An analogue, and probable source, for a metaphor in Alfred's preface to the Old English translation of Augustine's 'Soliloquies.' (King Alfred the Great of England's translation of St. Augustine of Hippo's work)

As it stands, the text of Alfred's Preface to his translation of Augustine's Soliloquies begins with an elaborate metaphor:

. . . Gaderode me thonne kigclas, and stuthansceaftas, and locsceaftas, and hylfa to aelcum thara tola, the ic mid witcan cudhe, and bohtimbru and bolttimbru, and to aelcum thara weorca the ic wyrcan cudhe, tha wlitegostan treowo be tham dele dhe ic aberan meihte. . . . On aelcum treowo ic geseah hwaethwugu thaes the ic aet ham bethorfte. Fortham ic laere aelcne dhara the maga si and manigne wen haebbe, thaet he menige to tham ilcan wuda thar ic dhas studhansceaftas cearf, fetige him thar ma, and gefedhrige hys waenas mid fegrum gerdum, that he mage windan smicerne wah, and manig aenlic bus settan, and fegerne tun timbrian, and thara murge and softe mid maege on eardian aegdher ge wintras ge sumeras, swa swa ic nu ne gyt dyde.

(p. 1/1-14)(1)

(I gathered cudgels and studshafts and bars and handles for each of the tools that I knew how …