Ælfric's Preface to Genesis: genre, rhetoric and the origins of the ars dictaminis
Mark Griffith
The preface by Ælfric occurs in complete form two manuscripts and part a third. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Miscellany 509 (s. xi 2 ) contains the (fols. 1–3, headed with words Incipit prefatio genesis anglice ), together Old English Hexateuch 3–107) Ælfric's selections from Judges 108–15). Cambridge, University Ii. 1. 33 xii has preface, without tide, followed partial translation of Genesis 2–24). London, British Cotton Claudius B. iv (St Augustine's, Canterbury, s. 1 having lost its first leaf, now preserves only second half an illustrated text , but sixteenth-century transcript Robert Talbot, Corpus Christi College 379, some missing text, along same tide as 509. Both give slightly different compilations translations more extensive work anonymous scriptural translator (or translators). differing rubrics contents affect way we read that they share: Cambridge manuscript presents it to only, label at least whole Genesis. If, however, incipit is scribal, could be taken prologue . Was then, intended introduce just Genesis, or larger work? Sisam view: ‘no Pentateuch Hexateuch) survives, evidendy compiler extant version did not know one, since he used inappropriate .’
Anglo-Saxon England