346 On the Study of Anglo-Saxon. 
“JT fonder, then Cephisus foolish child 
Who having vewed in a fountain shere 
His face, was with the love thereof beguild ; 
I fonder love a shade, the body farre exild.” 
Spenser, Fuerte Queene, iii., 2, 44. 
‘Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain.” 
Shakspere, K. Ric. IL, y. 3. 
It may be well to say a word or two on the varieties of spelling 
the name of this beautiful little lake. Shirewater, the eighteenth 
century spelling, is Saxonie and historical, but if this were generally 
adopted, it is to be feared that people would get into the way of 
pronouncing the name Sheirwater which happily has never hitherto 
been usual, 
Sherewater appears reasonable, picturesque, and Spenserian, but it 
has not hitherto been prevalent. . 
Sheerwater has, I believe, met with some favour, and has the 
recommendation, if the pure and dright interpretation be admitted, 
of consistency with our present spelling of the word sheer which 
is still used, though much specialised and degraded, eg., sheer 
argument, force, steel, folly, impudence. 
Shearwater which does not agree so well with the pure bright 
theory as the other three varieties of spelling, has, I regret to say, 
become common of late and naturally finds favour with those who 
hold the sheep-shearing theory. 
It is worthy of note that on the other side of Longleat on the 
road from Warminster to Frome, is a cluster of houses called 
Whitbourne clearly deriving its name from the bright, sparkling 
bourne or stream which runs beside the road and issues from the 
same water-shed as Sheerwater, “hwit” inAnglo-Saxon, meaning 
not always dead white, but more usually bright, shining, glittering. 
The brightness and clearness of the water of Sheerwater is most 
strikingly seen in the pool and outlet of Spring-head, which mainly 
supplies the lake. 
Whatever may be your verdict upon the evidence I have brought 
before you I am sure you will all agree with me in the wish that 
the house of Longleat may continue to flourish as long as the bright 
streams of Sheerwater and Whitbourne continue to flow. 
