Saxon Chronicle And then was that kingdom divided into five, and five kings were consecrated thereto. This, however, was done by permission of Earnulf: and they said that they would hold it from his hand, because none of them on the father's side was born thereto except him alone. Earnulf then dwelt in the land east of the Rhine and Rothulf then succeeded to the middle kingdom, and Oda to the western part, and Beorngar and Witha to the land of the Lombards and to the lands on that side of the mountain: and that they held in great discord, and fought two general battles, and oft and many times laid waste the land, and each repeatedly drove out the other. And that same year that the army went up beyond the bridge at Paris, alderman Æthelhelm carried the alms of the West-Saxons and of king Alfred to Rome. Asser appointed, and the kingdom was split into five parts; but the principal rank in the kingdom justly and deservedly devolved on Earnulf, save only that he committed an unworthy offence against his uncle. The other four kings promised fidelity and obedience to Earnulf, as was proper; for none of these four kings was hereditary on his father's side in his share of the kingdom, as was Earnulf; therefore, though the five kings were appointed immediately on the death of Charles, yet the empire remained in the hands of Earnulf. Such, then, was the division of the kingdom; Earnulf received the countries on the east of the river Rhine; Hroththwlf [RODULF] the inner parts of the kingdom; Oda the western part; Beorngar and Witha [GUIDO], Lombardy, and those countries which are in that part of the mountains; but they did not keep these large dominions in peace, for they twice fought a pitched battle, and often mutually ravaged their kingdoms, and drove each other out of their dominions. In the same year in which that [pagan] army left Paris and went to Chezy, Ethelhelm, earl of Wiltshire, carried to Rome the alms of king Elfred and of the Saxons. Ethelwerd 887 The kingdom was then divided into five, and so many kings in the same: but all things are done by the permission of King Earnulf, and they promised to be all under his subjection, because they were not like him, descended from the paternal stock; and he lived after this on the ea stern side of the river Rhine. But Hrodulf occupied the middle parts of the kingdom, Odda the western parts, and Beorngar with Vuitha held the kingdom of the Lombards from the division of the Jovian mountain [MOUNT ST BERNARD]. There they began a civil war; people assailed people; the lands of both were continually disturbed, nor was there any hope of quiet. The same year, in which the barbarians had settled on the bridge of Paris, duke Æthelhelm received no small part of the money paid from the diocese of the English by the king for the people, and went to Rome. In the same year also Ælfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, so often before mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on one and the same day, to read and to interpret; but that I may explain this more fully to those who are ignorant, I will relate the cause of this long delay in beginning. On a certain day we were both of us sitting in the king's chamber, talking on all kinds of subjects as usual, and it happened that I read to him a quotation out of a certain book. He heard it attentively with both his ears, and addressed me with a thoughtful mind, showing me at the same moment a book which he carried in his bosom, wherein the daily courses and psalms, and prayers which he had read in his youth, were written, and he commanded me to write the same quotation in that book. Hearing this, and perceiving Florence 887 appointed, and the kingdom was split into five parts; but the principal rank in the kingdom justly and deservedly devolved on Arnulf, save only that he committed an unworthy offence against his uncle. The other four kings promised fidelity and obedience to Arnulf, as was proper; for none of these four kings was hereditary on his father's side in his share of the kingdom, as was Arnulf; therefore, though the five kings were appointed immediately on the death of Charles, yet the empire remained in the hands of Arnulf. Such then was the division In the same year elm, earl of Wiltshire, car- In the same year also Ælfred king of the Anglo-Saxons 8 At this time, also, Elfred king of the Saxons inspired so often before mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on by the gift of God, was able one and the same day, to read and to interpret. to read and interpret the sacred writings. his ingenuous benevolence, and devout desire of studying the words of divine wisdom, I gave, though in secret, boundless thanks to Almighty God, who had implanted such a love of wisdom in the king's heart. But I could not find any empty space in that book wherein to write the quotation, for it was already full of various matters; wherefore I made a little delay, principally that I might stir up the bright intellect of the king to a higher acquaintance with the divine testimonies. Upon his urging me to make haste and write it quickly, I said to him, "Are you willing that I should write that quotation on some leaf apart? For it is not certain whether we shall not find one or more other such extracts which will please you; and if that should so happen, we shall be glad that we have kept them apart." "Your plan is good," said he, and I gladly made haste to get ready a sheet, in the beginning of which I wrote what he bade me; and on that same day, I wrote therein, as I had anticipated, no less than three other quotations which pleased him; and from that time we daily talked together, and found out other quotations which pleased him, so that the sheet became full, aud deservedly so; according as it is written, "The just man builds upon a moderate foundation, and by degrees passes to greater things." Thus, like a most productive bee, he flew here and there, asking questions as he went, until he had eagerly and unceasingly collected many various flowers of divine Scripture, with which he thickly stored the cells of his mind. Now when that first quotation was copied, he was eager at But as has already been written by a certain wise man, It is to govern well, so must I be watchful, in that I just now drew a kind of comparison or similarity, though in dissimilar manner, between that happy robber and the king; for the cross is hateful to every one, wherever there is suffering. But what can he do, if he cannot save himself or escape thence? or by what art can he remain there and improve his cause? He must therefore, whether he will or no, endure with pain and sorrow that which he is suffering. Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation, though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age to the present year, which is his 45th, he has been constantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he has not a moment's ease either Ethelwerd 887 *This must consequently have been written in a. D. 893. Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation; though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age, as we have said, to his 45th and more, he was constantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he had not a moment's ease either from suffering the pain which it causes, or from the gloom 9 He was afflicted with many tribulations of this world, notwithstanding that he was placed in kingly power. |