The Whole Works of King Alfred the Great: With Preliminary Essays Illustrative of the History, Arts, and Manners, of the Ninth Century, Volume 1

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Printed and published for the Alfred Committee by J.F. Smith, 1852
 

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Page 85 - In the meantime, the king, during the frequent wars and other trammels of this present life, the invasions of the pagans, and his own daily infirmities of body, continued to carry on the government, and to exercise hunting in all its branches ; to teach his workers in gold and artificers of all kinds, his falconers, hawkers and dog-keepers...
Page 335 - By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Page 33 - Stimulated by these words, or rather by the divine inspiration, and allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning of the volume...
Page 69 - Here he was met by all the neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea ; and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night.
Page 86 - He would avail himself of every opportunity to procure coadjutors in his good designs, to aid him in his strivings after wisdom, that he might attain to what he aimed at; and, like a prudent bird, which rising in summer with the early morning from her beloved nest, steers her rapid flight through the uncertain tracks of ether, and descends on the manifold and varied flowers of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, essaying that which pleases most, that she may bear it to her home, so did he direct his eyes...
Page 124 - They also were aground very disadvantageously : three lay aground on that side of the deep on which the Danish ships were aground, and all the rest upon the other side, so that no one of them could get to the others. But when the water had ebbed many furlongs from the ships, then the Danish-men went from their three ships to the other three which were left by the tide on their side, and then they there fought against them.
Page 85 - ... during the frequent wars and other trammels of this present life, the invasions of the pagans, and his own daily infirmities of body, continued to carry on the government, and to exercise hunting in all its branches; to teach his workers in gold and artificers of all kinds, his falconers, hawkers and dog-keepers; to build houses, majestic and good beyond all the precedents of his ancestors, by his new mechanical inventions...
Page 24 - For the benefit of his soul, then, which he studied to promote in all things from the first flower of his youth, he directed through all his hereditary dominions, that one poor man in ten, either native or foreigner, should be supplied with meat, drink, and clothing, by his successors, until the day of judgment; supposing, however, that the country should still be inhabited both by men and cattle, and should not become deserted.
Page 124 - Alfred commanded long ships to be built to oppose the uescs; they were full-nigh twice as long as the others ; some had sixty oars, and some had more : they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were shapen neither like the Frisian nor the Danish, but so as it seemed to him that they would be most efficient.
Page 210 - Therefore, never is their strife After those true joys to spur ; In this lean and little life They half witted deeply err, Seeking here their bliss to gain, That is, God Himself, in vain. Ah ! I know not in my thought How enough to blame their sin, Nor so clearly as I ought Can I show their fault within ; For, more bad and vain are they And more sad than I can say. All their hope is to acquire Worship, goods, and worldly weal ; When they have their mind's desire, Then such witless Joy they feel,...

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