Exeter Book:Paternal Precepts– An Edition, with Translation, and Comments

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents an edition and translation of the poem in the Exeter Book better calledPaternal Precepts, not justPrecepts, with some commentary. The poem is abstract, and father and son are nodramatis personae. Its instruction is that not only how one thinks and acts, but also how one speaks should be endowed with virtue. The brief introduction ofPaternal Preceptsdirects us into the ten paternal precepts to teach a well-born son. The first precept instructs the son to be virtuous, and to honour his parents and teachers. The second and third precepts direct the son not to keep bad company, and teach that God rewards virtue and punishes complicity in evil. The fourth precept is about loyalty, both to one’s friends and to one’s high principles. The fifth precept is about what is to be avoided: drunkenness, evil thoughts, lies, boasting; and the dangers of loving women. It is important to be a safekeeper of one’s words. The sixth precept is about understanding the concepts good and evil. The seventh precept reflects, in expressive contrasts, on futurity, and that the wise recognize sorrow in joys, whereas a fool fails to see that exultation may be enmeshed in sorrow. The eighth precept is about the theological concepts of God and saints. It ends with the glory of truth. The long ninth precept dwells on the Lord’s commandments, and with terms not entirely clear: ancient writings, perhaps the Scriptures together with the writings of the Church Fathers; ‘forward-looking writings’, that is perhaps prophecies, and native traditions. The long tenth precept embraces sins of words and deeds, truth, wrath, and wisdom.