of these additions may be Alfred's own work, many of them come from glosses to contemporary Latin manuscripts of the Consolation which were obviously used in the translation process. There is also a significant number of references to Christianity within the translation which are entirely absent in Boethius's secular work.
There are two surviving main manuscripts of the Alfred's Boethius. The earliest was written in the 10th century about fifty years after Alfred's death and contains the alliterative verse
Alliterative verse
In prosody, alliterative verse is a form of verse that uses alliteration as the principal structuring device to unify lines of poetry, as opposed to other devices such as rhyme. The most commonly studied traditions of alliterative verse are those found in the oldest literature of many Germanic...
rendering of the work. This manuscript was damaged in the Cotton library
Cotton library
The Cotton or Cottonian library was collected privately by Sir Robert Bruce Cotton M.P. , an antiquarian and bibliophile, and was the basis of the British Library...
fire of 1731. The later document is from the 12th century and is the prose translation of the work.
Alfred enjoyed working on the translation as a release from his worries and as a kind of self-education in philosophy. It was his hope that others would benefit from its moral message. He explains this in the proem
Preface
A preface is an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a foreword and precedes an author's preface...
of the work as well as confirming that he produced both the prose translation and the verse Lays.
- "King Alfred was the interpreter of this book, and turned it from book Latin into English, as it is now done. Now he set forth word by word, now sense from sense, as clearly and intelligently as he was able, in the various and manifold worldly cares that oft troubled him both in mind and in body. These cares are very hard for us to reckon, that in his days came upon the kingdoms to which he had succeeded, and yet when he had studied this book and turned it from Latin into English prose, he wrought it up once more into verse, as it is now done."
See also
- BoeceBoece (Chaucer)Boece is Geoffrey Chaucer's translation into Middle English of The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.The original work, written in Latin, stresses the importance of philosophy to everyday life and was one of the major works of philosophy in the Middle Ages...
a later English translation of the Consolation of Philosophy by Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
Editions and translations
- Assman, Bruno, ed. Die Handschrift von Exeter: Metra des Boethius, Salomo und Saturn, die Psalmen. 2 pt. (Bibliothek der angelsächsischen Poesie; 3.) Leipzig: (G. H. Wigand?), 1897–98
- Fox, Samuel, ed. and tr. King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon Version of the Metres of Boethius, with an English translation and notes. London: W. Pickering, 1835
- Griffiths, Bill, ed. Alfred's Metres of Boethius. Pinner: Anglo-Saxon Books, 1991 ISBN 1-898281-03-3.
- Krämer, Ernst, tr. Die altenglischen Metra des Boetius. (Bonner Beiträge zur Anglistik; Heft 8.) Bonn: P. Hanstein, 1902
- Krapp, G. P., ed. The Paris Psalter and the Meters of Boethius. (Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records; vol. 5.) New York: Columbia U. P., 1932; pp. 153–203
External links
- Bibliography
- Old English text at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Translation into Modern English at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(also converted into digital text here)