Two Aelfric Texts: The Twelve Abuses And The Vices And Virtues

The texts edited in this volume are Aelfric's vernacular versions of two highly influential early medieval ethical treatises. The first, De duodecim abusiuis, is his Old English version of a seventh-century Hiberno-Latin tract dealing with the twelve abuses of the world. The second, De octo uitiis et de duodecim abusiuis, is a composite text; it combines a treatment of the eight vices and the complementary eight virtues, also found as the last part of Aelfric's Lives of Saints XVI, with the twelve abuses. The main source for the virtues and vices is Alcuin's ninth-century IDe uirtutibus et uitiis. Both texts were composed in Aelfric's hallmark rhythmical, alliterative prose. This new edition provides, for the first time, critical editions of both texts, with a facing translation, presented with full apparatus; it also includes an extensive discussion of the sources and how they are treated. Mary Clayton is Professor of Old and Middle English, University College Dublin.
Review:
This is a valuable book, not only for its presentation and reanalysis of an overlooked pair of texts, but for its exceptionally careful consideration of the Latin texts on which AElfric relied, which are discussed here in almost as much depth as the vernacular texts themselves. Two AElfric Texts is an excellent addition to the growing body of work on this important figure. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW This is a valuable book, not only for its presentation and reanalysis of an overlooked pair of texts, but for its exceptionally careful consideration of the Latin texts on which AElfric relied, which are discussed here in almost as much depth as the vernacular texts themselves. Two AElfric Texts is an excellent addition to the growing body of work on this important figure. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW Will no doubt be the standard edition of these two texts for many years. CHOICE