The Syntax of the Dative in Beowulf (Ⅰ)

The dative in OE ranges over a far wider area than in later and modern times. The fundamental meaning of the dative in OE and in other Teutonic languages is 'direction toward'. In is primarily the 'influence or interest' case, i. e. denotes the person affected or interested in the action expessed by the verb. But, as in Latin and Greek, the dative in OE acquired various adverbial uses by taking to itself the functions of the lost ablative, locative and instrumental cases. These adverbial meaning have now disappeared as living uses, the inflection having been superseded largely by prepositions, while many of its uses have been usurped by the accusative. But the dative was in OE a great adverbial case, i. e. did the work of an adverb and it played an important part as a means of expression, especially in poetry. The dative is used in Beowulf as : Ⅰ. A determinative of a noun 1. Apposition of noun : [ ]ū[ ]ē self hafast dǣdum gefrēmed, [ ]æt...953-4, etc. 2. Attributive dative : a. hæleðum tō helpe 1708, folce tō frōfre 13-4, etc. b. secg on searwum 2700, eorlas on elne 2816, etc. Ⅱ. A determinative of an adjective 1. Object of adjective : fugle gelicost 218, him leof 203, ōðrum tr[ ]we 1165, etc. 2. Adverbial adjunct a. Cause, motive : wundum wērge 2937, ǣsc wlanc 1331, etc. c. Instrument : mēcum wunde 565, hondum gebrōden 1443, etc. d. Masterial : searwum fāh 1038, since fāge 1615, etc. e. Method, means : fǣðergearum fūs 3119, handa fæst 1290, etc. f. Separation : drēamum bedæled 721, Æschere...feorh ūðgenge 2122-3, etc. h. Agent : hundum geswenced 1369, etc. i. Degree of difference : hē on holme sundes [ ]ē sǣnra, ðē hyne swylt fornam 1435-6, etc. j. Purpose : ofost is sēlest tō gec[ ]ðanne 256, etc. k. time : hatne for harde, hioroweallende middelnihtum 2783. Ⅲ. A determinative of a verb. 1. Necessary determinative a. Predicative dative α. to+dative : si[ ]ðan Cāin wearð tō ecgbanan āngan brē[ ]er, 1261-2, etc. β. on+dative : [ ]ū on sǣlum wes, 1170, Weorod wæs on wynne. 2014, etc