Here Begin the Chapters of the Second Book #

¹ That the blessed Willibrord came to Francia from Britain or Ireland.

² How the same man of God made progress in the work of preaching.

³ How Pippin, leader of the Franks, sent this servant of Christ to Rome, that he might be ordained archbishop.

⁴ That it was shown in a vision to the most blessed Pope Sergius that the blessed Willibrord had come to Rome, and that he ought to receive him with every honour.

⁵ How the same blessed pope treated him honourably, gave him the appointed name Clement, and enriched him with gifts.

⁶ That the man of God returned to Francia and earnestly preached the Gospel of Christ to all.

⁷ That he attempted to preach to the Frisians and the Danes.

⁸ That he baptised some of them on the way and, having performed certain signs, returned to Francia.

⁹ That Charles, leader of the Franks, subdued the people of the Frisians to himself.

¹⁰ That Willibrord returned to preach to the Frisians and converted them to the faith of Christ.

¹¹ That an episcopal seat was given to him in the fortress of Utrecht, and that he appointed priests throughout the regions.

¹² That he most devoutly hastened to preach the word of God in all places.

¹³ That not all the things which this bishop did could be set forth in verse.

¹⁴ That while the servant of God was breaking down a certain temple, he was struck on the head by someone with a sword, but, God defending him, he felt no injury from the blow.

¹⁵ That a certain man who had cursed the servant of God perished the following day.

¹⁶ How by prayer he brought forth a spring from dry ground.

¹⁷ How by his blessing one flask of wine sufficed for twelve poor men.

¹⁸ Likewise, how by his blessing wine increased in a cask.

¹⁹ Likewise, how by the blessing of the same man of God fourty men drank from four small flasks until they were satisfied.

²⁰ Concerning a certain insolent rich man who refused to drink with the servant of God and afterwards, when he wished to, could not, until he had been absolved by him.

²¹ How in the city of Trier, by prayer, he removed a plague that was threatening the handmaids of Christ.

²² That he freed the entire household of a certain father of a family from a most severe demonic temptation.

²³ That the man of God baptised Pippin, the son of Charles, leader of the Franks, and foretold for him a future kingdom.

²⁴ Concerning the character and the death of the holy father.

²⁵ That as the brethren were burying the father, the sarcophagus, which had been too short for his body, was suddenly extended to a fitting length.

²⁶ And that a fragrance of wondrous sweetness filled the whole church.

²⁷ That, by God’s working, signs are accustomed to occur there up to the present, where the holy man rests in body.

²⁸ That a light is often seen above the bed where Saint Willibrord died.

²⁹ That there also the fragrance of a marvellous sweetness is perceived at intervals.

³⁰ That a certain paralysed woman, praying at the body of the holy man, was suddenly healed.

³¹ That a certain young man was healed from a grievous illness at his body.

³² Concerning a certain deacon who perished by a miserable death because of a theft he had committed in the church of the man of God.

³³ Concerning Wilgils, the father of Saint Willibrord the bishop, and his honourable life in secular habit.

³⁴ And how his wife had seen dreams, and how he left the world and grew old in a solitary life, and where he rests in body.

The Chapters End #

Here Begins the Preface to the Second Book #

¹ Look, venerable priest, I have obeyed your wishes,
Because my heart burns with true love for me,
Running through in swift headings the renowned deeds
Of the great bishop Willibrord, the kindly prelate.
Although my speech, clattering with hoarse murmur,
Is inferior to his distinguished merits:
To the temple of Christ, Willibrord, priest,
Our faith has brought your small coins, though they are little,
Which, I beg, receive kindly with gracious mind,
And for my sins ask, I beg you, pardon.
My gifts are not worthy of your merits, prelate,
You who reign rich in the citadel of highest heaven:
Had not gracious God in the temple praised. The widow bringing small coins, who gave all she had [Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4]. These two small coins of different weight,
Holy father, I bring as a suppliant to your temples.
But the first coin bears a design in plain figures,
While the later one now shines with Pierian brightness.
There are those who in the sacred law are commanded
To carry hairs and skins of goats as a burden to God’s holy roofs.
Yet the holy law of the Thunderer did not command these to be despised,
But to receive gratefully what a pious mind had brought.
So, best father, you do not seek grandiloquent treasures,
But my heart, warm with true love.

The Preface to the Second Book Ends. #

Here Begins the Second Book, concerning the Life of Saint Willibrord, archbishop, the distinguished work of Lord Albinus, our best teacher, Calliope. #

¹ A certain man had come from the western ends of the world,
A man powerful in virtue, full of divine love,
Keen in speech and watchful in mind, and fervent in action,
To you, O happy Francia, in the times of Pippin;
Him fruitful Britain had already borne for you,
And Ireland had nurtured him, learned in sacred studies,
Willibrord by name, gracious in his living merits:
Who, seeking foreign lands, led by the love of the Lord,
Desiring to scatter the heavenly seeds of eternal life
Where before there had been but a scant inhabitant of the word.
Pippin, the noble ruler of the Franks, rejoicing,
Received him, and commanded him to water the thirsty fields
In every place with heavenly dew,
And strengthened the servant of God with honourable support.

² He, full of God, a light from the light of Christ,
Now, whatever cities he traversed with pious steps,
Or fortresses, dwellings, or crossroads, everywhere always
He scattered the rays of Gospel light into hearts.
Until the holy flame of faith shone forth in many,
And blind night departed far from that world,
And daily the profane shrines of idols fell,
And Christ resounded in the mouth of the faithful people.

³ When the renowned leader Pippin saw the Church of Christ
Growing, and the venerable gift of faith,
Rejoicing greatly in such a teacher of salvation,
And judging it better, he hastened to send to Rome
This foremost herald of the faith, so that
The apostolic shepherd might confirm him in the highest order,
That he might be a bishop of the Church and a chief priest.

⁴ The height of the pontificate, the most worthy heir of Peter,
Saint Sergius then held the apostolic court,
A good and prudent man, second to none in piety,
To whom before the fourth day a vision came in the night,
That a renowned man had come to Rome to him.
An angel coming from heaven had foretold to him:
“Look, a guest dear to God hastens to this city,
Sent by the leader of the Franks with rich gifts.
Remember at least to treat him with a pious mind,
And soon you shall consecrate him bishop with highest honour,
And whatever the priest desires from you, let him receive gifts also.
He will unite many thousands of peoples to God.”
After these words the angel returned to the court of heaven.

⁵ The blessed pope at once assented to the angelic warnings,
And treated the servant of God with a gracious mind:
As he had been commanded, he promptly fulfilled all things,
And consecrated him bishop with great honour,
And ordered that he be called Clement by his proper name,
And whatever the holy man asked, he granted to him,
Bestowing on him many gifts of the holy righteous.

⁶ These things having been done, the servant of the Lord returned to the realm
Of the Franks, coming strengthened by the highest office,
And all the rejoicing people then received him,
Desiring to draw streams of honey-flowing salvation:
Which the excellent father freely bestowed on all,
Watering the hearts of all with the heavenly dew of Christ,
And wherever the pious priest happened to come,
With God’s help he gathered pleasing fruits,
Until he had filled the cities with the Catholic faith,
With the knowledge of God, the towns, and the villages, and the countryside.

⁷ Not content with the borders of the Franks, he sought further
To scatter the seeds of the divine word.
Among the peoples of the Frisians, held by ancient error,
Or the Danes, a people fierce through many ages,
Whom at that time he could not turn to the gift of faith,
Because they happened to have wicked kings.

⁸ But almighty God had granted him some souls
From those very peoples, and he performed wonders
Through his servant: and, returning in peace,
Looking to the people of the Lord in these regions,
While the gate of everlasting salvation was opened by Christ
Through pious teachings, yet everywhere always
He strengthened all; Pippin, completing the time
Of this present life, left his kingdom to Charles.

⁹ Who soon nobly held the royal reins,
Expanding his borders, overcoming foreign peoples in triumphs,
And he also conquered the Frisians in war,
And subdued them under iron wagons,
And took from their hands the reins of tribute.

¹⁰ Then the evangelical man Willibrord, returning also to them,
Bearing the words of life, baptised them in the sacred rite,
Those whom at first he had imbued with the gracious gifts of faith,
And a light arose for the people long dwelling
In the shadow of death; now everywhere the true sun, Christ,
Shone forth, the dark shadows suddenly giving way.

¹¹ Then a seat of the bishop was given in the city of Utrecht,
And the whole people of the Frisians was subjected to him,
That it might learn the teachings of the faith from a great teacher.
Soon churches built for God flourished enduringly,
And in many places faithful teachers were appointed,
Who might guide the people, who might teach the words of life,
Who might give baptism, who might feed with the bread of heaven,
Lest the people, hungering, should return unfed,
But that Christ might be abundant drink and food for all.

¹² This work, this was always the task of the renowned prelate,
That he might bring very many gains of souls to the Thunderer,
And might willingly meet the Lord returning to his servants,
Bearing multiplied talents in both hands.
Therefore he goes about the flocks with watchful care,
That he might increase the fold of Christ in worthy names,
And wherever the pious herald of salvation went,
The grace of the Most High always went before him,
Granting fulfilment to the deeds and words of the teacher.

¹³ He also performed many miracles through his servant,
Which it has not pleased to run through all in verse now,
But to touch briefly on certain things with hastening lyre,
And to set headings to the deeds with a few muses,
And to send my reader first to the prose;
There he will find more fully all the deeds
Of the great bishop, the zeal, the teachings of the master,
His lineage, life, character, and kindly mind,
And a heart always devoted to God at all hours,
Meditating on the sacred laws night and day.

¹⁴ Look, at a certain time the prelate dear to God
Was attempting himself to break down a certain temple.
Seeing this, the guardian of the idol, inflamed with anger,
Struck the bishop’s head with a sharp sword,
But the gracious man felt no wound from the blow.
His companions wished to kill the attacker at once:
Yet the gentle priest rescued him from death.
But he, seized, soon paid miserable penalties,
And after three days ended his bitter life.
Thus Christ readily avenges his saints.

¹⁵ Once the venerable traveller happened to go on a journey,
Where a nearer path led him through the fields
With his companions, which a greedy rich man possessed:
The keeper of the crops wished to bar the way,
Shouting many insults against the holy man,
And even increased the reproaches with savage deeds.
He turned aside his path, where the public road showed itself:
Soon the wretched mocker perished on the next day,
Because he had not feared to curse the servant of Christ.

¹⁶ While the pious man hastened to scatter the divine seeds
Of heavenly life through many lands,
He came to a place where nothing but barren sands were produced,
The unfruitful nature of the soil near the shores of the sea,
Where no spring of sweet water was found for the thirsty.
The holy man, wishing to help his weary companions,
Ordered that they should dig a pit within their tents.
When this was done, the bishop shut himself inside,
And, with knees fixed, poured out bitter tears
Before God, who soon granted a sweet spring.
The previously dry ground suddenly brought forth a fountain,
From which his companions drank and carried with them
As much as the journey through barren fields required.

¹⁷ It happened that four times three poor men met
The servant of God, clothed in rags and lacking bread:
When the pious priest saw them, moved with compassion,
He said, ‘Bring my flask, bring it, servants,
And mix it for the men: the blessing of Christ,
I believe, will most abundantly suffice for them all.’
The crowd drank rejoicing as much as each wished,
Yet the flask remained full of the finest wine.

¹⁸ The venerable guest came to a certain cell.
When all the duties of the church had been duly performed,
And the brethren greeted in the customary manner,
He inspected all the seats of the sacred dwelling;
Entering also the storerooms with a few companions,
In which scarcely one cask held a little wine,
Which the servant of Christ blessed with his noble staff,
Which the holy man was accustomed always to carry in his hands.
On the following night, the wine, marvellous to tell,
He alone remaining in the building saw it increase,
Until the cask was filled with honey-sweet nectar.
He joyfully reported this quietly to the venerable father,
To whom the pious bishop had given instructions to keep silence
Until the day of death, not wishing to seek praise for himself.

¹⁹ There was a man among the people, a generous host to travellers,
Whose lodging the distinguished bishop often used to enter
When he came into those regions.
Look, on a certain day, when he came, the man, knowing nothing beforehand,
Was unprepared for his arrival: therefore he had no cups of wine
For the dear master arriving suddenly.
Recognising this, the father ordered that four small flasks
Be brought to him, such as boys were accustomed to carry about,
And, having blessed them, he said:
“Now quickly mix for us; the blessing of Christ
Will increase the wine, I believe, by gracious favour.”
And so it was done: and look, twice twenty
Men were guests together, drinking wine,
And the drink sufficed for all through Christ’s gift.

²⁰ The servant of the Lord, weary, was making his beloved journey,
Desiring to water the wide fields with heavenly rains.
The pious bishop entered the meadows of a certain rich man,
With his companions, to rest for a short time, being weary.
The man began to drive away the horses and to expel them from the fields.
The pious priest addressed him with gentle speech:
“Cease, I beg, now to drive us from your meadows,
But rather come as a guest to our meal,
And drink with us, that we may always be friends.”
The rich man, proud in a furious mind, replied:
“I do not want your meal; I refuse to drink with you.”
At once the bishop seized upon the word from his speech:
“If you refuse to drink with me, then do not drink at all, I beg.”
These words spoken, the servant of the Lord went on his way,
And the unjust rich man returned to his own house:
Suddenly thirst inflamed him with excessive heat.
In madness he begged his servants to mix wine for him,
But, taking the cup, he was unable to drink anything.
His stomach burned with thirst, yet the cups of wine
He rejected, and all of him burned with panting flames.
Nor was any physician able to relieve his suffering,
Until the wretched man recognised his wrongful fault
And that he had endured torments by the word of the servant of God.
Therefore he longed for the return of the kindly bishop.
The old man came when another year had passed.
The wretched man met him, confessing his bitter punishment,
And the pious bishop forgave whatever he had committed against him,
And with his own hand he himself offered him drink.
He, immediately healed, abandoning his long aversion,
Took the cup and washed himself with a full draught.

²¹ There is an ancient city, Trier, powerful, broad with walls and towers,
And also surrounded by sacred dwellings,
In which together the crowd of devout people
Keep watch in praise of the Lord night and day.
Among these there was a house of holy sisters,
Whom a grievous plague suddenly struck,
And by it final death carried off many from this life:
Some lay half-dead in prolonged suffering,
And the terror of death was exceedingly great for all alike.
Their hope was in the servant of Christ, and he, being called,
Came quickly with tears to help their wearied state.
But that pious father fulfilled the prayers of the sisters
By his arrival, nor did their kindly hope fail,
But at once the grievous plague withdrew through the prayers of the saint.
And they give praise to the Lord for their preserved life.

²² The whole household of a certain father was for a long time
Often troubled by the assault of a dark demon,
And the dreadful spirit tormented it with various terrors,
Nor did it now harm only by empty illusion,
But did much damage openly by manifest deeds,
Often snatching garments and food with its hands
And casting them into the flames; an infant lying at night
The violent force had seized from the embrace of its parents,
Striving to cast the crying child upon a burning pyre.
But it was scarcely rescued from death by its own people.
No priest was able to cure this affliction,
Until the servant of God himself, asked by the father,
Cleansed this plague with holy prayers and
Sent to them water blessed in the name of Christ.
And the bishop, foreknowing events, also foretold
That that old house would first be consumed by fire from the enemy:
“Do not, I beg, be frightened by the fire;
Build for yourself better dwellings of the desired salvation,
Which remember to fortify quickly with the blessed spring.
Afterwards, God granting it, you will be free from the serpent’s plague,
And your whole household will rejoice with you in safety.”
All the words of the father were soon fulfilled in order:
From that time no such temptation touched the house,
But its inhabitant remained safely in it.

²³ This holy man of God had foretold future events beforehand,
Which afterwards the outcome of things proved to be true.
And now he baptised Pippin, the son of Duke Charles,
As the father had desired, in the sacred rite,
Concerning whom he spoke such words to his disciples:
“This child shall be more exalted than all the other
Leaders of the Franks whom long ages have produced.
He shall happily rule this realm in prosperity,
Extending its borders on every side with great triumphs.”
There is no need for our songs to show this,
Which is proclaimed in true speech throughout the whole world.

²⁴ This man of God was patient, moderate, and honourable,
Distinguished in character, and active in every deed,
Pious in heart, gentle to the humble and stern to the proud,
A comforter to the wretched, poor for himself, rich for the needy.
After he had completed the years of life in merits,
The pious priest fulfilled twice eight periods of five years,
And three times four months, now in the month of November,
On the eighth day before the Ides, he passed to the court of heaven,
Joined to the angelic ranks, with heavenly hymns
Praising Christ forever without end, blessed.

²⁵ His brethren took care to lay him to rest with holy devotion,
With psalms and hymns, with great honour of praise.
But the sarcophagus had been too short for the father’s body,
In which the brethren then wished to place the body:
Made exceedingly sorrowful, marvellous to tell,
Look, suddenly the stone of the little coffin
Began to extend itself and fitted the form of the gracious body.

²⁶ And during the funeral rites the fragrance of a marvellous scent
Filled the whole church with ambrosial sweetness,
Clearly showing that an angelic company had come
To attend the office of the gracious father with joyful song.

²⁷ This holy father, shepherd, patriarch, priest,
Rests happily in his own cell at Echternach,
Which he himself had already built to the praise of the Lord,
In which God now continually performs signs of salvation.
By the touch of oil many sick people are healed,
Which is accustomed to shine at the body of the great patron.
Chains are broken of their own accord for those hastening there,
Who come with tears to bewail their evil sins,
And they return rejoicing, set free by Christ’s gift.

²⁸ And in the place of the saint where the sacred bed of the father stands,
A heavenly light is often seen to come,
Because here the spirit of the bishop, leaving the prison of the flesh,
Seeks the high stars through his living merits,
To enjoy with Christ and the saints everlasting light,
Which the light shows, since it is frequently seen there.

²⁹ In which place many times a sweet fragrance
Burns with heavenly sweetness, sweeter indeed than any spice:
These things are proved to be true by many witnesses,
Whose upright life gives certain faith to the report.
What blessed rest you may hope the soul to have obtained,
While such signs are worked on earth through the holy relics,
Most worthy of so great a father’s merits?
He will be able to relieve our sorrows by his prayers,
If now with pious heart we pour out tears there,
Where the excellent father rests in his consecrated body.

³⁰ Meanwhile a woman, paralysed in all her limbs,
Had languished for seven continuous years,
Wasted away, nor was she able to move any of her limbs:
She scarcely drew her last breaths, as if dying.
She was brought and lay before the body of the holy man of God,
Pouring out warm tears with a weary voice.
Faith alone prevailed, hoping that she could obtain healing
Through the servant of Christ, nor did that hope fail her.
Look, suddenly health gently ran through her limbs,
And a fiery warmth breathed through her opened veins,
And renowned strength returned to all her bones and sinews.
The woman rose at once, whole in all her body,
And rejoicing ran to her home on her own feet,
She who before had been carried in weakness in another’s arms.

³¹ Look, a certain young man had suffered for many years
From a severe illness; his sinews scarcely clung to his bones.
The limbs of his afflicted body trembled together.
You might have thought his head torn from the top of his neck,
Thus it was twisted here and there to right and left:
Often also he lay as though about to die at any hour.
This wretched man, with a heart firm in faith,
Came to the church, led by the hands of friends,
In which the holy remains of the great bishop rest,
And for his healing he poured out bitter tears.
Him the grace of compassionate Christ at once heard,
And renewed health ran everywhere through his limbs,
And the flexible order of his sinews was restored to the man,
Strength crept into his bones and vigour into all his marrow.
Before the people standing by, all seeing,
He was suddenly made whole and strong in body,
And went away healed, wherever his prayers led him:
Always giving thanks to almighty God for the gift of healing,
To Christ be praise, to Christ glory forever.

³² A young minister of the altar, corrupted in mind,
Secretly stole certain gifts of the holy temple,
And by savage theft a golden cross was taken,
Which the servant of Christ had been accustomed to carry with him,
While as a pious traveller he journeyed with Christ accompanying him,
On account of many relics which he kept within it.
Soon the wicked offender paid the penalties of his crime:
Just vengeance follows the impious sin,
And the wretched man perished, struck down by a cruel plague.
Yet at the point of death he revealed his impious thefts,
And showed where all that he had taken lay hidden.
When he perished, great fear increased with praises
Among the brethren and the people, seeing all things
Guarded by Christ, who preserves what belonged to his servant.

³³ This priest was noble from a great lineage,
But far more noble in his great merits.
As I have already sung, fruitful Britain was his mother,
And the renowned land of the Irish his teacher.
But happy Francia received him, honoured him, possessed him,
And even today holds his buried body.
Wilgils, a distinguished man in his own time, begot him as father:
A holy man, wise, and proven in piety,
Of whom it is permitted for me to play on the lyre in verse,
Reader, that you may recognise what sort of man he also was;
And from what holy root of ancestral stock
This servant of God was brought forth.
There was a man among the people called by the surname Wilgils,
Living among the noble people of Northumbria.
Distinguished in character, most pleasing to all the people,
His life with his wife was sufficiently chaste;
Who, with a pious mind, had been subject to her husband,
As once Sarah had been to her own husband.

³⁴ This woman, God revealing it, saw future things in her mind,
Lying in bed, seeing true dreams.
For she thought that she had seen a new moon,
With horns upright, as it is accustomed to be when new.
And it began to grow and gradually to fill its horns,
Until its light shone for her in a full circle.
This suddenly, as she drank it in, rushed into her mouth,
Piercing her inward parts with shining light.
Awaking from sleep, the woman reflected on these things in her mind,
What it might signify that she had seen;
And she disclosed all these things to a certain priest,
Whose life in the church had been approved.
When the said priest pondered these things in his heart,
And considered the visions in relation to new events,
At last he answered the woman with such prophetic words,
God inspiring him with a truthful breath:
“You, woman, have seen the moon growing small,
And its horns filled with new light.
Perhaps on that night you were united with your husband,
And you conceive a new light for the whole world.
A little child shall be born to you from your womb, woman,
Who shall grow great in honourable merits.
He shall be an outstanding teacher and a future bishop,
A new light-bearer shall shine in our world,
And those peoples whom dark gloom once held
He shall illumine with the light of the highest heaven.”
All the words of the prophet were fulfilled in order,
And the outcome of events proved the dreams to be true.
And the boy was born of his mother, and, washed in baptism,
His father gave him the name Willibrord:
Whose life, faith, character, and teaching
Had indeed already been set forth in my songs.
Soon his distinguished father, leaving the evil joys of the world,
Desiring in mind and deed to serve God,
Embracing the heavenly life with all its sweetness,
Gave himself over to a sacred monastery.
Joined to the brethren, he lived without fault as a brother,
Now patient, humble, ready for every good work.
After this the holy servant, pursuing greater things in mind,
Desiring to enter the contemplative way alone,
Began among the headlands of the sounding sea,
Finding places suited to his heart,
In which he might gather heavenly flowers
And be free from the troubles of the world’s evils:
Here alone he spent the whole time of his life,
Advancing more in merits both night and day;
Enduring many struggles against the wicked serpent,
Who is accustomed to wage war against the saints.
But almighty God, who justly grants triumph to the saints,
Bestowed clear victories upon his servant,
And the grace of compassionate Christ also performed
Certain wondrous signs through his true servant.
Nor was it fitting for so bright a lamp to be hidden under a bushel [Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33],
Nor to be placed under a bed,
But rather to be set upon the highest part of the roof,
That it might spread its holy light more widely.
Yet it has not pleased me to touch on these things with my running lyre,
Or to set forth the renowned signs with my muses:
It is enough only to know the life of the father,
Which is always most pleasing everywhere to the Most High.
The life of the servant of God offered examples of salvation to many,
And every heart was a witness of it.
To this servant of Christ kings render service, and him
The whole people throughout the land honour with love.
This man of God was patient, moderate, honourable,
Distinguished in character, gentle and pious in speech.
After he had earned many gifts through completed labour,
Christ bringing it to fulfilment for him,
Soon filled with merits, years, and all piety,
At last he rested rejoicing in peaceful rest.
His spirit gladly passed to the heavenly court,
Now holding joys without end with the saints.
His body the brethren took care to lay in the church,
Which stands built near the shores of the sea,
And consecrated, most glorious Mother of God,
It shines with your name, Virgin Mary:
In which we firmly believe that you will be for us
Powerful in honour in Christ through your prayers.
You the life of the world, you the joy of all ages,
You bore the King of heaven, the Lord and God,
Within the lodging of your womb, everlasting virgin:
Do you assist us with your prayers.
The unlearned poet Alcuin sang these verses,
To whom, I beg, whoever reads, say: “Have mercy, O God.”

Epilogue #

¹ Little letter, go quickly across the waters of the sea,
Seek the strong mouths of the fish-filled Rhine with the winds,
Entering where the sea is driven by swift waves.
Then let your prow be drawn by a long tow-rope,
Lest the stern be quickly swept backwards by the river.
If my Albric, coming, should meet you on the river,
Say in haste, ‘Greetings, mighty bishop’,
For Hadda, on the previous night and no more than one,
Ministers honey and butter for you at Utrecht:
Since Friesland pours forth neither oil nor wine.
From there raise your sails, flee and leave Dorestad:
Perhaps dark Hrotberct does not prepare guest-houses for you,
Look, the greedy merchant does not love your song.
But turn aside to the shores of my poet Ion:
For there is certain rest for the weary who come there,
Here vegetables, here fish, here bread abound for guests.
The city of Cologne, I know, opens its dwellings kindly to you:
Here greet father Ricvulf with humble voice;
Say: ‘Your praise will always remain with me, beloved’.
From there you will seek fortresses with your ship running through the waves,
Until you reach the waters of the desired Moselle.
After you have furrowed the river with your oars,
Then stop your vessel here, let the stern take the sand,
And go on foot to the holy places of father Willibrord
And seek the dwelling of the priest Samuel.
Remember to strike the gates with Castalian lyre,
And boldly say to the boy servant Pitheus:
‘Publius Albinus has sent me from the land of Britain
To bring sweet greetings to the dear father’.
If opportunity is given you to speak in person,
Cast down, as a suppliant kiss the sacred feet,
And say, ‘Farewell, father Samuel’, say ‘Live on, priest’.
Now uncover your bosom, and bring forth the honoured fathers,
Priscian and Phocas, for he rejoices in such a gift,
If Neptune has not sunk them in the sea.
If he should wish to lead you to the king’s court,
There go through the noble fathers and brethren, greet them.
Before the king’s feet unfold all your songs,
Say many times: ‘Hail, best king, hail.
Be for me protector, guardian, defender,
Lest the envious tongue harm me by biting—
Of Paulinus, Peter, Albric, Samuel, Ion,
Or whoever wishes to gnaw my vitals with a bite:
At your command let him flee far off, let him depart empty’.
Say with a quiet murmur: ‘Farewell, teacher Peter!
He strikes fiercely with Herculean force, beware!’
Joyfully embrace the neck of master Paulinus,
Give ten sweet kisses with honeyed lips.
Greet rightly Ricvulf, Raefgot, and Radon,
Touch their ears lightly while singing,
Say: ‘Brothers and companions, rejoice, hail and farewell’.
Perhaps you will come to the noble city of Mainz,
And say perpetual farewell to the teacher Lullus,
A model of the Church, who is held as a light of wisdom,
Worthy of such honour in character and life.
O good Bassinus, glory of the people of Speyer,
I ask you, commend me to Paul, kindly father and patron,
Whose gracious house had made us both brothers.
Who, pious Fulrad, would dare to touch you with the lyre?
You surpass the songs of the Muses in your merits.
Yet now allow this ivy to creep around your sacred temples,
O highest father, by your accustomed kindness,
Or at least permit me once to say greetings to you.
Come now, little letter, quickly board the prepared ship:
Let the curved keel swim beneath you on ocean and Rhine.
Let not the golden substance delay you, I beg,
Which the weary earth brings forth from its womb.
Let not fortresses, houses, cities, nor flowering fields
Detain you foolishly even for a single hour,
But flee, break delays, hasten, run on flying:
May you gladly find our friends safe, sound, rejoicing, and strong.
May almighty God grant them health through the ages,
And afterwards lead them rejoicing to the heavenly court.
When all these things are done, surely return to your homeland,
And remember to report what each says to you,
So that when in true spring red buds burst from the bark,
I may see you playing at our halls,
And again bringing new songs to us.
Then I shall fashion for you golden garlands from fresh flowers,
And joined with me you shall rest in pleasant meadows.

² For a beast had suddenly crept into our dwelling,
In which there was a marvellous image of two heads;
Yet one jaw joined them together alike.
But it bristled with twice three times ten teeth.
Its food was that which grew from a living body,
Neither flesh nor fruits. It did not eat the produce nor the wine of drinkers
With its teeth; it did not waste away with open mouth.
Do you know, my Damoetas, what sort of beast this is?

³ Abbot Alcuin composed these verses which
Are contained on this page.

⁴ O Cross, you are the glory of the world, made holy by the blood of Jesus.
The king, God, from the cross has granted a heavenly tribunal.
Victorious in taking away evils he reigns, and has conquered the enemy,
Christ—look, our great offering—fixed upon the cross.
The shepherd, dying, redeemed his sheep with healing right hand.
Renowned holy salvation, from the mouth of the venerable wood
Draws forth its prey, loosening the fleshly bond.
For the highest king, bound himself, was setting us free,
And by giving his life to the cross he triumphs over death.
The holy royal way lies open, the enemy of the world thus destroyed.
These things will hereafter be made known, to be praised with full strength.
For signs to be borne by the good all will perceive with understanding,
That they may see more deeply how much the holy passion has released
From eternal griefs and from one conquered by time,
So that it might heal those pressed by wounds from the enemy; and there
Let now be our salvation, the exalted true Joseph,
Who suffered on the height of the cross, lest error should mislead,
Afflicting men and thrusting them from the light of faith;
As ruler in the world, by your seals you have healed the ages.
You, my life, my salvation—to you alone my song shall be made,
And a noble voice shall always sing songs, openly,
If it be permitted with the lyre, for glorious David
Shows by his persistence the holy things in precious song.
Bear witness for us that what I have begun is fitting,
Take up, O Christ most high, the pen, true salvation,
You then, pious and holy light,
The nations sing the banners of the kindly cross,
The whole trembling earth proclaims it, and the one name
Bears witness to the cross: look, praying, it reveals the inward parts;
Now vain, pierced, wicked—farewell!
The Almighty shines: let faith be blessed in the heart,
Nor let the serpent again drive hearts back to the old ways.
The faithful Redeemer, most excellent, has restored us to the kingdom,
And has overcome by this sign the hardened
Warlike Satan, overthrowing him from the lot of his kingdom.
Glorious Cross, the world ought to fulfil its vows to you:
Receive thus such a ruddy crown, O lofty one.