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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

Chap. coolest moderation; the most obstinate persever-11. ance with the easiest flexibility; the most severejustice with the gentlest lenity; the greatest vigourin commanding with the most perfect affabilityof deportment 61 ; the highest capacity and incli-nation for science, with the most shining talentsfor action. His civil and his military virtues arealmost equally the objects of our admiration;excepting only, that the former, being more rareamong princes, as well as more useful, seemchiefly to challenge our applause. Nature also,as if desirous that so bright a production of herskill stiould be set in the fairest light, had bestow-ed on him every bodily accomplishment, vigourof limbs, dignity of shape and air, with a plea-sing, engaging, and open countenance*’. Fortunealone, by throwing him into that barbarous age,deprived him of historians worthy to transmithis fame to posterity ; and we wish to see himdelineated in more lively colours, and with moreparticular strokes , that we may at least perceivesome of those small specks and blemishes, fromwhich, as a man, it is impossible he could beentirely exempted.

But we should give but an imperfect idea ofAlfred’s merit, were we to confine our narration tohis military exploits , and were not more particularin our account of his institutions for the executionof justice, and of his zeal for the encouragementof arts and sciences.

" Asser p. iz.

' Ibid. p. 5.