“There were very few on this side Humber who would know how to render their services in English, or so much as translate an epistle out of Latin into English; and I ween that not many would be on the other side Humber.  So few of them were there, that I cannot think of so much as a single one, south of Thames, when I took to the realm."[31]

Alfred produced a work on moral philosophy, by altering and amending the De Consolatione Philosophiae of Boethius, a noble Roman who was brutally thrown into prison and executed about 525 A.D.  In simplicity and moral power, some of Alfred’s original matter in this volume was not surpassed by any English writer for several hundred years.  We frequently find such thoughts as, “If it be not in a man’s power to do good, let him have the good intent.”  “True high birth is of the mind, not of the flesh.”  His Prayer in the same work makes us feel that he could see the divine touch in human nature:—­

“No enmity hast Thou towards anything...  Thou, O Lord, bringest together heavenly souls and earthly bodies, and minglest them in this world.  As they came hither from Thee, even so they also seek to go hence to Thee.”

AElfric, 955?-1025?—­The most famous theologian who followed Alfred’s example in writing native English prose, and who took Alfred for his model, was a priest named AElfric.  His chief works are his Homilies, a series of sermons, and the Lives of the Saints.  Although much of his writing is a compilation or a translation from the Latin Fathers, it is often remarkably vigorous in expression and stimulating to the reader.  We find such thoughts as:—­

“God hath wrought many miracles, and He performs them every day, but these miracles have become much less important in the sight of men because they are very common...  Spiritual miracles are greater than the physical ones.”

To modern readers the most interesting of Aelfric’s writings is his Colloquium, designed to teach Latin in the monastery at Winchester.  The pupils were required to learn the Latin translation of his dialogues in the Anglo-Saxon vernacular.  Some of these dialogues are today valuable illustrations of the social and industrial life of the time.  The following is part of the conversation between the Teacher and the Plowman:—­

  “Teacher.  What have you to say, plowman?  How do you carry on
  your work?

  “Plowman.  O master, I work very hard; I go out at dawn, drive
  the oxen to the field, and yoke them to the plow.  There is no storm
  so severe that I dare to hide at home, for fear of my lord, but when
  the oxen are yoked, and the share and coulter have been fastened to
  the plow, I must plow a whole acre or more every day.
       * * * * *
  “Teacher.  Oh! oh! the labor must be great!

  “Plowman.  It is indeed great drudgery, because I am not free."[32]