Bede Quotes

Fore there neidfaerae • naenig uuiurthit
thoncsnotturra • than him tharf sie
to ymbhycggannae • aer his hiniongae
huaet his gastae • godaes aeththa yflaes
aefter deothdaege • doemid uueorthae.

Nū þ sculan herian • heofonrices þeard,
metudes myhte • his modᵹeþanc,
þurc þuldorfæder, • sþa he þundra ᵹehþilc,
ece drihten • ord astealde;
he ærest ᵹesceop • ylda bearnum
heofon to hrofe, • haliᵹ scyppend,
middanᵹearde • mancynnes þard;
ece drihtin, • æfter tida
firum on foldum, • frea ællmyhtiᵹ.

It is said that one day, when some merchants had lately arrived at Rome, many things were exposed for sale in the market place, and much people resorted thither to buy: Gregory himself went with the rest, and saw among other wares some boys' put up for sale, of fair complexion, with pleasing countenances, and very beautiful hair. When he beheld them, he asked, it is said, from what region or country they were brought? and was told, from the island of Britain, and that the inhabitants were like that in appearance. He again inquired whether those islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of paganism, and was informed that they were pagans. Then fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, "Alas! what pity," said he, "that the author of darkness should own men of such fair countenances ; and that with such grace of outward form, their minds should be void of inward grace.

Talis ... mihi uidetur, rex, vita hominum praesens in terris, ad conparationem eius, quod nobis incertum est, temporis, quale cum te residente ad caenam cum ducibus ac ministris tuis tempore brumali, accenso quidem foco in medio, et calido effecto caenaculo, furentibus autem foris per omnia turbinibus hiemalium pluviarum vel nivium, adveniens unus passeium domum citissime pervolaverit; qui cum per unum ostium ingrediens, mox per aliud exierit. Ipso quidem tempore, quo intus est, hiemis tempestate non tangitur, sed tamen parvissimo spatio serenitatis ad momentum excurso, mox de hieme in hiemem regrediens, tuis oculis elabitur. Ita haec vita hominum ad modicum apparet; quid autem sequatur, quidue praecesserit, prorsus ignoramus. Unde si haec nova doctrina certius aliquid attulit, merito esse sequenda videtur.

Rursus ergo interrogavit quod esset vocabulum gentis illius. Responsum est quod Angli vocarentur. At ille: "Bene", inquit, "nam et angelicam habent faciem et tales angelorum in caelis decet esse cohaeredes. Quod habet nomen ipsa provincia, de qua isti sunt adlati?" Responsum est quod Deiri vocarentur idem provinciales. At ille: "Bene", inquit, "Deiri; de ira eruti, et ad misericordiam Christi vocati. Rex provinciae illius quomodo apellatur?" Responsum est quod Aelli diceretur. At ille adludens ad nomen ait: "Alleluia, laudem Dei creatoris illis in partibus oportet cantari."

Nu scilun herᵹa • hefenricæs uard
metudæs mehti • and his modᵹithanc
uerc uuldurfadu • sue he uundra ᵹihuæs
eci dryctin • or astelidæ.
he ærist scop • ældu barnum
hefen to hrofæ • haliᵹ sceppend
tha middinᵹard • moncynnæs uard
eci dryctin • æfter tiadæ
firum foldu • frea allmehtiᵹ

Dicunt quia die quadam cum, advenientibus nuper mercatoribus, multa venalia in forum fuissent conlata, multi ad emendum confluxissent, et ipsum Gregorium inter alios advenisse, ac vidisse inter alia pueros venales positos candidi corporis ac venusti vultus, capillorum quoque forma egregia. Quos cum adspiceret interrogavit, ut aiunt, de qua regione vel terra essent adlati. Dictumque est quia de Britannia insula, cuius incolae talis essent aspectus.

Now must we hymn the Master of heaven,
The might of the Maker, the deeds of the Father,
The thought of His heart. He, Lord everlasting,
Established of old the source of all wonders:
Creator all-holy, He hung the bright heaven,
A roof high upreared, o’er the children of men;
The King of mankind then created for mortals
The world in its beauty, the earth spread beneath them,
He, Lord everlasting, omnipotent God.

Nū scylun herᵹan • hefaenrīcaes Uard,
metudæs maecti • end his mōdᵹidanc,
uerc Uuldurfadur, • suē hē uundra ᵹihwaes,
ēci dryctin • ōr āstelidæ
hē ǣrist scōp • aelda barnum
heben til hrōfe, • hāleᵹ scepen.
Thā middunᵹeard • moncynnæs Uard,
eci Dryctin, • æfter tīadæ
firum foldu, • Frēa allmectiᵹ.

The present life of man upon earth, O king, seems to me, in comparison with that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the house wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your ealdormen and thegns, while the fire blazes in the midst, and the hall is warmed, but the wintry storms of rain or snow are raging abroad. The sparrow, flying in at one door and immediately out at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry tempest ; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight, passing from winter into winter again. So this life of man appears for a little while, but of what is to follower what went before we know nothing at all. If, therefore, this new doctrine tells us something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed.

It is told that there was then such perfect peace in Britain, wheresoever the dominion of King Edwin extended, that, as is still proverbially said, a woman with her new-born babe might walk throughout the island, from sea to sea, without receiving any harm.