V. BOOK 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 an 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? WE CHAP. V. ALFRED'S Moral Character. V. WE have contemplated Alfred as the student, CHA P. 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 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 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.' Ethelfleda, 1 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 V. BOOK Edward, Ethelgiva, Alfritha, and Æthelweard, survived him. Edward and Alfritha were educated in the royal court with great attention. They were accustomed to filial duty towards their parent, and to behave with mildness and affability towards others, whether strangers or natives. Asser remarks, that they retained these estimable qualities at the period in which he wrote. They were induced to improve their minds with all the liberal learning which could then be obtained. Besides the hymns of devotion, they were studiously taught Saxon books, and particularly Saxon poetry; and they were accustomed to frequent reading.2 ETHELWEARD, his youngest son, received a sort of public education; he was committed to the diligent care of proper teachers, with almost all the noble children of the province, and with many of inferior ranks. There they were all assiduously instructed in Latin and Saxon: they learned also the art of writing, to which literature owes its existence. By these institutions, the season of their youth was employed to inform and enlarge their minds. When their matured age gave the requisite strength, they were exercised in hunting, and those robust arts, which by the habits of society at that time, were made honourable and popular.3 THE most exquisite luxury which aged parents his tomb, on the north side of the altar, which is inscribed, Hic jacet Edmundus Rex, filiis Aldredi regis." Hist. Mag. Wint. p. 207. 2 Asser, 43. 3 Asser, 43. Æthelweard lived twenty-one years after his father, and died 922, in the beginning of the reign of Athelstan. Matt. West. 359. V. can enjoy, when the charms of life and all the CHAP. pleasures of sense are fast fading around them, is to see their parental care rewarded by a dutiful, affectionate, and intelligent offspring. Alfred enjoyed this happiness, which he had so well merited. Ethelfleda, his eldest, became a woman of very superior mind: such were its energies, that they even reached a masculine strength. She is extolled, in the ancient chronicles, as the wisest lady in England. Her brother Edward governed his life in its best actions by her counsels. After she was married to Ethered, the governor of Mercia, she built several cities, and upon all occasions displayed a statesman's skill, and an Amazonian activity.1 THE reign of Edward was distinguished by its vigour and prosperity. Some of the last instructions of Alfred to his son have been popularly preserved, and they deserve to be quoted, for their pathetic simplicity, their political wisdom, and the proof which they afford of this monarch's anxiety for the welfare of his subjects. 4 The difficulty and sufferings of her first parturition, deterred her from the chance of a repetition. She protested, that it did not become a king's daughter to pursue any pleasure which was attended with such inconvenience. Malmsb. 46. He describes her, "Favor civium, pavor hostium, immodici cordis fæmina. Virago potentissima multum fratrem juvare consiliis, in urbibus extruendis non minus valere, non discernas potiore fortuna, an virtute; ut mulier viros domesticos protegeret, alienos terreret." Ib. 46. The Chronicle MS. Nero. A. 6. says of her, "Per cujus animum frater suus Edwardus multo melius in regno actus suos dirigebat." p. 6. 5 This is the conclusion of the Cotton MSS. mentioned before, p. 242. Of this work Spelman says, fairly, "I cannot think it fit to offer them into the world as an instance of what the king composed; for they are not his very work in the Saxon BOOK V. "THOU," quoth Alfred, "my dear son, set thee now beside me, and I will deliver thee true instructions. My son, I feel that my hour is coming. My countenance is wan. My days are almost done. We must now part. I shall to another world, and thou shalt be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee (for thou art my dear child) strive to be a father, and a lord to thy people. Be thou the children's father, and the widow's friend. Comfort thou the poor, and shelter the weak; and, with all thy might, right that which is wrong. And, son, govern thyself, by law; then shall the Lord love thee, and God above all things shall be thy reward. Call thou upon him to advise thee in all thy need, and so shall he help thee, the better to compass that which thou wouldest." tongue, but a miscellany collection of some later author, who, according to his own faculty, hath, in a broken English, put together such of the sayings of king Alfred, as he met withal." p. 125. Wanley says, the fragment is in Norman Saxon, "circa tempus Henrici II. aut Richardi I. conscriptum in quo continentur quædam ex proverbiis et apothegmatis Ælfredi regis sapientissimi," p. 231. A copy of the Galba MS. of this work is stated to exist in MS. at Oxford, in the Bodleian Library. 6 Spelman, p. 131. This collection begins thus: "At Sifford seten Thainer manie, Fele Bircoper and fele boc leped, Eples prude Knihter egloche. Then pær Enle Alppich of the lage rputh pire, And ec Alfred Engle hinde, Engle darling. On Englond he par king. Dem he zan lepen Spo him hepen mihten, hu hi hepe lif leden scolden. Ibid. |