De abbatibus (fully Carmen de abbatibus, meaning "Song of the Abbots") is a Latin poem in eight hundred and nineteen hexameters by the ninth-century Anglo-Saxon monk Æthelwulf (Ædiluulf), a name meaning "noble wolf", which the author sometimes Latinises as Lupus Clarus. It recounts the history of his monastery (possibly at Bywell, or, less probably, Crayke, twelve miles north of York) from its foundation through its six first abbots and ending with Æthelwulf's two visions. It is addressed to the Bishop of Lindisfarne, Ecgberht, and dates to between 803 and 821.
The poem was first edited by Wilhelm Wattenbach and Ernst Dümmler for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica (1881), but it was based on a bad text from Jean Mabillon. Thomas Arnold produced a superior edition in 1882, but from only two of the manuscripts. Ludwig Traube produced a respected edition of his own, but based on the poor version of Dümmler. The definitive critical edition, based on all three manuscripts, a reinterpreted manuscript history, and critical analysis of Traube's version, was produced in 1967 by Alistair Campbell and included an English translation.
De abbatibus is, like all Anglo-Latin poetry, constructed out of borrowings and imitations, yet it is not completely unoriginal, and though history has at times been subordinated to a literary trope, it is not without eloquence. Prominent among the works on which Æthelwulf relied are those of Virgil, though Dümmler also found references to Ovid and Cyprianus Gallus. The chief Anglo-Latin poets from which Æthelwulf gleaned are Aldhelm, Bede, and Alcuin, whose Versus de Sanctis Euboricensis Ecclesiae may have inspired him to write the De abbatibus. The eighth-century Miracula Nyniae Episcopi was also an influence.
Literatureedit
Campbell, Alistair, ed. and tr. (1967). Æthelwulf: De Abbatibus. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
abbatibus, fully, carmen, abbatibus, meaning, song, abbots, latin, poem, eight, hundred, nineteen, hexameters, ninth, century, anglo, saxon, monk, Æthelwulf, Ædiluulf, name, meaning, noble, wolf, which, author, sometimes, latinises, lupus, clarus, recounts, hi. De abbatibus fully Carmen de abbatibus meaning Song of the Abbots is a Latin poem in eight hundred and nineteen hexameters by the ninth century Anglo Saxon monk AEthelwulf AEdiluulf a name meaning noble wolf which the author sometimes Latinises as Lupus Clarus It recounts the history of his monastery possibly at Bywell or less probably Crayke twelve miles north of York from its foundation through its six first abbots and ending with AEthelwulf s two visions It is addressed to the Bishop of Lindisfarne Ecgberht and dates to between 803 and 821 De abbatibus in the Cambridge manuscript The poem exists in three manuscripts L British Library Cotton MS Tiberius D IV Part 2 ff 158v 166r originally in Winchester Cathedral I f 108v This manuscript also contains a copy of Bede s Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum assigned by Plummer to the Winchester group O Bodleian Library MS Bodley 163 ff 209v 226v C Cambridge University Library Ff 1 27 pp 203 15 The poem was first edited by Wilhelm Wattenbach and Ernst Dummler for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica 1881 but it was based on a bad text from Jean Mabillon Thomas Arnold produced a superior edition in 1882 but from only two of the manuscripts Ludwig Traube produced a respected edition of his own but based on the poor version of Dummler The definitive critical edition based on all three manuscripts a reinterpreted manuscript history and critical analysis of Traube s version was produced in 1967 by Alistair Campbell and included an English translation De abbatibus is like all Anglo Latin poetry constructed out of borrowings and imitations yet it is not completely unoriginal and though history has at times been subordinated to a literary trope it is not without eloquence Prominent among the works on which AEthelwulf relied are those of Virgil though Dummler also found references to Ovid and Cyprianus Gallus The chief Anglo Latin poets from which AEthelwulf gleaned are Aldhelm Bede and Alcuin whose Versus de Sanctis Euboricensis Ecclesiae may have inspired him to write the De abbatibus The eighth century Miracula Nyniae Episcopi was also an influence Literature editCampbell Alistair ed and tr 1967 AEthelwulf De Abbatibus Oxford Clarendon Press Snook Ben Aethilwulf gidda gemyndig Anglo Saxon 1 2007 181 200 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De abbatibus amp oldid 1217197750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
