Hêliand: Text and Commentary

376 Pages·2002·13.83 MB·English, Old Saxon

by  James E. Cathey (ed.)

H@liand
Medieval European Studies II
H@liand
T ext and Commentary
Edited by
James E. Cathey
West Virginia University Press
Morgantown 2002
West Virginia University Press, Morgantown 26506
© 2002 by West Virginia University Press
All rights reserved
First edition published 2002 by West Virginia University
Press
Printed in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
ISBN 0-937058-64-5 (alk. paper)
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
mHiand. Text and Commentary / edited by James E. Cathey.
p. cm. --(Medieval European Studies; 2)
1. Heliand (Old Saxon Poem). 2. Old Saxon language-
texts. 3. Old Saxon language--grammar. I. Title. II. Cathey,
James E. III. Series.
IN PROCESS
Library of Congress Control Number: 2002104486
Cover design by Alcorn Publication Design
Cover motif adapted from image of St John in Vienna, Weltliche
Schatzkammer, Coronation Gospels (saec. viii ex.)
Typeset by P. W. Conner
Printed in USA by Lightning Source, Inc.
Table of Contents
Preface ................................................................................................ ix
Introduction ......................................................................................... 1
The Historical Setting of the Heliand ................................................ 3
The Saxons ................................................................................ 3
The Early Missions .................................................................... 4
The Arian and Moslem Threats ................................................ 6
The English Mission. .................................................................. 7
Charlemagne and Europe .......................................................... 8
Charlemagne and the Saxons .................................................... 9
Consolidation of Power ........................................................... 11
Semantic Hurdles to the Task of Conversion .......................... 12
The Work ......................................................................................... 16
HeliandVerse ........................................................................... 18
The Dating of the Heliand and the Pre/atia ............................ 20
The Manuscripts ....................................................................... 22
The Fitten .................................................................................. 24
A Comparison of the 'M' vs. 'C' Manuscripts ................................ 26
Excerpts from the text of the Heliand .............................................. 29
Introduction .............................................................................. 29
Elizabeth's Child ...................................................................... 32
The Birth of John ...................................................................... 35
Mary's Child ............................................................................. 36
The Birth of Jesus .................................................................. 39
Signs of Jesus' Birth ................................................................. 40
Jesus in the Temple .................................................................. 42
The Three Wise Men ................................................................ 43
Herod's Threat ......................................................................... 45
The Flight to Egypt ................................................................. 46
John the Baptist ........................................................................ 49
The Baptism of Christ ............................................................. 51
The Tempting ofChrist.. .......................................................... 52
Jesus Returns to Galilee ........................................................... 54
The Sermon on the Mount ....................................................... 57
Admonitions ............................................................................. 58
Hearing the Sermon .................................................................. 62
v
Table of Contents
Swearing Oaths ......................................................................... 64
The Lord's Prayer ..................................................................... 65
Lilies of the Field ..................................................................... 66
Pearls before Swine .................................................................. 67
Bad Tree -Bad Fruit. ................................................................ 67
The Narrow Gate ...................................................................... 68
A House upon Sand .................................................................. 69
Lambs among Wolves .............................................................. 70
Entering Heaven ....................................................................... 71
Water to Wine ........................................................................... 72
Reward and Punishment .......................................................... 74
Raising the Dead ..................................................................... 75
Calming the Storm .................................................................. 76
The Sower and the Seed .......................................................... 78
Interpretation ........................................................................... 80
The Wheat in the Field ............................................................. 81
Herodias' Daughter Dances .................................................... 83
The Death of John .................................................................... 84
Jesus Walks on Water .............................................................. 85
Saint Peter's Keys .................................................................... 86
The Transfiguration .................................................................. 87
Fishing for Coins ...................................................................... 88
The Rich Man and Lazarus ...................................................... 89
Workers in the Vineyard .......................................................... 92
Going to Jerusalem ................................................................... 93
The Blind Men .......................................................................... 94
Entering Jerusalem ................................................................... 96
A Thane's Duty ......................................................................... 97
Judgment Day ........................................................................... 97
Raising Lazarus ........................................................................ 98
Jesus as Threat ........................................................................ 100
Apocalypse ............................................................................. 101
Washing Feet .......................................................................... 104
Jesus Identifies the Betrayer .................................................. 105
Jesus in Gethsemane ............................................................... 107
The Capture of Christ.. ........................................................... 108
Peter Denies His Lord ............................................................ 112
The Fate of a Bad Thane ........................................................ 114
Pilate ....................................................................................... 115
vi
Table of Contents
The Death of Judas ................................................................. 116
Christ before Pilate................................................................. 117
Christ before Herod ................................................................ 118
The Second Hearing before Pilate ......................................... 119
Pilate's Offer. .......................................................................... 120
Satan's Attempt and Pilate's Wife ......................................... 121
Pilate's Soldiers Take Jesus ................................................... 123
The Crucifixion ...................................................................... 124
The Death of Jesus ................................................................. 126
The Burial ............................................................................... 129
The Resurrection .................................................................... 131
Commentary to the Readings ......................................................... 133
References ....................................................................................... 253
A Brief Outline of Old Saxon Grammar ........................................ 263
The Sound Systems of Primitive Germanic and Old Saxon. 263
Old Saxon Reflexes of Germanic Vowels ............................. 266
Strong Noun Declension ........................................................ 269
Weak Noun Declension .......................................................... 275
Pronouns ................................................................................. 276
Adjective Declensions ............................................................ 279
Comparison of Adjectives ...................................................... 281
Adverbs ................................................................................... 282
Numerals ................................................................................. 282
Verbal Types .......................................................................... 284
Verb Conjugations .................................................................. 289
Glossary ........................................................................................... 293
vii