Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/36

xxviii well as the prose one which occurs in the later manuscript?

In seeking an answer to this question we will first turn to the prose preface prefixed to the work in both manuscripts (see p. 9). Here we find it stated that after King Alfred 'had translated this book into English prose, he afterwards turned it into verse, as it is now done.' This seems plain enough, and if we believe Alfred wrote this preface - and we have no prima facie reason to doubt it - the question is settled. The metrical preface found in the older manuscript confirms the statement as to Alfred's authorship. But not a few scholars, after a careful comparison of the two versions of the carmina have persuaded themselves that the King could not have been the author of the metrical version, and are consequently forced to deny him the authorship of the prefaces.

What we know for certain on this question does not amount to much, and may be thus summarized.

Let us in the first place for convenience indicate by the letter B the prose version of the metres of Boethius which is found only in the Bodleian or later manuscript of Alfred's translation, and by the letter C the alliterating metrical version of the same metres which only occurs in the Cotton or older manuscript.

1. A careful comparison between the two versions clearly shows us that C was made by a person who had B before him, the former being only an expansion in metrical form of the latter.

2. It is equally certain that the Latin original was not used in the making of C. Thus we see that B represents the older version made by King Alfred. 3. Another