![]() Geðenc hwelc witu us ða becomon for ðisse worulde, ða ða we hit nohwæðer ne selfe ne lufodon ne eac oðrum monnum ne lefdon: ðone naman anne we lufodon ðætte we Cristne wæren, & swiðe feawa ða ðeawas. ![]() & forðon ic ðe bebiode ðæt ðu do swæ ic geliefe ðæt ðu wille, ðæt ðu ðe ðissa woruldðinga to ðæm geæmetige swæ ðu oftost mæge, ðæt ðu ðone wisdom ðe ðe God sealde ðær ðær ðu hiene befæstan mæge, befæste. Gode ælmihtegum sie ðonc ðætte we nu ænigne on stal habbað lareowa. Swæ feawa hiora wæron ðæt ic furðum anne anlepne ne mæg geðencean besuðan Temese ða ða ic to rice feng. Swæ clæne hio wæs oðfeallenu on Angelcynne ðæt swiðe feawa wæron behionan Humbre ðe hiora ðeninga cuðen understondan on Englisc, oððe furðum an ærendgewrit of Lædene on Englisc areccean & ic wene ðætte noht monige begiondan Humbre næren. Ælfred kyning hateð gretan Wærferð biscep his wordum luflice & freondlice & ðe cyðan hate ðæt me com swiðe oft on gemynd, hwelce wiotan iu wæron giond Angelcynn, ægðer ge godcundra hada ge woruldcundra & hu gesæliglica tida ða wæron giond Angelcynn & hu ða kyningas ðe ðone onwald hæfdon ðæs folces on ðam dagum Gode & his ærendwrecum hersumedon & hie ægðer ge hiora sibbe ge hiora siodo ge hiora onweald innanbordes gehioldon, & eac ut hiora eðel gerymdon & hu him ða speow ægðer ge mid wige ge mid wisdome & eac ða godcundan hadas hu giorne hie wæron ægðer ge ymb lare ge ymb liornunga, ge ymb ealle ða ðiowotdomas ðe hie Gode don scoldon & hu man utanbordes wisdom & lare hieder on lond sohte & hu we hie nu sceoldon ute begietan gif we hie habban sceoldon. The Anglo-Saxon text is according to the Hatton manuscript in the Bodleian Library, as printed in King Alfred’s West-Saxon Version of Gregory’s Pastoral Care, with an English Translation, the Latin Text, Notes, and an Inroduction, edited by Henry Sweet (London: Early English Text Society, 1871). I reproduce Alfred’s Preface to the translation here. This work, written by Pope Gregory I around the year 590, was designed to teach clergymen how to perform their pastoral duties. Sometime after 890 he himself made an Anglo-Saxon version of a Latin work known as the Liber Regulæ Pastoralis or Liber Pastoralis Curæ. The ability of clergymen to read Latin had seriously declined during the Danish troubles, and so Alfred decided to promote the translation of Latin works into Anglo-Saxon. The Danish invaders had destroyed many churches and monasteries, and had disrupted the transmission of learning, so that there was a great need for rebuilding, and for a recovery of professional knowledge among the clergy. A truly noble character, Alfred was one of those rare monarchs who have excelled both in the arts of war and in those of peace. He is remembered today chiefly for his success in preventing the Danes from conquering England, and for fostering a revival of learning in his kingdom. King Alfred's Preface to the Translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care Bible Research > English Versions > Anglo-Saxon > AlfredĪlfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.
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