As far as my moderate abilities will permit, I will not be slothful in sowing the seeds of wisdom among your servants 1 in these parts, being mindful of the sentence: 2 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.' In the morning, when my studies, because of my time of life, were flourishing, I sowed in Britain; now, as my blood grows chill in the evening of my days, I cease not to sow in France, hoping that both, by the grace of God, may spring up. 8. TO CENWULF, KING OF MERCIA Ep. 80, written 797 Let the words of God be read at priestly banquets. There it is fitting to listen to a reader, not to a harper; to the discourses of the Fathers, not the songs of the heathen. What concord hath Ingeld3 with Christ? The house is too narrow to hold both. The King of heaven desires not to hold communion with heathens and lost souls-so-called kings though they be; the King eternal rules in the heavens, while such a lost heathen laments in hell. Hear in your halls the voices of those that read, not in the market-places the crowd of those that laugh. 9. TO THE PEOPLE OF CANTERBURY Let the nobles of the nation rule their lordships with the help of their councils, and preside over the people 1 The brethren of St. Martin's. 2 Eccl. 11. 6. 8 A king celebrated in songs; see Zeitschrift für Deutsches Alterthum 15. 314. 4 Cf. 2 Cor. 6. 15. with justice, in their decisions loving the laws of their ancestors rather than money, which subverts the words of the righteous; and let them perform manfully, with one consent, what shall be for your benefit. Place over yourselves rulers famous for their nobleness, pious with the dignity of character, honorable with the beauty of righteousness, so that the divine mercy may vouchsafe to govern, preserve, and exalt your race. A great danger threatens this island and the people living in it. A heathen people and this was never known before - has accustomed itself to ravage our coasts with piratical depredations. Yet the peoples of England, her kingdoms and her kings, are at variance with one another. Hardly one of the ancient stock of our kings is left I say it with tears and the more uncertain their lineage the less is their courage.1 In like manner, the teachers of truth have perished throughout the churches of Christ. Almost every one follows the vanities of the world, and hates regular discipline, even the soldiers caring more for greed than for righteousness. Read Gildas, the wisest of the Britons,2 and you will see from what causes the ancestors of the Britons lost their kingdom and country; then if you will consider yourselves, you will find almost the same things there. Fear for yourselves the declaration of the Truth Himself :3 If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand.' See what division there is among the peoples and races of England. They are lacking in themselves because they do not keep peace and faith with one another. Call back to yourselves, if you can make up your minds to it, your bishop Æthelheard, a wise and venerable man; and according to his counsel improve the condition of your kingdom, and amend in conduct what is displeasing to God. 1 Cf. Mon. Alc., p. 373. 2 Cf. p. 265. 8 Mark 3. 24. 10. TO THE MONKS OF SALZBURG Ep. 90, written 795-7 O how happy is the life of the monk-acceptable to God, lovely in the sight of angels, honorable before men! He who lives it faithfully among men will without doubt reign joyously among the angels. It was initiated by the primitive church in Judea, acting through the apostles, for they, we are told, had all things common, neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own.1 This principle, I believe, should be followed not only with respect to worldly substance, but also with reference to spiritual desires: every one should covet the same thing, and pursue the good of obedience rather than the accomplishment of his own will. If Christ came not to do His own will,2 as the gospel testifies, but the will of the Father, how much more should a monk do, not his own will, but that of Christ-not slothful in God's work, but diligent; not regarding so much what is commanded as how he may perform what is commanded, lest in any way the evil of murmuring should grow in any. If certain of God's people perished in the wilderness because of the sin of murmuring, by how much greater a spiritual vengeance shall a monk of a monastery be smitten, if he does not fear to accustom his mind to the evil of murmuring! 11. TO ARNO, ARCHBISHOP OF SALZBURG Ep. 107, written 798 (?) Do you, O concordant brother, have always in mind the eternal days, and run with patience the course which Christ 1 Cf. Acts 4. 32. 2 Cf. John 6. 38. 8 This suggests the Benedictine Rule, chap. 5. 4 Cf. Num. 14. 2, 29; 26. 64, 65; 1 Cor. 10. 10. set before you,1 seeing that he who follows Him walks not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.2 Let Him be to you food and drink, love and glory. Let not worldly ambition subvert your heart, neither the blandishments of flatterers, nor the shows of vanity, nor the fear of the powerful, nor the threats of the cruel; but build your house on the solid rock, from which no storms can drag you. Stand unmoved, despising the tongues of slanderers, and caring naught for the speech of flatterers. And lead with you into this state of life, by the aid of heavenly grace, as many as you can, using prayers, admonitions, chastenings, and examples; that so you may appear in the sight of the Lord your God with manifold fruit of your labor, being thus rendered worthy of a manifold reward. 12. TO CHARLEMAGNE Ep. 170, written September or October, 801 Blessed is the nation for whom the divine clemency has provided so pious and prudent a ruler! Happy the people which is ruled by a wise and pious prince; as the Platonic proverb says:3 Those states would be happy where either philosophers- that is, lovers of wisdom-should reign, or kings should devote themselves to philosophy.' With that no wisdom in the world can be compared. This it is which exalts him of low degree, makes glorious him who is already powerful, and is praiseworthy in all; in this is the ornament and beauty of the present life, and the glory of perpetual bliss. That only is true wisdom which renders blessed the days that never end. 1 Cf. Heb. 12. 1. 2 Cf. John 8. 12. 3 Probably derived from Boethius, De Cons. Phil. 1, pr. 4; cf. Plato, Rep. 5. 473. Two years earlier Alcuin had written to Charlemagne (Ep. 110): Perhaps a new Athens shall be brought to pass in France, only far superior to the old.' Alcuin again refers to Plato, Epp. 240, 241. 6 I have always recognized it as my privilege, my lord David,1 to love and to commend to others this your highest preoccupation. You have striven to incite all men to learn. it, nay, to prevail upon them with rewards and honors; and have endeavored to bring together from various parts of the world those who loved this wisdom, in order to enlist them as helpers in your own beneficent purpose. In which number you took pains to receive me also from the furthest confines of Britain, though the lowest bond-slave of this sacred wisdom. Would that I were as useful a servant in the house of God as I am prompt in obeying your will! 13. TO EANBALD II, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK Ep. 173, written 801, after April 5 Do not meditate flight, but fix your hopes upon the crown.2 Stand valiantly in the front rank as a standardbearer of Christ's camp. If the standard-bearer flees, what shall the army do? If the trumpet is silent in the camp, who shall prepare himself to the battle? If the general is fearful, how shall the common soldier be saved? Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,' says the apostle; ye have forgotten your consolation; God chastens every son whom He receives. The son must not be cast down because of the chastening of his father's kindness. The wicked gnasheth upon the just with his teeth,' says the Scripture;5 but the Lord shall break their teeth,' and shall bring their violence to naught. Read diligently how the old Mattathias, when his death was now at hand, exhorted his sons to play the men, and to fight valiantly against the enemies of God; how the saints have been crowned through 1 See note 1, p. 272. 2 Cf. Rev. 2. 10. 8 Cf. 1 Cor. 14. 8. 6 |