Mood in the Main Clause: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
Syntax & Usage — Wülfing
Loquentes translation and abridgement from Wülfing. Repetitive example catalogues are condensed; Wülfing’s conceptual discussion is retained. The full cleaned German extract appears below in the collapsible block.
Part Four: The Mood of the Verb. First Chapter: Mood in the Main Clause.
416. A. The Indicative in the Main Clause. The regular mood of the main clause is the indicative, which presents an actual fact or one that is at least accepted as actual by the writer or speaker.
Note: In the Old English Bede and Orosius it occurs very frequently that an independent (main) clause is introduced by þæt; in most instances an adverbial determination or a temporal subordinate clause precedes (such as while, as soon as, shortly thereafter, after, before, etc.). In most cases the clause could be turned into a subordinate clause by inserting wæs or gewearð.
B. The Subjunctive in the Main Clause. The subjunctive stands in the main clause to express a wish, an exhortation, a modest assertion, or a concession, as well as in the apodosis (consequent clause) of a hypothetical sentence structure in place of the conditional.
417. 1. The subjunctive in the main clause expressing a wish (optative). Wülfing cites numerous examples from Bede, Orosius, Pastoral Care, Boethius, the Soliloquies, and the Psalms, noting instances such as Gode si ðonc ("thanks be to God") and wishes where sculan itself takes subjunctive forms to reinforce the modal sense.
418. 2. The subjunctive in the main clause expressing an exhortation or command (jussive/hortative). This usage alternates frequently with the imperative, particularly in the legal codes of Alfred and Ine.
419. 3. The subjunctive in the main clause expressing a modest or cautious assertion (potential). Wülfing notes the recurrent formula him wære betre ("it would be better for him") and expressions of desire with lystan (me lyste, "I should like").
420. 4. The subjunctive in a parenthetical main clause expressing concession. As Koch observes, the subjunctive marks the statement as one that may hold true, while the speaker withholds definitive judgment on its validity (e.g. sie swa open swa degle, "be it so open or so secret").
421. 5. The subjunctive in the apodosis of a hypothetical period representing the conditional. Here the preterite subjunctive regularly stands where Modern English uses "would" or "would have".
422. 6. The subjunctive in independent questions. Wülfing notes that the subjunctive appears with remarkable frequency in independent questions—especially those introduced by hwæþer—where an indicative might otherwise be expected, expressing deliberation, uncertainty, or doubt.
423. C. The Imperative. In addition to the simple imperative (with or without personal pronoun), Alfred's prose frequently expresses the first person plural imperative ("let us") by means of uton (wuton) combined with the infinitive.
Examples
ic ðe sende þæt spell þæt ic niwan awrat
ure ieldran ealne þisne ymbhwyrft þises middangeardes, cwæþ Orosius, swa swa Oceanus utan ymbligeþ, þone man garsecg hateð, on þreo todældon
Ælfred kyning hateð gretan . . . ., & ðe kyðan hate þæt me com . . .
ure ieldran . . . hie lufedon wisdom
se Ðeodric wæs Amulinga, he wæs Cristen
he gehet Romanum his freondscipe
þa answarode me sum ðing, ic nat hwæt
hwy ryð ælc folc, and hwi smeagað hi unnytt
þis sindon þa domas; he cwæð
se naht freomlices ongan . . ., ac betwuh oþerra unrim æwyrdleana Romwara rices ðæt he lytelne Breotona rice forlet
heold he & rehte . . . . & ðy æfteran geare ðæs ylcan Vocatis þæt he forþferde of ðyssum life & ferde . . ., & his lichoma wæs bebyriged
ac he sona hraþe ðæs ðe he biscop geworden wæs, þæt he gefremede þæt weorc þæt he lange wilnade
and sona hraþe æfter ðyssum þæt Æþelfriþ . . . gesomnode mycele fyrd & ða gelædde to L.
ac ða arleasan cyningas na les micelre tide æfter ðon ðe heo ðone soþfæstnisse bodan from him adrifon, þæt heo deofla bigængum freolice ðeowedon
ac he ærest geornlice a of tide æghwæþer ge fram ðam arwurþan were Sce. Pauline þæt riht leornade ðæs halgan geleafan, ge eac mid his ealdormannum ða ðe he wiseste & snotereste wiste þæt he gelomlice mid him ðeahtade & sohte hwæt be ðyssum ðingum to donne wære
ac ærþon ðe seo heannes ðæs walles gefylled & geendod wære, þæt he se cyning mid arleasre cwale ofslegen wæs
of ðære tide Paulinus se B. syx gear fulle, þæt is oþ ende ðæs cyninges rices, þæt he mid his fultume on ðære mægðe Godes word bodade & lærde, & men gelyfdon & gefullade wæron
and forþon ðe he wæs on cyricsonge se gelæredesta & æfter fæce on sibbe tide comon eft on Norþanhymbra mægþe, & þæt rim weox ðara geleafsumra, þæt he wæs monigra magister cyriclices sanges . . . ., & he ða eald & dagena full . . ., æfterðon ðe halige writu sprecap, þæt he fædera weg wæs fyligende
and ealre ðære tide ðe Edwine cyning wæs þæt he se Eanfriþ . . . wracode
& sona on morgenne swa hit dagian ongan þæt he for on ðone here . . . ., & æfter earnunge his geleafan þæt hi heora feond oferswiþdon
gif hi ungeleafsume wæron, [ðonne] he hi laþede þæt hi onfengon ðam geryno . . ., oþþe gif hi geleafsume wæron, þæt he ða gestrangode & trymede þæt hi fæstlice . . . awunedon
forþon on ðære stowe ðe he . . . ofslegen wæs, oþ ðisne andweardan dæg þæt þær hælo untrumra manna & neata mærsode syndon
ond sona ðæt him bet wæs & hine getrumede & gewyrpte fram ðære untrumnysse . . . ., & swa hwær swa he com, þæt he eallum mannum sæde & bodode ða mildheortnesse . . . .
ond sona ærest þæs þe hi on scyp eodan & ut ferdon, þæt astigon wiþerwarde windas, & ða yþa weollan
ac hwæþre se leg ða ilcan studu gehrinan ne meahte, & mid micle wundre ðætte se leg þurh (Miller: þurhæt = eat through) ða næglas in ðæm ðyrelum
wæs ðæs wer Furseus of ðam æþelestan cynne Scotta, ac feorr micle þæt he wæs on his mode æþelra ðonne on woruldgebyrdum, & fram ðære sylfan tide his cnihthades þæt he micle gyminge hæfde haligra leorninga
ac gyt ma þæt he forseah & on hete hæfde ða men ðe . . . .
& swa mid medmycele werede þæt he to ðam campe ferde
& ða ðy seofoþan dæge swa him gehaten wæs, æfter ðon ðe he his forþfore getrymede . . . ., þæt seo halige sawul wæs onlysed fram ðæs lichoman hefignysse & . . . ða ecan gefean . . . gestahg & gesohte
forþon betwyh monige geearnunge his mægena on forhæfednysse & on eadmodnysse & on godcundre lare . . . . & eac oþre mægena þæt he wæs swa swiþe Drihtnes ege underþeoded
ic wat sumne monn . . . . lifigendne, mid ðy se wer of middan earde ferde, þæt he geseah Ceaddan sawle his broþor mid engla weorede of heofonum astigan
ða gestod his wif untrumnes on hire eagan, & ða ðurh dagas þæt hi hefigodan & ðystrodan, þæt heo ætnyhstan nænig dæl leohtes sciman geseon mihte
ond sona ðæs ðe heo fram ðam gebede aras, ær ðon ðe heo of ðære stowe eode, þæt heo onfeng gyfe ðæs abedenan leohtes
forþon ðrim gearum ær his cyme on ða mægþe, þæt ðær nænig reng on ðam stowum ne com
and seldon butan maran symbelnysse on tidum oþþe maran nydþearfe, ma ðonne æne siþe on dæge þæt heo wolde mete ðicgan
on ðam foresprecenan gefeohte ðe . . . ., þæt sum gemyndelic wise wæs geworden
ac ærþon ðe he gehadod beon mihte, þæt he wæs mid hrædlice deaðe forgripen
seo ðearlwisnes ðæs heardan lifes him ærest of nyde becom . . . ac forþgangendre tide þæt he þæt nyd on gewunon gecyrde
swa hwæt swa ðu me onsettest & bebeodest to donne þæt ic halsige on ðam Drihtnes dæge, þæt ic eall þæt eaþelice abere
ond swylce ða fæmnan . . . forhogedre are heora andetnesse, & swa oft swa swa hi æmtan habbaþ, þæt hi smalo hrægel wefaþ & wyrceaþ
ðy geare ða, þæt is . . . . . ., þæt Hloþhere . . lif geendode
swylce eac oft ealle monþe þæt he ham ne hwearf
ond hwæþere ætnyhstan þæt he wæs mid heora benum oferswiþed
ond ða betwyh his gebed & bene þæt he hwon onslæpte
mid ðy heo wæs swenced . . . ., þæt heo to hrinenesse ðære drihtenlican handa somod onfeng hælo & mægene & aras
ac ða ætnyhstan mid anmode willan monigra þæt he wæs oferswiþed
& ðy twelftan dæge Kalendarum Maiarum þæt he wæs fromlice onlysed & forþfered
& sona ðæs ðe he gehalgad wæs, þæt is . . . . . ., þæt he hine eft sende to his bisceopsetle
& ðonne he se cyning on ða dælas ðæs landes becom, þæt he gelomlice wæs to him gangende
ond for ðære gelomlicum onwegalædnesse ðære halgan moldan þæt ðær wæs mycel seaþ geworden
& ða ðy nigonteoþan geare mines lifes, þæt ic deaconhade onfeng
æfter þæm þe Romeburg getimbred wæs II hunde wintrum & IIII, þætte Brutus wæs se forma consul
æfter þæm þe . . . ., þætte Cambisis feng to Persa rice
æfter þ. þ. R. g. wæs IIII hunde wintrum & LXXX, gemong þæm oþrum monegum wundrum þe on þæm dagum gelumpan, þæt mon geseah weallan blod of eorþan
swa ofer eall Mæcedonia rice, þæt is ofer . . . . . & eall Libium, þæt hit na næs buton hete & gewinnum
þeh þe heora agnes fultumes wære eahta hund M, buton oþrum folcum þe hi him hæfdon to aspanen, þæt hie raðe flugon
ac feor þæt la si, þæt . . . . .
ne forealdige ðeos hand æfre
seo wuldor, cwæþ, Drihtnes noman
ic wolde nu, þæt me ða geandwyrdan þa þe. . .
Gode ælmiehtegum si ðonc, ætte we nu . . .
Gode ðonc
& se þe hi unwærlice . . . gewilnige, ondræde he þæt he . . .
ac gemetgige hit se ege his agenra unðeawa, & befæste he . . . .
gemyne he
sin hira eagan aðistrode þæt hi ne gesion, & hira hrycg simle gebigged
broþur, ne beo eower to fela lareowa
ne scyle nan mon blæcern ælan under mittan
fo se to his wife
ac ðone mon sciele ealle mægene to biscephade teon, þe . . . .
ne gegripe eow næfre nan costung buton mennescu
eala, wære he auðer, oððe hat, oððe ceald
ac ic wolde þæt þu me sædest . . .
eala wæran þa ancras swa trume . . . swa swa þu segst, þonne mihte we . . .
ac ic wolde nu þæt ðu wendest . . .
ic wolde það he me were cuðre
ofer þin folc sy þin bletsuncg
and blissian ealle, þa þe to ðe hopiað, and fægnian on ecnesse: and þu wuna on him; and fægnian þin ealle, þa þe lufiað þinne naman
sceamian heora forði, and syn gedrefede ealle mine fynd; and gan hy on earsling, and sceamien heora swiðe hrædlice
geweorþe me æfter þinum wordum
gelyfe, se ðe wille
gyme, se ðe wille
niman him wif & heora andlyfene ut onfon
seþe hine ahabban ne mæge, hæbbe his wif
læde mon hider to us sumne untrumne mon, & ðurh swa hwylces bene swa he gehæled si, ðysses geleafa & wyrcnes si gelyfed Gode andfenge & eallum to fyligeanne
gif he ðonne eow forhogige & eow ne wylle arisan togeanes mid ðy eower ma is, si ðonne he fram eow forhogod
syn hi begen bisceopes dome scyldig
ne gegaderige he hine to ænigum oþrum, ac swa awunige, oððe wiþ his agen wif geþwærige
se byrdesta sceall gyldan fiftyne mearðes fell . . . . & twegen sciprapas;
ægþer sy syxtig elna lang, oþer sy of hwæles hyde geworht, oþer of sioles
þeah swa hwelcne mon swa lyste þæt witan, ræde on his bocum, hwelce . . .
geþence þonne þara tida & nu þissa, hwæþre him bet licien
sece him þonne self þæt
ac frine hie mon þonne æfter hu monegum wintrum sio sibb gewurde
ahsige þonne eft hu . . .
gif hie þonne þæs ne geliefen, ascian þonne Italie hiera agne landleode, hu . . .
gif hie þonne him ne geliefen, ascien þonne Ispanie
oðsace nu, cwæð Orosius, se se þe wille oþþe se þe dyrre, . . . & gesecge, hwær . . .
lære mon siððan furður on Lædengeðeode þa þe mon furður læran wille
hiene mon scile on bismer hatan se anscoda
& næs swaðeah to anwillice ne forbuge he
ac ðence ælc mon ær, hu . . . .
se . . . healde hiene ðæt he ne . . . .
healden hie þæt hie . . . .
geðencen ðæt ða þe ðonne git . . . ., & healden hie ðæt hie . . . .
nele nan Godes ðeow hiene selfne to ungemetlice gebindan on worldscipum, ðylæs he . . . .
& eft se þe wille fæst hus timbrian, ne sette he hit on sondbeorhas
swa eac gif þu Wisdom timbrian wille, ne sete ðu hine uppan þa gitsunga
swa hwa swa wilnige . . . ., behealde he on feowerhealfe his hu . . .
swa hwa swa wille . . . . ., atio ærest of þa þornas
swa hwa swa wille . . . . onginne ðonne secan on innan him selfum, þæt he ær ymbuton hine sohte, & forlæte unnytte ymbhogan swa he swiþost mæge (= revolvat, cogat) & gegaderige to þam anum & gesecge ðonne his agnum Mode, þæt hit . . . .
sitte him on minum hrædwæne, þocrige him on minne weg, ic bio his latþiow
ðonne gerecce he, gif he mæge oþer twega . . ., oððe þridde wend, ongite & gelefe þæt . . .
ne wene ðeah nan mon þæt ic. . .
fetige hym þar ma & gefeðrige hys wænas mid fegrum gerdum
sie swa
swa gedo se wilega gidfola; seðe ægþer gescop . . ., forgife me
hawie þonne on steorran
micliað Drihten mid me, and upphebben we his naman betwuh us
gebletsod sy se Drihten, Israela God, on weorulda weoruld: sy swa
gif wha gebicgge cristenne þeow, VI gear þeowige he, þy siofoðan beo he frioh orceapunga; mid swelce hrægle he ineode, mid swelce gange he ut; gif he wif self hæbbe, gange hio ut mid him; gif se hlaford him þonne wif sealde, sie hio and hire bearn þæs hlafordes; gif se þeowa þonne cwæðe . . . ., brenge hine þonne his hlaford to þæs temples dura, and þurhþyrlige his eare mid æle
ne sie hio ealles swa þeowu
gif hwa aslea . . . . . ., geofreoge hie for þon; gif he þonne þone toð ofaslea, doð þæt ilce
eal þæt flæsc þæt wildeor læfen, ne eten ge þæt, ac sellað hit hundum
ne swerigen ge næfre under hæðene godas, ne on nanum þingum ne cleopien ge to him
geþence he
geselled X scill. to bote
and þæt (fehlt im L.!!) ælc man wite his getyman
weorþian we Drihtnes godcundnesse
gif cyning æt mannes ham drincæð and þær man lyswæs hwæt gedo, II bote gebete
IXgylde forgylde
se agend þone banan agefe and do þær þrio manwyrð to
se þe . . . beswicð, him wære betre ðæt him wære sumu esulcweorn to ðam swiran getigged
him wære ðonne micel ðearf ðæt hie leten Godes ege hie geeaðmedan
him wære ðonne ieðre ðæt he . . . .
ðy wære ælcum men mare ðearf þæt he wilnode godra cræfta þonne leases hlisan
& me lyste nu þæt swiþe georne geheoran
fela me lyste witan ðes þe ic nat
ac me lystæ witan þæt þu ær acsodest
ac me lyste gyt witan be ðam gewitte. . .
him wære betere þæt he næfre geboren nære
& cwædon þæt him wislecre þuhte þæt hie ða ne forluren þe þær ut fore, hæfde bearn se þe mehte
& geðence he simle, sie swæ æðele swæ unæðele swæðer he sie, ða æðelu ðære æfterran acennesse
& ðohte, swæ he eft gedyde, ðæt he hiene ofsloge, wurde siððan to ðæm þe hit meahte
for ðæm ðingum bið ælc god weorc god, sie swa open swa degle, swæðer hit sie
wære þær he wære, simle he hæfde þone mid him; þonne he þone mid him hæfde wære þær he wære, þonne wæs he mid his agnum cynne
swa hwær swa ic beo, he beoþ mid me
wære se man on swelcum lande swelce he wære
wyrce hwa þæt þæt he wyrce, oððe do þæt þæt he do, a he hæfð þæt þæt he earnað
don ða yfelan þæt þæt hi don, symle biþ se beah godes edleanes þam godum gehealden on ecnesse
swa swa sio nafu bið simle swa gesund, hnæppen ða felga on þæt ðe hi hnæppen
æghwylc man, sy þær eorðan þær he sy, þurh gode dæda Gode lician sceall
gif ðu ðisses mannes fea in his synnum deades ne onfenge, ne burne his wite on ðe
cwæþ ic: Ic wylle, & me leofre sig, gif ðu mage
& ðær frecenlice gewundod wearð, & eac ofslagen wære, gif his sunu his ne gehulpe
ac þær (= if) hie hit georne ongitan cuþen, þonne wisten hie þæt hie wæron eallum folcum gemæne
se wære wierðe ealra Romana onwaldes for his monigfealdum duguðum, buton þæt he. . . . .
sio scyld hine swiðe feor of ealra haligra rime atuge, ðær him eft ða geswinc . . . ne gehulpen
& eft he wære ofermod, gif he wiðcwæde þæt he . . .
ne gefeolle he næfre on swæ opene scylde, gif . . .
ðæt wære swiðe ryhte getacnod ðurh Balaham on ðære lettinge his færæltes, gif he mid his hiersumnesse . . . folgian wolde & on his willan fore
gif hie . . wolden geðencean hwæt hi selfe wæren, ðonne ne leten hie no hie eallinga on ælce healfe gebigean
gif ðam gifran ungemetlicu spræc ne eglde, ðonne ne burne se weliga
gif ðæs modes forhæfdnes full oft mid ungeðylde ne ascoke ða sibbe of ðæm sceate ðære smyltnesse, ðonne ne cwæðe Sanctus Petrus to his cnihtum swæ swæ he cwæð; . . .
ne cwæðe he no swæ, gif he ne ongeate
mid ðæm ðu geearnode Godes irre, ðær . . ,
gif he ær on ðæs ofermodan engles wisan innan his ingeðonce of Godes gesihðe ne afeolle, ðonne ne become he no utane to ðæm sæde ðære wrohte
ðær we us selfum demden, ðonne ne demde us no God
micle hrædlicor hi wæren aðwægene ðæra scylda mid ðære hreowsunga, gif hi færlecor syngoden unbeðohte
ða edniwunge & ða lare hi swiðe hrædlice forsawen, ðær hi ær ne ongeten ðone hryre
gif we ðonne habbað swæ micle sorge & swæ micle gieman urra nihstena swæ swæ ure selfra, ðonne hæbbe we begen fett gescode swiðe untællice
gif we ðonne agiemelasiað urra nihstena ðearfe, & ðenceað ymbe ure synderlice, ðonne bið us swiðe fracuðlice oðer fot unscod
gif se anweald . . . god wære, ne underfenge he næfre þa yfelan ac þa godan
eala þætte ðis moncyn wære gesælig, gif heora Mod wære swa riht
nære hit no þæt hehste god, gif him ænig butan wære
ne forsawe he no þone oþerne swa swiþe, gif he nan rice . . . . næfde
ne wurde þu þeah na adrifen from Ðeodrice, ne he ðe na ne forsawe, gif . . .
gif hit swa nære, ðonne nære he þæt þæt he gehaten is
ic his wundrode micle þy læs, gif ic wisste. . .
gyf þu hi ne lufadæst, þonne ne ondrede ðu na þat þu hi forlure
and eal hit forwurde, gyf god his hwile ne scyrte
ðam yrmingan wære micle betere, gif hit beon mihte
hwæþer Romane hit witen nu ænegum men to secganne, hwæt hiera folces on Ispanium on feawum gearum forwurde?
hwæþer nu gimma wlite eowre eagan to him getio heora to wundrianne?
hwæþer ðe nu licigen fægeru lond?
hwæt belimpþ þe heora fægernesse? hwæþer ðu durre gilpan þæt heora fægernes þin sie?
hwæþer þu nu fægerra blostmæna fægnige on eastran swelce þu hie gescope? hwæþer þu nu swelces auht wyrcan mæge oððe geworhtes habbe?
hwæþer hit nu ðines gewealdes sie þæt se hærfest sie swa welig on wæstmum?
eala hwæt se forma gitsere wære; þe ærest þa eorðan ongan delfan æfter golde?
eala hwæþer ge netelican men ongiton, hwelc se wela sie?
eala ofermodan, hwi ge wilnigen þæt ge underlutan mid eowrum swiran þæt deaðlicne geoc, oþþe hwi ge seon on swa idelan geswince, þæt ge . . .?
hwæþer þæt nu sie to talianne waclic & unnytt þætte nytwyrþost is eallra ðissa worldþinga, þæt is anweald? hwæþer nu god hlisa & foremærnes sie for nauht to tellenne?
hwæþer nu micel feoh . . . mæge ænigne mon don swa gesæline þæt he . . . .?
hwi nære þu þonne genog earm?
eala wuldor þisse worulde ea, forhwi ðe hatan dysige men mid leasre stemne wuldor, nu þu nane eart?
hwæt þu ðonne mæne mid þære gitsunge þæs feos?
eala ge eargan & idelgeornan, hwy ge swa unnytte sion & swa aswundene, hwy ge nellan acsien æfter ðam wisum monnum . . ., and hwi ge ðonne nellon him onhyrian?
hwæþer ðu woldest cweþan, þæt . . .?
hweðer þu nu wilnige, þæt þu hine geseo?
eala hweðer ic æfre cume to ðam ðe ic tohopie, oððe þæt æfre to me cumæ þæt ic wilnie?
hweðer ic ðurfe þara þreora þinga ealra, þe . . .?
hweðer þu ðonne wille beon awiht bliðe?
hwæðer þu nu egniges welan wilnige?
hweðer þu mæge tocnawan þone rihtwisan & þone unrihtwisan?
hwæðer ðu git ongyte, þæt . . .?
hwæðer þe nu gæt si genoh sweotole gesed be þam wisdome?
hæðer woldest þu ðonne þinne cniht cunan þe . . . . þe . . .?
þe Drihten, þe is rihtwis dema and strang and geþyldig, hwæðer he yrsige ælce dæge?
hu lange wilt þu, Drihten, min forgitan, hwæðer þu oð minne ende wylle; oððe hu lange wilt þu ahwyrfan þinne andwlitan fram me? hu lange sceal ic setton on mine sawle þis sorhfulle geþeaht, and þis sar æt minre heortan; hwæþer ic ælce dæge scyle?
hwæðer þe þæt dust herige on þære burgene; oþþe hwæðer hit cyðe þine rihtwisnesse?
hu ne wræce hit þonne God?
utan biddan Ælmihtine God
utan ealle bigean ure cneowe & gemænelice biddan ðone Ælmihtigan God
nu se hæþena ne con ure gyfe onfon, utan we þam syllan & bringan, ðe . . .
tela, utan we well ðære tide bidan
uton þehhwæþere acræftan hu we heora . . . mægen mæst beswican
uton nu brucan þisses undernmetes swa þa sculon þe hiora æfengifl on helle gefeccean sculon
wuton cuman ær his dome andettende
ute nu tellan beforan swilcum deman swilce þu wille
uton nu, gif þe swa þince, geecan þone anweald & þæt geniht, don þær weorþscipe to & gereccan þonne þa þreo to anum. Ða andsworode ic and cwæþ: Uton þæs forþam hit is soþ
uton lætan þonne bion þas spræce & bion unc ðæs orsorge
uton agifan þæm esne his wif, forþam he hi hæfþ geearnod mid his bearþunga
uton healdan unc þæt wit ne wenan swa swa þis folc wenþ
ac uton nu habban, ure Mod up swa swa we yfemest mægen wiþ ðæs hean hrofes þæs hehstan andgites, þæt þu . . . .
ac gyf unc swa þince, uton gebyddan unc hær dæglanges & spurian tomorgen furður æfter ðam ylcan þe wiht ær spureden
uton ændian þas boc nu ær hrihte & secgen on oðræ bec scyrtran wæg gyf wet magen. Ða cwæð ic: Næse la nese, uton ne forlætan gyet ðas boc, ær ic sweotolor ongytan magæ þæt þæt wit embe sint
uton gebetan hyt, uton fon on oðre boc forewearde. Ða cwæð ic: Uton þæs. Ða cwæð heo: Uton gelyfan þæt god si on uncrum fultume
ac beo nu godes modes & smæa þæt þu nu leornodes & uton butan byddan þonne, þæt unc gefultmige. . . .
utan tobrecan heora bendas, and aweorpan heora geocu of us
uton eornostlice fleon to heofunge soðre dædbote
leofan men, utan understandan, þæt we. . . .
utun faran to Bethlehem, and geseon þæt word þe geworden is, þæt Drihten us ætywde
Original German — Wülfing
Vierte Abteilung.
VOM MODUS DES ZEITWORTES.
Litteratur:
O. Behaghel, Die Modi im Heliand. Paderborn, 1876.
W. Fleischhauer, Ueber den Gebrauch des Conjunctivs in Alfred's altenglischer Uebersetzung von Gregor's Cura Pastoralis. Erlangen, 1885.
O. Hennicke, Der Conjunctiv im Altenglischen und seine Umschreibung durch modale Hilfsverba. Göttinger Doktorschrift, 1878.
A. N. Henshaw, The Syntax of the Indicative & Subjunctive Moods in the Anglo-Saxon Gospels. Leipziger Doktorschrift, 1894.
G. Hotz, On the Use of the Subjunctive Mood in Anglo-Saxon, and its further History in Old English. Züricher Doktorschrift, 1882. — Besprochen von H. Klinghardt in den Engl. Stud. VI. 262—266, und von Th. Wilsmann im Litteraturblatt für germ. & rom. Phil. 1883. S. 61 f.
C. Lüttgens, Über Bedeutung und Gebrauch der Hilfsverba im frühen Altenglischen. — Sculan und Willan. Kieler Doktorschrift. Wismar 1888.
E. Nader, Tempus und Modus im Beowulf. In der ,Anglia', Band 10. S. 542—563, Band 11. S. 444—499.
M. Prollius, Ueber den syntactischen Gebrauch des Conjunctivs in den Cynewulfschen Dichtungen Elene, Juliana und Crist. Marburger Doktorschrift, 1888.
Erstes Kapitel.
VOM MODUS IM HAUPTSATZE.
416. A. Der Indikativ im Hauptsatze.
Der regelrechte Modus des Hauptsatzes ist der Indikativ, der eine wirkliche Thatsache darstellt oder eine solche, die wenigstens vom Schreiber oder Aussager als wirklich angenommen wird. Wenige Beispiele mögen genügen: Be. 471, 9 ic ðe sende þæt spell þæt ic niwan awrat. Or. 8, 1 ure ieldran ealne þisne ymbhwyrft þises middangeardes, cwæþ Orosius, swa swa Oceanus utan ymbligeþ, þone man garsecg hateð, on þreo todældon. Cp. 2, 1 Ælfred kyning hateð gretan . . . ., & ðe kyðan hate þæt me com . . .; 4, 14 ure ieldran . . . hie lufedon wisdom. Bo. 2, 10 se Ðeodric wæs Amulinga, he wæs Cristen; 12 he gehet Romanum his freondscipe. So. 164, 26 þa answarode me sum ðing, ic nat hwæt. Ps. 2, 1 hwy ryð ælc folc, and hwi smeagað hi unnytt. Le. 64, 49 þis sindon þa domas; he cwæð.
Anmerkung: Im Be. und im Or. findet es sich sehr häufig, daſs ein unabhängiger (Haupt)satz durch þæt eingeleitet wird; und zwar geht in den meisten Fällen eine adverbiale Bestimmung oder ein Nebensatz der Zeit voraus (während, sobald als, kurs darnach, nachdem, bevor usw. usw.); meist würde durch Einschieben von wæs oder gewearð der Satz zu einem Nebensatze gemacht werden können. Be. 475, 21 se naht freomlices ongan . . ., ac betwuh oþerra unrim æwyrdleana Romwara rices ðæt he lytelne Breotona rice forlet; 500, 13 heold he & rehte . . . . & ðy æfteran geare ðæs ylcan Vocatis þæt he forþferde of ðyssum life & ferde . . ., & his lichoma wæs bebyriged; 501, 35 ac he sona hraþe ðæs ðe he biscop geworden wæs, þæt he gefremede þæt weorc þæt he lange wilnade; 503, 34 and sona hraþe æfter ðyssum þæt Æþelfriþ . . . gesomnode mycele fyrd & ða gelædde to L.; 507, 38 ac ða arleasan cyningas na les micelre tide æfter ðon ðe heo ðone soþfæstnisse bodan from him adrifon, þæt heo deofla bigængum freolice ðeowedon; 512, 11 ac he ærest geornlice a of tide æghwæþer ge fram ðam arwurþan were Sce. Pauline þæt riht leornade ðæs halgan geleafan, ge eac mid his ealdormannum ða ðe he wiseste & snotereste wiste þæt he gelomlice mid him ðeahtade & sohte hwæt be ðyssum ðingum to donne wære; 517, 31 ac ærþon ðe seo heannes ðæs walles gefylled & geendod wære, þæt he se cyning mid arleasre cwale ofslegen wæs; 34 of ðære tide Paulinus se B. syx gear fulle, þæt is oþ ende ðæs cyninges rices, þæt he mid his fultume on ðære mægðe Godes word bodade & lærde, & men gelyfdon & gefullade wæron; 522, 26 and forþon ðe he wæs on cyricsonge se gelæredesta & æfter fæce on sibbe tide comon eft on Norþanhymbra mægþe, & þæt rim weox ðara geleafsumra, þæt he wæs monigra magister cyriclices sanges . . . ., & he ða eald & dagena full . . ., æfterðon ðe halige writu sprecap, þæt he fædera weg wæs fyligende; 523, 16 and ealre ðære tide ðe Edwine cyning wæs þæt he se Eanfriþ . . . wracode; 524, 26 & sona on morgenne swa hit dagian ongan þæt he for on ðone here . . . ., & æfter earnunge his geleafan þæt hi heora feond oferswiþdon; 526, 32 gif hi ungeleafsume wæron, [ðonne] he hi laþede þæt hi onfengon ðam geryno . . ., oþþe gif hi geleafsume wæron, þæt he ða gestrangode & trymede þæt hi fæstlice . . . awunedon; 533, 18 forþon on ðære stowe ðe he . . . ofslegen wæs, oþ ðisne andweardan dæg þæt þær hælo untrumra manna & neata mærsode syndon; 539, 6 ond sona ðæt him bet wæs & hine getrumede & gewyrpte fram ðære untrumnysse . . . ., & swa hwær swa he com, þæt he eallum mannum sæde & bodode ða mildheortnesse . . . .; 541, 39 ond sona ærest þæs þe hi on scyp eodan & ut ferdon, þæt astigon wiþerwarde windas, & ða yþa weollan; 544, 29 b ac hwæþre se leg ða ilcan studu gehrinan ne meahte, & mid micle wundre ðætte se leg þurh (Miller: þurhæt = eat through) ða næglas in ðæm ðyrelum; 547, 25 wæs ðæs wer Furseus of ðam æþelestan cynne Scotta, ac feorr micle þæt he wæs on his mode æþelra ðonne on woruldgebyrdum, & fram ðære sylfan tide his cnihthades þæt he micle gyminge hæfde haligra leorninga; 551, 24 ac gyt ma þæt he forseah & on hete hæfde ða men ðe . . . .; 556, 21 & swa mid medmycele werede þæt he to ðam campe ferde; 568, 40 & ða ðy seofoþan dæge swa him gehaten wæs, æfter ðon ðe he his forþfore getrymede . . . ., þæt seo halige sawul wæs onlysed fram ðæs lichoman hefignysse & . . . ða ecan gefean . . . gestahg & gesohte; 569, 3 forþon betwyh monige geearnunge his mægena on forhæfednysse & on eadmodnysse & on godcundre lare . . . . & eac oþre mægena þæt he wæs swa swiþe Drihtnes ege underþeoded; 46 ic wat sumne monn . . . . lifigendne, mid ðy se wer of middan earde ferde, þæt he geseah Ceaddan sawle his broþor mid engla weorede of heofonum astigan; 578, 19 ða gestod his wif untrumnes on hire eagan, & ða ðurh dagas þæt hi hefigodan & ðystrodan, þæt heo ætnyhstan nænig dæl leohtes sciman geseon mihte; 31 ond sona ðæs ðe heo fram ðam gebede aras, ær ðon ðe heo of ðære stowe eode, þæt heo onfeng gyfe ðæs abedenan leohtes; 582, 28 forþon ðrim gearum ær his cyme on ða mægþe, þæt ðær nænig reng on ðam stowum ne com; 588, 12 and seldon butan maran symbelnysse on tidum oþþe maran nydþearfe, ma ðonne æne siþe on dæge þæt heo wolde mete ðicgan; 590, 31 on ðam foresprecenan gefeohte ðe . . . ., þæt sum gemyndelic wise wæs geworden; 594, 36 ac ærþon ðe he gehadod beon mihte, þæt he wæs mid hrædlice deaðe forgripen; 599, 33 seo ðearlwisnes ðæs heardan lifes him ærest of nyde becom . . . ac forþgangendre tide þæt he þæt nyd on gewunon gecyrde; 600, 5 swa hwæt swa ðu me onsettest & bebeodest to donne þæt ic halsige on ðam Drihtnes dæge, þæt ic eall þæt eaþelice abere; 601, 16 ond swylce ða fæmnan . . . forhogedre are heora andetnesse, & swa oft swa swa hi æmtan habbaþ, þæt hi smalo hrægel wefaþ & wyrceaþ; 603, 11 ðy geare ða, þæt is . . . . . ., þæt Hloþhere . . lif geendode; 604, 32 swylce eac oft ealle monþe þæt he ham ne hwearf; 608, 10 ond hwæþere ætnyhstan þæt he wæs mid heora benum oferswiþed; 610, 31 ond ða betwyh his gebed & bene þæt he hwon onslæpte; 617, 28 mid ðy heo wæs swenced . . . ., þæt heo to hrinenesse ðære drihtenlican handa somod onfeng hælo & mægene & aras; 619, 3 ac ða ætnyhstan mid anmode willan monigra þæt he wæs oferswiþed; 620, 41 & ðy twelftan dæge Kalendarum Maiarum þæt he wæs fromlice onlysed & forþfered; 626, 25 & sona ðæs ðe he gehalgad wæs, þæt is . . . . . ., þæt he hine eft sende to his bisceopsetle; 631, 10 & ðonne he se cyning on ða dælas ðæs landes becom, þæt he gelomlice wæs to him gangende; 635, 31 ond for ðære gelomlicum onwegalædnesse ðære halgan moldan þæt ðær wæs mycel seaþ geworden; 647, 29 & ða ðy nigonteoþan geare mines lifes, þæt ic deaconhade onfeng. Or. 68, 5 æfter þæm þe Romeburg getimbred wæs II hunde wintrum & IIII, þætte Brutus wæs se forma consul; 78, 2 æfter þæm þe . . . ., þætte Cambisis feng to Persa rice; und weiter so: 90, 6, 23; 104, 2, 13; 154, 2; 162, 6 æfter þ. þ. R. g. wæs IIII hunde wintrum & LXXX, gemong þæm oþrum monegum wundrum þe on þæm dagum gelumpan, þæt mon geseah weallan blod of eorþan; 194, 2; 236, 2; 142, 17 swa ofer eall Mæcedonia rice, þæt is ofer . . . . . & eall Libium, þæt hit na næs buton hete & gewinnum; 184, 12 þeh þe heora agnes fultumes wære eahta hund M, buton oþrum folcum þe hi him hæfdon to aspanen, þæt hie raðe flugon.
B. Der Konjunktiv im Hauptsatze.
Der Konjunktiv steht im Hauptsatze, um einen Wunsch, eine Aufforderung, eine bescheidene Behauptung, eine Einräumung auszudrücken, sowie im Folgesatze eines hypothetischen Satzgefüges statt des Konditionals.
417. 1. Der Konjunktiv im Hauptsatze zur Äusserung eines Wunsches: Be. 490, 24 ac feor þæt la si, þæt . . . . . (= sed absit, ut . . . .); 528, 24 ne forealdige ðeos hand æfre (= nunquam inveterascat hæc manus); 589, 12 seo wuldor, cwæþ, Drihtnes noman (= sit gloria nomini Domini). Or. 40, 23 ic wolde nu, þæt me ða geandwyrdan þa þe. . . . Cp. 2, 18 Gode ælmiehtegum si ðonc, ætte we nu . . . (diese Stelle fehlt bei Fleischhauer a. a. O.; das si fehlt: 8, 3 und 26, 3 Gode ðonc (vgl. dazu I. S. 148 o.)); 22, 15 & se þe hi unwærlice . . . gewilnige, ondræde he þæt he . . . (= pertimescat); 24 ac gemetgige hit se ege his agenra unðeawa, & befæste he . . . . (= temperet, commendet); 3 gemyne he; 28, 9 sin hira eagan aðistrode þæt hi ne gesion, & hira hrycg simle gebigged (= obscurentur oculi eorum ne videant, et dorsum eorum semper incurva); 32, 10 broþur, ne beo eower to fela lareowa (= nolite plures magistri fieri, fratres mei); 42, 2 ne scyle nan mon blæcern ælan under mittan (das Lateinische entspricht nicht; hier ist also wie in einigen anderen Fällen der Wunsch, der schon im Begriffe von sculan liegt, noch einmal durch den Konjunktiv ausgedrückt; vgl. Fleischhauer, a. a. O., S. 4); 14 fo se to his wife; 60, 7 ac ðone mon sciele ealle mægene to biscephade teon, þe . . . . (= debet pertrahi); 70, 12 ne gegripe eow næfre nan costung buton mennescu (= tentatio vos non apprehendat, nisi humana); usw. usw.; 445, 36 eala, wære he auðer, oððe hat, oððe ceald (= utinam frigidus esses, aut calidus; vgl. dazu Albert S. Cooks Auslassung in den ,Modern Language Notes' X. (1895) Sp. 56, Fleischhauer (a. a. O., § 7) und Nader in Anglia X. S. 557, der meint, þæt sei zu ergänzen, was ich nicht für nötig halte). Bo. 18, 19 ac ic wolde þæt þu me sædest . . . (= sed hoc quoque respondeas velim); 44, 32 eala wæran þa ancras swa trume . . . swa swa þu segst, þonne mihte we . . .; 194, 13 ac ic wolde nu þæt ðu wendest . . . (= deflecte nunc). So. 173, 2 ic wolde það he me were cuðre. Ps. 3, 7 ofer þin folc sy þin bletsuncg; 5, 12 and blissian ealle, þa þe to ðe hopiað, and fægnian on ecnesse: and þu wuna on him; and fægnian þin ealle, þa þe lufiað þinne naman; 6, 8 sceamian heora forði, and syn gedrefede ealle mine fynd; and gan hy on earsling, and sceamien heora swiðe hrædlice. — Vgl. Blickling Hom. 9, 20 geweorþe me æfter þinum wordum. — Wulfstan 161, 5 gelyfe, se ðe wille; 168, 5 gyme, se ðe wille.
418. 2. Der Konjunktiv im Hauptsatze zum Ausdruck einer Aufforderung: Be. 489, 17 niman him wif & heora andlyfene ut onfon (= sortiri uxores debent, & stipendia sua exterius accipere); 495, 43 seþe hine ahabban ne mæge, hæbbe his wif (= qui se continere non potest, habeat uxorem suam); 502, 21 læde mon hider to us sumne untrumne mon, & ðurh swa hwylces bene swa he gehæled si, ðysses geleafa & wyrcnes si gelyfed Gode andfenge & eallum to fyligeanne (= adducatur, credatur); 503, 13 gif he ðonne eow forhogige & eow ne wylle arisan togeanes mid ðy eower ma is, si ðonne he fram eow forhogod (= sin autem vos spreverit, nec coram vobis adsurgere voluerit, cum sitis numero plures, & ipse spernatur a vobis); 573, 1 syn hi begen bisceopes dome scyldig (= subjacebit); 19 ne gegaderige he hine to ænigum oþrum, ac swa awunige, oððe wiþ his agen wif geþwærige (= copuletur, permaneat, reconcilietur). Or. 18, 22 (se byrdesta sceall gyldan fiftyne mearðes fell . . . . & twegen sciprapas;) ægþer sy syxtig elna lang, oþer sy of hwæles hyde geworht, oþer of sioles; 50, 17 þeah swa hwelcne mon swa lyste þæt witan, ræde on his bocum, hwelce . . . (= videant); 22 geþence þonne þara tida & nu þissa, hwæþre him bet licien; 100, 27 sece him þonne self þæt (= inquirat); 182, 16 ac frine hie mon þonne æfter hu monegum wintrum sio sibb gewurde; 19 ahsige þonne eft hu . . .; 214, 11 gif hie þonne þæs ne geliefen, ascian þonne Italie hiera agne landleode, hu . . .; 14 gif hie þonne him ne geliefen, ascien þonne Ispanie (= edat Hispania sententiam suam); 260, 4 oðsace nu, cwæð Orosius, se se þe wille oþþe se þe dyrre, . . . & gesecge, hwær . . . (= neget?). Cp. 6, 13 lære mon siððan furður on Lædengeðeode þa þe mon furður læran wille; 44, 9 hiene mon scile on bismer hatan se anscoda (= ut vacetur); 50, 7 & næs swaðeah to anwillice ne forbuge he (= declinari debet); 56, 13 ac ðence ælc mon ær, hu . . . . (= penset); 58, 14 se . . . healde hiene ðæt he ne . . . . (= caveat); 19 healden hie þæt hie . . . . (= attendat); 62, 15 geðencen ðæt ða þe ðonne git . . . ., & healden hie ðæt hie . . . . (= caveat); usw. usw. Bei Fleischhauer fehlt: 130, 1 nele nan Godes ðeow hiene selfne to ungemetlice gebindan on worldscipum, ðylæs he . . . . (= nemo militans Deo, implicat se negotiis sæcularibus, ut ei . . .). Bo. 54, 20 & eft se þe wille fæst hus timbrian, ne sette he hit on sondbeorhas (= bibulas vitet arenas); es folgt der Imperativ: swa eac gif þu Wisdom timbrian wille, ne sete ðu hine uppan þa gitsunga; 104, 25 swa hwa swa wilnige . . . ., behealde he on feowerhealfe his hu . . . (= cernat); 122, 4 swa hwa swa wille . . . . ., atio ærest of þa þornas (= liberat); 242, 6 swa hwa swa wille . . . . onginne ðonne secan on innan him selfum, þæt he ær ymbuton hine sohte, & forlæte unnytte ymbhogan swa he swiþost mæge (= revolvat, cogat) & gegaderige to þam anum & gesecge ðonne his agnum Mode, þæt hit . . . . (= doceat); 268, 30 sitte him on minum hrædwæne, þocrige him on minne weg, ic bio his latþiow (das Lateinische entspricht nicht); 306, 26 ðonne gerecce he, gif he mæge oþer twega . . ., oððe þridde wend, ongite & gelefe þæt . . . (= demonstret, ostendat); 308, 9 ne wene ðeah nan mon þæt ic. . . So. 163, 10 fetige hym þar ma & gefeðrige hys wænas mid fegrum gerdum; 25 sie swa; 164, 8 swa gedo se wilega gidfola; seðe ægþer gescop . . ., forgife me; 188, 7 hawie þonne on steorran. Ps. 33, 3 micliað Drihten mid me, and upphebben we his naman betwuh us; 40, 13 gebletsod sy se Drihten, Israela God, on weorulda weoruld: sy swa. Le. 58, 11 gif wha gebicgge cristenne þeow, VI gear þeowige he, þy siofoðan beo he frioh orceapunga; mid swelce hrægle he ineode, mid swelce gange he ut; gif he wif self hæbbe, gange hio ut mid him; gif se hlaford him þonne wif sealde, sie hio and hire bearn þæs hlafordes; gif se þeowa þonne cwæðe . . . ., brenge hine þonne his hlaford to þæs temples dura, and þurhþyrlige his eare mid æle; 12 ne sie hio ealles swa þeowu; usw.; 60, 20 gif hwa aslea . . . . . ., geofreoge hie for þon; gif he þonne þone toð ofaslea, doð þæt ilce; solcher Wechsel zwischen Konjunktiv und Imperativ findet sich auch noch: 62, 39 eal þæt flæsc þæt wildeor læfen, ne eten ge þæt, ac sellað hit hundum; — 64, 48 ne swerigen ge næfre under hæðene godas, ne on nanum þingum ne cleopien ge to him; 66, 6 geþence he; usw. usw.; 102, 70 geselled X scill. to bote (geselled ist wohl Druckfehler, Turk hat geselle); 108, 4 and þæt (fehlt im L.!!) ælc man wite his getyman; wenn þæt stehen bleiben muſs, so ist etwa zu ergänzen: Wir bestimmen . . . — Vgl. Blickling Hom. 33, 36 weorþian we Drihtnes godcundnesse. — Æþelbirht Le. 2, 3 gif cyning æt mannes ham drincæð and þær man lyswæs hwæt gedo, II bote gebete; 4 IXgylde forgylde; usw. usw. — Hloðhære Le. 10, 1 se agend þone banan agefe and do þær þrio manwyrð to; u. ö.
419. 3. Der Konjunktiv drückt ferner im Hauptsatze eine bescheidene Behauptung aus: Cp. 30, 17 se þe . . . beswicð, him wære betre ðæt him wære sumu esulcweorn to ðam swiran getigged; ähnlich 25; 320, 12 him wære ðonne micel ðearf ðæt hie leten Godes ege hie geeaðmedan; 433, 29 him wære ðonne ieðre ðæt he . . . . Bo. 104, 9 ðy wære ælcum men mare ðearf þæt he wilnode godra cræfta þonne leases hlisan; 196, 18 & me lyste nu þæt swiþe georne geheoran. So. 171, 17 fela me lyste witan ðes þe ic nat; 191, 25 ac me lystæ witan þæt þu ær acsodest; 199, 26 ac me lyste gyt witan be ðam gewitte. . . — Vgl. Blickling Hom. 25, 25 him wære betere þæt he næfre geboren nære.
420. 4. Der Konjunktiv dient im (eingeschobenen) Hauptsatze dazu, einen einräumenden Sinn auszudrücken; Koch sagt (a. a. O. II. S. 45): „Der Konjunktiv bezeichnet die Aussage als eine solche, die Statt finden kann, über deren Gültigkeit aber der Sprechende sein Urteil zurückhält." Or. 154, 19 & cwædon þæt him wislecre þuhte þæt hie ða ne forluren þe þær ut fore, hæfde bearn se þe mehte. Cp. 84, 14 & geðence he simle, sie swæ æðele swæ unæðele swæðer he sie, ða æðelu ðære æfterran acennesse; 234, 10 & ðohte, swæ he eft gedyde, ðæt he hiene ofsloge, wurde siððan to ðæm þe hit meahte (= ne utcunque esset!!; Sweet: come of it what might); 451, 14 for ðæm ðingum bið ælc god weorc god, sie swa open swa degle, swæðer hit sie. Bo. 14, 17 wære þær he wære, simle he hæfde þone mid him; þonne he þone mid him hæfde wære þær he wære, þonne wæs he mid his agnum cynne; 30, 16 swa hwær swa ic beo, he beoþ mid me; 154, 4 wære se man on swelcum lande swelce he wære; 290, 28 wyrce hwa þæt þæt he wyrce, oððe do þæt þæt he do, a he hæfð þæt þæt he earnað; 292, 18 don ða yfelan þæt þæt hi don, symle biþ se beah godes edleanes þam godum gehealden on ecnesse (= quantumlibet igitur sæviant mali); 340, 31 swa swa sio nafu bið simle swa gesund, hnæppen ða felga on þæt ðe hi hnæppen. — Vgl. Blickling Hom. 129, 33 æghwylc man, sy þær eorðan þær he sy, þurh gode dæda Gode lician sceall.
421. 5. Der Konjunktiv vertritt in Folgesätzen eines hypothetischen Satzgefüges den Konditional (vgl. auch § 411. c., S. 52 f.): Be. 549, 10 gif ðu ðisses mannes fea in his synnum deades ne onfenge, ne burne his wite on ðe; 616, 31 cwæþ ic: Ic wylle, & me leofre sig, gif ðu mage (= volo, inquam, et multum delector, si potes; Miller liest: & me leof is, gif ðu mæge). Or. 186, 24 & ðær frecenlice gewundod wearð, & eac ofslagen wære, gif his sunu his ne gehulpe; 214, 6 ac þær (= if) hie hit georne ongitan cuþen, þonne wisten hie þæt hie wæron eallum folcum gemæne; 292, 15 se wære wierðe ealra Romana onwaldes for his monigfealdum duguðum, buton þæt he. . . . . Cp. 36, 9 sio scyld hine swiðe feor of ealra haligra rime atuge, ðær him eft ða geswinc . . . ne gehulpen (= raperet); 50, 12 & eft he wære ofermod, gif he wiðcwæde þæt he . . . (= existeret); 234, 2 ne gefeolle he næfre on swæ opene scylde, gif . . . (= pervenisset); 254, 19 ðæt wære swiðe ryhte getacnod ðurh Balaham on ðære lettinge his færæltes, gif he mid his hiersumnesse . . . folgian wolde & on his willan fore (= signatur); 306, 2 gif hie . . wolden geðencean hwæt hi selfe wæren, ðonne ne leten hie no hie eallinga on ælce healfe gebigean (= versaret); 309, 3 gif ðam gifran ungemetlicu spræc ne eglde, ðonne ne burne se weliga (= arderet); 310, 16 gif ðæs modes forhæfdnes full oft mid ungeðylde ne ascoke ða sibbe of ðæm sceate ðære smyltnesse, ðonne ne cwæðe Sanctus Petrus to his cnihtum swæ swæ he cwæð; . . . 19 ne cwæðe he no swæ, gif he ne ongeate (= diceret, adjungeret); und noch einmal so Z. 24; 354, 4 mid ðæm ðu geearnode Godes irre, ðær . . ,; 358, 1 gif he ær on ðæs ofermodan engles wisan innan his ingeðonce of Godes gesihðe ne afeolle, ðonne ne become he no utane to ðæm sæde ðære wrohte (= veniret); 415, 7 ðær we us selfum demden, ðonne ne demde us no God (= judicaremur); 435, 1 micle hrædlicor hi wæren aðwægene ðæra scylda mid ðære hreowsunga, gif hi færlecor syngoden unbeðohte (= abluerent); 443, 17 ða edniwunge & ða lare hi swiðe hrædlice forsawen, ðær hi ær ne ongeten ðone hryre (= contemnerent). Gar auffallend steht eine konjunktivische Form einmal, wo sogar der hypothetische Vordersatz den Indikativ hat: 44, 11 gif we ðonne habbað swæ micle sorge & swæ micle gieman urra nihstena swæ swæ ure selfra, ðonne hæbbe we begen fett gescode swiðe untællice (= si gerimus, munimus); da es gleich darauf weiter heiſst: gif we ðonne agiemelasiað urra nihstena ðearfe, & ðenceað ymbe ure synderlice, ðonne bið us swiðe fracuðlice oðer fot unscod (= qui negligit, amittit), so wird hæbbe wohl gekürzte Form des Indikativs sein; vgl. Sievers, Gr. 2 S. 166 o. — Bo. 84, 4 gif se anweald . . . god wære, ne underfenge he næfre þa yfelan ac þa godan; 116, 18 eala þætte ðis moncyn wære gesælig, gif heora Mod wære swa riht; 124, 17 nære hit no þæt hehste god, gif him ænig butan wære; 148, 22 ne forsawe he no þone oþerne swa swiþe, gif he nan rice . . . . næfde; 150, 12 ne wurde þu þeah na adrifen from Ðeodrice, ne he ðe na ne forsawe, gif . . .; 210, 27 gif hit swa nære, ðonne nære he þæt þæt he gehaten is; 326, 25 ic his wundrode micle þy læs, gif ic wisste. . . — Auffallend wegen des Indikativs des Vordersatzes ist auch der Konjunktiv in So. 181, 35 gyf þu hi ne lufadæst, þonne ne ondrede ðu na þat þu hi forlure. — Vgl. Wulfstan (Napier) 19, 8 and eal hit forwurde, gyf god his hwile ne scyrte; 25, 3 ðam yrmingan wære micle betere, gif hit beon mihte.
422. 6. Recht häufig habe ich endlich den Konjunktiv in unabhängigen Fragesätzen gefunden, denen doch sonst der Indikativ gebührt. Or. 220, 8 hwæþer Romane hit witen nu ænegum men to secganne, hwæt hiera folces on Ispanium on feawum gearum forwurde? Bo. 60, 12 hwæþer nu gimma wlite eowre eagan to him getio heora to wundrianne? (= an gemmarum fulgor oculos trahit?); 29 hwæþer ðe nu licigen fægeru lond? (= an vos agrorum pulcritudo delectat?); 62, 9 hwæt belimpþ þe heora fægernesse? hwæþer ðu durre gilpan þæt heora fægernes þin sie? 13 hwæþer þu nu fægerra blostmæna fægnige on eastran swelce þu hie gescope? hwæþer þu nu swelces auht wyrcan mæge oððe geworhtes habbe? 16 hwæþer hit nu ðines gewealdes sie þæt se hærfest sie swa welig on wæstmum? (= num te horum aliquid attingit, num audes alicuius talium splendore gloriari? an vernis floribus ipse distingueris, aut tua in æstivos fructus intumescit ubertas?); 74, 12 eala hwæt se forma gitsere wære; þe ærest þa eorðan ongan delfan æfter golde? (= heu primus quis fuit ille, qui . . .?); 78, 15 eala hwæþer ge netelican men ongiton, hwelc se wela sie? (= nonne o terrena animalia consideratis?); 106, 5 eala ofermodan, hwi ge wilnigen þæt ge underlutan mid eowrum swiran þæt deaðlicne geoc, oþþe hwi ge seon on swa idelan geswince, þæt ge . . .? (= quid o superbi colla mortali iugo frustra levare gestiunt); 134, 1 hwæþer þæt nu sie to talianne waclic & unnytt þætte nytwyrþost is eallra ðissa worldþinga, þæt is anweald? hwæþer nu god hlisa & foremærnes sie for nauht to tellenne? (= num inbecillum ac sine viribus æstimandum est, quod omnibus rebus constat esse præstantius? an claritudo nihili pendenda est?); 140, 11 hwæþer nu micel feoh . . . mæge ænigne mon don swa gesæline þæt he . . . .?; 142, 3 hwi nære þu þonne genog earm?; ferner mit hwæþer: 144, 24; 148, 1, 25; 158, 3; 160, 18; 168, 23; 182, 11, 15; 184, 24; 186, 8; 216, 1; 234, 23; 308, 23; 360, 1; 166, 14 eala wuldor þisse worulde ea, forhwi ðe hatan dysige men mid leasre stemne wuldor, nu þu nane eart?; 176, 9 hwæt þu ðonne mæne mid þære gitsunge þæs feos?; 366, 5 eala ge eargan & idelgeornan, hwy ge swa unnytte sion & swa aswundene, hwy ge nellan acsien æfter ðam wisum monnum . . ., and hwi ge ðonne nellon him onhyrian? Der Indikativ steht aber, auch bei hwæþer, z. B.: 150, 18 hwæþer ðu woldest cweþan, þæt . . .? = So. 177, 14 hweðer þu nu wilnige, þæt þu hine geseo?; 178, 13 eala hweðer ic æfre cume to ðam ðe ic tohopie, oððe þæt æfre to me cumæ þæt ic wilnie?; 35 hweðer ic ðurfe þara þreora þinga ealra, þe . . .?; 182, 11 hweðer þu ðonne wille beon awiht bliðe?; 32 hwæðer þu nu egniges welan wilnige?; 191, 22 hweðer þu mæge tocnawan þone rihtwisan & þone unrihtwisan?; 192, 7 hwæðer ðu git ongyte, þæt . . .?; 201, 5 hwæðer þe nu gæt si genoh sweotole gesed be þam wisdome? Aber Indikativ z. B.: 173, 19 hæðer woldest þu ðonne þinne cniht cunan þe . . . . þe . . .? — Ps. 7, 12 þe Drihten, þe is rihtwis dema and strang and geþyldig, hwæðer he yrsige ælce dæge?; 12, 1 hu lange wilt þu, Drihten, min forgitan, hwæðer þu oð minne ende wylle; oððe hu lange wilt þu ahwyrfan þinne andwlitan fram me? hu lange sceal ic setton on mine sawle þis sorhfulle geþeaht, and þis sar æt minre heortan; hwæþer ic ælce dæge scyle?; 29, 9 hwæðer þe þæt dust herige on þære burgene; oþþe hwæðer hit cyðe þine rihtwisnesse?; 43, 22 hu ne wræce hit þonne God? Alle diese Fragen sind im Deutschen durch ,wohl' zu kennzeichnen, und dies Unbestimmte, das ja überhaupt in jeder Frage liegt, wird in jenen Fällen durch den Konjunktiv ausgedrückt. Hotz hat auf die Thatsache (für den Boeth) schon aufmerksam gemacht a. a. O. S. 41 ff.
423. C. Der Imperativ.
Die Beispiele für die Anwendung des Imperativs mit dem persönlichen Fürworte und ohne dieses finden sich in den §§ 228 bis 233, I. S. 337—342.
Hier sind nur noch die Fälle zu betrachten, in denen die erste Person der Mehrzahl des Imperativs durch uton mit dem Infinitive ausgedrückt wird: Be. 502, 18 utan biddan Ælmihtine God (= obsecremus Deum); 524, 21 utan ealle bigean ure cneowe & gemænelice biddan ðone Ælmihtigan God (= flectamus omnes genua, & Dominum . . . . deprecemur); 556, 16 nu se hæþena ne con ure gyfe onfon, utan we þam syllan & bringan, ðe . . . (= si paganus nescit accipere nostra donaria, offeramus ei qui . . .); 599, 5 tela, utan we well ðære tide bidan (= bene ergo, expectemus horam illam). Or. 82, 1 uton þehhwæþere acræftan hu we heora . . . mægen mæst beswican; 84, 34 uton nu brucan þisses undernmetes swa þa sculon þe hiora æfengifl on helle gefeccean sculon (= prandete, tamquam apud inferos cœnaturi). Cp. 415, 6 wuton cuman ær his dome andettende (= præveniamus faciem Domini in confessione). Bo. 30, 2 ute nu tellan beforan swilcum deman swilce þu wille (= quovis iudice . . . contende); 186, 24 uton nu, gif þe swa þince, geecan þone anweald & þæt geniht, don þær weorþscipe to & gereccan þonne þa þreo to anum. Ða andsworode ic and cwæþ: Uton þæs forþam hit is soþ (vgl. S. 73, So. 192, 32; = addamus igitur sufficientiæ potentiæque reverentiam, ut hæc tria unum esse iudicemus. B.: Addamus, siquidem vera volumus confiteri); 224, 29 uton lætan þonne bion þas spræce & bion unc ðæs orsorge (= secure igitur concludere licet; vgl. auch § 4. g., I. S. 6); 264, 7 uton agifan þæm esne his wif, forþam he hi hæfþ geearnod mid his bearþunga (= donamus comitem viro emptam carmine coniugem); 362, 18 uton healdan unc þæt wit ne wenan swa swa þis folc wenþ (= vide igitur, ne opinionem populi sequentes quiddam valde inopinabile confecerimus); 386, 11 ac uton nu habban, ure Mod up swa swa we yfemest mægen wiþ ðæs hean hrofes þæs hehstan andgites, þæt þu . . . . (= quare in illius summæ intellegentiæ cacumen, si possumus, erigamur). So. 188, 17 ac gyf unc swa þince, uton gebyddan unc hær dæglanges & spurian tomorgen furður æfter ðam ylcan þe wiht ær spureden; 190, 18 uton ændian þas boc nu ær hrihte & secgen on oðræ bec scyrtran wæg gyf wet magen. Ða cwæð ic: Næse la nese, uton ne forlætan gyet ðas boc, ær ic sweotolor ongytan magæ þæt þæt wit embe sint; 192, 32 uton gebetan hyt, uton fon on oðre boc forewearde. Ða cwæð ic: Uton þæs. Ða cwæð heo: Uton gelyfan þæt god si on uncrum fultume; 200, 4 ac beo nu godes modes & smæa þæt þu nu leornodes & uton butan byddan þonne, þæt unc gefultmige. . . . Ps. 2, 3 utan tobrecan heora bendas, and aweorpan heora geocu of us. — Vgl. auch § 429, Anm. 3. — Vgl. Ælfric (Kluges Lesebuch 52, 111): uton eornostlice fleon to heofunge soðre dædbote; auch 113; 114; 116 u. ö. — Wulfstan 167, 12 leofan men, utan understandan, þæt we. . . . — Lucas 9, 15 utun faran to Bethlehem, and geseon þæt word þe geworden is, þæt Drihten us ætywde.
Source: Johann Ernst Wülfing, Die Syntax in den Werken Alfreds des Grossen, vol. 2, pp. 63-73, §§ 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423 (Vom Modus im Hauptsatze. A. Der Indikativ; B. Der Konjunktiv; C. Der Imperativ). Scan authority: archive.org diesyntaxindenw00wlgoog; OCR extraction aid: Google Books GEwuAAAAMAAJ. Translator: Loquentes. Printed edition in the US public domain.