From the Introduction
to King Alfred's "Boethius"
Alfred the King was the translator of
this book, and he turned it from book Latin into English. So it now is done.
Sometimes he set word by word,
sometimes meaning for meaning...and now he bids and for God’s name implores
all those that would read this book,
that they pray for him, and not blame him
if they understand it better than
he can, because each man shall by
the measure of his understanding and by his opportunities speak that which he speaks, and
do that which he does.