[* Asser. p. 20. W. Malms, lib. ii. cap. 4. Ingulph. p. 870.]
[** Asser. p.4, 12, 13, 17, J W. Malms, lib. iv. cap. 4.]
[*** Asser. p. 13.]
Sensible that the people, at all times, especially when their
understandings are obstructed by ignorance and bad education, are not
much susceptible of speculative instruction, Alfred endeavored to convey
his morality by apologues, parables, stories, apothegms, couched in
poetry; and besides propagating among his subjects former compositions
of that kind, which he found in the Saxon tongue,[*] he exercised
his genius in inventing works of a like nature,[**] as well as in
translating from the Greek the elegant Fables of AEsop. He also gave
Saxon translations of Orosius's and Bede's histories; and of Boethius
concerning the consolation of philosophy.[***] And he deemed it nowise
derogatory from his other great characters of sovereign, legislator,
warrior, and politician, thus to lead the way to his people in the
pursuits of literature.
[* Spelruan, p. 124.]
[** Abbas Rieval. p. 355.]
[*** W. Malms, lib. ii. cap. 4, Brompton, p. 814.]
Meanwhile, this prince was not negligent in encouraging the vulgar
and mechanical arts, which have a more sensible, though not a closer
connection with the interests of society.
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