Re Alfredo traduttore di poesia

This article explores the medieval tradition of King Alfred the Great as a translator, tracing its evolution from Asser’s Vita Ælfredi to later historiographical and literary interpretations. Alfred’s association with Latin-to-Old English translation shaped perceptions of vernacular learning, culminating in the 12th-century expansion of his attributed works. The study focuses on the Old English Boethius, analyzing its translator’s efforts to preserve the original’s prosimetrical structure within the constraints of alliterative verse. Through lexical adaptation and poetic amplification, the translation negotiates fidelity to the Latin text while integrating Old English literary conventions. Evidence from Cotton Otho A.VI and Bodley 180 suggests a staged translation process, reinforcing Alfred’s enduring legacy in vernacular intellectual culture.