SELIM 
Journal of the Spanish Society for Mediaeval English Language and Literature

Revista de la Sociedad Española de Lengua y Literatura Inglesa Medieval

Nº 
Oviedo, 

Edited by - Dirigida por 
Trinidad Guzmán & S. G. Fernández-Corugedo

Universidad de Oviedo &
Sociedad Española de Lengua y Literatura Inglesa Medieval

Oviedo – Murcia 



Michiko Ogura, Selim  (): –ISSN: 1132–631X

THE PARIS PSALTER AND THE METRES OF BOETHIUS: 
ARE THEY FORMULAIC AS ANGLO-SAXON VERSES?

Abstract
The article offers a detailed examination of the metrical lines of the Paris Psalter and the 
Metres of Boethius in order to assess the common assumption that Old English verse 
delves on Germanic poetic diction (formulae, alliteration) even when dealing with non-
Germanic subject matters such as the Bible. Both texts have been compared in search of 
similarities and differences in the formulaic character of its poetical resources. Keywords: 
metrics, poetical diction, Germanic, Old English, formulae.

Resumen
El artículo examina en detalle los versos del Paris Psalter y Metres of Boethius con el 
fin de evaluar la presuposición tradicional de que la poesía en inglés antiguo utiliza los 
recursos de la dicción poética germánica (estilo formulaico, aliteración) incluso cuando 
la temática no es estrictamente germana, como es el caso de los asuntos bíblicos. Se ha 
comparado ambos textos, buscando tanto las similitudes como las diferencias en su uso 
del estilo formulaico. Palabras clave: métrica, dicción poética, germánico, inglés antiguo, 
estilo formulaico.

M ost Old English prose texts are more or less Latin-based, owing to the fact that the authors and scribes of the manuscripts are learned and Christianised with variable 
knowledge of the originals. Most Old English verse texts, however, 
are supposed to be Germanic, making full use of poetic diction 
and formulaic expressions in the metrical ame of alliteration, even 
though the contexts were biblical or non-Germanic. In this paper 
I examine the metrical lines of the Paris Psalter (hereaer PPs) 
and the Metres of Boethius (hereaer Met)¹ and try to show how 
formulaic their lines are and how similar or different their formulaic 
usages are between the two as well as between these texts and other 
Old English poems.

¹ For each poem I use the abbreviated titles adopted in the Dictionary of Old 
English om Mitchell-Ball-Cameron ( and ). The lines I quote here are 
based on Krapp ().



8

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

§ . The crucial difference between the two texts lies in the distance 
om their direct sources. PPs consists of prose translation (PPs 
–) and verse translation (PPs –) of the Romanum.² Owing 
to the metrical demand the verse part uses more lexemes than the 
prose translation, although it may omit some expressions for the 
same reason. Met is a metrical paraphrase of the prose Boethius, 
which is a rather ee and highly christianised translation of the 
Latin original. The earliest extant manuscript of Met, Cotton Otho 
A.vi, dates c, and MS Lat. of PPs c;³ a century distance 
may not affect too much on the making of alliterative lines, if the 
translators make good use of a set of formulaic expressions common 
to Anglo-Saxon poems. Another significant difference between the 
two texts seems stylistic, one biblical and the other literary, rather 
than early and late West Saxon.

§ . Let us first see formulaic expressions common to the two 
texts.⁴
  (Met and PPs exclusive):

þinum agenum  Met b; PPs. a
up⒫ astigan  Met b; PPs. b
eall forweorðeð  Met b; PPs. b

² See the introduction of Patrick P. O’Neill ().
³ The datings of manuscripts are based on Ker (), O’Neill () and 
Sedgefield ().
⁴ Letters in boldface indicate that the vowels or consonants bear alliteration. 
For the definitions of formulas and systems I follow Fry (:): a “formula” 
is a group of words, one half-line in length, which shows evidence of being the 
direct product of a formulaic system, and a “system” is a group of half-lines, 
usually loosely related metrically and semantically, which are related in form by 
the identical relative placement of two elements, one a variable word or element 
of a compound usually supplying the alliteration, and the other a constant word 
or element of a compound, with approximately the same distribution of non-
stressed elements.



9

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

swa hit gedefe ne wæs  Met b; PPs. b⁵
swiðe gelome  Met b; PPs. b (s-allit.)
mæst ætgædere  Met b; PPs. b
ungemyndig  Met b; PPs. b
ealles wealde  Met b; PPs. b
wunode lange  Met b; PPs.  b
æghwylce dæge  Met a; PPs. a
on locian  Met b; PPs. b
cleopode to drihtne  Met b; PPs. b (cleopedan)

  (common to Met, PPs and other poems): 
æt fruman ærest  Met a; PPs. a; ChristA b
hæleða bearnum  Met b; PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b; 

Dan b, Sat b, b, ChristC b
monna bearnum  Met b; PPs. b (manna); GenA b
weroda drihten  Met a (weorada), Met b; PPs. a 

(weoruda); GenA a, b, Ex a, Sat b
eorðbuende  Met b, Met b; PPs. a; GenA b, a, 

a, Ex a, Pr b
eorðbuendra  Met b, Met b; PPs. a; GenA b, 

ChristC b, Finn b, JDayII b, Instr b
eorðbuendum  Met a, Met b; PPs. b; GenA a, 

a, Dan b, Sat b, Rid b, Creed a
mæla gehwilce  Met b, Met b (gehwylce); PPs. b, 

PPs. b, PPs. b; Sat b, Sea b, Beo b, Instr 
b

monna gehwilcum  Met b, Met b (gehwylcum), b 
(gehwelcum); PPs. a (manna); And  (manna), ChristA a, 
Rid b, Rid b

o and gelome  Met b, b; PPs. b; GenA a, b, 
Rid a, Pr b, Exhort b, MSol b

lange þrage  Met b; PPs. b; GenA a, a, b, 
Dan b, And b, Beo b (longe), a, b, Capt a

mihtig drihten  Met a; PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 

⁵ Cf. PPs. b, Beo b, b swa hit gedefe wæs.



10

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b, b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. 
b; Ex a, Jud a, Res a, Pr b, b, b, Instr b; PsFr. 
b, PsFr. b

on modsefan  Met b; PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b, PPs. b; And a, El a, Jul a; cf. Beo a 
in modsefan

on his modsefan  Met a, Met a; PPs. b; MSol a; 
cf. GuthA a in his modsefan

sunna and mona  Met a; PPs. b; Dan a; cf. Beo b, 
Sat b, Men b sunnan and monan

heofona w⒠aldend  Met b, Met b; PPs. b; GenA 
b, Phoen b (heofuna)

sigora w⒠aldend  Met b, Met b; PPs. b; GenA 
b, b, a, a, b (sigoro), Ex b, Sat b, Az b, 
Phoen b, Vain b, Rid b, Beo a, DEdg b

eallum wealdeð  Met b; PPs. b; MaxI b
he⒪fonrices weard  Met b; PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. 

b; GenA b, b, b, a, Ex b, Dan a, a, Sat 
b, And b, a, Dream b, El b, b, b, GuthA b, 
b, Jul b, Men b, JDayII a, KtHy b, KtPs b, Cæd(WS) 
b, MCharm b

wuldres ⒠aldor  Met b; PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b, 
PPs. b; GenB b, GenA b, b, Ex b, And b, 
b, a, a, b, JDayI b; PsFr. b, PsFr. b b, 
b, Dream b, Jul b, ChristA b, Sea b, Part b, Seasons 

  (including reverse formulas):

æghwilc hiora  Met a, Met b, a
æghwylc ealra  PPs. a

æghwylce dæge  Met a
daga æghwylce  PPs. a, PPs. a

ælmihti⒢ god  Met b (good), Met b, Met b, Met 
b, Met a (good), a; GenB b, Dan b, And b, 
b, Dream a, a

god ælmihtig  Met b; PPs. b; GenB b



11

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

monna æniges  Met b, Met b; Rid a
æniges mannes  PPs. b; WaldereI b (monnes)

awiht godes  Met b
godes awiht  PPs. b 

feldes blostman  Met a
eorðan blostman  PPs. b

on Rome byrig  Met b
on Sione byrig  PPs. a
on Sodoma byrig  GenA b

and sona cweðan  Met b
and eac cweþan  PPs. b

yfel and edwit  Met a
facen and edwit  PPs. b

rihte floweð  Met b
wide floweð  PPs. b

dysiges folce  Met b
cristenes folces  PPs. b
holdes folces  PPs. b

Forgif nu, ece god  Met a
Forgif me, ece god  PPs. b
Forgif us, mægna god  Jul b

fæste gehealdan  Met b
wel gehealdan  PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b

and gesamnade  Met a
gesamnade  PPs. b

e gescended  Met b
æe gescended  PPs. b, PPs. b, PPs. b

eall geworhtest  Met b
ealle þu geworhtest  PPs. a, PPs. a

bloweð and groweð  Met b



12

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

lideð and groweð  PPs. b

under eorðan grund  Met a; And a
under neowulne grund  PPs. b

lissum lufode  Met a
lustum lufode  PPs. a

dæg and nihte  Met a; GenA b, Sat a, GuthA b, Phoen 
a, a, Beo a, Pr a, a, Exhort a, a

dæges and nihtes  PPs. b

ren onhrereð  Met b
wind onhrereð  PPs. b

lufan and sibbe  Met b
blisse and sibbe  PPs. b

soðfæstnesse  Met b; El b
on soðfæstnesse  PPs. b

ðurh ðinra me⒜hta sped  Met b, b; GenA a (mihta), 
ChristB a

ðurh ðinra mægna sped  Met b
þurh þinra dæda sped  PPs. a

æcera ðusend  Met b
wergra þusend  PPs. b

hefig and þystre  Met b
deorc and ðystre  PPs. b
dim and þystre  GenB a

geond þas widan w⒠oruld  Met a, Met a (giond, worulde), 
Met a 

geond þas woruld wide  PPs. b
geond þas wacan woruld  ChristB a

wordum and dædum  Met b
wordum oðð dædum  GenA a
dædum and wordum  PPs. b; GenB b, GenA b, a, 

GuthA b, DEdw a, LPrII b



13

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

Hwæt, þu, wuldres god  Met b
Hwæt, þe, wuldres god  PPs. a
Hwæt wilt þu, wuldres god  PPs. a

When the numbers of verse lines of the two texts are considered, 
we cannot say that they use a common stock of formulas as a 
translation device. But the authors of each text must have had 
sufficient knowledge of alliterative poetry so as to use the same 
formulas or similar expressions found somewhere in extant poems. 
On the other hand, each text shows the use of formulas particular 
to each context, which may reveal the author’s effort of making his 
text appropriate for the mold of alliterative poetry.

§ . The Paris Psalter uses biblical set-phrases and repeats them 
quite equently: e.g. halig drihten, mihtig drihten, awa to feore, her 
on eorðan, lifes ealdor, holde mode, sawle mine, symble æt þearf, etc. 
They oen appear side by side so as to make one-line formulas. 
Examples are:

on ecnesse awa to feore  PPs. , . , . , . , 
. 

and on ecnesse awa to feore  PPs. 
on ecnesse awa to worulde  PPs. , . , . 

Ic þe andette, ece drihten  PPs. , . , . , . 
Ic þe andette ecne drihten  PPs. 
Ic andette ecne drihten  PPs. , . 
Ic andette ecum drihtne  PPs. , . , . 

And hi þa on þære costunge cleopedan to dryhtne  PPs. 
Hi on costunge cleopedan to drihtne  PPs. 
Þa hi on costunge cleopedan to drihtne  PPs. 

and he hi of þam earfoðum eallum alysde  PPs.  (earfeðum), 
. , . 

and he hi of earfeðum eallum alysde  PPs. 
and he hig of earfoðum eallum alysde  PPs. 



14

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

se ðe heofon worhte, hrusan swylce  PPs. , . , . 
þam þe heofon worhte, hrusan swylce  PPs. 
þæs þe heofon worhte, hrusan swylce  PPs. 

Bletsa, mine sawle, bliðe drihten  PPs. , . , . ; 
PsFr. 

Gehyr min gebed, halig drihten  PPs. , . , . , . , 
. 

his mildheortnys mære to worulde  PPs. , . , . 

These one-line formulas are typical of PPs. Most of them are 
repeated elsewhere, oen in the same chapter of the Psalm (e.g. 
PPs.  and .  Gehweorf us, mægena god, and us mildne æteow) 
but sometimes appear in distant chapters (e.g. PPs.  and . 
 nis me ege mannes for ahwæðer), depending on the place where the 
Latin context is repeated.

Many half-line formulas are found in other poems as well as in 
PPs. Here are some examples of equent occurrence:

ea ælmihtig  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b; GenA a, a, 
a, a, a, b, a, b, b, GenB b, ChristC 
b, Jud b, Cæd b

samod ætgædere  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b; Ex b, Men 
b, Beo b, b, b, b

dæges and nihtes  PPs. b; GenA b, Sat a, HomFrI b, El 
b, GuthA b, Phoen a, a, Beo a, MSol a, Exhort 
a, a, LPrII b, Pr a

ece drihten/dryhten PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . a, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b; PsFr. 
b, . b, . b, . b; GenA b, b, b, a, a, 



15

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

a, a, b, b, Dan b, b, b, b, b, 
b, Sat a, b, b, b, b, b, a, b, b, And 
b, b, b, ChristA b, b, Az b, b, b, b, Sea 
a, SoulII b, Res b, JDayII b, Beo a, Pr b, Cæd a, 
a, MCharm b, b, MSol b, KtHy b (æce)

ecne drihten  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b; 
GenA a, Dan b, Az b

halig drihten/dryhten  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . a, . b, . b, . b, . 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b; PsFr. b, . b; GenA b, b, b, 
GenB b, Dan b, b, Az b, Beo b, Seasons b

wera cneorissum  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b; GenA b, b, Ex b, ChristC a, GuthB b, Men 
b, OrW b, b

heofonrices weard  PPs. b, . b, . b; GenA b, a, 
b, a, Ex b, Dan a, a, And b, a, Dream b, El 
b, b, b, GuthA b, b, Jul b, Men b, JDayII a, 
Cæd b

ofer middangeard  PPs. a, . b, . a, . b, . b; 
Ex a, a, a, b, Dan b, And a, a, a, b, 
b, Fates b, El a, a, ChristA a, ChristB a, a, 
Phoen a, GlorI b

bliðe mode  PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b; Dream b, ChristA a, GuthA b, Res a, Hell a

wide geond eorðan  PPs. b, . b, . b; Beo b, b, 
MaxI b, Men b, DEdw b

to widan feore  PPs. a; Ex b, And a, a, El a, b, 
ChristA b, ChristC a, GuthB a, Whale a, Beo b⁶

⁶ Cf. PPs. a, . b and to widan feore; ChristA b, LPrI b a to widan 
feore; PPs. a Ic to widan feore; Jul b, Prec b widan feore.



16

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

As seen in dæges and nihtes and to widan feore, some formulas are used 
only once in PPs, though the occurrences of the variants or similar 
expressions are possible. Some formulas are exclusively found in 
PPs: e.g. awa to feore (PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b), awa to worulde (PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b), drihten us(s)er 
(PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . a, . b, . b, 
. b, . a), wealdend drihten (PPs. b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b), holde mode (PPs. 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b, . b, . b, . b, . a),⁷ sawle mine (PPs. 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . a),⁸ hrusan swylce 
(PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b), ungemette swiðe (PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . 
b, . b, . b, . b) and symble æt þearfe (PPs. b, 
. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b).

We also find such formulas as those which occur only once 
outside PPs: e.g. ofer manna bearn (PPs. a, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b; LPrII b), ecean drihtnes (PPs. 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b; GenA a), her on 
eorðan (PPs. b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, 
. b, . b, . b; Seasons a), swyþe geneahhe (PPs. 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b; Wan 
b), on worulda woruld (PPs. a, . a, . a, . a, 
. a, . a; JDayII a)⁹ and geond werþeoda (PPs. b, 

⁷ Cf. bliðe mode, which occurs outside PPs.
⁸ Cf. sawle minre in PPs. a, . b, . b, . b, PsFr. b, Res b.
⁹ Cf. and on worulda woruld in PPs. a, . a, . a, JDayII a, 
GlorI a, and and þe on worulda woruld in PPs. a, . a.



17

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

. b, . b; GenA a). Hælend drihten occurs in PPs (. 
b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b, . b) 
and PsFr (. b), but in other poems the order is drihten hælend 
(Sat a, b, And a, El a, Pr b). PPs, therefore, makes 
good use of traditional formulas and, since the Christianity brought 
literacy so that some types of heathen legacy could be chosen as 
a communicative tool to enlighten the Anglo-Saxons, formulaic 
variants seem one of the best means to combine the two different 
cultures.

§ . The Metres of Boethius tries to represent the content of the 
prose text as faithfully as possible, although such poetic regulations 
as alliteration and variation necessarily cause emphasis of a particular 
theme and subsequent addition or subtraction of other subject 
matters.¹⁰

Met shares formulas and formulaic systems with other poems 
more oen than with PPs. Examples chosen below are of equent 
occurrences:

ælces þinges  Met b, b, Met b, Met b; ChristA b

agan moste⒩  Met a, b; Sat b, Jul a, ChristC b, 
GuthA b

agan wille  Met b, Met b; GenA b, Dan b

bilewit fæder  Met b, b, b; KtHy b

cuð is wide  Met b; Sat b, GuthA b, Rid b; cf. 
Met b Cuð wæs wide

¹⁰ In Ogura (:–), I quote examples () in which the prose text is closely 
translated into verse (Boethius Bk II, Met IV, –; PrBo ..–; Met 
–), () in which the missing words in prose are skillfully supplied in verse 
(Bo Bk I, Met VII; PrBo ..–; Met –), and () in which the verse text 
expands the theme greatly (Bo Bk I, Met I; PrBo ..–; Met –).



18

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

monna cynne  Met a; GenB a, a, a, ChristA a, Beo 
a, a, a, Rid b, Gifts b, MaxI a

monna cynnes Met a; GenA b, ChristC b, Phoen a, Jul 
a, Wid a, Rid a, Jud a

dægrimes worn Met b (double allit.); GenA a, b, a

dagum and nihtum Met b; Ex b, Rid b

eallra gesceaa Met b, Met b; And b, b, b, El 
b

ealra (ge)sceaa Met a, Met a, Met b, Met b, a; Dan 
b, ChristA b, ChristC a, GuthA b, Pan b

eallum gesceaum Met a, b; MSol b
ealle gesceaa Met b, b; Jul b, OrW b, LPrII b, GlorI 

b

ealle gesceae Met b; Dan b, And b, ChristC b, Az a, 
GuthA b, b

eard and eðel Met a; GenA a (eðyl), Dan a, a, Phoen 
a, Exhort a

eorðan sceatas Met a; GenA a, And b, Dream a, ChristC 
b, Sea a, a, Rid a

foldbuende Met a; El b, ChristC b, a, Hell b, b, 
Beo a

foldbuendra Met b; GuthA a, Rid a

foldbuendum Met b; Az b, Beo b, Creed b, CPEp b

freondrædenne Met b; Jul a, a, a, a

fæste gebunden Met b; Sat b (feste), a (feste), b, Rid 
a

geara gehwelce Met a, Met a, b, Met b; Res a

gumena gehwelces Met b, Met a; MSol b, Exhort a, KtHy 
a, Seasons b, Instr b



19

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

heofon and eorðan Met a; GenA b, And a, El a, GuthA 
b, Phoen a, Jul a, OrW b

innan and utan Met a; GenA a, ChristC a, Phoen a, Beo 
a; cf. GenB a utan and innan

lange hwile Met b; Dan a, Dream b, Rid b, Jul b, Beo 
16a, 2159b, 2780a (longe)

leohte geleafan Met a; El a, GuthA a, GuthB a, Phoen 
a, Jul a

lifes leohtuma Met a; GenA a, a, a, a, Dan a, 
And a, a, GuthA a, a (-uman), KtPs a (lioht-)

mine geæge Met b, b; GenA b, Ex b, And b, Phoen 
b, Wid b, Fates b, Beo b, b, b, b, b, Men 
b, Seasons b, DEdg b, CEdg b

geond middangeard Met b, Met b; GenA b, Sat b, 
b, El a, a, ChristB b, GuthA b, a, a, a, 
b, b, GuthB a, Phoen a, b, Sea b, Fort a, JDayI 
a, Pan b, b, Men a, a, a, b

geond ðisne middangeard Met b; Wan b, Giftes b, Rid a, 
Beo b, b

middangeardes Met b, Met b; GenA a, a, a, El a, 
ChristA b, ChristB a, b, Phoen a, a, Jul a, MaxI 
a, Rid a, Beo b, b, MSol b, b, KtHy b

geond sidne grund Met a; GenA b, a, b, ChristB a, 
Jul b, Pr b, Instr b

ofer metodes est Met b; GenA a, Dan b, And b

middelnihtum Met a; Beo a, a, Rid b

monna ænig Met a, Met a, Met b, b; Guthb b, Instr 
a; cf. Gifts b ænig monna

nergend us⒮er Met b; GenA b, b, a, b, a, 
b, a, a, GenB a



20

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

rices hirde Met b, b; Ex b, And b, Jul b, Beo a, 
a, Seasons b

rodora/rodera waldend Met b; GenA a, b, b, b, 
Dan b, El b, ChristB b, ChristC b, Az b, Jul b, 
KtPs b, MEp a

þeodne mærum Met b; Phoen b, OrW b; cf. Beo a, a, 
a mærum þeodne

þeoda waldend Met a, b; Dan a, And b, El b, b, 
Az a, Mald b, Creed b, Thureth b, Instr a

þinga gehwilces Met a; El a, Sea b, b, Rid b, Res b; 
cf. Sea b, Res b, Instr a þinga gehwylce; also cf. Sat b 
þinga æghwylces

ungelice Met a, Met b; GenA b, Sat b, El a, ChristC 
a, b, b, Vain a, b

weorðan sceolde Met b; El b, Az b, Phoen b, Jul b

weorðan sceoldon Met a; And b, KtPs b (scoldan)

weorðan sceolden Met b; GenB b

weroda drihten Met b; GenA b, Ex b, a, PsFr. b, 
Instr b

wordhord onleac Met b; And b, b, Wid b, Beo b

woruldgesceaa Met b, a, a, a; GenA b, Dan b, Men 
a

wundorlice Met a, Met b, Met a, b; Phoen b, Rid b

As seen in examples, Met oen repeats some formulas with slight 
morphological change, e.g. in prefixes or verbal inflections. In 
contrast with PPs, one-line formulas are found far much less in Met. 
Such formulas as geara gehwelce and ælces þinges are chiefly found in 
Met, and the following are used exclusively in Met: dogora gehwilce 
(Met a, a, Met b, Met a), ealla gesceafta (Met 



21

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

b, Met b, b, Met a, Met a, a, b, Met b, b), 
heofones and eorðan (Met a, Met b, Met a), Nis þæt nan 
wundor (Met a, Met a, Met a, Met a, a, a), 
rihtwisnesse (Met a, a, a, b), þe we ymb spreceð (Met b, 
Met b, Met b, Met b, Met b, Met b), suð, east 
and west (Met b, Met b, Met b), Is ðæt wundorlic (Met 
a, Met a, Met b) and woruld earfoða (Met a, Met 
b, b, b).

§ . Here I give two tables to sum up the results of this survey. 
Tables  and  illustrate how PPs and Met can be regarded formulaic 
on the basis of the same definitions of formulas and formulaic 
systems.

Table . How formulaic is each psalm of PPs?

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  24  57  36  152  84  84  68  126  74  48
formulas  9  13  19  27  18  22  3  46  21  12
 % 3⒎5  2⒉8  5⒉8  ⒘8  2⒈4  2⒍2  ⒋4  3⒍5  2⒏4  2⒌0

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  76  72  58  94  122  38  189  215  36  154
formulas  12  15  17  13  28  15  24  29  10  36
 %  ⒖8  ⒛8  2⒐3  ⒔8  2⒊0  3⒐5  ⒓7  ⒔5  2⒎8  2⒊4

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  128  146  150  58  66  116  399  96  103  46
formulas  20  16  18  8  6  27  55  17  29  9
 %  ⒖6  ⒒0  ⒓0  ⒔8  ⒐1  2⒊3  ⒔8  ⒘7  2⒏2  ⒚6

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  36  92  82  66  104  34  106  282  116  84
formulas  4  16  12  10  25  3  16  57  20  10
 %  ⒒1  ⒘4  ⒕6  ⒖2  2⒋0  ⒏8  ⒖1  ⒛2  ⒘2  ⒒9



22

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  88  38  132  70  80  8  15  68  26  54
formulas  21  8  22  11  19  2  4  13  7  7
 %  2⒊9  2⒈1  ⒗7  ⒖7  2⒊8  2⒌0  2⒍7  ⒚1  2⒍9  ⒔0

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  174  132  216  250  280  252  88  184  13  66
formulas  32  37  25  41  52  57  30  26  1  11

 %  ⒙4  2⒏0  ⒒6  ⒗4  ⒙6  2⒉6  3⒋1  ⒕1  ⒎7  ⒗7

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  64  46  156  50  42  14  155 1070  38  40
formulas  9  13  41  14  6  4  55  220  5  11
 %  ⒕1  2⒏3  2⒍3  2⒏0  ⒕3  2⒏6  3⒌5  ⒛6  ⒔2  2⒎5

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  58  34  52  38  42  42  42  52  46  20
formulas  12  6  9  6  4  10  5  13  13  3
 %  ⒛7  ⒘6  ⒘3  ⒖8  ⒐5  2⒊8  ⒒9  2⒌0  2⒏3  ⒖0

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  118  24  22  132  96  60  70  154  96  78
formulas  10  3  11  35  19  7  16  18  16  10
 %  ⒏5  ⒓5  50.0  2⒍5  ⒚8  ⒒7  2⒉9  ⒒7  ⒗7  ⒓8

Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps Ps
half-lines  58  104  126  142  72  68  56  84  51  10
formulas  9  20  22  37  19  11  5  12  8  2
 %  ⒖5  ⒚2  ⒘5  2⒍1  2⒍4  ⒗2  ⒏9  ⒕3  ⒖7  ⒛0



23

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

Table . How formulaic is each metre of Met?

Proem Met  Met  Met  Met  Met  Met  Met 
half-lines  20  168  38  22  114  90  34  108
formulas  6  56  8  5  42  29  19  37
 % 30.0  3⒊3  2⒈1  2⒉7  3⒍8  3⒉2  5⒌9  3⒋3

Met  Met  Met Met Met Met Met Met
half-lines  118  126  140 204  64  160  22  30
formulas  35  46  44  90  18  62  9  12
 % 2⒐7  3⒍5  3⒈4  4⒋1  2⒏1  3⒏8  40.9  40.0

Met Met Met Met Met Met Met Met
half-lines  48  60  24  94  562  88  130  24
formulas  16  24  6  26  225  35  55  7
 %  3⒊3  40.0  2⒌0  2⒎7 40.0  3⒐8  4⒉3 2⒐2

Met Met Met Met Met Met Met Met
half-lines  128  144  238  66  166  192  36  46
formulas  42  46  93  22  56  95  12  14
 %  3⒉8  3⒈9  3⒐1  3⒊3  3⒊7  4⒐5  3⒊3 30.4

In sum total, PPs (–) has  half-lines,  of which are 
formulaic (.%), while Met (Proem-Met) has  half-lines, 
 of which are formulaic (.%). PPs contains nearly three times 
as many half-lines as Met has, and so the percentage of formulas and 
formulaic systems in PPs should be comparatively low. Met is not 
so highly formulaic as Conlee concludes, following the definition of 



24

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

Magoun, Jr.,¹¹ but the half-lines seem to be made as formulaic as 
possible so as to accomplish the translator’s intention.¹²

A I: S 
Here I quote two specimen texts, Ps and Met, which show the 
highest of formulaic percentages in respective texts, with Latin and 
prose version for comparison. Half-lines considered formulaic are 
all underlined.

Ps: 
[Deus in nomine tuo saluum me fac et in uirtute tua libera me; 
Deus exaudi orationem meam. auribus percipe uerba oris mei; 
Quoniam alieni insurrexerunt in me. et fortes quesierunt animam 
meam. et non proposuerunt deum ante conspectum suum; Ecce 
enim dues adiuuat me. et dominus susceptor est anime meae; Au-
erte mala inimicis meis. et in ueritate tua disperde illos; Uoluntarie 
sacrificabo tibi. et confitebor nomini tuo domine. quoniam bunum 
est; Quoniam ex omni tribulatione eripuisti me. et super inimicos 
meos. respexit oculus tuus]
 
 On þinum þam haligan naman,  gedo me halne, god;
 alys me am laðum  þurh þin leofe mægen.
 God, min gebed  gearuwe gehyre,

¹¹ See Conlee (:). His statistic results are based on the survey of two short 
metres (Met and Met) and parts of long metres (Met and Met); he says that 
 verses out of  in total (i.e. .%) were “demonstrably formulaic”. Magoun, 
Jr. (:) says that in , lines of Anglo-Saxon poetry “some seventy per 
cent of the text of this passage (i.e. Beowulf ll. –) does occur elsewhere. Now 
we understand that some parts of some poems can be highly formulaic.
¹² Another significant difference between the two texts and the ordinary poems 
is the scanty use of variation, especially in PPs. For the definition and use of 
variation, see Robinson ().



25

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

 and earum onfoh  min agen word.
 Forþam me emde o  facne gestodon,
 sohtan mine sawle  swiðe strange,
 and na heom god setton  gleawe¹³ on gesyhðe.
 Efne me þonne god  gleawe fultumeð,
 is andfengea  ece drihten
 sawle minre;  he me swican ne wile.
 Ar me fæcne yfel  feonda minra,
 and hi soðfæst toweorp  syððan wide.
 Ic ðe lustum  lace cweme,
 and naman þinne  niode¹⁴ swylce
 geara andette,  forðon ic hine goodne wat.
 Forþon þu me alysdest,  lifes ealdor,
 of earfoðum  eallum symble,
 ealle mine nd  eagum ofersawe.

Met: Bo Bk II, Met; PrBo ..–
[Cum polo Phoebus roseis quadrigis / Lucem spargere coeperit, / 
Pallet albentes hebetata vultus / Flammis stella prementibus. / Cum 
nemus flatu zephyri tepentis / Vernis inrubuit rosis, / Spiret insanum 
nebulosus auster: / Iam spinis abeat decus. / Saepe tranquillo radiat 
sereno / Immotis mare fluctibus, / Saepe ferventes aquilo procellas 
/ verso concitat aequore. / Rara si constat sua forma mundo, / Si 
tantas variat vices, / Crede fortunes hominum caducis, / Bonis 
crede fugacibus. / Constat aeterna positumque lege est / Ut constet 
genitum nihil.]

Đa ongan se Wisdom singan ⁊ giddode þus: ÞŌN seo sunne on hadrū 
heofone beorhtost scineð, þōn aþeostriað ealle steorran, forþāþe 

¹³ MS gleaw/ne.
¹⁴ MS mode.



26

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

heora beorhtnes ne beoð nan beorhtnes for hire. Þōn smylte blaweð 
suþanwestan wind, þōn weaxað swiðe hraðe feldes blosman; ac þōn 
se stearca wind cymð norðaneastan, þōn toweorpð he swiðe hraþe 
þære rosan wlite; swa o þone to smylton sæ þæs norðāwindes yst 
onstyreð. Eala  nanwuht nis fæste stondendes weorces a wuniende 
on worulde.

 Đa se wisdom e  wordhord onleac,
 sang soðcwidas,  and þus selfa cwæð:
 Đonne sio sunne  sweotolost scineð,
 hadrost of hefone,  hræðe bioð aðistrod
 ealle ofir eorðan  oðre steorran,
 forðæm hiora birhtu  ne bið auht
 to gesettane  wið þære sunnan leoht.
 Đonne smolte blæwð  suðan and westan
 wind under wolcnum.  Þonne weaxeð hraðe
 feldes blostman,  fægen þæt hi moton.
 Ac se stearca storm,  þonne he strong cymð
 norðan and eastan,  he genimeð hraðe
 þære rosan wlite,  and eac þa ruman sæ
 norðerne yst  nede gebædeð,
 þæt hio strange geondstyred  on staðu beateð.
 Eala, þæt on eorðan  auht fæstlices
 weorces on worulde  ne wunað æe!

A II: H-  
Here I quote all the half-lines which I consider formulaic in PPs 
and Met.
PPs: 

.  b, a;  a, a, b, b;  b, a, b.
.  b;  a, b;  b, a;  a, b;  b, a, b;  b;  b, b.



27

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

.  a, b, a, b;  b, a, b;  b;  b, a;  b, a;  a, b, a, 
b, a;  b, a.

.  a, b, a;  b;  a;  a;  b, b, b;  b;  b;  b, a;  
b;  a, b, a, b;  b, b;  b, a;  b;  b;  b, a; 
 b.

.  a, b;  b;  b;  b, a, b, b, a, b;  a, b;  a, b, b; 
 b, a, a.

.  b, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, a;  b, a;  a, b;  a, b, a, 
a;  a, b;  a;  a, b, a;  b.

.  b;  b;  b.
.  a, b, a, a, b;  a, b, b, a, b;  a;  b, a, b, b;  a, b, 

b;  b, a, b;  b;  a, b, a, b;  b, a;  b, b;  a, b, 
b;  a, b, b, a, b;  b, b;  a, b;  a, b, a, b.

.  b, b;  b;  b;  a, b, b;  a;  b, b;  a;  b;  a, 
b, b, a, b;  b, b, a, b.

.  b;  b, b;  b, b;  a, b;  b, a, b, a, b.
.  a;  a, b;  b;  a, b;  b, b;  b;  b, b, b.
.  a;  a;  a;  b;  b;  b, b, b;  b, a, b, b;  b, b; 

 b.
.  a, b, a, b, b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  b, b; 

 a, b.
.  b, a;  a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, b;  b, a, b, b.
.  b;  b, b;  b, a, b, b, b, b;  b;  a, b;  b, b;  

a, b;  b;  b;  b, a;  a, b, b;  b;  b, b;  b; 
 b.

.  a;  b, b;  a, b, a, b;  b, b;  a, b, a, b;  b, b.
.  b, b;  b;  b, b;  b;  a, b;  b;  b;  a;  b, a, 

b;  a, b, b;  b;  b;  a;  a, b;  b, b.
.  a, b;  b;  b;  a,  b, a;  b, b;  b, b;  a, b, 

b;  a;  a;  b;  b;  b, a;  b, b, a;  b;  b; 
 b;  b;  b, b.

.  a, b, a, b, a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b.
.  b, b;  b;  a, b;  b, b;  b;  a, b, b, a, b;  b, a, 

b;  b, b;  a;  b, b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b, a, b; 
 b;  a, b;  b, b, a;  b;  a.

.  a, b;  a;  b;  b;  a, a;  b;  a, b;  b, a;  b; 
 b, b, b, a, b;  b, b.

.  a;  b;  b;  a, b;  a, b, b;  b;  b, b;  b, b, 
b;  b;  b.



28

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

.  b;  b;  a, b, a;  a, b, a;  b;  b, a, b;  a;  b, 
b;  b;  a, a.

.  a, b, b, a, b;  b, b;  a.
.  b;  a;  b;  b;  b, b.
.  b;  b, b;  b, a;  b,  a, b, a, a, b;  b, b, b, a;  

a, b, a;  a, b;  b, a, b;  b;  b;  b, b.
.  b;  b;  b, b;  b, a;  b;  b;  b, b;  b, a;  b, 

a;  a;  b;  b, b;  b;  a, a, b;  a;  b, b;  
b;  b, b, b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, 
b;  a;  b;  b;  a;  b;  b, a;  b,  b, b;  
b;  a, b, b, a, b;  b.

.  b, a;  b;  b;  a;  a, b;  b;  b, b;  a, b, b;  
b;  b, a, b.

.  b;  a, b;  a, b, a, b;  a, b, a;  a, b, a, b;  b;  a, 
b;  a;  a, b, b, b, a;  b;  a, a;  a, b;  a.

.  a, b;  b, b;  b, b, b;  b, b.
.  b;  b;  a, b.
.  b;  b;  a, b, b;  b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b, a, a, 

b;  a, b.
.  b;  b;  b, a, b;  a;  a, b, a;  b;  b, a.
.  b;  a, b, b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  b.
.  b, b;  a, a;  b, a;  b;  a, b;  b;  a, b, b, b;  a, 

b;  a, b, a;  a, b, b;  b;  b, b.
.  b;  b, a.
.  b, b;  b;  a;  b;  a;  b;  b, a, b, b, a, b;  

b, a;  b.
.  b, b, b, b;  a, a, b;  b, a;  b, a, b;  b;  a, a;  

a, b, b;  a;  b;  b, b, b;  b;  a, b, b;  a, b, 
b, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, a, b;  b;  a;  a;  a; 
 a, a;  a, b, a, b;  a, b;  b;  b, b;  b, a;  
b, a, b.

.  b, b;  b, b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  a;  b;  b;  b, 
a, b;  b;  a, b, b, b;  b.

.  b, b;  a;  a;  b;  b;  a;  b;  a;  b.
.  b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, a, a, b;  b, b;  a, b, a;  a, 

b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b.
.  a, b;  b;  b;  b, a, b;  a.
.  a;  a;  b, a;  a, b, a, b;  b, a, b;  b, a;  

b, b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, b, b.



29

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

.  b;  b;  b, a;  a, b;  b, a, b;  a, b.
.  a, b;  a, a;  b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  b, a, a,  b; 

 b;  b, a, b;  a.
.  b, b.
.  b, a, b;  a.
. a, b, b;  b, b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b, b.
.  b, a;  a, b, a;  a, b.
.  b;  b, b;  a;  b;  b, b.
.  b, a, b, a, b;  b, a;  b;  a, b;  a, a;  a, b;  b, 

b;  b, b;  b, b;  b, b;  a, b;  b, a;  a, b;  
b;  b;  b, a.

.  a, b, a, b;  a, b;  a, b, a, b;  b;  a, b, a, b, a, 
b;  a;  b;  a, a, b;  a, b;  b;  a;  a;  b, a; 
 a, b, a;  b, a;  b;  b, b.

.  a, b, b;  b;  b;  b;  a;  b, b;  b, a;  a;  b; 
 b, b;  a;  b;  b;  a, b;  a;  b, b, a, b.

.  a, b;  b;  a;  a, b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b, b, a, b; 
 b, a;  b;  b;  a;  b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, b; 
 b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, b;  a;  a, a;  
b;  a, b;  b.

.  a, b, b;  b;  a, b, a, a;  a, b;  a, a, b, b, b;  a, 
b, b;  b, b;  b, b, a;  b;  a;  a;  b;  b;  b, 
b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b, b;  a, a;  
b, b;  b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b, a, b, b, a.

.  a, b;  a, b;  a, b, a, b;  b, a;  a, b, a, b;  b;  a, 
b;  a, b, a, b;  a, b;  a, b, a, b;  b;  b, a, b; 
 a, b, a, b;  b, b, b;  b;  a;  a, b, a, b;  a; 
 a, b;  b, b;  b, b;  a;  a;  a;  a;  b, a.

.  b, a, b, a;  a, a, b;  a, b, a, a, b;  a;  a, b, a; 
 b, b, a, b;  b;  a, b, b, a, b;  b, b, a, b.

.  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  a, b, b;  b;  b, a, 
b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  a;  b;  a, a, b;  b; 
 b;  b, a.

.  b.
.  b, b;  a;  b;  b, a, a, b;  a;  b;  a.
.  b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  b, b;  a.
.  b, a, b;  a, b, a, b;  a, b;  b;  b, a;  b.



30

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

.  b, a, a;  a, b;  a, b;  a, b;  b;  b;  a, b, b, a, 
b;  a;  b;  b;  a, b, b, b;  a;  a, b;  b, b; 
 b, a, b, b, a, b;  b;  a, b, b;  b;  a, b.

.  b, a, b;  b;  a, b, b, b;  b, a, b;  b, b, a.
.  b;  a;  a, b;  b, a.
.  a, b, a;  b.
.  a, b, a;  a, b, a, b;  b, a, b, a, b;  a, b, a, b;  

a, b, a, b;  a, b, b;  a, b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b;  
a, a;  a;  a, b, a, b;  b, b;  b;  a, b, a, b;  
b;  a, b, a, b;  a, b, a, b;  b, b.

.  b;  a, b, a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  a, b;  a, a;  b, 
a;  b, a;  b, b;  b, b, b;  a, b, a;  a, b;  b, 
b;  b, a, b;  b, b, b;  b;  b;  b;  a;  b;  
b, b, a, b;  b;  b;  a, b, b;  b, b;  b;  b; 
 b, b;  b, b, a, b;  b;  a, a;  b;  b, b, a;  
b;  b, a;  b;  b, a;  a, a;  b;  b;  b,  b, 
b;  b, b;  b;  b, b;  b, a;  a;  a, b;  b;  
a;  a, b, b;  a, b;  a;  b, b;  b;  b;  b;  
a;  b, a;  a;  a, b;  a, b, a;  b;  a, b; 
 b, b;  b;  a;  a;  a, b, a, b, b;  b, b; 
 b;  b, b;  b, b;  a;  b;  b, b;  a, b;  
b;  a;  b, b;  b;  b;  b, a;  b;  a, b; 
 a;  b;  b;  a;  b, a, b;  a, b;  b;  
b, a, b;  a;  a, b;  b, a, b, b;  b, b;  a; 
 b;  b;  b;  a, a;  a;  a, b;  a, a, b; 
 b, b;  b, b;  a;  b, b;  b;  b, a;  a, 
b, b, a, a, b;  b, a, b, a, b, a, b;  a, b;  b, 
b;  a,  a, b, a, b;  a, b, a, b, a, b.

.  b, a, b, b;  b.
.  b;  a, b;  a;  b, b;  b, b;  b, a, b.
.  a;  a, b;  b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, a, b;  b.
.  b;  b;  b, b;  b;  b.
.  b, b;  b, b;  a;  b;  a, a, b.
.  b, b;  b, a, b;  b.
.  b, b, b;  b.
.  b, a;  b;  b;  b, b;  b;  a, b, b.
.  b;  b;  a;  a, a.
.  a, b, b, a, b;  a;  a, b, a, b;  b;  b, b.
.  b, a, a, b;  b;  a;  b, b;  a, b;  a, b;  b.



31

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

.  b;  a, b.
.  a,  a, b;  b, b;  b;  b;  b, b;  a.
.  b, a, b.
.  b;  a, b, a, b;  b, b;  b, b, a, b.
.  b;  a, b, a, b;  a, b;  a, a, b;  b, a;  a;  b;  

a;  b;  b;  a;  b;  a, b, b, b;  a, a, a, b, a, 
a, b;  b, a, b, b, a.

.  a, b, a, b, b;  b, a;  b;  a;  a, b;  b;  a;  
b;  b;  b;  b, a;  b.

.  b;  b;  b, b;  b;  a, b.
.  a, b, b;  b;  b;  b;  b;  b, a, b, b;  a, b, b; 

 b, a.
.  b;  b;  b;  b;  a;  b;  a, b;  a, b;  b, b, a, 

b;  a;  b;  b;  b.
.  b, b;  b, a, b;  a, b;  b;  a, b;  a;  b, a;  b; 

 a, a.
.  a;  a, b, a, b;  b;  b;  b;  b, a.
.  b;  a, b;  b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b.
.  a, b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  a;  a, b;  b;  b, a;  

a, b;  a, a, b;  a, b.
.  a;  b;  a, b, a, b, a;  a, a, b;  a, b, a, b, a;  

b;  b;  b;  a, a, b, a.
.  a, b, a, b;  a, b, a, b;  a;  b, b;  b, b;  b;  b, 

a, b, b;  b, a, a, b;  b;  b, b;  b, b;  a, b;  
b;  b, b, b, a;  b, a, b.

.  b, a;  b;  a;  a, b, b, b;  b, b;  b, b, a, b;  a, 
b;  b, a, b.

.  b, b;  b;  b, a;  b;  b;  a, b;  b, b.
.  b;  b;  b;  b, b.
.  b, b;  b;  b;  a, b;  b;  a;  b, b;  a;  a.
.  b;  a;  a;  b, b;  b;  b, b.
.  b;  b.

Met: 
Proem a, b, a, a, a, b.
Met a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, a, b, 

b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, 
b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, b, 
a, a, b, b, b, b, a, a, a, b, b, a.



32

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

Met a, a, a, a, b, b, a, a.
Met b, b, b, b, a.
Met b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, a, 

a, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, 
a, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, a.

Met b, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, a, b, a, a, b, b, 
a, b, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, b, a.

Met a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, a, 
b, a.

Met a, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, 
b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, a, b, b, a, b, a, 
b, a, b, a, b, a, a.

Met a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, b, 
a, b, a, a, a, b, a, a, b, b, b, a, a, b, 
a, a, b, b, a, b.

Met a, a, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, a, b, 
b, b, b, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, a, a, 
b, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, 
b, b.

Met b, a, b, b, b, b, b, b, a, b, b, b, b, b, 
a, b, b, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, 
b, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, 
b, b.

Met b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, a, b, 
a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, a, b, 
b, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, 
b, a, b, a, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, 
b, a, a, b, b, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, b, b, 
b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, 
b, b, b, a.

Met b, a, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, b, a, 
b, a, b.

Met a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, 
b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, a, 
b, a, b, a, a, b, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, a, 
a, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, 
b, b, b, b.

Met a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a.
Met b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b.



33

PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

Met a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, b, b, b, 
a, b.

Met a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, 
b, b, b, a, b, b, b, a.

Met a, b, a, a, b, a.
Met b, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, b, a, 

a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, b, b.
Met a, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, a, a, a, 

a, b, a, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, 
b, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, b, a, a, b, a, 
b, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, b, b, b, b, a, b, 
a, b, b, a, a, b, b, b, a, a, b, a, b, b, 
b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, 
b, a, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, 
a, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, 
a, a, b, b, b, b, a, a, a, a, b, b, 
b, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, 
a, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, 
a, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, 
a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, 
a, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, a, b, a, 
a, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, 
a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, 
b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, 
b, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, b, 
b, a, a, b.

Met b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, b, a, 
b, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, a, a, a, 
a, b, b, a, a, b.

Met b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, a, a, 
b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, 
b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, 
b, a, a, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b.

Met b, b, b, a, a, b, b.
Met a, b, b, a, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, 

a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, 
a, b, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a.

Met b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, 
a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, 



34

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

a, a b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, a, a, b, a, 
a, b, b.

Met b, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, 
b, b, b, a, b, a, a, a, a, b, a, a, b, a, 
b, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, 
b, b, b, b, b, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, 
a, b, b, a, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, 
b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, a, 
b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b.

Met b, b, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, 
b, b, b, a, a, a, b.

Met a, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, a, 
a, a, a, b, b, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, 
b, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b, a, a, 
b, b, a, b, b, b, b, b, b, a, b, b.

Met b, b, b, a, a, b, b, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, 
a, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, 
a, a, a, b, b, a, a, b, b, b, b, b, a, a, 
a, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, b, b, 
a, a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, b, b, b, 
a, b, a, b, a, b, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, b, 
a, b, b, a, a, a, b, b, a, a.

Met a, b, b, a, b, b, a, b, a, a, b, b.
Met b, b, b, a, b, a, a, b, a, b, a, a, b, b.

Michiko Ogura
Chiba University

R

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PPs & Met. Are they formulaic as Anglo-Saxon verses?

Selim  ()

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O’Neill, P. P., ed. : King Alfred’s Old English Prose Translation 
of the First Fifty Psalms. Cambridge, (Mass.), The Medieval 
Academy of America.

Robinson, F. C. : Variation. A Study in the Diction of Beowulf. 
Unpublished dissertation, University of North Carolina.



36

Michiko Ogura

Selim  ()

Received  Sep ; revision received  Oct ; accepted  Oct 

Sedgefield, W. J., ed. , rpt. : King Alfred’s Old English 
Version of Boethius. Oxford-Darmstadt, Clarendon Press-
Wissenschaliche Buchgesellscha.

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