nd, for fear of being beguiled by the tempter: a
practical conclusion not to be found in Boethius.[111]

Following the king's example, the bishops and monks set to work again.
Werferth, bishop of Worcester, translates the famous dialogues of St.
Gregory, filled with miracles and marvellous tales.[112] In the
monasteries the old national Chronicles, written in the Anglo-Saxon
tongue, are copied, corrected, and continued. These Chronicles existed
before Alfred, but they were instilled with a new life owing to his
influence. Seven of them have come down to us.[113] It is not yet
history; events are registered in succession, usually without comment;
kings ascend the throne and they are killed; bishops are driven from
their seats, a storm destroys the crops; the monk notes all these
things, and does not add a word showing what he thinks of them.[114] He
writes as a recorder, chary of words. The reader's feelings will be
moved by the deeds registered, not by the words used. Of kings the
chronicler will often say, "he was killed," without any observation:
"And king Osric was killed.... And king Selred was killed...." Why say
more? it was an everyday occurrence and had nothing curious about it.
But a comet is not seen every day; a comet is worth describing:
"678.--In this year, the star [called] comet appeared in August, and
shone for three months every morning like sunbeam. And bishop Wilfrith
was driven from his bishopric by king Ecgferth." We are far from the art
of Gibbon or Carlyle. Few monuments, however, are more precious than
those old annals; for no people in Europe can pride itself on having
chronicles so ancient written in its national language.

"Every craft and every power," said Alfred once, speaking there his own
mind, "soon becomes old and is passed over in silence, if it be without
wisdom.... This is now especially to be said, that I wished to live
honourably whilst I lived, and, after my life, to leave to the men who
were after me my memory in good works."[115] It happened as he had
wished. Long after his death, his influence was still felt; he was the
ideal his successors strove to attain to; even after the Norman Conquest
he continued to be: "Englene herde, Englene derling."[116]

V.

Alfred disappears; disturbances begin again; then, in the course of the
tenth century, comes a fresh period of comparative calm. Edgar is on the
throne, and the archbishop St. Dunstan rules under his name.[117]

Helped b