NINTH CENTURY.
45
The tcbools of Ireland, long maintained a hwfa reputation. Camden observes Brit, de ^hern. "that die English Saxons anciently Sacked to Ireland, as to die mart of sacred learn- ing; md this is frequently mentioned in the lives oremineDt men among them." Thus, in the life of Sulgenus, in this century, we read — '
" With lore of leamin? and example fir'd. To Ireland, funed for wisdom, he retir*d."
800, Der. 25. Charles Augustus, or Charle- ma^e, crowned emperor of the West. It will snrprise the reader to know that the great Char- kmgae, unquestionably the wisest man of the ^in which he lived, cmdd not write, and that he was 45 year$ of age before he began his stu- dies. From this fact some judgment may be fonned of the education and learning, or rather the ignorance, of the other princes and nobles of Europe at this period. Even at Rome, for- merly the great seat of learning as of empire, the lamp of science was all but extinquished. Some idea may be conceived of the ignorance that pre- Tailed in France and Spain, when the Pope was obliged to make laws against ordaining men priests and bishops who could not read or ting pdm! The latter science was then, in fact, aliDoet the only study to which the clergy applied themselves, and the best singer was esteemed the most learned man.
801, Ak. I. It may flatter an Englishman to ideotifr an illustrious Yorkshire scholar, as the &nrante preceptor of Charlemagne ; this was Alenin, librarian to Egbert archbishop of York. Oi this day, he presented his illustrious pupil with a magnificent folio bible, bound in velvet, the leaves of vellum, and the writing in double colimiis, and containing 449 leaves. Prefixed is a richly ornamented frontispiece, in gold and KJoiirs. It is enriched with four large paintings exinbiting the state of the art at this early period : theieare moreover, thirty-four large initial letters, jointed in gold and colours, and containing seals, aistarical allusions, and emblematical devices, besides some smaller painted capitals.*
804. Charlemagne confirmed the practice of lea^ngthe scriptures publicly. "Let the lessons," sajshe," be distinctly read in the churches." In his Aimmitian to the Presbyters, he charges the prieits to acquaint themseves with the scriptures, logMa right views of the doctrine of the Trinity, to eommit the whole of the psalms and the bap- ti'^ office to memory, to be ready to teach dtheis; asd to fultil the duties of their station to lb* utmost of their power. He also discovered a just discrimination of merit in the ecclesiastics of his kingdom, and a disposition to reward it, as B demonstrated by the following anecdote: — Hiring received intelligence of the death of a Wop, he inquired how much of his property he kd bequeathed to the poor, the answer was two ponnds of silver; upon which a young clerk ex- clauned, " that is but a small portion for so long » journey." Charlemagne, pleased with the obser-
• TW« ceMnted BiUe ww loU by Mr. Evana. of FaU "M. Uadon. on the >7th of April, IsaS, for j*) iOO. It wa« '» « pxKl Mate of preKTvatioD.
vation, instantly said to him, " Be thou his succes- sor ; but never forget that expression." — Card.
Theabby Velley states, that when Charlemagne issued the instrumentby which the Romish liturgy was ordained through France, he confirmed it by making his mark. To which Mezeria adds, that below the figure was commonly inserted, " I have signed it with the pomel of my sword, and I pro- mise to maintain it with the other."
804, J^ag 19. Died at Tours, in France, Flac- cus Alcuinus, the preceptor of Charlemagne, and librarian to Egbert, archbishop of York. — He acquired a distinguishednametntbe literary world. Being sent abroad, he become the favou- rite of Charlemagne, instructed him in rhetoric, logic, mathematics, and divinity , and was called the Universalist, and secretary to the liberal arts. Hecontributed greatiy to^the revival of learning in France; and his fame shines with distinguished lustre in the literary history of this age. His works were published Uy Frobenius, in 1777, in 4 vols. 4to.
The following poetical catalogue of the authors of the celebrated library of Egbert, is, perhaps, the oldest catalogue in all the regions of litera- ture, certainlv the oldest in England, and was written by Alcuinus.
Hkrk, doljr placed on consecrated gronnd,
'Die studied works of many an a^ are found ;
The andent FATnaa'i reverend remains :
The Rohan Laws, which freed a world from chains,
Whate*er of lore passed from immortal Greece
To LaHan lands, and gained a rich encrease.
All that bUtt Itraet drank in showers from heaven,
Or Afric sheds soft as the dew of even.
Jerom the father, *mons a thousand sons,
And HUiaiy— whose sense profusely runs ;
Ambme, who nobly guides both church and state;
Anguttin — good and eminently great :
And holy Athanatiiu — sacred name I
All that proclaims Orotitu' learned fame.
Whate'er the lofty Gregory hath taught.
Or Leo pontur— g^xid without a fault.
With aU that shines iUuatrions in the page ;
Or BiuU eloquent— f«(fen/itM sage ;
And Cfunodonu with a consul's power.
Yet eager to improve the studious hour j
And Chrftottom, wliose fame Immortal Hies,
Whose style, whose sentiment, demand the prize.
All that AMelmtu wrote, and all that Hows
From Bedu*a fruitful mind in verse and prose.
Lo ! Yiclortntu, and Boetius, hold
A place for sage philosophy of old.
Here sober hutorg tells her ancient tale,
Potnpey to chaim, and PHmn never fail ;
The Stagjfrite unfolds his searching page.
And TuAjf dames, the glory of his age.
Here yon may listen to Sedulian strains.
And sweet JuvtKcu^ lays delight the plains.
Alcuin. Pautinutf Protpert, sing or show
With Clemens and Arator^ ail they knowj
What Forlmnatiu and Lactantius wrote ;
What Virgil pours in many a pleasing note;
Statitu, and Luean and the polished sage.
Whose Art of Grammar guides a barbarous age.
In fine, whate'er the inunortal masters taught.
In all their rich variety of thought.
And as the names soimd from Uie roll of fame,
Donatuit FociUt Prician, Probat claim
An honoured place — and Servitu Joins the band.
While also move, with mien formed to command,
EuticitUf Pompey, and Commenion, wise
In all the lore antiquity supplies.
Here the pleased reader cannot fail to And
Other famed masters of the arts refined.
Whose numerous works penned in a beauteous style,
Delight the student, and all care beguile ;
Whose names, a lengthened and illustrious throng,
I wave at present, and conclude my song.
D. M'Nicoi.i..
VjOOQ IC
