from the Reviewers, some of whom have approved
whilst others have condemned it. Where ancient
authorities abound, such a mode would of course
involve much repetition, and cause many difficulties;
but where there is a single authentic account of a
particular event left us by an eye-witness, it is danger-
ous to depart from the exact form of words in which
that eye-witness has told his tale. The mode has been
adhered to in this "Life of Alfred;" and the reader
will not regret that I have adopted a plan, to which
he is indebted for the numerous little graphic scenes
from Asser, of something nearly resembling domestic
history, which are interwoven in this work.