BOOK V. Alfred. Now, in the world here, Hurt not man. If thou now, O Ruler, Lettest her triumph, That thee will Over the parts of the globe, Thou that overseest all Boetius. These, no perjury, no fraud, dressed with falsehood, hurt; but when they choose to use their strength, they rejoice to subdue the greatest kings, whom innumerable people fear. O now behold thy wretched earth, who connectest the union of all things. We mankind, not a vile part of so great a work, are shaken by the sea of fortune. O Ruler, repress the rapid waves, and with the law that rules the immense heaven, keep steady thy solid earth. THE preceding facts of Alfred's studies, translations, additions, and compositions, enable us to perceive the great improvements which they diffused upon the intellect of the Anglo-Saxon nation. By his Orosius and Bede, he made the general history and geography of the world, and the particular history of England, a part of the mind of his countrymen; and, by his Bede, he made historical fame an object of ambition to his royal successors; for that exhibited to their own eye-sight how their predecessors had been recorded and applauded. By transmitting to posterity the detail of Ohthere and Wulfstan's Voyages, he made such expeditions interesting to the nation, fixed them in their memory, and ensured their future imitation. IV. By his Boetius he poured a great number of moral CHAP. thoughts and feelings among his rude AngloSaxons, which they had never considered or experienced before; and by cultivating poetical versification he increased the popularity and improvement of that pleasing art. He found the English mind unformed and barren, and he led it to knowledge, civility, moral sentiment, and moral reasoning. His attachment to religion increased its influence among his descendants and in his country. BUT there is another point of view in which the intellectual benefit that Alfred conferred upon his country has not yet been considered. This is the easy, fluent, and lively prose style, which it may be seen from the extracts already given, that he so peculiarly contributed to form by his translations and additions to Boetius. The work is not a mere literal version of the Latin diction, into a servile corresponding one, as the Anglo-Saxon Psalter, published by Spelman, in which every Latin word is rendered, however harshly, by a similar English one. Alfred's Boetius, even where he translates exactly, is done with the freedom of a master, who uses his own style without departing from his author's meaning. The best prose style of all countries is that which men of superior intellect use, who, to much literary cultivation, add much intercourse with public affairs, and with the highest classes of the society in which they live. activity of their daily life gives a spirit and freedom to their minds and thoughts, which pervade their colloquial diction; and this, when polished by the most cultivated urbanity of the day, and enlarged by the more extensive subjects of their The V. BOOK studies, and the greater correctness of meditative composition, becomes superior to any that the world or the closet can singly create. Alfred's Boetius in every part displays these excellencies. Its form of dialogue favoured their union. It is clear, easy, animated, attractive, and impressive. It comes the nearest to our present best English prose style of all the Anglo-Saxon prose writings that have survived to us, and entitles Alfred to be considered as the venerable father of our best English diction, as well as our first moral essayist. WE may close our review of his intellectual character with remarking, as an additional subject for our admiration, that not above two centuries and a half elapsed, between the first appearance of literature among the Anglo-Saxons and the formation of Alfred's mind. Has any country, within so short a period, produced in itself an intellect amongst its sovereigns, that combined so many excellencies ? CHAP. V. ALFRED'S Moral Character. V. WE have contemplated Alfred as the student, CHAP. and the man of literature, and in his public character. Let us proceed to review his conduct in more interesting relations. To educate our children in the best improvements and noblest virtues of our times, is to perform a duty the most sacred which we owe to society, and its Great parent. If as reason hopes, and Revelation assures us, He, who called man into being, is interested in his concerns, no event can more propitiate his favour, than the gradual improvement of his rational creation. If one idea can predominate over others in the divine economy of human affairs, it is reasonable to believe, that it must be the plan of our moral and intellectual progression. Whoever leaves his offspring more informed and more virtuous than himself, accelerates this favourite scheme of supreme goodness, and claims the gratitude of society whom he benefits. ALFRED was a great example to posterity in this path of duty. He was as solicitous to improve his family as himself. He had several children; some died in their infancy.' Æthelfleda, Asser, mentioning his living children, adds, "Exceptis his qui in infantia morte præveniente præoccupati sunt," p. 42. Rudborne mentions that Edmund was his first-born, whom his father had crowned as his intended successor. He died a little before his father, and was buried in the old monastery at Winchester, "as appears," says Rudborne, "by his marble on his tomb, on the north side of the altar, which is inscribed, Hic jacet Edmundus Rex, filii Alfredi regis.' Hist. Mag. Wint. p. 207. |
