Boethius and King Alfred
Janet Bately
Any generalisation about the knowledge of Greek texts in medieval England is fraught with danger. However, it would appear that during first half period acquaintance works Plato was at second or even third hand, through writings authors such as Macrobius, Martianus Capella, Augustine, Boethius and (via Calcidius' translation Timaeus) John Scotus Eriugena,and Latin Old English drawing on one other these writings. The most important contribution vernacular provided by late ninth century reworking Boethius' De consolatione Philosophiae Alfred, King Wessex, though Platonic Neoplatonic ideas are also found Alfred's Soliloquies (by way Augustine) a couple homilies Boethius). earliest secure evidence for Consolatio Boethius, although, thanks apparently to Englishman Alcuin, being read continent from Carolingian Renaissance onward. Macrobius Capella had become known end century, while commentaries were circulation there beginning tenth.
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