Chapter 40 Our debt to the monks (2)

Like the monastic collectors who cherished their pagan books, so these medieval bookworms expended their finest skills and greatest care on their Bibles, hymns, and other religious books.St. Cuthbert's Doctrine of the Gospel, British Museum, by a missionary named Eggfreth (c. 720), bound in gold and precious stones by Athelward It was decorated with illustrations by a monk named Billfred, and each gospel was preceded by a beautiful tempera depicting the evangelists, and an intarsia cross, very beautifully made.Billfred also adorns the beginnings of the Gospels with large initials.This precious volume was further ornately worked on by Aldred of Durham, who inserted Saxon commentaries, or the Latin text of St. Jerome.

"The precise monetary value of books in the medieval period is beyond our ability to judge," Merriwozer said. "The few incidental instances that have been recorded are simply not enough for us to form an opinion. The exorbitant estimates given here are nothing more than speculation. We must remember that the price also depends on the accuracy of the copy, the beauty (often overly ornate) of the binding, and the beauty and variety of the decorative illustrations. Medieval Many manuscripts are of the highest degree of ornateness. Sometimes they are even written in liquid gold on the most beautiful parchment, and adorned with exquisite ornamentation."

With such respect and love for books, acquired in secluded abbeys and warm firesides, what pathos does such an entreaty reveal to us for the blessing of these precious volumes? and sorrow: "O Lord, send upon these books the virtues of Thy Holy Spirit. By Thy holy blessing, cleanse them of all worldly things, and they may mercifully enlighten us. Give us your sincere understanding. Please give us your teachings, so that they can follow your will, maintain good deeds with a clear heart, and do more good deeds." Every book lover starts from the famous old bookworm Alcuin [Alcuin (730-804) British senior priest and scholar, the leader of the cultural renaissance in medieval Europe, is regarded as the most knowledgeable person in the Carolingian dynasty, served as Advisor to Charlemagne.Alcuin transformed the court school into a national center of learning, thus bringing about a general prosperity in culture and education. What encouragement and delight did I find in my letter to Charlemagne: "I, your Flaccus, in accordance with your admonition and kindness, I give the dessert of the Bible to the abbey of St. Some, others I drunken with ancient wisdom, still others I feasted on the fruits of grammar. To many I endeavored to teach them to obey the laws of the stars that shone brightly in the heavens, so that , let them adorn the Holy Church of God and His Majesty's court, and the mercy of God and your good will would not be all in vain. But in doing these things I found much wanting, especially in those schools Elegant books in scholarship. These books are in my country because of my good and pious master Egbert. Industrious, and possessing much. I therefore beseech Your Majesty, that I may send some of our young men to England to obtain those books which we so much desire. So that the flowers of England may be planted on the soil of France, and they shall bear fruit. The garden is full of fragrance, not only in the garden of York, but also in the Fuyuan of Tours [York, a city in northern England, a medieval cultural and educational center. Tours, a city in central and western France, is located on the banks of the Loire River.]. Moreover, We can, as the song says, 'May my beloved enter into his garden, and eat of his good fruit'. And to young people, we can say: 'Eat, my friends! My dear, Drink and drink a lot!' Or as the prophet Messiah exhorted: "All you who are thirsty, come to water. You who have no money may come. Come, all of you, buy and eat. No money, no money. value, and also to buy wine and milk.’【The three quotations here are all from the Old Testament of the Bible.】”

I was about to say something about this Alcuin, and was going to say something about Canute, Alfred, Albert of St. Alban, Archbishop of Salzburg, Prior of Dover, and other medieval luminaries. My lord, just then Judge Methuen came and interrupted my train of thought.The judge brought me some little poems lately composed by a poet friend of his, and he begged me to include them in this little book, as illustrations of human self-confidence and vanity. One day I received a letter, The small hand that wrote it is beautiful and slender, Make my chest full of pride, Also vanity and complacency.

Sweet words of young admirers, humbly asked me if i would Send her a proud poem, I also want to sign my name in my own handwriting. She asks this favor so earnestly, As if to see her gentle and shy; If such homage I refuse, Then I'm a rude character. I want to use cheerful and bright colors to embellish my manuscript, with my ink and color paint Dip that pen and brush. Ordinary days are indeed boring and monotonous, If it weren't for this gracious smile Stretch my frowning features, How to throw away all the hard work? I'm sure these sweet lines, Sure to make her ecstatic;

I imagined that she would be smart and beautiful, I know she must be like this! Since then I've been like a demon, The face of this strange girl, With her face full of admiration and longing, follow me everywhere; I seem to hear her whispering in a low voice: "Oh, thank you, Mr. Genius, Thank you for being so kind Give me the highest honor! " A bibliography from Benjamin Overturned these conjectures of mine, with such ruthless truth Sweep away my sweet dreams; That pitiful "sweet poem", That name is signed with my own hand, It says "price reduction book list",

The price is one and a half dollars.