"If you seek happiness, master the art of patience, for this is half the battle". Durham Proverbs
"Every man has his fate set before him; have your spirit prepared to withstand the oncoming forces". The Wanderer
"The voices of our greatest teachers are always available for council should you call upon them". Exeter Book (Precepts)
"Secrets shall be uncovered and lies will be harshly repaid". Durham Proverbs
"Let the goal of your speech be truth". Exeter Book (Precepts)
"The quiet whispers from the heart guide us to what's important if you cannot hear them you will go astray". Durham Proverbs
"That gained by deception is seldom cherished". Old English Dicts of Cato
"If you seek happiness, master the art of patience, for this is half the battle". Durham Proverbs
"Every man has his fate set before him; have your spirit prepared to withstand the oncoming forces". The Wanderer
"It will soon become clear when your breath is being wasted on another, do not share your gifts with those who are undeserving".
"When your goblet is filled to the brim tread carefully".
"The voices of our greatest teachers are always available for council should you call upon them".
"Hope is the driftwood that will prevent you from drowning in sorrow hold on to stay afloat".
secrets shall be uncovered and lies will be harshly repaid
let the goal of your speech be truth
necessity is a harsh but powerful teacher, no mighty blade is forged without pressure and heat
the sailor should be at sea the warrior on the battlefield and the scholar in the library
drinking mead only leaves you with a greater thirst, we are seldom satisfied by the external
a leader of men must show bravery when facing the perils of this world so that his followers may share in his valor
every day decide to follow where courage may lead,
do not allow the darkness of your past to blacken the light shining before you
the quiet whispers from the heart guide us to what's important if you cannot hear them you will go astray
the seemingly innocent behavior of drunken folly has led man into trouble for centuries be cautious not to make the same misstep
anger will often try to take the helm of your being cast it aside lest it becomes your master
do not be too quick to rejoice nor to despair, keep a firm hand on your emotions until circumstances are fully brought to light
that gained by deception is seldom cherished
be on a continuous journey of discovery, do not cease in your quest for wisdom
when good fortune abandons you your gained insights shall not
though you may be praised by the crowd do not be too quick to believe them
the more you try to defend your case the less people will believe you
it is a mark of the wise who spends more time talking about the good others have done than their own achievements
do not argue with stubborn people, many are well versed in speech but not in wisdom
troubled is he who rose upstream
Old English literature is filled with statements about how one should live their life. From religious texts to business advice, warrior codes and even cautionary phrases about mead drinking. There was clearly a reverence towards education and wise people during those times.
The great Anglo Saxon King Alfred was renowned for his wisdom and had various religious and philosophical texts translated into to English. He believed his kingdom had gone into decline when it came to education and sort to restore it and push his people even further. He was considered to be an expert counsellor and is said to have created his own collection of proverbs which have been cited in "The Owl and The Nightingale."
I created this video after reading a range of maxims and proverbs from the Anglo Saxon period. I extracted the lessons to create 25 rules for life. A reimagining of the texts for a modern audience. I hope you enjoy this insight into the wisdom of Old England.
Sources:
The Durham Proverbs
The proverbs are considered to have been used to document everyday business of the people of Anglo-Saxon England.
The Exeter Book
This is the largest (and perhaps oldest) known collection of Old English poetry/literature still in existence.
Written by us.
Voice-over by: Nicky Rebelo
Music: Voice of an Angel 3 Alexander Nakarada
Voice of an Angel 2 Alexander Nakarada
Further reading: A Clerk of Oxford - Old English Wisdom
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be a person of worldly intelligence if you desire to sit with kings, the man who only carries the limited scope of his village will be a laughingstock
travel far and wide and you shall possess the secrets of man
when fear leads the way the destination is never glorious
as one candle can light another so too can greatness of mind be transferred amongst men, to remain in solitude is to deprive oneself of this kindling
take care with your speech, it can be the catalyst for many needless problems, you never know who could be lending an ear to your ramblings
if you desire to claim a place in the world arise early, the slothful wolf starves and the sleeping man rarely sees victory
understand that a storm can change its course without warning, always be prepared to brave a storm
defeat your enemies in the fields before they reach your house
no matter how cautiously you live there is no escaping the fatal clutches of old age, so then better to join the fray and fight proudly for something worth obtaining
a good friend speaks truly and from the heart, the one whose speech is always pleasant cannot be trusted
what will be etched into history about your life, what legend will be left long after you're gone, how have you made this world better, ponder these questions daily
there is always a sage wiser and a warrior bolder than yourself, be careful not to become too comfortable
boastful thinking and exclamations of one's brilliance attracts misfortune into one's life, live humbly with quiet confidence and troubles will rarely beset you
enemies often lurk in the shadows around corners, it would be wise to check them before venturing forth on your path
moderate yourself ruthlessly, allowing greed to consume you will bring nothing but sorrow
the critical man is quick to point the finger and causes much dismay amongst others, he is unknowing that he too shares in their faults
lying awake in the night battling with ill thoughts offers no solutions, you rise unrested and in no better position than before
no matter if your dwelling is a fragile shack of sticks and mud it is valuable to have a home, nothing crushes a man's spirit more than having to beg
joyous is he who shares in his riches, the coward hordes and lives in fear, rarely delighting in the fortune that seldom comes his way
do not be ashamed of having simple clothing, pay more attention to your hygiene and demeanor
do not be fooled by money, it makes the most unreliable friend
give praise for each day regardless of what fate brings
when the winds are harsh one should chop wood, in fair weather row out to sea, in the romantic glow of candlelight passionately talk with a woman
use a ship for travel, a shield for defense and a sword for striking, everything has its time and place
common sense is your best friend
These life rules are based on the Hávamál, a collection of old Norse poems from the Viking age. Legend tells us that they were written by the deity Odin himself. There are 8 poems in total each covering different areas. The short verses teach us about love, travelling, manhood and daily living. I have extracted the lessons from this text to write 24 original rules for life.
The poems of the Hávamál include: Wisdom for Wanderers and Counsel to Guests, Maxims for All Men, Lessons for Lovers, Odin's Love Quests, Odin's Quest after the Song Mead, The Counseling of the Stray-Singer, Odin's Quest after the Runes and The Song of Spells
Read the Hávamál here: https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/havamal....
Narrated by Nicky Rebelo
Music: Viking Sword by Marcus Bressler
This is a collection of proverbs in Durham Cathedral, MS B. III. 32, where they appear in both English and Latin versions. They are edited in Olof Arngart, 'The Durham Proverbs', Speculum 56:2 (1981), 288-300.
Geþyld byþ middes eades. Patience is half of happiness.
Freond deah feor ge neah; byð near nyttra. A friend is useful, far or near; the nearer the better.
Æt þearfe mann sceal freonda to cunnian. In time of need, a man finds out his friends.
Nafað ænig mann freonda to fela. No one can have too many friends.
Beforan his freonde biddeþ, se þe his wædle mæneþ. He who bemoans his poverty should seek help from his friends.
God ger byþ þonne se hund þam hrefne gyfeð. It's a good year when the dog gives to the raven.
Hwilum æfter medo menn mæst geþyrsteð.Sometimes men are thirstiest after drinking mead.
Æfter leofan menn langað swiðost. People long most for a loved one.
Nu hit ys on swines dome, cwæð se ceorl sæt on eoferes hricge. It’s up to the pig now, said the man sat on the boar’s back.
Eall on muðe þæt on mode. All in the mouth that's in the mind.
Gemæne sceal maga feoh. Wealth should be shared by kinsmen.
Man deþ swa he byþ þonne he mot swa he wile. A man acts what he is when he may do what he will.
Eaðe wis man mæg witan spell and eac secgan. Easily may a wise man understand a story, and tell it too.
Blind byþ bam eagum se þe breostum ne starat. He is blind in both eyes who does not look with the heart.
Ða ne sacað þe ætsamne ne beoð. They do not quarrel who are not together.
Ne deah eall soþ asæd ne eall sar ætwiten. It does no good to tell all truths or blame all wrongs.
Gyf þu well sprece, wyrc æfter swa. If you speak well, act accordingly.
Soþ hit sylf acyþeð. Truth will make itself known.
Earh mæg þæt an þæt he him ondræde. A coward can only do one thing: what he fears.
Ne sceal man to ær forht ne to ær fægen. One should not be too soon fearful nor too soon joyful.
Ne byð þæt fele freond, se þe oþrum facn heleð. He who harbours treachery against another is not a faithful friend.
Swa cystigran hiwan, swa cynnigran gystas. The more generous the household, the more noble the guests.
Gyfena gehwilc underbæc besihþ. Every gift looks backwards.
Ne wat swetes ðanc, se þe biteres ne onbyrgeð. He never knows the pleasure of sweetness, who never tastes bitterness.
To nawihte ne hopað, se to hame ne higeð. He hopes for nothing, who does not think about home.
Eall here byþ hwæt þonne se lateow byþ hwæt. The whole army is brave when the general is brave.
Leana forleosaþ, se þe hit lyþran deð. He who gives to an unworthy person wastes his gifts.
Seo nydþearf feala læreð. Necessity teaches many things.
Betere byþ oft feðre þonne oferfeðre. Better to be often loaded than overloaded.
Cræfta gehwilc byþ cealde forgolden. Every deceit will be coldly repaid.
Ciggendra gehwilc wile þæt hine man gehere. Everyone who shouts out wants to be heard.
Weard seteð, se þe wæccendum wereð. He who guards against the watchmen sets a guard.
Ne sceall se for horse murnan, se þe wile heort ofærnan. He who wants to catch a hart must not worry about his horse.
Swa fulre fæt, swa hit mann sceal fægror beran. The fuller the cup, the more carefully it must be carried.
Ne mæg man muþ fulne melewes habban and eac fyr blawan. No one can have a mouth full of flour and also blow on a fire.
Wide ne biþ wel, cwæþ se þe gehyrde on helle hriman. Things are bad everywhere, said the man who heard wailing in hell.
Hwon gelpeð, se þe wide siþað. Little boasts the one who travels widely.
"Sōþ līf is ǣlmæs, wlite, and sōþfæstnes". "True life is kindness, beauty and truth."
“Greetings to the good people of Bognor.
My name is Bucge.
I am the guardian of my people and keeper of the book of noble earthly truths.
My kindred have honoured me with the title of the majestic bēce or bōc, the Queen of the Woods, which is revered and greatly sustains us. You will know this as the beech tree, which gives us shelter and firewood by its branches, feeds us and our livestock by its mast and the means to record our customs by its bark.
More than 1,300 winters have passed since we travelled from across the sea and made this place our home.
My traditions and customs may seem strangely familiar to you, if made clear in translation, but I offer them to you with good grace for your own good fortune”.
“Be secure in your hearts and protect each other.
Take good care of your health and use your fitness of mind to make good choices.
Listen carefully to the stories of your kinfolk for they will help with your understanding.
Learn from each other and build great agility and resilience together.
Stand before each other and swear allegiance to your shared enrichment.
I wish you well in your pursuance of truth, happiness and long life and thank you for taking care of this place we call home”.