CHAPTER XXV. THE ROYAL STUDENT. IN the previous chapters we have been considering Alfred as a reformer and as a legislator. We can now turn our attention to his literary pursuits. It would appear that Alfred did not devote himself to the advancement of learning until the second half of the period of peace. First, he provided for the safety and order of his realm, and then he gave himself up entirely to the moral and intellectual culture of his people. From what has already been written, it will be seen that Alfred had early imbibed a love for the national poetry and songs; that his journeys to Rome had left deep impressions on his mind; and that he dearly loved to recount the deeds and exploits of the heroes of olden times. But during the long and troublous years of warfare, and then during the years of reorganisation, he had not been able to follow the pursuits so dear to his heart. So, in order to satisfy the desire for knowledge which had animated him from his childhood, the king decided to take the position of a scholar and of a student at quite a late period of his life. Long had he hoped for the time when he should be able to devote himself to the delights of study, and at last his cherished resolve was crowned with success. He had surrounded himself with bishops and had benefited by their wisdom and learning; he caused one of them to read to him at every leisure moment, and in this way he had mastered many books before he was able to read them for himself. In his early days he could probably read books in his mother tongue, but he was grown to manhood before he acquired the knowledge of Latin, in which language most of the best books were then written. But at the period of which we are now writing— that is about 887-he had selected Asser, his friend and future biographer, to be his teacher; and as he gives us such an interesting account of the king as a student, we shall give the picture nearly in the words of the old chronicler. On a certain day Alfred and Asser were sitting in the royal chamber, talking as usual about all kinds of subjects. It chanced that Asser recited a certain passage out of a book, to which the king listened attentively "with both his ears." Alfred then withdrew from his bosom a book, which he always carried about with him, and wherein he carefully wrote the daily lessons and psalms and prayers. He desired Asser to copy the passage he had recited into this royal manual or handbook. Joyfully did Asser consent to do so, and was ready to begin his writing, but he could find no empty space, for it was already full of various matters. Asser hesitated, not knowing what to do; but he asked the king if he should write the piece on a detached leaf. To this plan the king assented, whereupon Asser wrote the passage in the beginning of the new sheet, and before the day was out he had entered three other quotations. From that day these two friends talked together, and rapidly this new book became full of choice extracts, which Alfred wished to remember. "Thus," says Asser of his royal master, "like a most productive bee, he flew here and there, asking questions as he went, until he had eagerly and unceasingly collected many various flowers of divine Scripture, with which he well stored the cells of his mind." Is not this a noble picture of the king's life? Surely if Alfred shines as a warrior and as a statesman, we must equally admit that he sets a fine example in his eager pursuit of wisdom. Many a king at his age, and with his infirmities, would have given himself up to ease or to the flattery of courtiers; but with Alfred it was ever a desire to get knowledge and to leave a remembrance of good works when his time should come to pass away. But if the king showed industry in acquiring knowledge, he took equal pains in endeavouring to educate his people. He gained information not only for himself but also for his people. On the same day that the first quotation was copied he was eager at once to read and then to teach others. For this purpose he began to study and translate into English, with the chief desire of being able to instruct his people. The king was ever of a religious turn of mind, but Asser says it was only at the latter part of his life that he began to learn the rudiments of the Christian Faith. One day, the Feast of St. Martin (Nov. II), the king began seriously to study the principles of religion, and he entered into one book all the best thoughts of the great writers on Divinity. This manual soon became almost as large as a psalter, and it was kept carefully at hand both by day and night, for Alfred found "no small consolation therein." We can picture to ourselves the royal student stealing away from the cares and distractions of state to snatch a hasty glance at this precious book of wise thoughts. Or, again, we can imagine the king, racked with pain, rising from his couch in the still hours of the night and finding solace in these words of wisdom. Alfred was a student to the day of his death, "for," says Asser, "he never desisted from studying most diligently to the best of his ability." His study brought forth much fruit, but we must reserve an account of his writings and translations for the succeeding chapters. Alfred. Behold a pupil of the monkish gown, Pours forth his bounty, like the day doth cheer, No moment steals; pain narrows not his cares, |