When that renowned prince ascended the throne, he made it his study to draw his people out of the sloth and stupidity in which they lay; and became, as much by his own example as by the encouragement he gave to learned men, the great restorer of arts in his dominions."-- _Life of Bacon_.
62.

The language of eulogy must often be taken with some abatement: it does not usually present things in their due proportions.

How far the foregoing quotation is true, I will not pretend to say; but what is called "the revival of learning," must not be supposed to have begun at so early a period as that of Alfred.

The following is a brief specimen of the language in which that great man wrote; but, printed in Saxon characters, it would appear still less like English.
"On thaere tide the Gotan of Siththiu maegthe with Romana rice gewin upahofon.

and mith heora cyningum.