Page:Rudiments of Grammar for the English-Saxon Tongue (Elstob 1715).djvu/25

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xviii
The Preface.
For through his Witte, while that his Reigne latte,
He gate him Peace, and Rest, into his laste.

Again,

Peace is the chose of at the Worldes Welth,
And to the Heven it ledeth eke the. way,
Peace is of Soule and Lyfe the Mannes helth,
of Pestylence, and doth the Warre away,
My Liege Low take hede of that I say.
If Warre may be lefte, take Peace on Hande
Which may not be without Goddes Sande.[1]

Nor were the French, however more polite they may be thought, than we are said to be, more scrupulous in avoiding them, if these Verses are upon his Monument;

En toy qui es fitz de Dieu le Pere,
Sauve soit, qui gist sours cest pierre.

This will be said to be old French, let us see whether Boileau will help us out, who has not long since writ the Art of Poetry;

  1. Besides the Purpose for which these Verses are here cited, it may not be amiss to observe from some Instances of Words containd in them how necessary, at least useful, the Knowledge of the Saxon Tongue is, to the right understanding our Old English Poets, and other Writers. For example, leust, this is the same with the Saxon lefost, most beloved, or desirable. Goddes folke, not God his Folk, this has plainly the Remains of the Saxon Genitive Case. Sande, this is a pure Saxon Word, signifying Mission, or being sent. See the Saxon. Homily on the Birth Day of St. Gregory, p. 2. He ðurh his ræde & sande us fram deofles biggengam ætbræd. He through his Counsul and Commission rescued us from the Worship of the Devil,

Mais