OF KING ALFRED THE GREAT: WITH PRELIMINARY ESSAYS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE HISTORY, ARTS, AND MANNERS, Volume II. LONDON: BOSWORTH & HARRISON, 215, REGENT STREET. 1858. 226.l.38. INTRODUCTION. In the time of king Alfred, OROSIUS was so well known as an historian, that his name was commonly used instead of the title of his work. This is evident, from Alfred's first sentence. "Here beginneth the book which men call Orosius." 1 3 This compendious history of the world from the creation to the year A. D. 416, written by Orosius, continued to be held in the highest esteem, from the days of Alfred to the invention of printing, for it was selected as one of the first works to be committed to the press. The first edition appeared in Germany, so early as 1471. After this, numerous editions were published by the most celebrated printers. It must be interesting to know the origin of a work, that has attracted so much attention, and been highly valued for so many ages-a work chosen by the first man of his age, our GLORIOUS KING ALFRED, as a book worthy to be translated by him into Anglo-Saxon-the English of his day-to teach his people history. The origin and intention of this work will be best shewn by a short biographical account of Orosius, its author. PAULUS OROSIUS was a learned Spanish presbyter, born in the latter part of the fourth century, at Tarragona, on the coast of the Mediterranean. He was educated in Spain; but, being a young man of great talents, the information to be acquired in his 1 Ab initio mundi usque in præsentem diem [A. D. 416]: Havercamp's Orosius 4to, Leyden 1767, l. vii, c. 43, p. 587. Apparently the same book published in 1738, with only a new title page. 2 Impressus is liber est. Augustæ a. 1471, per Johannem Schuszler. Haver. p. XII. In the same page of Haver. the date is 1470: . . Florentissimæ urbis Augustæ .. anno a partu virginis Mariæ salutifero millesimo quadrigentesimo et septuagesimo; circiter Junii nonas septimas. 3 Fabricius says: Prela multum sudavit. Haver. adds: Sæpissime prela fatigavit Orosius, p. xiii. 4 Tarraconensem esse Orosium non dubitat Don Paolo Ignazio de patria Orosii edita Hispanice Barcinone 1702, Fol. libro quadrigentarum paginarum, Fabricius, liber iv, c. 3. own country did not satisfy his inquiring mind. He had energy enough to overcome any difficulty in the acquisition of knowledge; he did not, therefore, hesitate to go to Africa, to benefit by the instruction of S. Augustine, bishop of Hippo Regius, one of the most able and voluminous writers of that age. There is great difficulty in ascertaining how long Orosius remained in Africa, under the instruction of S. Augustine, before he returned to Spain. Some suppose that Orosius did not arrive in Africa before A. D. 414, when the Spanish bishops, Eutropius and Paul, sent him to consult S. Augustine about the nature and origin of the soul and several abstruse points of doctrine, which were held by the Priscillianists and the Origenists. Orosius, about that time, wrote on the subject," Consultatio sive Commonitorium Orosii ad Augustinum de errore Priscillianistarum et Origenistarum." In answer to which, S. Augustine published-"Ad Orosium contra Priscillianistas et Origenistas." These are both in the works of S. Augustine. In A. D. 415, S. Augustine recommended Orosius to proceed to Palestine, that he might consult S. Jerome on some particulars as to the origin of the soul, which Augustine could not satisfactorily explain. Jerome was then living at Bethlehem, and engaged in translating the scriptures from the Hebrew and Greek originals into Latin, which is the present vulgate or authorized version of the Roman Catholics. S. Jerome was the most learned man, and the most profound critic of the early church. The deference paid by Augustine, in sending Orosius to Jerome for a solution of what was too difficult for himself, is a proof of the high estimation, in which he held S. Jerome's talents and learning. This letter of introduction, S. Augustine sent, in his treatise, De ratione animæ, by Orosius to S. Jerome, to whom it was most respectfully dedicated. The letter is so honourable to them all, and so descriptive of Orosius, that part of it, at least, ought to be inserted. "S. Augustine to S. Jerome.-Behold, there has come to me a religious young man, in catholic peace a brother, in age a son, in rank a co-presbyter, Orosius-of active talents, ready eloquence, ardent application, longing to be, in God's house, a vessel useful for disproving false and destructive doctrines which have killed the souls of the Spaniards much more grievously, than the barbarian sword their bodies. He has hastened to us from the ocean shore-expecting from report, that he might learn from me, whatever he wished of those matters he desired to know; but he has not reaped the fruit of his labour. First, I desired him not to trust much to fame respecting me: next, I taught him what I could; but what I could not, I told him where he might learn, and I advised him to come to you. In which matter, on his |