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Huntsman. He clothes and feeds me well, and sometimes he gives me a horse, or a bracelet, that I may the more willingly practise my art. [''(Anglo-Saxon men were fond of wearing bracelets.] )''

Shoemaker. I buy skins and hides, and prepare them, and make various kinds of sandals, slippers, shoes, and high boots, besides bridles, harness, and other horse trappings, halters and spurs ; and also leather bottles, flasks, purses, and bags. ''(The order of some of these names has been transposed in the vereb)   190 AN ANGLO-SAXON ABBOT  Master. Oh, Salter, of what value is your craft translation so as to us?  Salterbring together those that appear to have the same meaning. My craft It is of great value by no means easy to all of you ; none identify the signification of you would enjoy his dinner or supper unless my craft were his entertainerthese names. )''

SalterBaker. What man You might indeed, for a while, live your life without me, but not for long, nor well; for without my craft, every table would enjoy pleasant meatsseem empty, and without bread all food would be distasteful. I stablish the savour heart of salt man, I am the strength of men, and even the little ones cannot pass me by. Master. What shall we say of the Cook ? Who could fill Do we in any way need his craft ? pantryCook. If you drive me out of your society, or his storeroom you will have to eat your vegetables and your meat raw, and anyhow you cannot have good gravy without my craft ? Behold, . all Master. We do not care about your butter and cheese would perishcraft, unless I nor is it necessary for us, for we can ourselves cook the things that need to be cooked, and roast what has to be roasted. were near Cook. If therefore you drive me out, to do as you say, then you will all be their keeperservants, and none of you will be master, and yet without my craft you could will not use be able to bite your herbs without mefood.

Master. What have you to say, Baker ? What is the use of your craft, or can we live our life without you ?  Baker. You might indeed, for a while, live your life without me, but not for long, nor well; for without my craft, every table would seem empty, and without bread all food would be distasteful. I stablish the heart of man, I am the strength of men, and even the little ones cannot pass me by.  Master. What shall we say of the Cook ? Do we in any way need his craft ?  Cook. If you drive me out of your society, you will have to eat your vegetables and your meat raw, and anyhow you cannot have good gravy without my craft.  Master. We do not care about your craft, nor is it necessary for us, for we can ourselves cook the things that need to be cooked, and roast what has to be roasted.  translation so as to bring together those that appear to have the same meaning. It is by no means easy to identify the signification of these names.    A COLLOQUY 191  Cook. If therefore you drive me out, to do as you say, then you will all be servants, and none of you will be master, and yet without my craft you will not be able to bite your food.  Master. Monk, who hast spoken to me already, behold I find that you have good companions, and very necessary ones, who are they ?  Scholar. I have smiths, iron smiths, goldsmiths, silver smiths, brass smiths, carpenters, and many other workmen skilled in various arts.

 Scholar. Certainly we have. How could our society be ruled if we had no councillor?

 Master. What say you, Wise one? What art seems to you to hold the first place amongst all these ?  Councillor. I say to thee, that the service of God holds the primary place among these arts, as we read in the Gospel " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  Master. And which do you think among secular crafts holds the first place ?  Councillor. Agriculture; because the ploughman feeds us all.

 Blacksmith. How does the ploughman get his plough or his ploughshare, or his goad, but by my craft? How does the fisherman obtain his hook, or the shoemaker his awl, or the tailor his needle,

 Councillor. What you say is indeed true : but we    192 AN ANGLO-SAXON ABBOT  all prefer to be guests of the ploughman, rather than yours ; for the ploughman gives us bread and drink, and what do you give us in your workshop but sparks of iron, and the noise of hammers striking, and bellows blowing ?  

Woodman. Which of you does not avail himself of my craft, when I make houses, and various utensils and boats for you all?  Blacksmith. Woodman, why do you talk like that, when you could not pierce a single aperture without my craft ?  Councillor. friends, and good workmen ! Let us quickly cease from these contentions, and let there be peace and concord between us, and let each of us help the other by his art, and let us always meet at the ploughman's, where we find food for ourselves, and fodder for our horses, and this advice I give to workmen, that each should diligently practise his craft : for every one who forsakes his art is forsaken by his art : whether thou art a priest, or a monk, or a layman, or a scholar, practise thyself in this, be what thou art, for it is a great loss and shame to a man to be unwilling to be what he is, and what he ought to be.  Master. boys, how does this conversation please you?  Scholar. We are indeed well pleased with it, but your words are deep, and your speech goes beyond our age; pray speak to us as remembering our youthful minds, that we may understand what you are talking about. 1  1 ''(The critics consider that JSlfric Alfric Bata did not improve upon his    A COLLOQUY 193 jbrgjbbg)'' Master. I will ask you why you are so diligent in learning ?  Scholar. It is because we do not wish to be like brute animals, that know nothing but grass and water.  

 Master. "With what kind of wisdom? Do you wish to be clever turncoats, taking many shapes, cunning in lies, acute in speech ; talking fairly, and thinking evil, given to using pleasant words, while cherishing guile within, like a sepulchre, painted outside, but full of foulness inside ?  Scholar. We do not wish to be wise in this way, for he is not wise who deceives his own self by pretences.  

 Scholar. We wish to be simple, without hypocrisy, and wise in avoiding the evil, and in doing what is good, but up to now your discussion with us is more profound than our years can take in ; pray speak to us in our way, and not so profoundly.  Master. I will do as you ask. You, my boy, what have you done to-day ?  Scholar. I have done many things. This night, when I heard the call, I rose from my bed, and went out to the church, and sang nocturns with the brethren ; then we sang of all the saints, and the matin song of praise ; after that prime, and the seven psalms, with litanies, and the first mass, then terce, and we performed the mass of the day, after  master's work by his additions. The above remark seems un- reasonable, as the speech is plain enough.    194 AN ANGLO-SAXON ABBOT  that we sang sext ; then we ate and drank, and had our sleep, and rose up again, and sang nones, and now we are here before you, prepared to hear what you may say to us.  Master. When do you mean to sing vespers and compline?  Scholar. When it fgbfgn is the time for them.  

 Scholar. Why do you ask me about that ? I dare not reveal our secrets to you. Each one knows whether he has been flogged, or not.  

 Scholar. I am allowed meat, because I ani still a boy, living under the rod.  

 Scholar. Vegetables and eggs, fish and cheese, butter and beans, and all clean things I eat, with giving of thanks.  Master. You are very voracious, to eat everything that is put before you.  Scholar. I am not such a glutton as to be able to eat all these kinds of food at the same meal.  

 Scholar. I eat sometimes this food, and sometimes that, with moderation, as befits a monk; I do not eat voraciously, for I am not a glutton.  

 Scholar. Beer, if I have any, or water, if I have no beer.  

 Scholar. I am not rich enough to buy myself wine ;    A COLLOQUY 195  and wine is not a drink for boys, or foolish persons, but for elders, and wise men.  

 Scholar. Sometimes I hear the call, and rise, sometimes the master rouses me up sharply with a rod.  Master. good boys, and pleasant scholars, your instructor exhorts you to be obedient to the rules of divine discipline, and to behave yourselves decor- ously, wherever you may be. Walk with steadiness when you hear the bells of the church, enter into the house of prayer, and bend reverently before the holy altars. Stand in good order, and sing together, ask forgiveness for your faults, and go out again, without playing the fool, into the cloister or the schoolroom,