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Beowulf on Steorarume

New Critical Edition of
Beowulf
with notes pertaining the MS

'semi-diplomatic' text,
with alternate readings

edited by

Slower Connexions [56k, &c.]
[one fitt per page]


from British Library MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv (Gneuss 399)

 /  
Beginning of a new folio
(text)
Reading dependent on Thorkelin A or Thorkelin A and Thorkelin B
[text]
Reading dependent on Thorkelin B
<text>
Text lost at edges of MS, or illegible, not recorded in Thorkelin AB and restored by various editors;
Also used when a word appears to have been skipped by the scribe
{text}
Reading altered from that of original MS.
7
scribal abbrev. for the word ond
text
expanded scribal abbreviation, usually for final -m
[ethel]
the rune ethel appears as an abbrev. for the word ethel
þ
[='crossed' thorn]

scribal abbrev. for the word þæt


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The online edition of the Old English text of Beowulf presented here is a new critical edition. It is in general a conservative edition--the primary text followings that of the MS in most places, even where emendations have been standard; but yet adopting some emendations where modern editions have not. I have, however, endeavoured to also provide a copious annotation of the text, and note the majority of suggested emendations and interpolations even where I do not adopt them, so that the reader will still have these at his disposal. Recent studies of the MS, in particular those of Kevin Kiernan, strongly suggest that the MS (supplemented by Thorkelin's transcriptions) in most places provides the optimal reading. I have marked the text where the reading is supplied by Thorkelin A/B; restored, interpolated or emended by an editor (see above or consult annotation key for conventions). In the accompanying notes I have provided references in the case of an emendation, interpolation or restoration by an editor. In many cases the notes also mention emendations made by other editors even when I do not adopt them myself.

In the case that a proposed reading has been confirmed by the study of Kiernan et al. (Electronic Beowulf - published by The British Library and University of Michigan Press ), I have generally passed over it without remark (the bracketing also reflects new confirmations made by Kiernan et al.).

Update: (December 2003)
I have restored the abbreviations of the MS., e.g. þ ('crossed thorn') for þæt/ðæt, 7 for ond, italics represents the scribal abbreviation of a stroke over a vowel, which indicates a following nasal (usually -m, e.g. lofdædum = lofdædu - with stroke over final -u).

However, word division has been normalised, and the text has been broken up into the usual arrangement of half-lines of editions.
I have adopted certain emendations, restorations, etc. and these are indicated by the notation apparatus show in the table above, and also usually remarked upon in the notes to the 'semi-diplomatic' version.

Those seeking a true diplomatic edition/transcription should consult the facsimile editions by Zupitza and by Kiernan et al..

Update: (June 2005)
I have re-edited the text and its apparatus to conform with the standard lineation of 3182, rather than Kiernan's 3184 lines. As I still agree with Kiernan about the lineation ll. 389-90 and 2228-30, this edition of the poem ends up with blank half-lines at 389b, 390a, 2228b, 2229ab, 2230a, in order to match the standard 3182-lineation. This change was partially inspired by Robert Fulk's (2003) article on the metrically necessity of the hypermetrical lines at 1163-8, 1705-7, 2995-6 (esp. Fulk 2003:10-13), as well as urging by Thomas Hart (pers. comm.).

Converting Line numbers from standard 3182 (Klaeber) and 3184 (Kiernan)
Klaeber
(standard)
Kiernan

Adjustment (Kl->Kn)
Adjustment (Kn->Kl)
1a-389a
1a-389a
+0
+0
390b
389b
*
*
391a-1162b
390a-1161b
-1
+1
1163a-64a
1162a-63b
*
*
1164b-65b
1164a-65b
*
*
1166a-b
1166a-67b
*
*
1167a-68a
1168a-69b
*
*
1168b
1170a-b
*
*
1169a-1704b
1171a-1706b
+2
-2
1705a-6a
1707a-8b
*
*
1706b-8b
1711b
*
*
1709a-2228a
1712a-2231a
+3
-3
2230b
2231b
*
*
2231a-2995a
2232a-2996a
+1
-1
2995b-96a
2996b-97b
*
*
2996b-97b
2998a-99b
*
*
2998a-3182b
3000a-3184b
+2
-2

Beowulf foliation

Old  [MS]

New  [1884]

Kiernan's [1981]

129, 130

BL 132, 133

129, 130

132-146

BL 134-148

132-146

131

BL 149

147A(131)

147-188

BL 150-191

147-188

197

BL 192

197A(192)

189-196

BL 193-200

189-196

198

BL 201

198