Note 160 — I INTRODUCTION: NAME AND PURPOSE OF THE WORK

It seems probable that the form in which the author of the Speculum expresses his desire to remain anonymous shows the influence of the Old Norse version of the Elucidarium, a theological discussion in dialog form, which dates from the twelfth century and is ascribed to Honorius of Autun. The author of the Elucidarium writes as follows in his preface: “My name, however, I have purposely withheld, lest wicked men should be prompted by a feeling of envy to cast aside a useful work.” For the original Latin preface to the Elucidarium see Migne, Patrologia Latina, CLXXII, 1110; the Old Norse version is given in Annaler for nordisk Oldkyndighed, 1857, p. 240, 1858, p. 24.