잉글랜드의 알프레드 대왕.The Book of The Life and Times of Alfred the Great, by Charles Plummer

잉글랜드의 알프레드 대왕.The Book of The Life and Times of Alfred the Great, by Charles Plummer
PREFACE
The present work contains the lectures delivered by me on the Ford foundation
in Michaelmas Term, 1901. The lectures are printed substantially as they were
delivered, with the exception that certain passages which were shortened or
omitted in delivery owing to want of time are now given in full.
In the notes will be found the authorities and arguments on which the
conclusions of the text are based. The notes occupy a rather large proportion of
the book, because I wished to spare my audience, as far as possible, the
discussion of technical details.
I have not thought it necessary to recast the form of the lectures. The personal
style of address, naturally employed by a lecturer to his audience, is retained in
addressing the larger audience to which I now appeal.
The objects which I have aimed at in the lectures are sufficiently explained at
the beginning and end of the lectures themselves, and need not be further
enlarged on here.
In many ways the lectures would no doubt have been improved, if I had been
able to make use of Mr. Stevenson’s long- expected edition of Asser. On the
other hand there may be advantages in the fact that Mr. Stevenson and myself
have worked in perfect independence of one another.
I am sorry that I have had to speak unfavourably of some of the recent Alfred
literature which has come under my notice. I am a little jealous for the honour of
English[ viii] historical scholarship; and I am more than a little jealous that the
greatest name in English history should be considered a theme on which any one
may try his prentice hand. It suggests the possibility of adding a new chapter to
what I have called ‘that ever- lengthening treatise De casibus illustrium uirorum’
(p. 178).
I have, as usual, to thank all the officials of the Clarendon Press, especially my
friend Mr. C. E. Doble, for the interest and care which they have bestowed upon
the work; and I must also thank the Delegates for so kindly undertaking the
publication of it. The help which I have received in reference to various points is
acknowledged in the book itself.
For the map I am indebted to the skill of Mr. B. V. Darbishire.
In the Dedication I have tried to express the gratitude which I owe for the
friendship and intellectual sympathy of some quarter of a century.
Finally I would record my great obligations to the electors to the Ford
Lectureship for the distinguished honour which they did me in appointing me to
the post without any solicitation on my part.
CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD,
March 10, 1902.