Verbs are conjugated about as fully as in Latin. There are two principal forms: strong verbs, which form their preterite by vowel modification, as _binde_, pret. _band_; and weak verbs, which form it by the addition of _ode_ or _de_ to the root, as _lufige_, pret. _lufode_; _hire_, pret. _hirde_. The present and preterite of the first form are as follows:– IND. SUBJ. _Pres. sing._ 1. binde. binde. 2. bindest. binde. 3. bindeth. binde. _plur._ 1, 2, 3. bindath. binden. _Pret. sing._ 1. band. bunde. 2. bunde. bunde. 3. band. bunde. _plur._ 1, 2, 3. bundon. bunden. Both the grammatical forms and still more the orthography vary much from time to time, from place to place, and even from writer to writer. The forms used in this work are for the most part those employed by West Saxons in the age of Ælfred. A few examples of the language as written at three periods will enable the reader to form some idea of its relation to the existing type. The first passage cited is from King Ælfred's translation of Orosius; but it consists of the opening lines of a paragraph inserted by the king himself from his own materials, and so affords an excellent illustration of his style in original English prose. The reader is recommended to compare it word for word with the parallel slightly modernised version, bearing in mind the inflexional terminations.