READING THE BIBLE IN "SAWLES WARDE" AND "ANCRENE WISSE"
Nicholas Perkins
IIn the introduction to Ancrene Wisse, its author draws attention structure of his work: 'Nv mine leouc sustren, [MS hoc ich todeale on eahte destinctiuns, bet 3C cleopieð dalen' (fol. 4^sup r^/p. 6: 'Now, my dear sisters, I divide this book into eight distinctions, which you call parts').5 J. A. W. Bennett noted that 'destinctiuns' is borrowed here from a scholastic milieu (and translated for benefit anchoresses).6 The Latin word distinctio ('division, distinction') had range meanings including punctuation mark, section book, and drawing distinction, hence also distinguishing different word.7 Distinctio thus describes both way organizing information, technique analysing it. Collections distinctiones - often alphabetical compendia exegetical scriptural words were popular in late twelfth thirteenth centuries.8 Wisse uses mean 'sections book', but later he method associated with collections, reflecting their widespread application reading citing texts.9Although as genre became well known century, use similar techniques was not new. An early forerunner distincio collections fragmentary Clavis once attributed second-century saint Melito Sardis. This commented extended by Carolingian writers Hrabanus Maurus, twelfth-century scholars such Peter Chanter. matches excerpts Bible scriptural, patristic, comments, indicating significance. first chapter, example, headed 'De Deo', starts general references then addresses aspects God, 'Alac Domini, protectio divina. psalmo: In umbra alarum tuarum spcrabo [Psalm lvi.2|.'10 layers accreted material are indicative wider process commentary exemplified Isidore Seville's encyclopaedic Etymologiae (early seventh century) Dcfcnsor Liguge's Liber scintillarum (c.700).11 scintillarum, provided list lemmata given topic, drawn Scripture Fathers sermons or excgetical work. Such complemented catalogued patristic tradition, formed basis more systematic productions centuries, though themselves developed techniques, example Gregory Great Moralia Iob Homiliae super Evangelia.12Despite growth reference works, however, direct meditating commentaries (the lectio divina) remained central biblical engagement centuries. Sophisticated memorial enabled combine allude texts great freedom, without weight apparatus, knowledge audience equally versed.13 deep integral meditative reading, rumiatio, has far-reaching implications style medieval religious writing.14 classic account monastic devotional culture, Jean Leclercq defends Bernard Clairvaux charge Sermons Cantica canticorum too loose placing them context collectio, whose informal quality allowed speaker travel through Scriptures one word, phrase, image suggested another. Bernard's Sermones 'hook-words' trigger movement link ideas together verbal chains, catenae.15 distinction between these habits mind, calls 'monastic', an analytical, codified approach defines 'scholastic'. overplay differences: 'monastic' Cistercians established college Paris, centre activity,16 practice most preachers no doubt combined recollection ruminatio written aids preaching. …
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