neque enim possunt carmina, quamvis optime conposita, ex alia in aliam linguam ad verbum sine detrimento sui decoris ac dignitatis transferri. Exsurgens autem a somno, cuncta quae dormiens cantaverat memoriter 5 retinuit, et eis mox plura in eundem modum verba Deo digni carminis adiunxit. Veniensque mane ad vilicum qui sibi praeerat, quid doni percepisset indicavit, atque ad abbatissam perductus, iussus est, multis doctioribus viris praesentibus, indicare 10 somnium, et dicere carmen, ut universorum iudicio, quid vel unde esset quod referebat, probaretur. Visumque est omnibus caelestem ei a domino concessam esse gratiam. Exponebantque illi quendam sacrae historiae sive doctrinae sermonem, praecipientes eum, si posset, hunc in modula15 tionem carminis transferre. At ille suscepto negotio abiit, et mane rediens, optimo carmine quod iubebatur conpositum reddidit. Hist. Eccl. IV. 22. AN EXAMPLE OF MONASTIC ASCETICISM Accepit autem in eodem monasterio locum mansionis secretiorem, ubi liberius continuis in orationibus famulatui 20 sui conditoris vacaret. Et quia locus ipse super ripam fluminis erat situs, solebat hoc creber ob magnum castigandi corporis affectum ingredi, ac saepius in eo supermeantibus undis inmergi; sicque ibidem quamdiu sustinere posse videbatur, psalmis vel precibus insistere, 25 fixusque manere, ascendente aqua fluminis usque ad lumbos aliquando et usque ad collum; atque inde egrediens ad terram, numquam ipsa vestimenta uda atque algida deponere curabat, donec ex suo corpore calefierent et siccarentur. Cumque tempore hiemali defluentibus circa 30 eum semifractarum crustis glacierum, quas et ipse ali14. modulationem: 'rhythmical form.' 18. eodem monasterio: Melrose.-20. sui: i.e. Drythelm's. conditoris = Dei. quando contriverat, quo haberet locum standi sive inmergendi in fluvio, dicerent qui videbant: "Mirum, frater Drycthelme" (hoc enim erat viro nomen), “quod tantam frigoris asperitatem ulla ratione tolerare praevales," respondebat ille simpliciter, erat namque homo 5 simplicis ingenii ac moderatae naturae: "Frigidiora ego vidi." Et cum dicerent: "Mirum, quod tam austeram tenere continentiam velis," respondebat: "Austeriora ego vivi." Sicque usque ad diem suae vocationis infatigabili caelestium bonorum desiderio corpus senile inter 10 cotidiana ieiunia domabat, multisque et verbo et conversatione saluti fuit. - Hist. Eccl. V. 12. THE MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS 1 sqq. Hymnum canentes martyrum Quos terra flentes perdidit, Quos rex peremit impius, Largitus in domo patris, The meter is iambic dimeter, with epanalepsis consisting of the repetition of the first verse of each stanza at the end. There are several references to well-known Scripture passages, e.g. in vv. 5-6 to Matt. 18, 10. Sometimes these are direct quotations, as in the instance 12. perpetis: 'eternal.' く 5 10 Donat supernis sedibus Vox in Rama percrebuit, Ne, grex pusille, formides Absterget omnem lacrimam O quam beata civitas. 42. venitur = venit; 3E (1). EINHARDI VITA KAROLI MAGNI Einhard was a son of a noble family in the eastern part of the realm of the Franks. He went to school in the monastery of Fulda, till, showing special ability, he was transferred, not earlier than 791 nor later than 796, to the palace school of Charlemagne, that remarkable center of educational reform and policy which was already under the guidance of the famous English scholar, Alcuin. Einhard, gifted not only in literary lines, but also in artistic ability, soon became a favored friend of the emperor, with whom he had great influence. After the death of Charlemagne he continued in favor at court, but, wearying at length of the factions and intrigues about him, retired in the year 830 to Mulinheim (the modern Seligenstadt), where he died on March 14, 840. Among his various writings the most interesting and important is his Life of Charlemagne, which shows the most intimate knowledge of his master. Himself well acquainted with the monuments of classical Latin literature, he chose Suetonius as his model, and gives us a most interesting, if sometimes prejudiced, picture of the career of his royal hero. A convenient edition with introduction and English notes, by H. W. Garrod and R. B. Mowatt, is published by the Clarendon Press (Oxford, 1915). CHARLEMAGNE DISCOVERS THE CHARACTER OF THE GERMANS Post cuius finem Saxonicum, quod quasi intermissum videbatur, repetitum est. Quo nullum neque prolixius neque atrocius Francorumque populo laboriosius sus 1. cuius: the war in Lombardy. Saxonicum: sc. bellum. |