King Alfred's Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

At Shifford many thanes were set;
There book-learned bishops met,
Earls and knights, all awsome men,
And Alfric, wise in lawsome ken:
There too England's own darlíng,
England's shepherd, England's king,
Alfred! them he truly taught
To live in duty as they ought.

Alfred, England's king and clerk,
Well he loved God's holy work:
Wise was he and choice in speech,
First of England skill'd to teach.

Thus quoth Alfred, England's love,
“Would ye live for God above?
“Would ye long that He may show
“Wiselike things for you to know,

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“That you may world's worship gain,
“And your souls to Christ attain?”

Wise the sayings Alfred said;
“Christ the Lord I bid thee dread
“Meekly, O mine own dear friend,
“Love and like him without end;
“He is Lord of life and love,
“Blest all other bliss above,
“He is Man, our Father true,
“And a meek mild Master too;
“Yea, our brother; yea our king;
“Wise and rich in every thing,
“So that nought of His good will
“Shall be aught but pleasure still
“To the man who Him with fear
“In the world doth worship here.”

Thus quoth Alfred, our delight;
“He may be no king of right
“Under Christ, who is not fill'd
“With book lore, in law wellskill'd,
“Letters he must understand,
“And know by what he holds his land.”

Thus quoth Alfred, England's praise,”
England's pride and joy always:

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“Earl and atheling
“Both be under the king,
“The land to lead
“With duteous deed;

“Both the clerk and the knight
“Equally hold by right:
“For as a man soweth
“Thereafter he moweth,
“And every man's doom
“Shall come to his home.”

Thus quoth Alfred; “To the knight;
“'Tis his wisdom and his right
“To lighten the land
“By the mower's hand
“Of harvest and of heregongs;
“To him it well belongs
“That the Church have peace,
“And the churl be at ease
“His seeds to sow,
“His meads to mow,
“His ploughs to drive afield
“In our behoof to yield;
“This is the good knight's care
“To look that these well fare.”

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Thus quoth Alfred: “Wealth is but a curse,
“If wisdom be not added to the purse.
“Though a man hold an hundred and threescore
“Acres of tilth, with gold all covered o'er
“Like growing corn,—it all is nothing worth,
“Unless it prove his Friend, not Foe, on earth.
“For wherein, saving for good use alone,
“Does gold-ore differ from a simple stone?”

Thus quoth Alfred: “Never let the young
“Despair of good, nor give himself to wrong,
“Though to his mind right come not as it should,
“And though he take no joy in what he would.
“For Christ when he will
“Gives good after ill,
“And wealth by his grace
“In trouble's hard place,
“And happy the mind
“That to Him is resign'd.”

Thus quoth Alfred:—“When a child is wise”
“That is indeed a father's blessed prize.
“Hast thou a child?—while yet a little one,
“In man's whole duty timely teach thy son;
“When he is grown, he still shall keep the track
“And for all cares and troubles pay thee back.

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“But, if thou leave him to his evil will,
“When grown, such duties will be galling still,
“For thy bad teaching he shall curse thee sore,
“And shall transgress thy counsels more and more;
“Better for thee an unborn son, I wot,
“Than one whom thou the father chastenest not.”

Thus quoth Alfred:—“If thou growest old,
“And hast no pleasure, spite of weal and gold,
“And goest weak;—then, thank thy Lord for this
“That he hath sent thee hitherto much bliss,
“For life, and light and pleasures past away;
“And say thou, come and welcome come, what may!

Thus quoth Alfred:—“Worldly wealth and strength
“Come to the worms, and dust, and death at length,
“Though one be king of earth and all its power,
“He can but hold it for life's little hour.
“Thy glorious state will work thee grievous fate,
“Unless thou purchase Christ, before too late.
“Therefore in living well, at God's behest,
“By serving Him we serve ourselves the best.
“So, rest thou well that He will send thee aid,
“As Salomon the King right wisely said,
“He that does worthy good on earth has wit,
“At last he goeth where he findeth it.”

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Thus quoth Alfred:—“My dear son, come near,
“Sit thou beside, and I will teach thee here.
“I feel mine hour is well-nigh come, my son;
“My face is white; my days are almost done:
“Soon must we part; I to another throne,
“And thou in all my state shalt stand alone:
“I pray thee,—for mine own dear child thou art,
“Lord of this people, play their father's part,
“Be thou the orphan's sire, the widow's friend,
“Comfort the poor man, and the weak defend,
“With all thy might
“Succour the right,
“And be strong
“Against the wrong:
“And thou, my son, by law thyself restrain,
“So God shall be thy Guide, and glorious Gain;
“Call thou for help on Him in every need,
“And He shall give thee greatly to succeed.